Firsthand accounts of the Japanese invasion of Burma during World War II—including the Sittang Bridge disaster and the actions of Sir John Smyth.
More than two years into World War II, Britain stood alone, fighting for survival and waiting for Hitler to launch Operation Sealion, an invasion from across the Channel. But in faraway Burma, life continued as if nothing was happening. The local European community continued their social lives filled with dancing, swimming, golf, bridge, and polo. Even though the sinking of battleships Prince of Wales and Repulse—which had been sent to Singapore by Churchill—brought a minor sense of discomfort, preparations for Christmas continued. The Governor, Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, assured that there was no immediate danger and that not only was Burma ready to defend itself, it was preparing to take the offensive against the enemy. He couldn't have been more wrong.
On December 23rd, Japanese bombers appeared in the sky above Rangoon . . .
Dawns Like Thunder is a complete appraisal of the retreat from Burma using accounts from people who were there and not just the statements of commanding officers. It is an attempt to recount what many soldiers, civilians, and officials involved in the defeat of Burma felt at the time, bringing to life the shock and fear that gripped the population after the Japanese brought the war to their doorsteps.