The Jungle War - An adventure story for 8-12 year olds

Introducing The Jungle War.

As the Second World War sweeps the globe, follow 18-year-old Jim Chance into the jungles of Burma. Meet Thaman, a Gurkha soldier, and join the men in a ﬁght for survival like no other. Raging rivers, ferocious beasts and the deadly might of the Japanese Army will push Jim and Thaman to the edge. Is there a way back from the brink? And when all is said and done, will the world remember their story?

This is the tale of The Forgotten Army.

Reader, you are charged with making sure we remember it.

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"It’s tremendous”
- Dame Joanna Lumley DBE

“I was completely enthralled by the skilful depiction of bravery and the grim challenges of war, the careful explanations of unfamiliar words and places, the spirited story-telling….it’s tremendous.”

The untold story of a fight for survival

In the Second World War, over 137,000 Gurkha soldiers served within the British Indian Army and nine Victoria Crosses were awarded to Gurkha units during the Burma campaign.

Written by Hannah Watson, published by The Gurkha Museum and supported by Sampan Travel, The Jungle War is an adventure story for 8-12 year olds, inspired by the historical events of the Burma Campaign during the Second World War and the soldiers who fought in it.

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The truth behind the fiction

Gurkhas and the Second World War

On the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Gurkha soldiers of the British Indian Army were immediately deployed in service of the British War effort.

A story of two Victoria Crosses

Michael Allmand and Tulbahadur Pun of 6th Gurkha RIfles both received Victoria Crosses for their actions in Burma with the Chindits.

The Forgotten Army in Burma

The 14th Army, also referred to as ‘The Forgotten Army’ fought heroically in the jungles of Burma during the Second World War

About the Author

Hannah Watson is an author and illustrator based in Oxford, UK. After writing and editing over 30 titles for children with Usborne Publishing, her freelance work has focused on fulﬁlling private commissions, often illustrations of buildings around her historic home city. The Jungle War is her ﬁrst book written for the middle grade age range, and her ﬁrst foray into writing about the endlessly fascinating and moving subject of the Second World War.

"It is a book about family, loss, trust, and challenge."
- Hari Budha Magar

“It is a book about the bond that builds up between Gurkhas and their officers, about the bond of responsibility between an officer and his soldiers, a bond of mutual care and affection, a bond that is hard to seal but once attained, is unbreakable. It is a book about family, loss, trust, and challenge. It is a book about relationships and about growing up and it is a book that I commend to you.”

The Jungle War - An adventure story for 8-12 year olds

"It’s tremendous”
- Dame Joanna Lumley DBE

The untold story of a fight for survival

Sign up to our newsletter

The truth behind the fiction

Gurkhas and the Second World War

A story of two Victoria Crosses

The Forgotten Army in Burma

“Interesting and compulsive”
- JP Cross, Burma Campaign

About the Author

"It is a book about family, loss, trust, and challenge."
- Hari Budha Magar

Follow us on Social Media

X (Twitter)

Instagram

The Jungle War - An adventure story for 8-12 year olds

"It’s tremendous” - Dame Joanna Lumley DBE

The untold story of a fight for survival

Sign up to our newsletter

The truth behind the fiction

Gurkhas and the Second World War

A story of two Victoria Crosses

The Forgotten Army in Burma

“Interesting and compulsive” - JP Cross, Burma Campaign

About the Author

"It is a book about family, loss, trust, and challenge." - Hari Budha Magar

Follow us on Social Media

X (Twitter)

Instagram

The Gurkha Museum

"It’s tremendous”
- Dame Joanna Lumley DBE

“Interesting and compulsive”
- JP Cross, Burma Campaign

"It is a book about family, loss, trust, and challenge."
- Hari Budha Magar