The Road Past Mandalay

In this follow on to Bugles and a Tiger John Masters puts his professional skills to the test in the crucible of war. The short first part takes Masters and his beloved 2/4th Ghurkas to Iraq and Syria. After that forgotten campaign he is sent back to India on a staff course covered by the second part of this memoir. The final and harrowing part finds him preparing a Chindit column to land behind Japanese lines in Burma, and to eventually lead it in combat. After 100 days behind lines only 119 men were fit to continue, 700 had been killed, and over 2000 declared medically unfit and had to be evacuated. His comment on command, leadership and his superiors make enlightening reading. His views on the suitability of both Wingate and Stillwell for high command are illuminating as being from one who experienced it at the sharp end.
After an all too brief leave he is called back to a senior staff position under a 'difficult' general and the final drive to Mandalay and peace. He finds out about peace almost by accident whilst walking in the Himalayas with his wife - another major thread to the story.
By the nature of its subject matter this is a more difficult book to read than Bugles and a Tiger but Masters' skill as a writer and insight makes it worth the effort. ( )

John Master's second volume in his autobiography details his time during WWII as a British officer in the Indian Army. Masters--an eloquent writer with keen insight--spent most of the war as a staff officer, with time in command of one of the Chindit Brigades. Masters provides details on what it takes to be a staff officer, but also to command high-quality troops under extremely difficult conditions. Pay particular attention to the part of the book where Masters writes about ordering the mercy killing of several of his troops. Masters was forced to make a horrifically difficult decision, and would have to live with it for the rest of his life. ( )