Special Operations South-East Asia 1942-1945: Minerva, Baldhead & Longshank/Creek

By David Miller

Many books have been written about Second World War special forces operations in Europe and the Middle East. Much less has been said about such operations in South-East Asia – those launched against the Japanese in Sumatra and the Andaman Islands, and the Germans in Goa. These operations, and the exceptional men who took part in them, have been almost forgotten. David Miller, in this gripping account, sets the record straight. His book is based on extensive original research, including long-hidden family documents, revealing much information for the first time and his narrative is fascinating reading for anyone who is interested in special operations and the war against the Axis powers in South-East Asia. His history is the first general account of these operations - it is a landmark in the field.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pen and Sword
• Release date: Nov 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781473874220

David Miller

David A. Miller is the vice president of Slingshot Group Coaching where he serves as lead trainer utilizing the IMPROVleadership coaching strategy with ministry leaders around the country. He has served as a pastor, speaker, teacher, and coach in diverse contexts, from thriving, multi-site churches to parachurch ministries.

Reviews for Special Operations South-East Asia 1942-1945

[robpalmer-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The headline title of this book can be misleading, as the book focuses on just three special operations undertaken in Sumatra in 1942, the Andaman Islands between 1943 and 1945, and Goa in March 1943. The author has published over seventy books on a range of subjects, so this book appears to stand alone, rather than part of a series.As the book covers three special operations, each one is covered in some detail. Part I of the book covers Operation Minerva in Sumatra in December 1942, Part II Operations Baldhead and Hatch in the Andaman Islands over three years, and Part III Operations Longshanks/Creek in Goa in March 1943. Part IV is in effect a one page summary.Operation Minerva is the first covered, and includes some interesting background and biographies of the five men involved. This operation was unsuccessful, in that after the party of five men had been landed on Sumatra, they were not heard of again. The author covers this issue well. Part II covers a series of operations against the Andaman Islands, including the planning and preparations for the operations. The privations the men suffered are documented, and their resilience is impressive. Part III details the operations against Goa, aimed at disrupting enemy shipping. Again, the strategic and operational planning is covered well, and the outcomes of the operations.I enjoy books that open up new areas for me, and I admit that I knew very little about these three operations before reading this book. The subject is researched well, and more than adequately, to provide a very readable and informative account. One of the strengths of this book is the integration of the personal aspects of these operations, leading the reader to feel complete respect for the men involved. It reinforces how multi-faceted and multi-layered the Second World War is in terms of its history. The author is to be commended for writing about three small, and in terms of the overall outcome of the war, insignificant operations, yet, the reader is left to comprehend the actions of individuals in the desire to confront and defeat the enemy.In conclusion, provided the reader understands the actual restricted subject of this book, and is not looking for a wider or more comprehensive account of special operations in South-East Asia, this book is recommended highly. I enjoyed it, and learned a lot from it.