The History Podcast – The Second Map: Episode 2, "The Secrets in the Safe"

BBC Radio 4 | Aired: August 29, 2025
Presenter: Kavita Puri

Overview

This episode delves into Britain’s war against Japan in Southeast Asia during WWII—often overshadowed by European battles and dubbed the "forgotten war" involving the "forgotten army." Through first-hand accounts, family memories, and historical analysis, the episode recounts the extraordinary roles played by British, Indian, and colonial soldiers, civilians, and their families, highlighting incidents of heroism, survival, and the enduring struggle for remembrance. The “secrets in the safe” refers to the pivotal intelligence coup by Naga scouts and Ursula Graham Bower that changed the course of the war on the Asian front.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Front Line in the Jungle: Ursula Graham Bower and the Naga Warriors

• Ursula Graham Bower: Anthropologist turned combat leader, the first woman to command a unit in WWII.
• Setting: Naga hills on the India-Burma border, thick jungle, and imminent threat of Japanese invasion.
• Role of the Nagas: Local tribal fighters, partners in intelligence, crucial yet under-recognized allies.

Quotes & Moments:

• [02:45] Ursula: “I sent the cable saying, going forward to look for the enemy, kindly send rifles and ammunition soonest.”
• [03:17] Kavita Puri: “The actions of the Naga people, and Ursula Graham Bower… were instrumental in repelling the Japanese forces.”

2. Britain’s “Forgotten Army” and the Campaign in Burma

• The 14th Army: Formed after major defeats in Asia; multinational, predominantly Indian.
• Yava Abbas: Indian officer, still proud of his service at 104, shares memories with nostalgia and pride.
• Integration & Camaraderie: New army emphasized camaraderie across races and backgrounds.

Quotes & Moments:

• [06:08] Yava Abbas: “I was part of the 14th army, and I’m proud to declare it.”
• [08:57] Yava Abbas: “It was wonderful camaraderie because there were British and Indians intermixing… that intensifies the camaraderie.”

3. The Secrets in the Safe: Intelligence Coup

• Covert Mission: Two Naga fighters infiltrate the Japanese HQ in disguise and steal vital battle plans.
• Turning Point: The intelligence enabled Allied commanders to preempt Japanese advances at Kohima.
• Battle of the Tennis Court: Decisive stand by British and Indian troops at Kohima, preventing Japanese breakthrough—a literal tennis court became the last line of defense.

Quotes & Moments:

• [11:12] Ursula: “These two men were taken on as water carriers and sweepers at Japanese HQ…”
• [11:55] Ursula: “Included in this was the Japanese battle plan for the advance on Kohima.”
• [12:24] Kavita Puri: “The plans proved critical for the general’s battle strategy… that was what turned the tide.”

4. Why Was This the “Forgotten War”?

• Public Perception: For many in Britain (like teenage Peter Knight), the Asian war was distant and disconnected from their daily reality of bombing raids at home.
• Media & Memory: European battles dominated headlines and national consciousness, even as Southeast Asian victories proved pivotal.

Quotes & Moments:

• [04:06] Peter Knight: “We didn’t openly say it, but there was a feeling, that’s not our war.”
• [16:34] Peter Johnston (Historian): “80% of that army is not white British… the vast majority is drawn from the Indian army, East Africa, West Africa, other allies.”

5. Personal Testimonies – Bravery, Silence, and Legacy

• Captain Gyan Singh: Awarded the Victoria Cross for valor in Burma; his son Charanjeet recounts that Singh never spoke of his actions—he learned them from fellow officers instead.
• Recognition and Gaps: Heroism like Singh’s is physically memorialized, but the broader campaign remains historically obscure.

Quotes & Moments:

• [19:49] Charanjeet: “My dad never ever told me about any of that action. Never.”
• [21:50] Charanjeet: “They always talk about the Second World War in Europe… They never talked about that part of the world. They should be talking about it.”
• [22:12] Charanjeet: “Those forgotten soldiers, forgotten souls… they should have given more credit for what they went through.”

6. Civilians in Captivity – Recipes, Resilience, and Defiance

• Sheila Brown’s Story: British civilian in Singapore, imprisoned by Japanese forces; she wrote recipe books and started a vocal orchestra as acts of psychological resistance.
• Conditions: Harsh treatment, starvation, constant risk—particularly for women.
• Enduring Spirit: Small acts of survival, such as sharing imaginary recipes and making music, sustained hope.

Quotes & Moments:

• [24:51] Margie Caldecott (Sheila’s daughter): “It’s a funny thing, isn’t it, that you’re starving and yet you’re writing these elaborate recipes.”
• [28:48] Sheila Brown (archive audio): “I just suddenly thought, gosh, look, the only thing that is free are our notes, which are going up and out of camp.”

7. Allied Advances and Growing Visibility

• Battle of Mandalay: Key moment documented by BBC and 14th Army cameraman Yava Abbas; capture marked turning point toward retaking Burma.
• Peter Knight’s Decision: Inspired by broadcasts, he enlists in the Navy, expecting to face Japan in the Pacific.

Quotes & Moments:

• [31:18] Yava Abbas: “I saw these tanks getting ready… climbed up on the top and started filming… it was a stupid thing to do, but you do when you’re young.”
• [34:38] Peter Knight: “I couldn’t get in the Navy fast enough. I was 17 when I joined up.”

8. The Japanese Perspective: Kamikaze Pilots

• Ryoji Uehara: Young Japanese kamikaze pilot whose last letter reflects both indoctrination and tragic humanity.
• Challenges in Remembrance: Japanese victims and perpetrators, their families, and stories are rarely integrated into British memory of the war.

Quotes & Moments:

• [39:50] Ryoji’s letter: “A pilot in our Special Aerial Attack Forces… nothing more than a piece of the machine, simply just an iron filament tucked inside a magnet…”
• [41:48] Peter Knight: “We’d met Germans, yes, we knew who we were fighting, but the Japanese people didn’t matter to us how many Japanese died, didn’t matter in the least.”

Notable Quotes: Speaker & Timestamp

• Ursula Graham Bower [02:45]:
  “I sent the cable saying, going forward to look for the enemy, kindly send rifles and ammunition soonest.”

• Yava Abbas [09:07]:
  “It was wonderful camaraderie because there were British and Indians intermixing with each other...”

• Ursula Graham Bower [11:55]:
  “Included in this was the Japanese battle plan for the advance on Kohima.”

• Charanjeet (Captain Singh’s son) [19:49]:
  “My dad never ever told me about any of that action. Never.”
  [21:50]:
  “It's always about the Europe. They always talk about the Second World War in Europe… They never talked about that part of the world. They should be talking about it.”

• Margie Caldecott [24:51]:
  “It’s a funny thing, though, isn’t it, that you’re starving and yet you’re writing these elaborate recipes.”

• Sheila Brown (archive audio) [28:48]:
  “The only thing that is free are our notes, which are going up and out of camp.”

• Peter Knight [34:38]:
  “I couldn’t get in the Navy fast enough. I was 17 when I joined up.”
  [41:48]:
  “We’d met Germans, yes, we knew who we were fighting, but the Japanese people didn’t matter to us how many Japanese died, didn’t matter in the least.”

• Ryoji Uehara (letter, read by Vicki Hawkins) [39:50]:
  “…nothing more than a piece of the machine, simply just an iron filament tucked inside a magnet…we who are nothing more than pieces of machinery, only wish…that all the Japanese people might combine to make our beloved country the greatest nation possible.”

Important Timestamps: Segment Highlights

• [01:00 - 03:17] Ursula Graham Bower and the Naga resistance – the jungle front line.
• [06:08 - 09:29] Yava Abbas and the formation/camaraderie of the 14th Army.
• [11:12 - 12:30] The secret mission at Japanese HQ: intelligence that turned the battle.
• [13:17 - 16:40] The battles of Kohima and Imphal – “the tennis court” and preserving the empire.
• [18:00 - 21:50] The story of Captain Gyan Singh and the silence around personal heroism.
• [23:33 - 28:30] Sheila Brown’s recipe book and the women’s vocal orchestra in internment.
• [30:34 - 34:38] The Battle of Mandalay and its motivational impact on Peter Knight.
• [37:21 - 40:07] The Japanese kamikaze experience, Ryoji Uehara’s last letter.
• [41:48 - 42:08] The emotional and moral distance between British soldiers and Japanese adversaries.

Conclusion

The Secrets in the Safe surfaces the suppressed narratives of Britain's Asian war: the gallantry of Indian and tribal soldiers, the ingenuity and sacrifice of women and prisoners, and the unresolved questions of memory and honor. The episode challenges why some stories are commemorated while others fade, encouraging listeners to reconsider who gets remembered—and who decides.

Next episode teaser:
A battered suitcase brings new family stories to light, underscoring how memory keeps evolving (43:00+).

For further listening: The next episodes of The Second Map are available now on BBC Sounds.