摘要：Somewhere in the middle of the long list of Secretaries/Directors of the USI of India, there figures the name of Major William Slim (21 May 1930 – 16 March 1931) and a few spaces above, that of Captain John Smyth, VC, MC (1 April 1926 – 31 March 1929). They were to maintain the same inter-se standing in the Army, even while being Indian Army instructors at the Staff College, Camberley between the two wars, till the fateful months of February-March 1942 when Major General John Smyth (hereafter JS) GOC, 17 Infantry Division was ‘sacked’ from command at Rangoon and Lieutenant General William Slim assumed command of Burma Corps (I7 Division and 1 Burma Division). From that moment, while Slim would go on to be counted among the Great Warlords of Military History, JS would emerge with those qualities which had made the Sphinx arise from the ashes. Regrettably for JS, even though he would continue to reap honour and glory, but it would be without the pomp of the military ceremonial which Field Marshal Viscount Slim of Yarralumla, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC would retain for life. Nevertheless, destiny’s discarded military commanders such as JS have paradoxically always lived very varied, charmed and fanciful lives, as it hopefully will emerge from the narrative which follows.
Loading...
