NEW BOOK AVAILABLE

CHINDIT - SPECIAL FORCE, BURMA 1944
GO TO REVIEWS

Author - Stewart Cochrane

In the whole of W.W.II, never was so much asked from allied soldiers, than was asked of "The Chindits" six months of grueling combat behind the Japanese lines. This is a first hand account of the second Chindit expedition, "Operation Thursday". These were the long-range penetration combat units that fought the Imperial Japanese forces where they thought they were safe, hundreds of miles behind the front line. 10,000 men of many nationalities were transported and supplied solely by air during a monsoon deluge that dropped 200 inches of rain. The Chindits fought for 6 months in the inhospitable conditions of the Burmese jungle, mountains, swamps and plains in which was the second largest airborne operation of World War II. The Chindits were to prove to the rest of the Allied Armies, that the myth of the "Japanese Superman" was just that, a myth. After learning the art of jungle fighting, they became masters of it. The Allied soldier was no longer scorned, but feared. The Japanese learned that there was nowhere safe from the "Chindit Man". Experience the Private soldier's lot with William "Cocky" Cochrane, No.1 Section, A Company, 2nd Battalion the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment), 14 Brigade, Long Range Penetration.

If you wish to purchase a copy of this book CLICK HERE and use the search name 'Chindits'

Back to top of page

REVIEWS OF 'CHINDIT'

1.  Lt. Col. D.M.C Rose DSO
      Perthshire
      Scotland
      27^th July 2000

“Cocky” Cochrane’s story has been recorded by his son and published via the Internet.  The stories of most private soldiers die with them, so this is a valuable record on that score alone.  When a campaign is over; regiments are usually disbanded and after some leave, men get on with earning their living and looking after their families.  It is usually the Officers who have time to reflect and put their stories into history or memoirs.

In our regiment, “Cocky’s” and mine, we have an unusually strong and close relationship between Officers, N.C.O’s and men.  We tend to serve in the regiment, The Black Watch, in which our grandfathers, uncles and brothers have served.  You are “known” from your very first day, you have something to live up to.  If you misbehave, the news is soon passed around at home.  These close ties with home, give strength to the moral of men when things get really tough, as you will realize when you read this book.

During the regiment’s long life of more than 250 years, there have been great changes in the life style of Scotland.  The Gaelic speaking men of 1780 had to learn English, so they spoke the English of the Kirk School or their Officers, who were mostly gentry.  In the great industrial revolution, when the surplus population of the Highlands and Islands flooded into the new towns like Glasgow, there was great poverty.  The clearances replaced crofters with thousands of sheep.  Then came the potato famine.  Most of our population went to Canada and the United States of America, but many Scottish, both Officers and men, became mercenary soldiers or sailors.  The British Empire grew, and there was always a need for more men to keep the peace, both in the Navy and the Army.  Some Officers and men served in the forces of foreign countries like Russia, France and Sweden.  Fighting was in our blood and British soldiers were highly respected in all parts of the World and gained a great reputation for good discipline, which was rare amongst Continental Armies.

We are not “killers” by nature and we very quickly make friends with the enemy, once the business-in-hand is over.  “Cocky” Cochrane’s barrack room language may be a problem for some people.  This intimate language, between close friends, does not give offence, in fact it is a kind of short-hand used to show that you are accepted as “One of us”.  It is not very attractive to outsiders and perhaps with better education it will be moderated, but I fear it will never die among our men.  It just isn’t right to talk “posh”, the King’s English.

It gives me great pleasure to write this short tribute to “Cocky” Cochrane and his stalwart “Muckers”.  I was very sorry to leave them when I was wounded in the earlier part of the campaign.  I stayed on in Command of 42 Column for about two weeks, but eventually my wounds became so septic that I had to fly out.

 David Rose

If you wish to purchase a copy of this book CLICK HERE and use the search name 'Chindits'

Back to top of page