Johnson, Christopher: Box of Lions

Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Japanese Armys "March on Delhi" during World War II, this book recounts the little-known yet extraordinary battle fought on the plains of Imphal. When Japanese troops targeted a crucial British supply depotcodenamed "Lion Box"stocked with food and military supplies, they anticipated little resistance. Instead, they encountered an unexpected and determined defense. These so-called "admin soldiers" from Britain, India, Nepal, and Africanot battle-hardened infantrymen, but drivers, clerks, pioneers, and warehouse workerssuddenly found themselves thrust into frontline combat. Over three days of fierce fighting, they halted a professional invasion force, bought the Allies time to evacuate vital supplies, and shattered the confidence of the Japanese troops. Written by the son of a veteran who fought on the front lines, this account draws on thirty years of research, interviews with eyewitnessesincluding Japanese survivorsand numerous visits to the battlefield. Rich in personal testimony and deep emotion, *Box of Lions* brings to life the courage, fear, and resilience of ordinary men caught up in extraordinary circumstances.