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The Forgotten War Podcast: Burma Campaign WW2

The Forgotten War Podcast: Burma Campaign WW2

By: Robert Lyman and Jack Bowsher
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 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 narrative of the campaign.


Series Two began in June 2025 and includes interviews with historians, relatives of veterans, and plenty of narratives by Jack and Rob, all about the retreat in 1942.
Later series will be much of the same, covering anything and everything related to the Burma Campaign - or the China-Burma-India Theatre as it is known in the USA.


Sponsored by The Burma Star Memorial Fund, Sampan Travel, The Kohima Educational Trust, and Guidl.
You can follow the pod on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (X), the handle for all is @forgottenwarpodYou can also email Rob and Jack at forgottenwarpod@gmail.com
By the hosts:Robert Lyman - Slim Master of War (2003), Japan's Last Bid for Victory (2016), A War of Empires (2021), Victory to Defeat (with General Lord Dannatt, 2023), Korea War Without End (with General Lord Dannatt, 2025), and many more.Jack Bowsher - Forgotten Armour: Tank Warfare in Burma (2024), Thunder Run: Meiktila 1945 (2025)


Produced and Edited by Robbie Maguire


*Note from the hosts: In some episodes there may be the use of language that is outdated in the modern world. This is only ever said in the show as quotations by individuals who lived at the time when those phrases were in common usage across the world.*

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The Forgotten War Podcast Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • 14. Elephants, and novelising the retreat

    14. Elephants, and novelising the retreat
    Aug 25 2025
    This week Rob and Jack were joined by the brilliant journalist and novelist John Sweeney. Aside from his work all over the world and covering all sorts of topics, including Trump and Putin, John also wrote the novel Elephant Novel, set during the retreat from Burma in 1942, and partly inspired by 'Elephant Bill' Williams.

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    59 mins
  • 13. Through the Jungle of Death by Stephen Brookes - Book Review

    13. Through the Jungle of Death by Stephen Brookes - Book Review
    Aug 18 2025
    This week Rob and Jack review the excellent Through the Jungle of Death by Stephen Brookes. A wonderful, if traumatic, book about his families escape on foot out of Burma in 1942.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • 12. VJ DAY SPECIAL! With Lord Slim, Sylvia May, and Alex Bescoby

    12. VJ DAY SPECIAL! With Lord Slim, Sylvia May, and Alex Bescoby
    Aug 15 2025
    Jack and Rob have a surprise VJ Day Special for listeners - bringing together a panel to discuss what is happening to support the memory, and spread knowledge of, of the Burma Campaign through their various work. Joining the FWP team are Lord Slim representing the Burma Star Memorial Fund, Sylvia May of the Kohima Educational Trust, and Alex Bescoby of Help 4 Forgotten Allies, and his new documentary on Sky History with Levison Wood - The Last Burma Star.

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    1 hr and 6 mins
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nice work on a little known and significant topic, keep up the good work, thanks

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