The Tragedy of Wanit

[GWR]

An account of the frantic diplomatic activity surrounding the onset of the World War II Japanese 'Transit' through Thailand:-
http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/hist244/Wanit.html#fnB16
Available thru' Amazon:-
http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:The%20tragedy%20of%20Wanit:1978872330:isbn=99716 22467?used=1
Field Marshall Plaek Phibunsongkhram's personal 'Justification' of the Wartime Japanese 'transit' through Thailand:-
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=4827&postcount=1

[GWR]

I'm told that 'Plaek' does actually have the meaning of 'strange' that I suggested in my rather tired 'punnish' intros.

It's often the case in history that someone like Wanit perceives himself/herself, or is perceived by others, as pivotal; whilst important others have no recollection of their proximity & potence.

I note that Plaek also credits 'Nai Wanit Pananon' as being in the thick of the action.

[GWR]

More book info. Batson seems to be a bit of a Modern Thai History (in English) doyenne:-
http://www.nus.edu.sg/SUP/9971-62-246-7.html
http://www.tambooks.com/si/17251.html
http://www.tambooks.com/shop_image/product/17251.jpg

[airlana]

Thanks for the posts GWR. Some interesting reading there.

Here's more info on the japanese Army in Bangkok during those first days

http://www.members.optushome.com.au/airlana/Thai.htm

The text is from "Singapore The Japanese Version" by Colonel Masanobu Tsuji who was the "Chief of Operations and Planning Staff, 25th Japanese Army. Malaya"

The book is long out of print - the English translation was in 1960.

airlana
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