Elephant company the inspiring story of an unlikely hero and the animals who helped him save lives in World War II Cover Image

Elephant company [large print] : the inspiring story of an unlikely hero and the animals who helped him save lives in World War II / by Vicki Constantine Croke.

Summary:

Billy Williams came to Burma in 1920 fresh from service in World War I, as a "forest man" for a British teak company. Mesmerized by the intelligence, character, and even humor of the great animals who hauled logs through the jungles, he became a gifted "elephant wallah". When the Japanese invaded in 1942, Williams joined Force 136, the British dirty tricks department. His war elephants carried supplies, built bridges, and transported the sick and elderly. And when a price was put on his head, they set out on a Hollywood worthy escape.

Record details

ISBN: 9781410476005
ISBN: 1410476006
Physical Description: 619 pages (large print): illustrations ; 23 cm.
Edition: Large print edition.
Publisher: Waterville, Maine : Thorndike Press, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning, 2015.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references.

Formatted Contents Note:

Part 1 Making of an Elephant Wallah -- Chapter 1 Shoulders of a Giant 25 -- Chapter 2 Into the Jungle 35 -- Chapter 3 Meeting the Boss - and the Elephants 63 -- Chapter 4 Initiation Rites 75 -- Chapter 5 How to Read an Elephant 118 -- Chapter 6 Fairest Tusker of Them All 135 -- Chapter 7 Burning Boss 146 -- Chapter 8 Sex, Cricket, and Blue Cheese 154 -- Chapter 9 School for Men and Elephants 162 -- Chapter 10 Drunk on Testosterone 179 -- Chapter 11 Master Class in Trust and Courage 192 -- Chapter 12 Jungle Family Has No Wife 210 -- Chapter 13 "The Murder of Me" 219 -- Chapter 14 Bandoola: Hero or Rogue? 229 -- Chapter 15 A Murder Investigation 242 -- Chapter 16 Rebels and Reunions 249 -- Part 2 Love and Elephants -- Chapter 17 Tiger Hour 273 -- Chapter 18 Cannibal Islands 298 -- Chapter 19 Sunlight and Shadow 311 -- Chapter 20 Into the Cauldron 330 -- Part 3 War Elephants -- Chapter 21 Fleeing Burma 361 -- Chapter 22 No. 1 War Elephant 384 -- Chapter 23 Making of Elephant Bill 406 -- Chapter 24 Elephant Company Hits Its Stride 422 -- Chapter 25 A Crazy Idea 443 -- Chapter 26 Elephant Stairway 473.