Prisoners of Hope

In this classic WWII memoir, a British commando recounts how the legendary Chindits invented modern guerilla warfare through operations in Burma.

In 1942, British Army Colonel Orde Wingate was sent to Burma to organize guerilla units against the invading Japanese forces. Drawing on locally available troops, Wingate turned English and Scottish line regiments and Gurkha riflemen into the elite “Chindit” force (named for the traditional dragon guardians of Burmese temples). Landing by parachute and glider behind Japanese lines, Wingate’s “Chindit” commandos pioneered long-range reconnaissance and techniques of air support that have since become standard in military operations, particularly in Southeast Asia.

At Wingate’s side through it all was his brave young subordinate, Michael Calvert. After Wingate’s tragic death, Calvert carried his legacy forward, advocating Wingate’s ideas and defending his reputation. In Prisoners of Hope, Calvert shares the unforgettable story of Orde Wingate, the “Chindit” air commandos, and the birth of modern unconventional warfare.