Book review - Bugles and a Tiger, and The Road Past Mandalay by John Masters

S

Stumptown Gary

Joined
Feb 6, 2000
Messages
18
Hi All,

I just finished reading these two great books about the Gurkhas, so I though I would share my impressions.

The two books tell the story of an Englishman born in a military hospital in Calcutta, but educated in England. He goes on to RMC Sandhurst which is the British equivalent of West Point, and graduates to be posted to the Prince of Wales's Own 4th Gurkha Rifles. He spends WWII as an officer with the 4th GRs, in northwestern India, north Africa, and in Burma fighting the imperial Japanese army.

The books tell many stories: of a young man growing up in the extended family of his regiment, the changes occuring in India leading up to the withdrawall of the English in 1947, and the great respect he felt for the Gurkha soldiers. In 1947 when the British left India he tried to return to England as an instructor at RMC Sandhurst, but he had spent so much time out of the country he no longer felt comfortable there. Together with his family he relocated in the USA (like all highly intelligent Englishmen ;-)), a decision based on a short vacation taken when on leave from his regiment.

At all times Mr. Masters tells his story in a very engaging way - never losing his sense of humor, when talking about himself or others. Both of these books are currently out of print, but they should be easy to find through ABA or bookfinders.com. The last time I looked there was a copy of Bugles and a Tiger on the dreaded eBay ;-). Anyway, those able to locate the books will find them a great read.

Cheers for now,

QL.

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Thanks for the info, QL. I've read, and have, a number of books about the Gorkhas, but not those. I'll have to try to locate them; they sound interesting.
 
I have Bugles and a Tiger. Beleive it or not, Ifound it in a library book sale. Haven't read enough of it yet.

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Thanks Rusty, and you are welcome! :-) Just a small way to say thanks for the fun I have had reading the forum while waiting for those long brown boxes to arrive in the mail...

Cheers for now,

QL.
 
:
For the first time in my life, since finding these forums I have books that I have not read.
I haven't even finished "The Ghurkas" by Farwell yet and I have had it a few months now!!

I used to read books faster than I could get new ones from the QPBC and other sources. I used to spend a lot of money on books and now I spend it on khukuris and other knives. In the long run I would bet the costs just about even out.
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Now I have two more books I am gonna have to try and find.

I think I may be starting to get into trouble now. Since we were talking about the cracked handles and preventive care I layed out all my khukuri's on my workbench to put neatsfoot oil on all the handles and scabbards as Steven suggested. My wife came in there and said," All of these are _ours_?" Of course I had to say yes. Somehow I missed one when I was counting them. I thought there were 13 and it is officially 14. Now t get them wiped down and pt away before my sweet wife sees them all again. There is no sense in letting the number be reinforced!!

Any suggestions???
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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"Know your own bone, gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it again."

'Thoreau'

Khukuri FAQ
 
Aaah yes! John Masters' "Bugles..." and "Road Past..." - two of my all time favorite books. Absolute MUST reads for all khuk-nuts and mil-history types! Too bad they're out of print. I did find them through Bibliofind, though.

Just found out though that another great book will be back in print this March -Field Marshall William Slim's memoir of the Burma campaign, "Defeat into Victory". Bill Slim fought in WWI, including in Gallipoli alongside Gorkha troops. After that war, he got commissioned into the 6th Gurkha Rifles, eventually commanding a battalion of the 7th Gurkha Rifles (I think). WWII found him in command of a division fighting in the Mid-East, after which he was put in command of Allied forces during their retreat from Burma, eventually commanding the 14th Army (The Forgotten Army) which fought the Burma campaign. After the War, he was also "Colonel of the Regiment" of the 1st Gorkha Rifles, my father's Regiment! Exceptional individual, exceptional book.

On the other end of the extreme, for a common infantryman's point of view: I read this absolutely fantastic book recently, "Quartered Safe Out Here" by George MacDonald Fraser, who as a teen served with the Borders Regiment in the latter half of the Burma campaign. Extensive mentions of Gorkhas and khukuris. His battalion fought alongside a Gorkha battalion, and it seems a lot of British troops also carried khukuris in that Theatre. He mentions he bought his khukuri in Calcutta for ten ruppees. Eye-witness accounts of khukuris being used in combat. At times hilarious, at times thought-provoking, he says it like he sees it, I'll have to put this one up right alongside Masters, and Sledge's "With the Old Breed ..."

- Sonam
 
Thanks for the book leads QL and Sonam.

Do you know why they called the "14 th Army" the forgotten army? Was the Burma/India theatre less important than say NW Europe?

Will

[This message has been edited by Will Kwan (edited 02-12-2000).]
 
Will,

From what I understand, the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theatre was definitely a sideshow especially when compared to NW Europe, and the 14 Army which fought that campaign got nicknamed the "Forgotten Army". I read that it was one of the most cosmopolitan army to take the field. Besides Indian and Gorkha troops from every nook and corner of the South Asian subcontinent - every one of them a volunteer, there were British troops, West African, East African, American, Chinese, Burmese, tribals, and what-have-you. And they made do with hand-me-downs from the other theatres, from whatever the factories in India produced, and the rest they improvised in the field.

- Sonam
 
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