Biographical Index

Calvert, Michael: Major, Brigadier-General. British Army. 1913-1998. Fought first in Norway in 1940, sent in 1941 to Pacific to assist in creation of special assualt units. Met Wingate while in command of a small commando unit in Burma, transfered in August 1942 to 77th Brigade for first Chindit mission. Commanded No. 3 Column which played a central role in the disruption of Japanes communications in Indaw Valley. Was among first group to reach safety of west bank of the Chindwin. In 1944 was appointed command of 77th Brigade with new rank for March mission. Columns succesfully interdicted Japanese communications while establishing and holding strongholds Broadway & White City. Led exhausted remants which captured Moguang in June. Towards end of the war he commanded an SAS brigade in north-west Europe. After end of war remained in Army. During the Malayn Emergency of the 1950s, drawing upon his WWII experiences and research he was insturmental in both developing a counter-insurgency ideas and military forces that were used successfully during that conflict. And from this he layed a path to the creation of the modern British SAS. Also in the early 1950s he was forced out of the service on drummed up charges.
Fergusson, Bernard: Major, Brigadier-General, later Lord Ballantrae. British Army. 1911-1980. Before the war he served as ADC to General Wavell & was on intelligence staff in Palestine in late 1930s during same time as Wingate. During the war he first saw action in Syria and North Africa. Encountered Wingate while serving on Field Marshall Wavell's command staff for the Burm-India theater in 1942, upon which he transfered to the Chindit 77th Brigade that Fall. In command of No. 5 Column which was part of the main Chindit group assualting the Japanese bridges, railway line & viaducts. In 1944 was appointed command of 14th Brigade with new rank for March mission. Led columns which infiltrated overland through tough terrain, only to meet defeat while trying to take Indaw. Later brigade efforts succesfully interdicted Japanese communications to army fighting in India while establishing stronghold Aberdeen. After end of war remained in Army, serving in NATO postings as well as one during the 1956 Suez Crisis. Retiring in 1960s he was appointed Governer-General of New Zealand for several years.
Mountbatten, Louis: Vice-Admiral, later Viceroy, Lord. Royal Navy. 1900-1979. A cousin of King George VI, Mountbatten was a naval cadet during WWI. Upon outbreak of the next world war, he commanded several destroyers during the early years. Taking part in the Norwegian and Crete campaigns, during the later his ship was sunk under him. Appointed Advisor on Combined Operations and he undertook the preliminary planning of the invasion of Europe & commando raids. In March 1942 Churchill made him a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. In 1943 he was given command of the South-East Asian Command, bringing his gift for public relations and made sure every operation was well publicized. While being overall commander of the successfull defense of India and reconquest of India, due to having good subordinates, a problem facing Mountbatten was that although he was expected to reconquer Burma he was not given extra equipment. At Singapore on 12 September Mountbatten accepted the surrender of Japanese forces in Southeast Asia. Later on he served as final Viceroy of India, overseeing the independence of India. During the Cold War he served in top military commands, including chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. Assasinated by the IRA in Ireland.
Slim, Joseph: Major-General, General. British Army. 1897-1970. SIim saw action in WWI in Mesopotamia, at Gallipoli, and at the Western Front. Between the wars he both commanded field units as well as taught at staff colleges. During the conquest of Italian East Africa Slim commanded an Indian Brigade, and afterward served on General Wavell's staff. Sent to Burma in 1942, his abilities shown in a theater of defeat. He quickly rose form Division to Corp commander, and then finally command of the 14th Army in late 1943. In 1944 he first held, then soundly defeated the Japanese thrust into India. In 1945 he planned and led the re-conquest of central Burma, culminating in the complete defeat of the Japanese forces. At the end of the war he was promoted to overall commander of Allied Ground Forces in Southeast Asia. In 1948 Slim succeeded Bernard Montgomery as Chief of the Imperial Staff. Slim also served as Governor-General of Australia in the 1950s.
Stilwell, Joseph: General. US Army. 1883-1946. Saw action in WWI. In the 1920s & 1930s he served as military attache to Nationalist China. When war broke out he was sent again to China & was appointed chief-of-staff to Chiang-Kai-Shek. In this position he tried to reform the Chinese army and its fighting abilities, mostly to little affect. He also became commander of U.S. forces in China, Burma, and India. Commanding Chinese forces fighting in Burma during the Japanese invasion to halt their advance, he was forced instead to lead their retreat. With the new Allied SEAC established, he became Mountbatten's deputy while also retaining his previous responsibilities. Pushing for the northern Burma offense of 1944, he led Chinese regular and American long-range penetration forces to capture Myitkyina. In the face of Chinese incapacity, Nationalist machinations, logistical problems & Japanese resistence, his worst characteristics were brought out earning hatred from many quarters. After a Japanese offense in China pushed back Chinese forces, Chiang-Kai-Shek used this as an excuse to push for his removal. In October of 1944 he was relieved.
Wavell, Bernard: Major-General, Field Marshall, British Army. 1883-1950. After serving in minor roles during WWI, Wavell held a series of steadily growing staff postions, culminating in being given Middle-East Commander-in-Chief in 1939. In Winter 1940-41 he led numerically inferior British forces that defeated first Italian forces in Egypt-Libya and then that Spring the Italians in Ethiopia. Forced to divert forces to the unsuccessfull Balkans campaign, he later was unable to halt the advance of German General Rommel. Impatient at his cautiousness and inability to halt the Axis in the Mediterranean, Churchill relieved him that July of 1941. From late 1941 through 1943 he commanded Allied forces in South-East Asia. Given few resources, he was unable to halt Japanese conquests of the Dutch-East Indies and Malaya, Singapore & Burma. In late 1942, early 1943 he ordered unsuccessfull counter-attacks against the Japanese in Burma. In 1943 he was promoted to Field Marshall and given the position of Viceroy of India. He held this title until 1947.