36 Facts About Mike Calvert

Mike Calvert participated in both Chindit operations and was instrumental in popularizing the unorthodox ideas of Orde Wingate.

Mike Calvert was born at Rohtak in India, son of a member of the Indian Civil Service.

Mike Calvert was educated at Bradfield College and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, from which he was commissioned as a subaltern into the British Army's Royal Engineers as a professional soldier.

Mike Calvert was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in February 1933, and for a time was the Army's middleweight boxing champion.

Mike Calvert spent a year reading for the Mechanical Engineering Tripos at St John's College, Cambridge.

Mike Calvert was then appointed to command the Bush Warfare School in Burma, training officers and non-commissioned officers to lead guerilla bands in China for operations against the Japanese.

Mike Calvert then spent a period of time touring Burma with Orde Wingate.

In India, Mike Calvert reunited with the equally unorthodox Wingate, and the two became firm friends.

Mike Calvert led one of the company-sized columns in Operation Longcloth, Wingate's first Chindit operation in 1943.

Mike Calvert was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his achievements on the operation.

Mike Calvert's column achieved the greatest amount of demolition of the Japanese lines of communication, and reached India intact with the fewest casualties of those in the force.

Mike Calvert commanded the 77th Indian Infantry Brigade in Operation Thursday, the much larger second Chindit operation.

Mike Calvert's brigade spearheaded the airborne landings deep in the Japanese rear.

Mike Calvert lost no time in organizing reconnaissance missions and fortifying Broadway.

Mike Calvert noticed that friendly forces nearby were drawing heavier fire.

Mike Calvert's lectures were always painfully slow and hesitant and during training he gave the impression of taking a long time to make up his mind; in action things were very different.

Mike Calvert was instrumental in orchestrating the counterattacks and was frequently under fire.

Mike Calvert established a defensive fire plan to coordinate machine gun and mortar fire.

Mike Calvert recalled that the terrain combined with meticulous attention to detail in constructing the positions provided shelter, and that casualties were low.

Mike Calvert reported that stiff resistance led by his friend Ian MacPherson prevented the Japanese from breaching the block.

Mike Calvert requested that supply drops contain less food and more ammunition.

Mike Calvert led several counter-attacks against encircling Japanese forces in person.

Mike Calvert learned that Major Ian MacPherson, commander of the headquarters company of the 77th Brigade had been killed, his body left in the Japanese positions.

Mike Calvert said he "could not leave anyone like that without knowing for certain" before starting back to look for MacPherson.

Mike Calvert's brigade had suffered 800 battle casualties in the siege, half of its strength.

Mike Calvert was awarded a Bar to the DSO for the second Chindit expedition.

Mike Calvert was evacuated to Britain on medical grounds in September 1944.

Mike Calvert held this appointment until the brigade disbanded in October 1945.

Mike Calvert was then selected in 1950 to command the Malayan Scouts engaged in operations against Communist insurgents in the Malayan Emergency.

Mike Calvert's exertions meant that he was invalided home in 1951.

On his return to the UK, Mike Calvert reverted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

Mike Calvert wrote three books about his time in Burma with Wingate and the Chindits: Prisoners of Hope, Fighting Mad: One Man's Guerrilla War, and Chindits: Long Range Penetration.

Mike Calvert contributed to the acclaimed British documentary television series, The World at War.

Mike Calvert appeared on film in the 2001 documentary series Gladiators of World War II episode 11, entitled "The Chindits".

Mike Calvert died in his 85th year on 26 November 1998 in Richmond-upon-Thames.

Mike Calvert's body was cremated at the Chilterns Crematorium in Amersham, in the county of Buckinghamshire.