The British Army 1939-45 (3) : The Far East

The Japanese onslaught in Asia following Pearl Harbor in December 1941 found the British and Indian Army garrisons of the imperial colonies unprepared for hard jungle fighting, not only in terms of equipment and tactical training but also in uniforms.

After the bitter retreat came a frustratingly slow build-up for the eventual victorious counter-offensive.

Starved of resources, 14th Army units modified and improvised; however, by 1945 experience was giving rise to some of the most modern tropical uniforms and equipment in the world.

This third in Martin Brayley's series describes and illustrates in detail the road from 'khaki drill' to 'jungle green'