The Dirtiest Most Ruthless Commander of WW2
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- Mad Mike Calvert and his elite Chindits, who specialized in deep penetration operations behind Japanese lines in Burma, were attacking a heavily dug enemy position in March of 1944.
Calvert, already a rising legend in the UK due to his fierce bravery and unconventional tactics, was deeply adored and admired by his men. That day, rain and mud were everywhere, but he had orders to accomplish.
Noticing the enemy was focused on engaging another unit, Mad Mike, honoring his nickname, opted to try something different. Fixing a bayonet on his weapon, he ordered a full-on bayonet charge. The Chindits commander then sprinted toward the enemy by himself while bullets flew around him.
He then stopped and shouted: (QUOTE) “Charge, what the hell do you think you're doing! Charge!”
From machine gunners, mortar teams, and auxiliary units, all the troopers charged, bayonets fixed, behind their fearless, mad commander…
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BRIGADIER Calvert did not do "inappropriate behaviour" with younger soldiers. When in Germany he was accused by three German civilians of something he did not do when they tried to rob him. He was falsely accused and court martialled, dismissed based on a lie, for something he had not done, which they later admitted they had done to cover their crime.
It also fails to mention here that his Malayan Scouts SAS, including men of the 21 SAS, ,
ww2 veterans, who had re-formed SAS after ww2, in the Territorial Army,were strengthened and enlarged and became superb in the Malayan and Borneo jungles, becoming 22 SAS, the Regular SAS Regiment . Thus a Reserve Regiment became a Corps which incorporated firstly 21 SAS (Artists Rifles)TA and then 22 SAS. Later incorporating a unit which had been MI9 (escape and evasion, survival experts) which became the Reserve Reconnaissance Unit and finally as 23 SAS (TA) in 1959.
This superb officer, supremely brave Commando and Chindit fighter and supremely courageous leader, not only commanded SAS in ww2 but helped to rebuild it into the unit we have today. Betrayed by his nation and the Army he served with great distinction who today posthumously has still not been given the justice he deserved. I suggest you read the biography Mad Mike. Another great book actually authored by Calvert is Prisoners of Hope.
Today his 77 Brigade is basically a propaganda unit and an insult to those superb 77 Brigade Chindits of ww2.
To Brigadier MJ Calvert i say "God speed and a salute Sir for your service" and pray he receives justice and exoneration with restoration of reputation.
You Brits using your Indians, Aussies & Chindit fighters beat Ho Chi Minh right after WWII in VietNam. The US Truman Administration & its Labour stooge Atlee refused to press the French who owed the Allies for its lousy WWII performance to give VietNam over to British Administration which would have saved US & SEATO Allies from VietNam War! Also, since the Brits were hurting would have provided compensation for recovery. Churchill would have insisted on that but Atlee was pro-Soviet & didn't believe in the Empire! USA under globalist influence of Dulles would later betray the French like they did PM Eaton over the Suez in VietNam guaranteeing what would later occur! Real shame!
@@djpurry-mw8vz "The US Truman Administration & its Labour stooge Atlee refused to press the French who owed the Allies for its lousy WWII performance to give VietNam over to British Administration which would have saved US & SEATO Allies from VietNam War! "
(x) Doubt. VN was prepared to fight anyone for their independence. They ultimately just wanted every invade to gtfo.
“Betrayed by his nation and the army he served” …Unfortunately an all too common occurrence.
Thank you for the time you took to share that information.
indicates the typical envious/ jealous attitude of peers toward fellow countryman like him. Breed of Brit fighters like him should be produced in modern day UK to deal with unwanted immigrants flooding the country.
@@Marrea-q1m Absolutely agree, stay safe and wise
My dad's best mate, who lived two houses away from us, served as one of Orde Wingate's Chindits. He hardly ever spoke about his exploits, but still had nightmares years later. He once told me about Japanese snipers up in the trees and how they were dealt with. He never forgave the Japanese for what they did to civilians and POWs.
I dont think nazified US zombie marines were involved, stacking up under the trees until the samurai ran out of bullets? So what was it?
@@AremStefaniaK Charlie, patriotism and beer will take over the world, who wants to live in the dark ages or who's coming with!!!!!!!! Ex believers sound about good now, atheist???????? Does that mean ODIN OR woden should set the tone. ?????. Let's see if we can find, valhalla??????no fudge, simping soy will get you there, thats for sure..... Lets see what happens... Il take Nordic Christianity over any other!!!! What is a celtic cross again???? Can they let slip and forget love thy neighbour and love all, it don't work.....i will strike down with great vengeance and furious anger on he or try to poison and contempt...
It seems to me to be bad idea to install yourself in a tree. Once your position is given away, you're a sitting duck.
@@michaeldowson6988 Snipers never did hide in trees, it's a hollywood trope. Japanese snipers took lessons from German snipers and used different types of ground cover.
🤣 Dad's best mate that lived 2 houses down ... 🤗 Gorden Bennant was my Mum's 2nd Boyfriend had a Grandmother that Married a 2nd in Command 'Chindit' 👍🙃🍺🦘
Thank you for bringing the story of Mike Calvert to life. Clearly a fearless soldier who committed fully to his mission. Despite his struggles post war, I'm glad he made it to the late 1990s and I hope some or most of the post war years gave him some measure of happiness.
With name you sound like you from Jock stock from the east lowlands?!, if you like war history?, Give "Mad Mitch's tribal law" a ganders, battle of the crater!!, a proper warrior Scotsman in the Argyll & sutherland... Enjoy 👍..
My great uncle was in the Chindits , was left for dead as he had contracted malaria . Was picked up by natives who nursed him back to health , he then walked nearly 500 miles to the nearest British /commonwealth garrison . True story
My ol man was in the 1st Queens and he told me a chindit who travelled 100's of miles back to Brit lines volunteered to stay with the Queens.
My dad said he was a right nutter! Despised the japs....well i suppose they all did. This was down in the Arakan.
Clearly a man of character, grit and courage. You must be proud.
@@randolphscott3361 yeah I didn’t know him too well , my parents moved to England when I was young he lived in Scotland , was quite a character I was told. Met him a couple of times , he was old school , very strong ( he was a farmer ) and represented Scotland at tug of war. I remember he never spoke just ate like a man possessed at the dinner table , never seen anyone eat so fast.
Legend
@@alastairbrewster4274Did he spend time as a POW? Excessive Fast eating is usually a trait seen in former prisoners.
Wellington actually said "Next to a battle lost, the saddest thing is a battle won."
What does that mean?
Sadly the way it ends for a lot of history’s best war fighters.
Sosabowski...❤
Not sad, typical
Only the compromised, like Hitler Churchill Kerry or McCain get elevated
@@ducomaritiem7160 A fine example, a superb Polish paratrooper reduced to working as a janitor.
People (mostly Americans thanks to McArthur) often over look the New Guinea part of the pacific war. But the total campaign included not only the first land defeat of the Japanese by anyone, Milne bay by Australia. But also the totals are
USA Kia 7000
Australia Kia 9000
Japan Kia 200,000
It started rough but became one of the most decisive victories of the war and happened in tandem with guadal canal and if you count them as 2 parts of the same battle which the Japanese do, it gets even more comprehensive with what the marines did at guadal canal
Not to forget the "Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels" of those regions who carried wounded and supplies over the Kokoda and other trails, who were loved by the Aussies and their allies.
what has this goto do with the video? This is about the British Chindits in Burma.
Guadalcanal
@@spidos1000 Some of these commentators on here just dont seem to understand these are British troops...not Australians.
Only this is not about New Guienea it's about a particular officer of a particular breed who was treated badly by the British establishment regardless of the sacrifices he had made for them.
Sad finale for such a wonderful soldier. Sadder is that no one ever bothered to take care of him. After everything he went through, drinking was just an escape.
his country owed him and Failed him.
Those that demoted him would not survive his ordeals, yet he was pushed to do the duty his country demanded, and his country failed him when he had to deal with the ghosts of the terrible things he did
Same as it ever was!!🤮@@goforward123
He did find some sort of peace of mind and peiced his life back together later in his years. He struck up a relationship with another male who was a constant companion and helped him toward his later life. Not sure if he kicked the drink completely but it appears in his later years he was in command of it rather than it being in command of him. On another thread there was a bloke who remembers he used to come to his house when he was a young lad for meals and his party peice was to hang from the dado rails in the house by his fingers and transport himself around using the dado rail - now I have no reason to believe that story is not true so just imagine the strength that man must have had in his hands and fingers then add to that he was the Army middleweight boxing champion and that he would start many a day of his life with a brandy and a brawl because that's what he loved the most. There was even a rumour he challenged Blair to a fight when drunk. Blair knocked him out but there should be no great surprise there Blair was about 6 feet three and built like a brick shithouse being an international standard rugby player and liking violence as much as Calvert did. It was also thought that Blair was also a homosexual and there could have been a hate thing going on there. There was a story of how Calvert went to a stream in Burma to wash and swim and found a Japanese officer there wishing to do likewise. They fought and Calvert killed him with his bare hands - the story goes the Japanese officer had reached his sword but it did not help him when Calvert was in the mood to kill!
I would probably be an alcoholic after seeing what he saw and what he did. He fought an enemy that was vicious and without morals. My Dad was an alcoholic after being wounded at Sidi Rezegh in Egypt 1941 and seeing the destruction caused by the Germans. His best mate was hit by a an 88mm Flak gun and disappeared before his eyes. He was on Valium and Librium, this was before we knew what PTSD was.
Alot of ww2 vets had PTSD they called it shell shock , my pa ,and all 4 uncles served ,as did I ,but my service was in peacetime . We were all geared up after Beruit embassy but never left for there or Grenada . Pa and uncle Sal had a Finnish friend Named Simo . That man really didnt play well with the russians .
Librium is HEAVY duty medication
@@AnthonyOMulligan-yv9cgthey giv ya libby's for the DT's aswell.... 👋..
My brother, we're about the same age, my father also WW2 vet. They struggled, some overcame it, and it overcame some.
Mhhh Valium they dont make creative pastimes like they used to
We appreciated our Aussie brother's in Nam, they had more flexibility to make decisions in combat. In other words, weren't restricted to checking ID before engaging the enemy. They were there when needed.
Unfortunately the CIA undermined all the Allied efforts there.
This is about the British Chindits in Burma. Why is everyone thinking these guys are Australian?
Chindits were British and Indian soldiers picked from regiments who fought in the 14th army. The second battalion East Lancashires for example was one of those British units. Dont think there were any Australian units involved in Burma.
@@spidos1000 It's the slouch hats. Stereotypicallly Australian because it's a piece of uniform that was widely used in the Boer War, ww1 & 2 and still used as dress uniform across all branches of the ADF because of those beginnings. Alot of people for some reason don't put 2 + 2 together and draw the conclusion that it's an item of clothing inherited from the British army as the British army has a much longer history and has changed it's uniform in different eras and campaigns for a lot longer space of time. On the other hand Australia's military history being a much shorter branch off British military fairly recently the uniform hasn't changed as much in comparison. So people tend to attach it to the idea of being Australian because school doesn't teach much about British history prior to Captain Cook and settlement not even the Boer War which Australia took part in before ww1 and even then it's very minimal. People need to read more history books here.
@@spidos1000 Possibly because they wore the Slouch Hats.
Glad to see this video. While he may have been forgotten by the military this video is one more form of remembrance of someone that truly deserves to be remembered. His end is not surprising given what he saw and did and that end does not diminish the heroic man in anyway.
The 13th Battalion The Kings Liverpool Regiment fought with both Chindit columns with great distinction.
My Great Grandfather was in 13th Batt, we still have his diaries from his time in Burma
@@thatoneinasuit6404 absolutely amazing that , I was also in the kings regiment. I served in Bosnia and Kosovo in the late 90s early 2000s
Initially it did not. Many units found a reason to dump their misfits etc into the new organization and the first tranch of the Liverpool Regiment were not exactly up to scratch. I read it was one of the many reasons why the first column was so badly mauled, as much by the jungle as by enemy action. By training and process of elimination the Liverpool regiment and the better pool for human resources became an exceptional part of the Chindit columns as they traversed Burma.
@@Scaleyback317 it’s called the kings Liverpool regiment
@@ste2442 It may well used to be. That name disappeared when the war did. Not sure what the modern day version of what it turned into is called. Doesn't alter my post one iota however.
RIP Sir along with the men that served with you. 🙏
Got to admit, pure luck he wasn't filled with holes during his solo bayonet charge
F. Spencer Chapman's "The Jungle is Neutral" is a classic book. An account of his war in Burma, mostly behind Japanese lines.
Yes and a pre ww2 explorer with Gino Watkins, and expert in survival. who along with Peter Fleming, Anthony Quayle, Mike Calvert, helped form the Auxiliaries who would have acted as guerrillas within the UK had the Germans invaded. All of whom had special forces roles in ww2. Peter Fleming was Ian's brother.
I read "The Jungle is Neutral" which started my interest in survival, and medicine, which led to my career choices.
i have an old edition of that one but i have a few about stay behind and guerrilla units. isnt that the one where they spent most of there time lost and on the verge of starving but finding help just in time then having to recover and do it again? another book i dont recall the name of was about a stay behind unit that did quite well but the natives they used to carry and stash their supplies, tons of it, went back and looted everything. the two best ones i have is the "harriers" and the 2/2nd independents, both Australian. the harriers were 5 or 6 soldiers abandoned by there officers, singapore i think but could be wrong. they were'nt given the order to surrender so they island hopped there way home. they joined a chinese guerrilla force, as a few of these guys did, but left them for the same reasons. they were communists and focused more on training and indoctrination than fighting. when they got home the army called them cowards and put them all in crappy jobs. the 2/2nd is awesome, thought to have been captured they fought the japs in timor for a year or so before they managed to build a radio and contact Australia. they had the japs bottled up in their city in the end.
These guys were superhuman......
By todays standards anyway...
He reminds me of Paddy Mayne the SAS fighter
British soldiers..
Didn't the Japanese start a rumor saying they was scared to fight up close and that's why he started charging with the bayonet. After the 1st one there was nobody left to tell anyone different so he done it again ...
And he done it so much the higher up told him they need to stop cause they couldn't afford to lose him
That flamethrower tank is insane!
I don’t know if it’s a ‘crocodile’ (an adaptation of the Churchill) it was a fearsome weapon that only a fool didn’t run from
@@lynby6231That's a Universal Carrier (aka Bren gun Carrier) fitted with a "Ronson" flamethrower. Most probably it's a variant called a Wasp. I don't think they were used in the Far East.
GOD bless the Mad Mikes in our services and the men that follow them into that madness.
0:12 Gentlemen in the top right of this photo is Major James Rutherford Lumley- the actressJoanna Lumley’s dad 🌹
Fair Dinkum mate?
@@stevehall734 truth
@@revert6417 Crikey!
@@stevehall734 details like that should always be remembered, its not to spread other peoples business around, its more just to be grateful really
@@sufianansari4923 I'm certainly grateful. Always, having family in both wars and ex military myself. Just very surprised as I am a fan of Joanna Lumley. A fine lady with a fine father. Kind regards.
When you are leading Gurkhas, you can do such things. As usual all recognition to the *** man without recognizing the valor of the Gurkhas.
The sad end of this great soldier sounds a little bit like 'Fighting Mac' - Sir Hector Mc Donald, another sad end to another great soldier.
Unfortunately… an all too familiar story and end of a great warrior. Rest in peace.
Seems like a lot of uncles were in the Chindits.
😂🤣😵💫👍
😂🤣😵💫👍
Goes to show how few returned well enough to father their own children maybe?
My Great Uncle fought in Burma. Became a Sergeant Major.
The Japanese were out fought there , strategically and individually.
My great uncle was a part of z force (Australian commandos)was in the 1st raid on singapore harbour having evaded undetected after successful mission the 2nd half of the raid was detected n 14 men killed in the fire fight n the other 14 having been caught after they successfully completed their mission having been executed on my bday some 67or 68 yrs earlier on 29th july 1941 or 42 not positive on the yr though god bless cpl ron gibbs z force (ret)
To experience war and not come out damaged would not be likely. What these heroes experienced is unfathomable. Pushed to the brink of death!
Typical treatment from politicians. "Oh yes, you've done great things for this country.., but what have you done for -- ME -- lately?"
"Well, I did let you live."
Chindits aka Burmese Hill people now called the Kariang are still fighting for their independence today ...
Pencil pushing peace time officers will never know what it does to a man to see young men that entrusted him with their lives dead on a battlefield. I can only imagine the demons that man fought the rest of his life. Piss on pencil pushers and shame on any of his battlefield superiors that allowed the military to throw him away like that after the war. Men like him needed to be protected from themselves not admonished and hidden away in a glass box to be broken only in times of war. I truly hate what the military becomes in peace times. Great men like him become disposable and thrown away.
blame the government and the ruling elite for that those pen pushers generals were only doing what the political elite told them to do
RIP Mad Mike
Fascinating. Thanks for sharing!
mad mike for a quick minute looked like old orde wingate and although a bit eccentric he to was a ruthless and intense combat leader
and now that you're on it why not do a history video on old orde wingate , before the war ( WW-2' ) he did outstanding work on the unconventional warfare innovations his work in ethiopia as a military advisor on the ground working directly with the local indigenous people and with minimal support efforts from the UK , his ground breaking work in Palestine against the arabs and helping the jews form and training them for their special night squads , all before WW-2'
'Long pork' and Jungle 'bandicot' was just some of the items on the menu from what I was told by 'Paddles' in another Aussie group. Supply drops? Eat J ap! Or watch what the monkeys eat. A little swapping of dog tags as well to avoid unwanted wives on return. Just don't do what Paddles did, return to your home city and drive taxis unless you want to be spotted.
My grandfather was 2/6 independent company in New Guinea. I'm proud to be from his line
Going back to a tame civilian life must be close to impossible
Love your work.
A suggestion, since almost all your stories involves Comandoes, tell people about the origin, the Boer Koemandoes, 1890s. The first, Churchill knew and them after his experience in South Africa.
Always thought the second Chindit campaign would make a good film.
An American film, probably woke
With a great statement of disgust from Mad Mike to Vinegar Joe Stilwell in a message to the Brit hating Yank General after Stilwell released the press info that the Chinese Army he had under his command had taken a key point (I believe it was the marshalling yards in Moguang but could be wrong) The Chinese Army having taken Moguang the Chindits will continue to take umbrage!
I also believe Stilwell for once saw the humour and the barb in this and on reviewing the physical state of the Chindits as they followed Calvert back into the jungle for yet another raid so soon after the casualties of Myitkinya he started to have a grudging respect for the British he had under his control and woke to the fact that much of his misinformation concerning the British under his command was coming from one of his own advisors a rampant Irish American nationalist with a grudge. I cannot remember his name but I have seen his name mentioned at some point over the years. Not clear what action Stilwell took to shut this avenue of misinfo but would be interested in finding out if there is anyone who has that info. Stilwell became an admirer apparently once he had witness how unfit for further battle the Chindits had been worn down to but still turning round and following Calvert back to yet another battle.
My granddad fought in Burma, and taught unarmed combat after the war. He would only tell me about funny stories from his times on this base and never about the battles. I understand why.
Orders to accomplish understand ...UNDERSTAND... all your base are belong to us
I know that they were the toughest and bravest, because they absolutely had to be just to survive in that theater. Their situation was worse than Macv-Sog in Viet Nam because they did not have good logistical support !
They had the beginnings of the air support system and Calvert sang their praises highly. They were mostly US squadrons of light transports to help with comms and transporting of wounded out of combat areas. Many young Britons/Indians/Ghurkas/African young men owed their lives to the skill and bravery of those US pilots and Calvert recognized them for this. Also many of the heavier transport which towed gliders/parachuted men and supplies into the Chindit bases behind Japanese lines were also US squadrons.
Calvert was taken on as an advisor in the early years of Vietnam. It is my understanding he was frustrated by too many US commanders not wishing to learn from the mistakes made by Chindit columns in the early days and just ignored him. Probably not helped because he was constantly drinking.
In a churchyard local to me there is a gravestone to a young Stafforshire Regiment officer who was awarded the VC as a result of the actions on Pagoda hill mentioned in this clip. The brother of this officer moved to this particular village and set up a cafe across the road from the village church. He placed the headstone to his brother in that cemetary. This young lad had already killed a handful of Japanese but his revolver ran out of ammo and a Japanese officer hacked of his arm with a sword - this young officer killed the Japanese officer via other means and was taken off the hill into the valley ready for one of the US light aircraft to casevac him. There were many of his Staffordshire Regiment wounded there also and he insisted he was to be the last to of his unit to be casevaced. He bled out! Now one of the pre-requisites of winning the VC has always been the recipient must not be in a no hope situation where to fight is the only option. There has to be a way out for them to make the choice of fight or flight - if they take the choice most likely to be hazardous to their own survival then and only then are they eligible. This brave young officer put his men before himself and it cost him his life - therefore eligible. Most youngsters (and even oldsters) have no clue as to the story behind the gravestone or even if the gravestone exists. I go to the village occasionally (it's beautiful there) and I always say a quiet thank you as I walk past it.
Really happy that somebody has decided to honour this bravest of men. There is much more to Calvert than this short documentary as good as it is (even though inaccurate in places). He was put forward for 3 Victoria Crosses and not granted one of them. It is suspected mainly for two reasons. One he was not in a regular Big Batallion unit of the British Army where irregular specialist units of his kind were treated with open disdain no matter how successful they were. Secondly his homosexuality was probably rumoured if not openly known and this at that time in British history would have scuppered his chances. Some feel Paddy Mayne was denied for the same reasons.
The man was loved by his men even though most of them thought he enjoyed the violence and killing a little too much even for their hardened stomachs. His behaviour had become erratic and his drinking continual. I suspect in modern times he would have been diagnosed with PTSD or worse and been treated long before this stage. He was Britain's most decorated General and as one American who served alongside him apparently noted he was the fightingest general of the war. He only ever led from the front.
On his humiliating removal from the Malayan Scouts which he had formed from a group of South Africans to re-instate the SAS he was demoted (no need for generals of his experience in a peacetime British Army) So they put him in charge of married quarters, in Soltau Germany (what a disgraceful way to treat him but the big Batallion garrison men now ran the British Army and Calvert and his violence were welcomed in a Garrison.) He took to spending much of his spare time in a German Gasthaus called (I believe) The Green Man. It was a known haunt of German n'erdowells and ex SS men with whom he had more in common than the new Garrison officers of the British Army. A group of young Germans took it upon themselves to rob him and followed him back to his quarters. These young men either made up or were put up with a story by the investigating RMP's and Calvert faced Courts Martial and was dismissed from service. These Germans lads were tracked down later and admitted it was all a lie and they were there to rob him and nothing else but they went along with the story as a cover to their own misdemeanour. The owner of the Green Man voiced his opinions on how could British authority treat such a brave man in that manner but it all fell on deaf ears. Calvert was an embarrassment to them and a leftover from a bygone war he was to be got rid of. He was later accepted back into the Special Forces Club as an honoured member. After half his life time of literally workig for the price of his next bottle and doing some security work as an advisor for the US in Vietnam he was increasingly shunned as too unreliable due to his drinking and explosive nature. He was a phenominally strong man. He struck up a friendship with another male and they remained close until his death.
I believe he also set up and trained the Belgian SAS and took the surrender of all German units in Denmark - but I could be wrong in this. He wrote at least one book and a book was written about him but for the years in the wilderness throughout the late '50's to the 70's he was lucky to have survived the demons which drove him to the bottle and to violence. A flawed man but not in the manner of his homosexuality I hasten to add but he clearly had behavioural problems and a streak of enjoying the violence too much. Nevertheless he was a fascinating character whom I would have loved to have a conversation with and hope he didn't single me out for a fight!
Morals:
You'll go through hell and they won't take care of your PTSD.
Not worth it...let them do their own dirty work...
Australian commando’s !!
These guys weren’t Aussies; there were some Aussies posted to British units in Burma but there were no solely Australian military formations operating on land in Burma. The actions detailed here (as mentioned in the video) pertain to the Chindits which were comprised of British and colonial troops.
The Australian military has been doing the dirty work for “ the British empire” for both world wars perfect example is the light horse brigade in Gallipoli. I don’t doubt all those boys in the video wearing their hats with the slant and fold would have something to say about this video and the one being beheaded at nam kin
People who respect their leaders don't ignore their orders.
I served 20yrs army airborne ranger 84-04 and these guys seem likè rangers
Thank you for your service!
I’m pretty certain Merrills Marauders were based on the Chindits; similar comparisons between the Rangers off the Commandos in Europez
nowadays, they'd call him a war criminal, colonialist and demand we feed Imperial Japan and not hit any civilians while fighting them
Many will not know this - in the photo at around aout 012 the skinny officer in the background with the M1 carbine slung over his forearm is Joanna Lumley's father!
Heroes, one and all...
But, Orders are Orders. 🔥
The founder and commander of the Chindits was in fact Orde Wingate.
The film acknowledges that or did you lose interest and start suckig your crayons by that point?
@@Scaleyback317 My goodness but you're an unpleasant creature to talk in such a manner to someone who never said a rude word to you. Or is this an alt-account of yours? Nah, I think you're just, well, obnoxious.
Im 🇨🇦 50ish years old. Seen a few things.
If i had to choose someone to go into a fight with and everything being equal my only deciding factor being nationality?
Gimmie the Aussie
these guys are British not Aussie.
If you were to go into battle with a Brit things would certainly not be equal ahaha coming from an Australian
@@luciangumley7637 16 years British Army and I'd put my faith in a British infanteer to have my back over any other on the planet. Same goes for if we were to down the special forces choice also. Seved alongside Yanks/Canucks/Aussies/Kiwis/Gurkhas and nothing leads me to change my opinion (and that's all it is so don't come snapping back with any sort of blxnbs of a nationalistic nature - NFI)
2:30 fredrick spencer-chapman The jungle is my enemy
The jungle is neutral
"The Jungle can be your friend"..
The Chindits fought some of the loneliest and hardest battles, with least supplies and no chance of casualty evacuation. PTSD was the least you could expect. In 1952 Calvert was attacked by four thugs he'd invited home when drunk. He fought back visciously and expertly; the criminals then lied to cover up their robbery. The court martial is thought to have wanted to cashier an embarrassing drunk and its guilty verdict was appealed. A post-trial investigation found the true story. An army officer described the pub Calvert when to as a criminal gang HQ. German investigator obstained statements from all 4 main witnesses, admitting their evidence was false or been misinterpreted. One witness did not recognise his evidence from translated transcripts at all. Calvert's accusers served a prison term for robbing his flat. The Judge Advocate General rejected Calvert's appeal on the grounds the new statements had not been taken by a police officer. MOD refused a request for a judicial review in 1997. It is a festering scandal that deserves to be cleared up. Calvert died 1999.
I wonder if there will ever be an official revisit to the facts. That Calvert was suspected of homosexuality (and he almost certainly was) swayed the view of, "Head office" to the negative and they just wanted rid of somebody who had outlived his usefulness in the new world of British Garrison service in Germany. These German lads admitted to following a drunk British officer back to his quarters to rob him. This came too late for anyone wishing to assist Calvert and he was tossed aside.
He was accepted back into the fraternity of the Special Forces Club later in his life which apparently pleased him greatly. But this man does deserve to have his case revisited - it is clear there was a miscarriage of justice and interests other than justice were being served throughout his shaming. It's a dark stain on British military history and Calvert was the unwitting victim of the same sort of attitudes which damned Turing and cast the stain of rumour and doubt upon another of our greatest fighting men - Paddy Mayne. Mayne was also denied a VC and I wonder if it was for the same reasons Calvert was denied the three VC's he was put forward for. The suspicion of homosexuality and that the conventional army generals were not going to allow these two Special Forces type leaders get their rewards. They both had a problem with the bottle - did that play a part?
The Devil lies at the bottom of every rotgut bottle.......and even the bravest men can be struck down if they underestimate the power of that enemy.
I was expecting Wingate when I saw the thumbnail and title.
Well he was mentioned but this subject is the finest fighting general of the war and his part in the Chindit history.
My grandfather was a Chindit and would definitely agree. He thought Wingate was a crazy genius but had a lot of respect for Mad Mike as a soldier.
in 1944 in Burmah the British had over one million troops in Burmah, this was the Pacific theartre and there were more British troops in this theartre than American.
India was not an ‘integral part of the United Kingdom’
Was Churchill behind this
If you read about it the Chindits under Wingate spent most of their time partiularrly in the early days hacking their way thruogh jungles losing a huge percentage of their men to disease for no good purpose .Wingate himself was an eccentric character to say the least with a dark past in Palistine and was unpopular with his offecers and men .
There was a purpose to his methods. When he asked for volunteers from the 14th Army - he was not sent the best the 14th Army had and a lot of military organizations saw it was a chance to get rid of their problem children. Wingate brought in the leaders and trainers he wanted and he knew nothing would harden or educate this mish mash of undesirable units into what was required in the jungle like the jungle itself. It was not of no good purpose it had the desired effect it separated the wheat from the chaff and those who stayed the duration and learned the hard way were to become the most superlative jungle fighters of WW2.
That Wingate was also barking is not something most would argue against but his ideas worked and beat the Japanese at their own game.
The whole notion of a specialist jungle raiding force such as the Chindits was loathed by the conventional big Batallion hierarchy - even Slim was not a great fan and he's reputed to be the finest General the west produced (I can go along with that also but he had a blindspot the Chindits were that blindspot) Probably why Calvert never received one of the 3 VC's he was put forward for.
My grandad was chindit
Really? Not madman Churchill?
They were dressed like Australian soldiers, slouch hats etc.
Slouch hats aren’t/weren’t unique to Australian forces however.
🇦🇺 👍
Standard British Issue in jungle environments.
The empire forces inflicted the biggest strategic defeats of WW2 on the Imperial Japanese Army, whilst the US Navy swept across the Pacific dealing with the formidable IJN.
Australia actually inflicted Japan's first defeat on land during WW2, (THE BATTLE OF MILNE BAY)
British 14th Army (a mixture of British/Indian/Ghurka/Africans/Burmese) inflicted the greatest retreat ever on the Japanese army. Denying them logistics and replacements and killing them all the way back into what became Vietnam. The Chindit activities certainly contributed the battles at Kohima and Imphal broke the back of the Japanese Army. The units involved were predominantly Indian Army by the way.
Fuck all warfare
" Lest we forget " 🇦🇺
The British military is the very best but the officer class is still very elitist. When dirty work has to be done they love men like Mike but when peace comes they abandon them, I know it happened to me, I hold no grudges, I did my duty and my men know the truth, Mike was a soldiers soldier
sad
China and Russia must be shitting in their pants learning this.
Stillwell was a bad general.
Look like ozys to me
Bit of a daft comment considering the Aussies were just displaced Brits back then.
they're Brits
@@spidos1000 sorry didn’t know poms wore slouch hats
Slouch hats are relatively ubiquitous to military forces operating in warmer climates during prior to and during WW2.
@@jondoe8816 In jungle warfare of course they did!
Best to play at .75 speed.
👍👍👍
That's it?! Just crawled into a bottle and died?! That ending could have had a little make-up put on it.
My mum nursed him when he was periodically admitted to hospital in the early 1960s, she said he was the most perfect gentleman and she liked him a lot, despite his constant battle with the bottle.
PTSD is a motherfucker. And for many veterans, alcohol, drugs and criminality were the only ways to address the pain.
Being apparently queer, too, in an era where That Was Not Done, probably didn't help matters at all.
@@satyrosphilbrucato9140 That was likely the reason he was never given one of the three VC's he was put forward for and likely the reason he was stitched up after the war in Germany. It's long been thought Paddy Mayne may have been a homosexual and there are similarities in why he also was refused a VC or maybe two.
Wonderful historical coverage video about that heroism case during WW2... Both Germany and Britain learned Japanese military efforts, modern fighting, modern organizations of military, and navel forces to destroy the Russian empire in the Far East before WW1.... ...during WW1 Japanese switched side against Germany 😂...during WW2 Japan turned on against Britain, France, USA, 😂😂😂😂...politicians never learned from history
A bit like Blair Mayne
There are similarites which should lead to questions but never has.
Mad murdering officers who where actually hated by all there men
Sorry, not even close to being the most ruthless. In the north Russian soldiers ate prisoners of war. They also murdered lots of women and children and were proud of it. Juri Andropov was one of the worst ones ever.
This war hero might not have become such a bad alcoholic, his ultimate, shameful downfall had the UK not had to fight in the Pacific! That wouldn't have happened had the Roosevelt Administration not made it it's business to go against WWI ally, Japanese Empire! Truth is if Roosevelt had gone against Nazi Germany's government the way he had Japan's, we should have been helping the British Empire by mid 1940 in Europe with Japan as neutral or even an ally against the USSR helping supply Nazi Germany! The Pacific War bankrupted Churchill's gov't which pro-Soviet Labour Party used to defeat him at a critical time for PM. This in turn kept European WWII going without British dominance that condemned Eastern European country's Allied governments allied with British Empire loss to pro-Soviet allies! Churchill the lion lost at the most critical time leading modern UK to being what it is today, a shameful shadow of its once great self! The treatment of this veteran who sold his medals to pay bills while illegal immigrants get all the subsidies is as disgraceful as the treatment he & his British led Chindit army received by American Marxist sympathizer Gen. Stilwell who stole credit & denied the British their authority in their campaign! Stilwell helped undermine the anti-communist forces in China like he did this British heroe whose alcoholism was aggravated by that I'm sure!
Going to ignore the undercurrents in your post because it is not complete bollocks, of course the US administration had an ulterior motive. They had to break the power of the British Empire and fight a war at the same time. I often wonder how things might have unfolded had Hitler not been foolish enough to declare war on the US!
The British government of the day were never not going to fight in Asia any more than they were not going to fight in N. Africa so not sure what point you're trying to squeeze out of that.
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s
Damn "music" is too loud. I'll quit watching these if it continues. Good content overall, though.
The Chindits weren't an 'elite' force, they were mostly just ordinary troops with a bit of jungle training.
Yes but the difference was they were fighting behind enemy lines, that takes a lot of bravery. Drawn from volunteers from British and Indian regiments of the 14th army.
@@Acridblue999 One of the several reasons for the Chindit project was to destroy the myth of the 'Jap jungle fighting superman' by showing that ordinary British & Empire troops, well trained, well led and well supplied, could fight them successfully in that theatre.
@@highcountrydelatite Id say the SAS fighting behind enemy lines in the western desert can claim that title.
India was never an integral part of the UK, get your facts straight
Exactly India was made, or rather encouraged!! (Bribed)?? to fight for their own existence too... They seem to forget that bit, and the INA under Chandra bose allied with the japs bit out aswell, .. And the crazy thing is, the Brits still stood shoulder to shoulder with them and fought tooth & nail knowing that independence from the Brits would be granted either way on the outcome of the Battle...yet not one bit of gratitude has ever been shown for it!!....
Seriously? Britain spent fortunes securing Indian wealth. Totally integrated into every area of British life.
@@andrewhodgson8753 not anymore and when they're asked to leave then they should like ALL white British left India and Pakistan after independence.. Its only fair..
First
The chindits action during the campaign was highly inflated.
Why?
@@Charles-k9g5ytake no notice he's a woke self loathing haters of his own, not to worry these idiot traitors will be made to leave soon or find themselves on crutches with a forever limp after...
@@Charles-k9g5y just name a single place in which the chindits acctually tributed to a japanese defeat. Just one : for a entire account for this rag tag militia and their hapless guerilla campaign read "Nemesis" by Max Hastings. But it was not only the chindits that where a disappointment for Churchill. While the british army was still fighting in Burma in august 1945 the US troops were already preparing for an invasion of Japan.
@reinreine knows jack, he's clearly a simpleton with bias, plenty of goid books and Documentaries out there on Chindits, this fool wouldn't even deserve the honour of licking these lads boots clean...
@@reinereine1896 -- any time you can tie up enemy troops behind the lines is a win. Have you served or are you an arm chair general?
Rotten Poms always turn their back on any one who has helped them
These were poms doing the fighting in Burma.
Jewish guerrillas fighting in Palestine…hmmmm
He was part of the British forces which kept India firmly under opressed, with no respect for the Indian people whatsoever. Ironic that he then fought another, arguably more vicious regime.
He served his country. IDGAF what Iraqis think about the occupation I served under in Iraq back in 03. Its easy for those without a DD214 to stand in judgement, truth is most today would not make the cut.
@@van3158Amen! "
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it.
I would rather that you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand the post. Either way, I don't give a DAMN what you think you're entitled to!
harridan,
Britain guided a 4th world country up to a third world country. Now that they are independent and can see the light, they have worked their way into a second world country. So proud of them... ☆
@@fjb4932and now Britain is the third world country and sinking lower!😂 It's called karma limey!!😂
@@van3158I'm sure your rulers are grateful of obedient sheeple heroes like you
My dad was a chindit they were not Australian
Great story needs a better narrator sounds like talking in a barrel
In the very early 80's as I was starting my career, I worked with a proper soft spoken gentleman. The business went out of its way to help him when he was ill which was often, due to the diseases he'd picked up during "the war". I learnt later that he was a Chindit, he never spoke about it, and a kinder calmer person you'll never meet.
My father was. Chindit. He was a tough man - he never let you know what he was thinking.
I had upbringing that taught you not to expect life to do you any favours.
Top notch Aussie Commandos always in the thick of it, God bless Australia!
Force Z!
Chindits actually...
Training of men and women from all walks of life, backgrounds, cultures, religions, and ethnicities by the British. Has led to some of the very best fighting and espionage personal ever. For example. Allied Commando units, the US Rangers, SAS regiments from France and Belgium. Persons from all over occupied Europe in the SOE. Current day Delta force. Formed by Green Beret and SAS trained Col Charlie Beckworth. The Australian coast watchers. Force Z. It would be of even more benefit to the world. If this dedication and success of inclusion to achieve a common aim. Could be transposed into everyday civilian life. A victory of harmony and personal success over division and failure?
@@keithdurose7057 try telling freeloading migrants and radical religions that then, oh and those of colour who feels entitled through victimhood..its not the natives who need to behave, be respectful and assimilate is it..
Bluey!!!
If you have ever read Kipling's poem "Tommy"...you might understand a bit about how the Brits treat their soldiers. Only in times of war do they get respect...when the war is over...they kick him out the door.
And what happened to Vietnam vets?
@@nickjung7394 In a lot of ways, the USA does the same thing...oh, right...the Brits were our colonizers...so wonder where we got that habit from.
And by the way, I am a Nam combat vet.
Some men were born to be soldiers and couldn’t live without it
@arthurspearman7914 TBH Arthur, the Americans were the British colonisers up until the War of Independence/ American Revolution.
They then became American colonisers.
The presence of militia units in the American colonies was the result of the traditional English ruling classes dislike of standing armies.
Standing armies were seen as expensive and the tools of the European and generally Catholic absolutist monarchies who wished to retain an absolute control of their realms and their subjects.
This was not the kind of thing English gentlemen would suffer lightly, whichever side of the pond he called home.
It was only the advent of gunpowder weaponry that led to the formation of a standing army in Great Britain, and the army certainly didn't grow to match the size of the European conscript armies.
The experience of 19th-century British soldiers on leave was due to the working classes dislike of the soldiers, and not the result of demonstrations by highly politicised student activists opposed to the Vietnam War.
And thank you for your service.
“Oh it’s Tommy this and Tommy that and “Chuck him out the brute” but it’s “Savior of the country, when the guns begin to shoot”…
Legacy:
• Calvert’s daring tactics and leadership under extremely challenging conditions left a lasting impact on special operations and jungle warfare.
• His contributions to the success of the Chindit operations are celebrated as key moments in the Allied campaign in Burma during World War II.
Mike Calvert passed away on November 26, 1998, leaving behind a legacy of bravery and innovative military tactics.
My grandad was a chindit, but he didnt speak to much about things only to that the Gurkahs were the finest men he ever fought with
Modern Australia has lost the plot !
I’m not going to disagree, but not sure what the relevance is?
Its all Orchestrated just part of the Plan to DECIMATE one of the Greatest Countries on Earth .
Space to discuss that somewhere else. No room for it in the story of this great man at this part of his life. He wandered around Australia for years as a drunk looking for work for a bottle - another story.
You got that right
Err... India was NOT "an integral part of the UK", it's never been part of the UK at all, you probably mean British Empire.
Kinda splitting hairs there aren’t you?
@@thehawk7064 Err...No. Since you don't seem to know much, the UK is a country comprising of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The British Empire was much bigger and included countries like India, Australia, New Zealand, America, Burma, Egypt, South Africa, etc. Confusing UK with British Empire is like saying New York is America.
Yep hair splitting @@asanulsterman1025
Yes but UK was the head of the empire. he implied integral part of the uks empire@asanulsterman1025
@@psngaming3796 What are you smoking? He literally said "As an integral part of the UK, India was the jewel of the vast and rich British Empire". That is quite clear, quite wrong and a very long way from whatever you are blathering about.