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Brian Aldiss - The beginning of the end of the war (26/79)

422 views · Published 22 May 2017 · 2:40 · Indexed 20 October 2026

Channel: Web of Stories - Life Stories of Remarkable People · 2017 · Entertainment

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To listen to more of Brian Aldiss’ stories, go to the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVV0r6CmEsFz9eyoxSk8DdLNHllsrLXYf

Writer Brian Aldiss (1925-2017) was best known for his science fiction novels and short stories. 'Non-Stop', his first science fiction novel, was published in 1958. His many award-winning titles include 'Hothouse', 'The Saliva Tree' and 'Helliconia Spring'. [Listener: Christopher Sykes; date recorded: 2014]

TRANSCRIPT: And so indeed, we did manage to re-take Mandalay. And what happened from then? Well, we slowly dispersed; there was nothing more to do, except get the Japs out the way and they were packed off in groups and sent down to Rangoon and sent back to Japan. I don't think they were shot; I never heard the British shooting.

So, yes – and we were in Rangoon or on the edges of Rangoon.

There had been a story... was this about Rangoon or Singapore? I think it was about Singapore, when it was being surrounded by the Japanese, the Governor of Singapore phoned Winston Churchill, and said, 'Mr Churchill, sir, I have here 3000 rounds of ammunition. What am I to do with them?' And Churchill said, 'How about firing it at the enemy?' Yes, well, an instruction, I think, that was not carried out. Anyhow. Then, I suppose, the war was over. Did we celebrate?

Oh, first of all... Oh, Christ... no, there was another crisis because we were then going to have to do a seaborne operation to the islands occupied by Japanese. And while we were… we were on a beach somewhere, trying to get these ships ready to sail and a Sergeant-Major came among us, and said, 'Alright, you men, the war in Europe's over. Break off for a smoke'. The war in Europe was over, but our war wasn't.  But then, fortunately, it was and so we never invaded those islands.

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