Introducing 'Uncle Bill' - The Soldier's General | Robert Lyman

Known affectionately to many of those he commanded as ‘Uncle Bill’, FIELD MARSHAL VISCOUNT SLIM is widely regarded as ‘a soldier’s general’, but he was just as effective in managing relationships with those alongside and above him, as military historian ROBERT LYMAN illustrates in this podcast. In 2011, a NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM poll ranked him, jointly with the Duke of Wellington, as BRITAIN's GREATEST GENERAL. But despite his outstanding leadership of the 14th Army in the Burma Campaign, and his later appointment as Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS), he is much less well known outside of military historical circles than, for example, his immediate predecessor as CIGS, VISCOUNT MONTGOMERY OF ALAMEIN. This podcast was commissioned by THE GURKHA MUSEUM to complement an online exhibition on SLIM AND HIS LEADERSHIP LEGACY. Visit the MUSEUM'S website www.Thegurkhamuseum.co.uk to find out more about the history and heritage of this unique fighting force that has loyally served Great Britain for over 200 years. DR ROBERT LYMAN FRHistS is a writer and historian. He has published widely on the Second World War in Europe, North Africa and Asia and is Field Marshal Bill Slim’s military biographer. His presentation of the case for Slim won a NATIONAL MUSEUM ARMY DEBATE in 2011 for BRITAIN'S GREATEST GENERAL and his case for Kohima/Imphal won a National Army Museum debate in 2013 for Britain’s Greatest Battle. His new account of the Burma Campaign, A WAR OF EMPIRES, is being published in November 2021. https://robertlyman.com/ ARCHIVE AUDIO | General Slim speaks at 14th Army Reunion, Royal Albert Hall, 1947 – licensed courtesy of British Pathé. MUSIC | We’ll Meet Again sung by Vera Lynn – recording licensed courtesy of Naxos Music UK Ltd. Words & Music by Ross Parker & Hughie Charles, © Copyright 1939 Chester Music Limited trading as Dash Music Co. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. READINGS & QUOTED SOURCES | (1) Slim’s Principles of Jungle Warfare by kind permission of the 3rd Viscount Slim; (2) George Macdonald Fraser on ‘Uncle Bill’ by kind permission of the author; (3) Unto the Hills by John Twells by kind permission of Christopher Twells; (4) Frank McLynn on Slim; (5) Antony Brett-James on Slim; (6) General Slim's Special Order of the Day, 8 April 1945, read by Meghbahadur Rai, The Gurkha Museum. PRODUCTION | Producer - Catriona Oliphant for ChromeRadio | Post-production - Catriona Oliphant & Chris Sharp.