Parrots And Monkeys

angie999 · 02-09-2004, 10:26 AM

I am currently reading Pick up your Parrots and Monkeys by William Pennington (2003): Phoenix edition, 2004, £7.99.

This is a biographical work covering Pennington's service as a boy soldier in the RHA in pre-war India and wartime service in the RA in India and Burma. He served as a FOO in the campaign to "liberate" Burma (many Burmese did not see it as liberation though, just a change of colonial power).

It gives a very personal account, but very interesting, of life in the army in India and in the Burmese jungles, although not free of historical errors in other respects.

The title is derived from the command which British soldiers in India would receive just prior to embarcation at Bombay for the return passage to Britain, "Pick up your parrots and monkeys and fall in facing the boat". Apparently this was a much longed for order.

An enjoyable read.

seamonkey · 24-07-2007, 11:58 AM

I was lucky to recieve a copy of penny's book from the publisher when it was first published to review it, I have to say its a cracking good read its one of the few books that I dont lend out.

02-09-2004, 10:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
angie999 Very Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: near Bristol, UK Posts: 1,551	I am currently reading Pick up your Parrots and Monkeys by William Pennington (2003): Phoenix edition, 2004, £7.99. This is a biographical work covering Pennington's service as a boy soldier in the RHA in pre-war India and wartime service in the RA in India and Burma. He served as a FOO in the campaign to "liberate" Burma (many Burmese did not see it as liberation though, just a change of colonial power). It gives a very personal account, but very interesting, of life in the army in India and in the Burmese jungles, although not free of historical errors in other respects. The title is derived from the command which British soldiers in India would receive just prior to embarcation at Bombay for the return passage to Britain, "Pick up your parrots and monkeys and fall in facing the boat". Apparently this was a much longed for order. An enjoyable read. __________________ Angie "History is lived forward but it is written in retrospect. We know the end before we consider the beginning and we can never wholly recapture what it was like to know the beginning only." C V Wedgewood

24-07-2007, 11:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
seamonkey Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: mousehole cornwall Posts: 17	I was lucky to recieve a copy of penny's book from the publisher when it was first published to review it, I have to say its a cracking good read its one of the few books that I dont lend out. __________________ www.chindit.org.uk

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