29,551
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
→Historical books online
:It appears that a total of 25 ''Official History'' volumes were published, series General Editor Dr Bisheshwar Prasad, seven volumes in the ''Medical Services'' series above, together with: Campaigns in the Eastern theatre: [v.1] ''Campaigns in South-East Asia, 1941-42'' (Hong Kong, Malaya, Borneo).-[v.2] ''The retreat from Burma, 1941-42''.-[v.3] ''Arakan operations, 1942-45''.-[v.4,5] ''Reconquest of Burma, 1942-45''.-[v.6] ''Post-war occupation forces : Japan and South-East Asia''. Campaigns in the Western theatre [v.1] ''North African campaign, 1940-43''.-[v.2] ''Campaign in western Asia'' (Iraq, Syria, Iran and Paiforce).-[v.3] ''Campaigns in Italy''.-[v.4] ''East African campaign 1940-41''. General war administration and organisation: [v] ''The Royal Indian Navy 1939-1945''. [v] ''History of the Indian Air Force, 1933-45''. [v] ''The Corps of Indian Engineers, 1939-1947''. [v] ''Technical services: ordnance and I.E.M.E''. [v] ''Expansion of the armed forces and defence organisation, 1939-45''. [v] ''Defence of India: Policy and Plans''. [v] ''Indian War Economy: Supply, Industry & Finance''. [v] ''India and the War''.
:The following volumes were previously originally available on the [[Online books#Digital Library of India| Digital Library of India]] website, as pdf downloads, however the website is only currently operating in a very minimal waynow closed. From January 2017, mirror versions for most of these books are also have been available on Archive.org. Many DLI links have been deleted.
:*Series: ''Campaigns in the Eastern Theatre''
:**''Campaigns In South East Asia'' 1960 (catalogued 1962) [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.111425 Archive.org version].
*''The Tiger Strikes : India's fight in the Middle East'' by W. G Hingston [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.127324 Archive.org version]. Alternative title: ''The Tiger Strikes (A record of the exploits of troops from India in the theatre of war of the Middle East during 1940-41.)'' The narrative of the Eritrean campaign, the battle of Sidi Barrani, and the Syrian campaign. Published for the Government of India.
*''The Tiger Kills: The story of the Indian Divisions in the North African campaign'' by Lieut.-Colonel-W. G. Hingston and Lieut.-Colonel G. R. Stevens [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.527937 Archive.org version] 1944. The Western Desert from 1941 onwards, and the Tunisian campaign.
*[http://www.ibiblio.org/britishraj/Tiger3/index.html ''The Tiger Triumphs: The Story of Three Great Divisions in Italy''] Published by His Majesty’s Stationery Office for the Government of India 1946 "The Fourth, Eighth and Tenth Indian Divisions will forever be associated with the fighting for Cassino, the capture of Rome, the Arno Valley, the liberation of Florence and the breaking of the Gothic Line". Transcribed by Chris Gage ibiblio.org. Alternative version from [https://web.archive.org/web/20200220214558/http://www.ourstory.info/library/4-ww2/Tiger/triumphsTC.html #TC ourstory.info] AFS [American Field Service], now an archived website.
* ''Eastern Epic Volume I'' 1951. [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.113944 Archive.org version]. Full title: ''Eastern Epic Volume I September 1939 - March 1943 Defence'' by Sir Compton Mackenzie. "The story of India's efforts during the war" Includes the activities of Indian forces in the various theatres-North Africa, the Near East and Southeast Asia. Volume I appears to have been the only volume published.
*[https://archive.org/details/forgottenarmiesf00bayl/page/n5 ''Forgotten Armies : the Fall of British Asia, 1941-1945''] by Christopher Bayly and Tim Harper 2005. Archive.org Lending Library. India, Burma, Malaya, Singapore.
**[https://archive.org/details/TheFightingFifthHistoryOfTheFifthDivision ''The Fighting Fifth - History Of The Fifth Division''] Abyssinia, Burma. Note text out of order. Pages 7-10 and some accompanying photographs follow page 38. [https://archive.org/stream/TheFightingFifthHistoryOfTheFifthDivision/The%20Fighting%20Fifth%20-%20History%20of%20the%20Fifth%20Division#page/n27/mode/1up Maps]
**[https://archive.org/details/GoldenArrow-TheStoryOfThe7thIndianDivision ''Golden Arrow - The Story of the 7th Indian Division''] Arakan, Imphal, Burma.
*: A detailed history of 304 pages, with a very similar title was also published ''Golden Arrow. The Story of the 7th Indian Division in the Second World War, 1939-1945'' by Brigadier M. R. Roberts, available in a reprint edition,<ref>[https://www.naval-military-press.com/product/golden-arrow-the-story-of-the-7th-indian-division-in-the-second-world-war-1939-45/ ''Golden Arrow. The story of the 7th Indian Division in the Second World War, 1939-1945''] by Brigadier M. R. Roberts. Naval & Military Press reprint edition.</ref> which in turn is available as an online book on the Ancestry owned pay website fold3, titled [https://www.fold3.com/browse/251/hTGb85NZ8EamDdOvs_ewVRbLB ''The story of the 7th Indian Division''] (located in World War2/Military books(locate by the Search)/India).
**[https://archive.org/details/OneMoreRiver-TheStoryOfThe8thIndianDivision ''One More River - The Story of the 8th Indian Division'']. Italy
**[https://archive.org/details/TeheranToTrieste-TheStoryOfThe10thIndianDivision ''Teheran to Trieste - The Story of the 10th Indian Division''].
**[https://archive.org/details/AHappyFamilyTheStoryOfThe20thIndianDivision ''A Happy Family - The Story of the Twentieth Indian Division''] April 1942 to August 1945. Battle of Imphal, and the Recapture of Burma.
**[https://archive.org/details/The23thIndianDivisionBurmaMalayaJava ''The 23th Indian Division - Burma, Malaya, Java'']
*:A detailed history of 318 pages was also published ''Fighting Cock: Being the History of the 23rd Indian Division, 1942-1947'' Lieut. Col. A. J. F. Doulton, available in a reprint edition,<ref>[https://www.naval-military-press.com/product/fighting-cock-being-the-history-of-the-23rd-indian-division-1942-1947/ ''Fighting Cock: Being the History of the 23rd Indian Division, 1942-1947''] Lieut. Col. A. J. F. Doulton. Naval & Military Press reprint edition.</ref> which in turn is available as an [https://www.fold3.com/browse/251/hTGb85NZ8EamDdOvsT92IrKjC online book on the Ancestry owned pay website fold3] (located in World War2/Military books(locate by the Search)/India).
**[https://archive.org/details/TheStoryOfThe25thIndianDivisionTheArakanCampaign ''The Story Of The 25th Indian Division - The Arakan Campaign'']
**[https://archive.org/details/TigerHeadTheStoryOfThe26thIndianDivision ''Tiger Head - The Story Of The 26th Indian Division''] Arakan, Rangoon.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20181011062612/http://lib.militaryarchive.co.uk/library/Miscellaneous-Volumes/library/The-History-of-the-Royal-West-African-Frontier-Force/ ''The History of the Royal West African Frontier Force''] by Colonel A. Haywood and Brigadier F.A.S.Clarke. 1964. lib.militaryarchive.co.uk, now archived at Archive.org. Originally required Flash turned on, this requirement may still apply - if you see a Flash icon, click it. [http://lib.militaryarchive.co.uk/library/Miscellaneous-Volumes/library/The-History-of-the-Royal-West-African-Frontier-Force/files/assets/basic-html/toc.html Transcribed version]. Includes operations in Burma.
:''"West African Way" The Story of the Burma Campaigns 1943-1945, 5th Bn. Gold Coast Regt., 81 West African Division'' by Lt. Col. C. G. Bowen originally published 1946, is available in a reprint edition,<ref>[https://www.naval-military-press.com/product/west-african-waythe-story-of-the-burma-campaigns-1943-1945-5th-bn-gold-coast-regt-81-west-african-division/ '''West African Way" The Story of the Burma Campaigns 1943-1945, 5th Bn. Gold Coast Regt., 81 West African Division''] by Lt. Col. C. G. Bowen. Naval & Military Press.</ref> which in turn is available online on the Ancestry owned pay website fold3 with title [https://www.fold3.com/browse/310/hTGb85NZ8-LtY0s36riycrFoi ''The Story of the Burma Campaigns''] (located in International/Military Books(locate by the Search)/West Africa).:[https://www.naval-military-press.com/product/war-journal-of-the-fifth-kenya-battalion-the-kings-african-rifles-1939-1945/ ''War Journal Of The Fifth (Kenya) Battalion The King’s African Rifles 1939-1945''] by W. D. Draffan & T. C. Lewin is available on fold3.com, a pay website owned by Ancestry, located in Military Books (locate by the Search)/Kenya. This is an online version of a Naval & Military Press reprint edition.<ref>[https://www.naval-military-press.com/product/war-journal-of-the-fifth-kenya-battalion-the-kings-african-rifles-1939-1945/ ''War Journal Of The Fifth (Kenya) Battalion The King’s African Rifles 1939-1945''] Naval & Military Press reprint.</ref> Begins with the campaign against the Italians in Abyssinia and ends fighting the Japanese in Burma. *''Fourth Indian Division'' by Lieut-Colonel GR Stevens OBE, published c 1945-48 is available in a reprint edition,<ref>[https://www.naval-military-press.com/product/fourth-indian-division/ ''Fourth Indian Division''] by Lieut-Colonel GR Stevens. Naval & Military Press reprint edition.</ref> which in turn is available as an [https://www.fold3.com/browse/251/hTGb85NZ8EamDdOvsILTWwkKS online book on the Ancestry owned pay website fold3] (located in International/Military books(locate by the Search)/India). Covers five years of service in Eritrea, Syria, the Western Desert, Tunisia, Italy including Cassino, and Greece.
*[https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.b4244561?urlappend=%3Bseq=7 ''The White Belts: History of the Corps of Military Police''] by Lt Col R Ganapathi, CMP Centre and School, Bangalore 1982 HathiTrust Digital Library. A researcher stated that this book contains "a huge amount of material on 4th Indian Division". Other theatres of war are also covered.
*''An Account of the Operations in Burma carried out by Probyn’s Horse during February, March and April 1945'' by Major Mylne published 1945 is available in a reprint edition,<ref>[https://www.naval-military-press.com/product/account-of-the-operations-in-burma-carried-out-by-probyns-horse-during-february-march-and-april-1945/ ''An Account of the Operations in Burma carried out by Probyn’s Horse during February, March and April 1945''] by Major Mylne, Naval & Military Press reprint edition.</ref> which in turn is available [https://www.fold3.com/browse/251/hTGb85NZ8p6rk8Lwumbh16YSy online on the Ancestry owned pay website fold3] (located in International/Military Books(locate by the Search)/Myanmar).*''The Sikh Regiment in the Second World War'' by Colonel F. T. Birdwood c 1950 is available in a reprint edition, <ref>[https://www.naval-military-press.com/product/sikh-regiment-in-the-second-world-war/ ''Sikh Regiment in the Second World War''] by Colonel F. T. Birdwood c 1950. Naval & Military Press reprint edition.</ref> which in turn is available [https://www.fold3.com/browse/251/hTGb85NZ8EamDdOvskuaNAUj4 online on the Ancestry owned pay website fold3] (located in International/Military Books(locate by the Search)/India).
*For regimental histories which include WW2, see the regimental pages
**[[Assam Rifles]]
*[https://archive.org/details/personaldiaryofa0000moun/page/n5 ''Personal diary of Admiral the Lord Louis Mountbatten : Supreme Allied Commander, South-East Asia, 1943-1946''] edited by Philip Ziegler 1988. Archive.org Lending Library
*[http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwii/CrisisFleeting/default.htm ''Crisis Fleeting. Original Reports On Military Medicine In India And Burma
In The Second World War''] Compiled and Edited by
James H. Stone. Office Of The Surgeon General
Department Of The Army
Washington, D.C., 1969. Website of the US Army Medical Department, Office of Medical History
*[United States Army] [https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015024036843?urlappend=%3Bseq=7 ''The Medical Department : Medical Service in the Mediterranean and Minor Theaters''] by Charles M. Wiltse.1965. Hathi Trust HathiTrust Digital Library. Part of the series ''The Technical Services'' [of the United States Army]. Includes North Africa, Italy.:[United States Army] [https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015032213020?urlappend=%3Bseq=3 ''The Medical Department : Medical Service in the European Theater of Operations''] by Graham A. Cosmas and Albert E. Cowdrey 1992 Hathi Trust HathiTrust Digital Library. Part of the series ''The Technical Services'' [of the United States Army]:[United States Army] [https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015041985246?urlappend=%3Bseq=7 ''The Medical Department : Medical Service in the War Against Japan''] by Mary Ellen Condon-Rall and Albert E. Cowdrey. 1998. Hathi Trust HathiTrust Digital Library. Part of the series ''The Technical Services'' [of the United States Army]. Includes Burma.
*''Trek Back From Burma'' by W G Burchett, first published c 1943. Two different files [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.102827 Archive.org version A]; [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.175474 Archive.org version B]. The author was a journalist initially covered the Sino-Japanese War . Early in 1942 he covered the rout of British forces in Burma then from June travelled extensively through Kuomintang-controlled China and eventually returned to India through Burma.
* ''Chungking Diary'' by D F Karaka. 1942. [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.527961 Archive.org version]
*[https://archive.org/details/PeersW.R.BrelisD.BehindTheBurmaRoad/page/n1 ''Behind The Burma Road''] by William R. Peers and Dean Brelis 1963. For ease of reading online, if you do not have a wide screen, click on the “Single page “ option, as one digital page consists of two actual pages of text. Archive.org
*[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780060746384 ''The Burma Road : the epic story of the China-Burma-India theater in World War II''] by Donovan Webster 2004. Archive.org Lending Library
*From [https://web.archive.org/web/20200128101236/http://www.ourstory.info / the field service] [American Field Service AFS] , now archived. **[https://web.archive.org/web/20200129121643/http://ourstory.info/library/4-ww2/Ball/fireTC.html#TC ''Ball Of Fire: The Fifth Indian Division in the Second World War''] by Antony Brett-James, 1951, now archived.**[https://web.archive.org/web/20160318101837/http://ourstory.info/library/4-ww2/Geren/diary.html ''Burma Diary''] by Paul Geren published 1943, now archived. In 1941 Paul Geren agreed to spend two years at Judson College in Rangoon, Burma, as a short-term missionary under the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. Following the Japanese bombing Professor Geren's classroom became a field hospital as he offered his services as an ambulance driver to Dr. Gordon Seagrave, the famed Burma surgeon. He later trekked to India.**[https://web.archive.org/web/20131014120958/http://ourstory.info/library/4-ww2/Muehl/sahibTC.html ''American Sahib''] by John Frederick Muehl 1946 , now archived. He was with the American Field Service, attached to the British Indian Army. Also available on [https://archive.org/details/AmericanSahib Archive.org]**[https://web.archive.org/web/20200204225100/http://ourstory.info/library/4-ww2/VB/Burma.html ''Victory in Burma''] published July, 1945 by British Information Services, New York, now archived.
*Text from ''Navvies To The Fourteenth Army'' by AH Pilcher c 1947 is available as pdf downloads from the Koi Hai website, located under [http://www.koi-hai.com/Default.aspx?id=508961 Memories, the Henderson Family] Scroll down to the item dated October 12, 2009; the direct link for the [http://08.enable.com/fusion/getfile.asp?k:A6W:24:D1:11:8Dg:DC main text]. Note: Depending on your browser, you may need to locate the downloads in your downloads folder. The downloads do not contain the illustrations and maps from the original publication. The author was Col. A H Pilcher who at the outbreak of the second world war commanded the [[Assam Valley Light Horse]]. In March 1942 he was put in charge of raising a labour force from the Tea Plantations to build the Manipur/Burma Road to evacuate the 14th Army and also the many civilians who were fleeing Burma. Eventually he raised and commanded a labour force of 82000 <ref> Scroll down to comments section [http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/40/a2776340.shtml Jungle Work: A Civil Engineer in Burma] BBC ww2peopleswar</ref> This book (55 pages) was published in Calcutta for Private Circulation and was illustrated with black and white plates and line drawing maps. <ref> marelibri.com, page no longer accessible</ref> The [[British Library]] has a catalogue reference Mss Eur F174/1316, but it is not stated whether this is the printed book, or a manuscript. The book is available at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Library, University of London.
*[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.528129 ''Forgotten Frontier''] by Geoffrey Tyson, published 1945. Archive.org, Public Library of India Collection. The book is about the escape of refugees from Burma in 1942 and the help provided by the tea planters of Assam in assisting the refugees from North Burma into India.
