A Connecticut Yankee in the 8th Gurkha Rifles: A Burma Memoir

Rating:
Summary: Not enough on Gurkha soldiers
Review: I enjoyed the book but had hoped that it would have more of an American perspective on the Gurkha soldiers, with whom I am familiar. Instead, the book presents an interesting narrative of the way in which an American became an officer in the Indian Army, with a Gurkha regiment. (An American officer with Gurkhas was a significant surprise for me, as I'd not assumed it had ever happened.) Additionally, there is a significant portion of the book written on parts of the Burma campaign against the Japanese.

While I had hoped there would be more reflection on the Gurkhas as soldiers and people, and perhaps a different view than that of the typical British officer, I do recommend the book for any with an interest in the India/Burma components of WWII. I'm sure I'd enjoy sharing a cup of coffee and some tales with the author.

Rating:
Summary: Decent Burma Memoir
Review: In all the books that have been written on the Burma theatre of operations, this is one is perhaps not so stark and vivid as John Master's, "The Road Past Mandalay" or George Macdonald Fraser's "Quartered Safe Out Here."

It is noteable in two respects: It details the training involved in making one an officer in the Ghurkas and it also gives a good account of some of later fighting around Arakan and final push against the Japanese in Burma. It is a vital memoir but it pales in comparison to, Michael Calvert's "Days of Hope" or Bernard Fergusson's "Beyond the Chindwin."

Rating:
Summary: Decent Burma Memoir
Review: In all the books that have been written on the Burma theatre of operations, this is one is perhaps not so stark and vivid as John Master's, "The Road Past Mandalay" or George Macdonald Fraser's "Quartered Safe Out Here."

It is noteable in two respects: It details the training involved in making one an officer in the Ghurkas and it also gives a good account of some of later fighting around Arakan and final push against the Japanese in Burma. It is a vital memoir but it pales in comparison to, Michael Calvert's "Days of Hope" or Bernard Fergusson's "Beyond the Chindwin."