Indian Army Experiences of the Burma Campaign

Join historian David Omissi as he highlights the crucial role of the Indian Army in the Allied reoccupation of Burma in 1945 and the ultimate defeat of Imperial Japan.

The Indian Army - primarily manned by Indian soldiers but led by British officers - fought in Burma alongside the British Army and other Allied forces to deal Japan its most significant land defeat of the Second World War.

This victory marked the culmination of a significant transformation within the Indian Army. Its endurance and effectiveness during the final stages of the Burma campaign proved it to be a professional military force capable of withstanding a determined enemy in challenging conditions.

In this insightful talk, historian David Omissi examines the origins, motivations and experiences of the Indian soldiers who served, and the difficulties they were able to overcome. 

About the speaker

David Omissi has served as a Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Hull and was previously a Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. He has published several influential books on the Indian Army, including ‘Indian Voices of the Great War’ and ‘The Sepoy and the Raj: The Indian Army, 1860-1940’.