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Artwork for The Forgotten War Podcast: Burma Campaign WW2

The Forgotten War Podcast: Burma Campaign WW2

Robert Lyman and Jack Bowsher
Burma Campaign
Japan
World War II
Second World War
China
Kohima
Indian Army
Kohima Epitaph
Military Leadership
Rangoon
Jungle Warfare
Burma
Japanese Divisional Commanders
General Muteguchi
Ursula Graham Bower
Military Tactics
India Theatre
Sato
Yamauchi
Yanagida

The definitive podcast about the Burma Campaign of World War Two. Join historians and authors Dr Robert Lyman MBE & Jack Bowsher as they take you through dripping monsoon and jungles, across parched plains, and over rivers and mountains sharing the incredible and often brutal story of the war against Japan in Southeast Asia.

In Series One (Spring 2025) Rob and Jack did a general broad brush narra... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes68Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & CultureDocumentary

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Artwork for The Forgotten War Podcast: Burma Campaign WW2

Latest Episodes

In our Series 3 finale we finish with our traditional episode of listener's questions. From doctrinal differences between 8 and 14 Armies, to casting choices for a Burma Campaign Band of Brothers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info... more

In the penultimate episode of our 1943 series Jack and Rob ask the question - what to do about Burma? What is the situation at the end of 1943, and what is the strategy for the 1944?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Jack and Rob look back on the last series, from the 1942 mop-up episodes to our most recent eyewitness accounts, with a few teasers for next series. Fear not dear listeners, because there are still two more episodes of this series left!

Ho... more

This week Jack and Rob look at a series of eyewitness accounts about the first Chindit expedition - Operation Longcloth.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Recent Guests

Eric Lambert
Political officer in Assam, veteran diarist
British Indian Army / Assam political duties
Episode: 23. A US Marvel - The Ledo Road
Caroline Alexander
Author of Skies of Thunder, Rhodes Scholar
Author, Historian
Episode: 22. The Hump Airlift
Dr. Alan Jeffreys
Historian, National Army Museum
National Army Museum
Episode: 21. Phoenix from the Ashes pt2 - Retraining the Indian Army
Catriona Childs
Daughter of Ursula Graham Bower; author of Nagapath
Self / Nagapath author
Episode: 16. Ursula Graham Bower's war
Catriona Child
Daughter of Ursula Graham Bower, anthropologist and guerrilla contributor
Independent historian/author (interview guest)
Episode: 15. Ursula Graham Bower - origins
Shree Nair
Historian and author of The Indian Air Force in World War II
KS Nair (author)
Episode: 11. The Indian Air Force
Charlotte Carty
Granddaughter of Bruno Brown, researched the Assam Regiment history
Episode: 10. The Assam Regiment
Walter Reid
Historian
Historian and author
Episode: 9. India & Indian Independence
Gautam Hazarika
Historian and author discussing Indian prisoners of war in WWII
Author of The Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II
Episode: 8. Forgotten Indian Prisoners of War

Hosts

Robert Lyman
Historian and writer; co-host and author with a long track record on WWII and Burma campaigns
Jack Bowsher
Historian and writer; co-host and author with a focus on Burma campaigns and armor history

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 90 ratings
  • Masterful detail

    Been hooked on the debate ,deep dives & human stories , wonderful ,are you going to write a book of the pod together ?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Slim’s boys
    United Kingdom16 days ago
  • Outstanding!

    The pod doesn’t have the same razzmatazz as We Have Ways but is required listening for anyone interested in WW2 and the Burma campaign.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Iorwerth Llwyd
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • I love the podcast but I wanted to point out one thing re the Australian slouch hat...it was not copied in the 1920s...it was originally used by the Victorian Mounted Rifles in 1885, and in 1902 was adopted by the whole Australian Army and featured in the Boer war, ww1, ww2...thank you...keep up the awesome work, brilliant!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    db
    5 months ago
  • Withdrawal symptoms

    Chaps , Marvellous finale , can’t wait to join the members club

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Slim’s boys
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • NickB

    Absolutely terrific - can’t recommend highly enough. After the excellent overview in the first series the new episodes give a real deep dive into the conflict and related matters. Jack and Rob’s easy manner belies the depth of their knowledge and insightfulness of their comments. A must for anyone interested in the Burma war.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NJB2729
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Withdrawal symptoms - marvellous finale, joining members club soon.
Outstanding! - Essential WW2 Burma campaign history.
Absolutely terrific - deep, insightful, highly recommended for Burma war fans.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#185
Ireland/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

8. Reporting the Retreat - War Correspondents in Burma
Q: What were the major challenges journalists faced in Burma in 1942?
Challenges included censorship, lack of transport, embedding with troops, competition to file front-line stories, gathering reliable information, and the difficulty of portraying a chaotic retreat while staying accurate.
8. Reporting the Retreat - War Correspondents in Burma
Q: What did you find about the reporters' agendas and how they influenced coverage?
He notes a tension between patriotic propaganda and objective reporting, with some journalists carrying anti-imperialist or left-wing views that colored their interpretation of events.
8. Reporting the Retreat - War Correspondents in Burma
Q: Well, let's start by just asking Philip, how did you get involved in writing a book about war correspondents in Burma in 1942?
Philip explains his niche interest grew from combining military history with media studies, using memoirs, diaries, newsreels, and newspaper coverage to test the accuracy of wartime reporting.
15. Ursula Graham Bower - origins
Q: Rob, how did Ursula first come to be involved in the Naga Hills and what drew her there?
Her early exposure to anthropology and family dynamism pushed her toward fieldwork; a fortuitous connection with Alexa MacDonald brought Ursula to Manipur, where she seized opportunities to study and document Naga life, culminating in leadership of watch-and-ward efforts.
10. The Assam Regiment
Q: So Charlotte, tell us a little bit about what the Assam Regiment were first expected to do up in Digboi.
Charlotte explains that the Assam Regiment, raised in Shillong in 1941, were initially posted to protect the Digboi oil fields and then quickly pulled into the wider fighting when the Japanese threat expanded, highlighting their local recruitment and capability to operate in jungle terrain.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A history-focused series that centers on the Burma Campaign in World War II, featuring two veteran historians who break down strategic decisions, leadership, logistics, and personal narratives from veterans and families. Episodes blend rigorous analysis of battles, campaigns like the 14th Army era, and the role of Indian forces, with biographical looks at figures such as Ursula Graham Bower and Wingate, plus broader context on the region, colonial dynamics, and wartime memory. The show stands out for its detailed, book-level research, family connections to historical figures, and a consistent emphasis on the human stories behind large-scale operations. This makes it valuable for listeners who want deep, sourced historical storytelling and f... more

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2. WW2: Both Sides of The Wire
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this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 68 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Eric Lambert
2. Caroline Alexander
3. Dr. Alan Jeffreys
4. Catriona Childs
5. Catriona Child
6. Shree Nair
7. Charlotte Carty
8. Walter Reid

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