'Uncle Bill' Slim

[Hobilar]

The Allied General who I most admire is William Joseph Slim, the commander of the 14th (Forgotten) Army who achieved victory in Burma in 1945.

Bill Slim was born in August 1891 of humble background. After University his most desired wish was to join the Army, but his father could not afford to enrol him in Sandhurst. With the outbreak of World War 1 however he was awarded a commission, and served at Galipoli and in the Middle East, being awarded the Military Cross.

During his time in the Middle East, he so admired a particular Gurkha Battalion that he resolved to enter the Indian Army after the War.

At the outbreak of World War 11, Slim was the unknown elderly Commanding Officer or a Gurkha Battalion, but was soon given command of a brigade consisting of one British and two Indian Battalions. A year later his Brigade was sent to East Africa to fight the Italians. The Brigade's first action was a complete disaster and Bill had to personally intervene to rally the panicing British Battalion.

Wounded, he returned to India where he was given command of 'Burcorp' during the withdrawal from Rangoon. Despite the casualties and loss of the army's heavy equipment, Bill Slim was not downhearted and was soon given command of 15th Corps . However, he did not get on with his superior Lieutenant-General Irwin and was for some time likely to be sacked from his post. In the end it was Irwin who was sacked . With his new superior, General George Giffard, Bill Slim had a much better relationship, and he eventually took over as C-in-C Eastern Army when General Giffard became commander of 11th Army Group.

Mountbatten, the Supreme Commander South East Asia took an instant liking to Slim and Bill was given command of the newly forming 14th Army which he eventually led to victory.

After the War, Bill Slim became Commandant of the Imperial Defence College, then Chief of the Imperial General Staff, and finally as Governor General of Australia. He died in December 1970.

Truely a Rags to Riches story.