William Slim

William Slim was a British field marshal who led Allied forces in Burma during World War II and later served as governor-general of Australia.

Orde Wingate: A British Army officer who organized the Chindits, long-range penetration forces operating behind Japanese lines in Burma. Wingate’s Chindit operations influenced Slim’s command, though Slim questioned their strategic cost.
Battle of Imphal: A 1944 battle in which Allied forces defended Imphal in northeastern India against a Japanese invasion. Slim’s forces held Imphal despite encirclement, stopping Japan’s advance into India.
Air supply: The delivery of personnel, equipment, or provisions to forces by aircraft. Air supply let Slim’s encircled troops remain in place instead of retreating for ground supply lines.
Governor-General of Australia: The Crown’s representative in Australia, appointed on the advice of the Australian government. Slim held this office from 1953 to 1960, after his military career.
Louis Mountbatten: A British naval officer who commanded Allied forces in Southeast Asia during World War II. Mountbatten was Slim’s theater commander during the campaign to retake Burma.
Battle of Kohima: A 1944 battle in northeastern India that broke the Japanese siege of Kohima and helped relieve Imphal. The relief of Kohima helped reverse the Japanese offensive Slim had anticipated.
Chindits: British and Indian long-range penetration forces that operated behind Japanese lines in Burma during World War II. Slim used the lessons of their operations while weighing their gains against their losses.
Chief of the Imperial General Staff: The senior professional head of the British Army and its principal military adviser to the government. Slim held the post from 1948 to 1952, overseeing the army after World War II.
Geoffrey Scoones: A British lieutenant general who commanded the British IV Corps in Burma during World War II. Scoones led the corps Slim withdrew from Imphal toward the decisive defensive battles.
Battle of Meiktila: A 1945 battle in central Burma in which Allied forces captured a key Japanese communications and supply hub. Slim’s forces seized Meiktila to disrupt Japanese defenses and open the road to Rangoon.

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Japanese occupation of BurmaRelated: His forces drove the Japanese military from Burma in 1945.