Cogent comments from Britain's best general in WW2. ( )

I may be too much a fan of this anthology, but considering the author and the genre it is a classic! William Joseph Slim became the Governor General of Australia following a military career in which he rose to the rank of field Marshal following his successful command of the Burmese Front from 1942 to 45. A careful and successful soldier he proved himself both a master of defence and offence in war.
If you read this you will discover that he was a writer of considerable talent, publishing works under the name of "Anthony Mills".
This book ranges from his memoir of the Mesopotamian Campaign of WWI, a valuable essay, "Aid to the Civil" a description of the minefield created by being called on to quell a riot in the then Indian Empire in the 1930's. It gives the reader a more sympathetic view of riot control that a good deal of current media coverage. the rest of the book has a humorous piece and descriptions of the East African Campaign of 1940 and the Allied occupation of Iran during 1941. His much longer work, "Defeat into Victory", covering his time as a soldier in Burma is less broad in nature though a classic of military History. the pair are a wonderful addition to any library containing materials dealing with the professional soldier. ( )

A fun interesting read about the early war career of William Slim, later commander of the British 14th Army in Burma. Each chapter is a different episode of his war service in chronological order. First in WWI in Mesopotamia, then on the North West Frontier and then his early WWII career. From his failed invasion of Ethiopia to his successful invasions of Syria and Iran. A fascinating look at some little known campaigns and I might add well written with humour. ( )