Is this Britain's Greatest General?

This is the first of a 3 part series looking at the Leadership Lessons and Strategy of Field Marshal Slim. We are joined by Dr Robert Lyman - https://robertlyman.com/about/, the world's leading expert of the Burma Campaign and Slim. He has authored many excellent books, including Slim, Master of War and The Generals. From Defeat to Victory, Leadership in Asia, 1941-45.

Born into a working-class family in Birmingham in 1891, Slim began his career not as a soldier but as a teacher. His rise through the ranks of the British and Indian Armies was anything but conventional. Wounded twice in World War I and again in Eritrea during World War II, Slim's resilience and tactical insight became hallmarks of his leadership.

This episode focuses on the 1942 Burma campaign, where Slim took command of the shattered Burma Corps. The situation was quite grim. Japanese forces had overrun Malaya, captured Singapore, and were advancing rapidly through Burma. When Slim assumed command, British and Indian forces were already in retreat.

Yet it was during the longest retreat in British military history—over 1,000 miles in 100 days—that Slim's brilliance emerged. He imposed order on chaos, maintained morale, and—crucially—preserved combat effectiveness. His ability to lead from the front, to remain outwardly calm under pressure, and to articulate a clear command intent became critical factors in saving the remnants of the Allied force.

One of Slim’s defining contributions to modern military doctrine was his intuitive use of mission command—empowering junior leaders to act based on shared intent rather than waiting for orders. In the context of jungle warfare, limited communication, and vast distances, this philosophy proved vital.

Another standout trait was Slim’s emphasis on building a leadership culture in his own image. He was inclusive, highly competent, optimistic, and quietly ruthless—removing ineffective commanders quickly but fairly. His long service in the Indian Army gave him deep cultural understanding, helping him unify a multinational force that included British, Indian, Chinese, and Gurkha troops.

Robert Lyman has written extensively about the British Army, Slim and the Burma Campaign. His analysis of the campaigns and the Generals who fought them makes for excellent PME for all Officers and SNCOs.
https://robertlyman.com/

00:00 Britain's Greatest General? Introducing Field Marshal Slim
00:56 Robert Lyman's Books on Strategy and Leadership
01:54 Slim’s Early Life: From Birmingham Teacher to Soldier
02:57 Slim’s WWI Service and Gallipoli Wounds
04:32 Joining the Gurkhas and the Indian Army
06:26 Slim’s Recon Style and Combat Risk-Taking
08:02 Taking Command: Burma Corps in Crisis, 1942
09:19 The Sittang Bridge and Fall of Rangoon
11:03 1000 Mile Retreat: Slim’s Strategic Withdrawal
12:29 Key Battles: Gurkhas Hold the Line
13:21 Morale and Discipline: Arrival in India
14:12 Learning from Defeat: Slim Rebuilds the Army
15:28 How Slim Maintained Optimism Under Pressure
17:23 Leadership as Performance: Slim’s Command Presence
19:01 Auchinleck on Slim: Confidence Without Ego
19:35 Building the 14th Army in Slim’s Image
21:21 Slim’s Ruthlessness: The Right Leaders Only
23:40 Self-Reliance and Mission Command in 14th Army
25:32 Why Mission Command Worked in Burma
27:19 Leading a Multinational, Multilingual Army
30:18 Urdu: The Language of the Indian Army
31:33 Slim’s Enduring Lesson: Optimism Through Adversity