Orde Wingate, by Christopher Sykes

 There are biographies that I will never forget, written by incredible authors who bring their subject to life. I can think of two in particular: Benjamin Franklin by Carl van Dorn and The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris. Two great books.

I can now add to this duo Orde Wingate, by Christoper Sykes. Wingate is probably best known as the originator of long range penetration groups and The Chindits, a caconym for chinthe, a spiritual lion in Burmese culture. The Chindits arguably aided in the destruction of the Japanese Army in Burma, which led to their defeat in WWII. A unit I used to fly with is the successor of the American contingent of The Chindits, the 1st Air Commando, and the famous (to USAF Airmen) Colonels Cochran and Alison. 

But he did so much more. He personally led the Army in Ethiopia, running out the Italians and escorting Haile Selassie into his empire. He also was a Zionist of some repute. His death was premature; he was memorialized by Winston Churchill: "[Wingate] was a man of genius who might well have become also a man of destiny. He has gone, but his spirit lives on in the long range penetration groups, and has underlain all these intricate and daring air operations and military operations based on air transport and on air supply." 

Sykes does a masterful job of engaging the reader, keeping his interest. I have the first edition and it is good, but lacking in end notes or a bibliography. Its copyright is 1959 and footnotes are at the bottom of the page. Unfortunately, once a book is mentioned, it is short-titled under the author's name for the rest of the book. If one wants to find the book, one has to find the first footnote, instead of simply look in the back for the biblio. So many good book recommendations!