Table of Contents. Introduction CHAPTER 1 A young Englishwoman arrives in China in 1926 CHAPTER 2 Civil war and refuge in Cheung Chow Island in 1928 CHAPTER 3 1937 - a pretty wedding and the prolonged and bloody attack on Shanghai CHAPTER 4 Burma - a clash of cultures and religions CHAPTER 5 Invasion CHAPTER 6 'A hard walk over the hills into India' CHAPTER 7 Experiences in war-torn Burma 1942-1945 CHAPTER 8 A family escapes from China to England in 1943 CHAPTER 9 The beginning of the end CHAPTER 10 Return to Burma, Independence, a bullet in a bible and a baby in a drawer CHAPTER 11 Dangerous times continued IMAGES OF MYANMAR IN 2012 Notes.
ELIZABETH TEBBY GERMAINE I was born in 1951 two months after my parents arrived back in England from Burma. They may have intended to return, but chose not to initially and later were not able to because of the military government and prolonged civil wars which they had experienced first hand. My aunt, Dorothy Lewis (who took most of the photos) had to leave the country in 1966. We grew up with Burma in the background with pretty lacquerware in the house and pictures of Burma on the walls and when they wanted a private conversation they would speak in the soft melodious Burmese language with much laughter and mysterious looks. As a child I absorbed my parents' love for the country and their sadness that they were not able to return. My brother and I heard the story that our mother had walked '200 miles in 17 days' not yet knowing that she had in fact been one of tens of thousands of refugees of many races who fled the Japanese invasion of Burma, along with the forced retreat of what military forces were then available in 1942. As a child I imagined her wading through rivers sparkling in the sunshine, not knowing this was a trek through the harsh inhospitable terrain of the jungles and mountains with the ever present threat of disease, exhaustion and starvation and the fast advancing Japanese armies. In my 20's I trained as an English teacher, wrote stories, draft novels and plays but then left writing for a while, re-trained and followed a career as a pianist and piano and violin teacher. I planned to return to writing at a later time in life. At some stage I read my mother's detailed diary and discussed with her the possibility of publishing it in some way, but this never happened at the time. After she died in 2006, and after the shock of seeing TV reports of the demonstrations in Burma in 2007 when many monks and ordinary people were killed and imprisoned I started to put this book together. I also had a large collection of old slides and photographs of a country which was inaccessible for many years and felt that these were of great interest to a wider audience. My love of literature and history made this writing task enjoyable and rewarding. My life as a vicar's daughter has resulted in a life long interest in comparative religions from an agnostic viewpoint, and so when faced with the task of collecting together material about missionaries the historical and political aspects of this story were what interested me the most. I have at all times sought to be objective and have avoided presenting the story from any specific viewpoint. While collecting material together from my cousins about their family in China I became fascinated by the complexities and contradictions of movements and rebellions in China and the hostile atmosphere into which my aunt travelled. Only 25 years previously many missionaries had been massacred in the Boxer Rebellion. Despite this there are five very interesting old photos that survive showing that it was possible to do some work in the church. My three cousins were born in different places, suggesting the family had an unsettled time during the civil war and Japanese invasion and by 1943 many Europeans had already left the country, but this family seemed particularly vulnerable and disorganised and this made their story all the more compelling. Since writing the book I have had a number of interesting experiences which have brought home even more forcibly what my mother went through and how tough she must have been. There is a lot of detail in her diary but at times she understated the dangers and difficulties of her journey. I felt strongly I wanted to complete my own writing project before reading a number of other books on the subject, and was aware that I could have researched this subject for many months. I decided instead to link the original letters and diary together with history of the times that was already well known and documented and present them alongside significant contemporary events of which there were many. There were several books I had intended to read and finally did when mine was completed. The first was 'Exodus Burma' by Felicity Goodall published in 2011. This is a harrowing book full of highly detailed accounts of many of the refugees, hundreds of whom did not survive the journey. Then on page 135 I had a startling moment - in an extract from the diary of Fred Tizzard, a Irrawaddy Flotilla Company captain there is a description of my own mother. There were details in it connected with children from an orphan's home she was helping which made it unmistakeably her. (In her own diary she mentioned an IFC captain without writing his name - this may well be the same person.) I then read 'Bewitched by Burma' by Anne Carter, and a similar thing happened. In her account of the same time in history Anne wrote that a Miss Chapman accompanied her uncle Padre Garrad on a trip to Sagaing, taking a break from the bombing of Mandalay in 1942. Anne Carter quoted some words written by my mother, and I discovered she had had a carbon copy of a fragment of Josephine's diary in her uncle's papers which she had quoted without asking my permission as she had not previously known of my existence. The surprises were not yet over. I then discovered a book 'Weathering the Storm' that Josephine Chapman had written in 1946. There may have been a copy in our house but I had not noticed it or realised its significance until now. She herself had not mentioned it to me. This was a very exciting find and luckily I was able to get hold of an old copy straight away. I was given permission by the publisher to use extracts and I knew immediately that I had to do a revised edition of DISTANT AND DANGEROUS DAYS IN BURMA AND CHINA. Of particular interest were stories of her own travels, descriptions of Burma after the war, comments comparing Buddhism and Christianity and in particular her accounts of conversations she had with people who had survived the war in Burma which fitted well into my chapter 7 which was renamed - 'Experiences in war-torn Burma 1942-45'. Since then I have discovered yet another account about the thousands of escaping refugees in the book - 'The Story of Burma' by F Tennyson Jesse also published in 1946. This is an author I had already mentioned in my own book as her fascinating and carefully researched historical novel - 'The Lacquer Lady' gives a stunning insight into life in the Burmese Court around the time of the third Anglo-Burmese war in 1885, and when writing an earlier draft of my book an interesting old letter that had been written by my father from Mandalay in 1938 was discovered (by my brother). It was inside an old family copy of 'The Lacquer Lady' which had sat on our bookshelves for many years. I included this letter in my chapter 4 - 'Burma - a clash of cultures and religions'. In her fascinating book 'The Story of Burma' there was information I had not previously seen about the numbers evacuated from the strategic airfield at Myitkyina before it was taken by the Japanese in May 1942. (Descriptions of air raids at this airfield appear in 'Exodus Burma' and my mother's diary). On my website www.elizabethtebbygermaine.co.uk I have copied book reviews I have written on Amazon of 'The Story of Burma" and 'Weathering the Storm' by Josephine Chapman. There is also one of 'Forgotten Voices of Burma' by Julian Thompson which made a vivid impression on me because many details included in the descriptions of soldiers and civilians retreating in Burma were of similar places and conditions that my mother had described in her diary.
(REVIEWS of First Edition TAKEN FROM AMAZON.CO.UK A really lovely little book, by Peter S 10 Dec 2013 5 STARS Distant and Dangerous Days in Burma and China: With Letters, a Diary and Historic Photographs (Paperback) I came across this book by accident and was first of all attracted by the stunning cover and then by the historic photos that start right at the beginning. They are both of Burmese people (who we haven't seen much of for 60 odd years) and English people associated with the main characters in the story. Although the writer says little about herself and her only qualifications for writing are that her family have left her with this material she writes with a clear readable style and tells a story linking everything together. I knew some of this history but it was well presented, if a little dry at times - she did her best with material that had gaps in it. The photos tell a story themselves - the one of Chinese people on page 19 is particularly touching, and on page 20 another tells us that despite hostility to foreigners these people did achieve some of their work in remote areas - (presumably before the Japanese invasion of China which was going on a lot before World War 2 and was so devastating and is perhaps not written about a great deal.) The photos of Burma 70 years ago are superb - they move from pagodas to markets, boats and very interesting groups of people - I don't believe photos like these have ever been seen before and its great that a record has been made here. The background about Burma is good, with an interesting old family letter inserted. The account from the diary of the author's mother is very well presented and a gripping account of escape and survival in very dangerous circumstances. The background comments which were added help tremendously with putting it in context. There is quite a lot left to the imagination. I had already read 'Exodus Burma' by Felicity Goodall so I knew quite a bit about this incident in 1942 but even so this had something fresh to say. The veteran's account is well placed and there is a general appreciation of the bigger picture - such as the contribution of the African soldiers, and of course the vast Indian Army. The rest of the book is well put together, but obviously lacked the same amount of original material - again it left a lot to the imagination. Some photos were particularly well placed such as those to do with Aung San, and the civil war in Maymyo. I enjoyed the final group of photos of Myanmar in 2012 and thought it was a good decision not to attach any text to this. Sensibly the book ends with a summary of the end of the military government. Definitely recommended reading. SECOND REVIEW An excellent and informative read. by John Harrop (Uckfield, East Sussex, UK) 16 Oct 2013 5 stars Distant and Dangerous Days in Burma and China: With Letters, a Diary and Historic Photographs (Paperback) This is an excellent book based on first-hand accounts of diaries and letters by two sisters who were missionaries in Burma and China during World War 2. Extracts of journals are interspersed with historical account and facts about the Japanese invasion of these two counties and how the local population and political leaders reacted to such events, as well as their own personal lives and the effect it had on them and their families. Original photos taken by the sisters assist in illustrating the narrative although the author does a very good job, with her eloquent and easy to read style. If you have an interest in Burma or China, its people, history, politics, past or future, this book goes some-way to explain both countries in the present-day. As the last page states: "Nothing is the beginning, there was always more than happened before." THIRD REVIEW 4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating look at Burma for modern Brits - particularly those with only a dim idea what it's all about, by C. SAXELBY 26 Dec 2013 Distant and Dangerous Days in Burma and China: With Letters, a Diary and Historic Photographs (Paperback) Like many modern Brits my ideas about Burma are hazy and confused... Where even IS Burma? Why were the British there in the first place? Why is the missionary story there so important to 21st-century Christianity and its thinking? What was it about the Japanese invasion that made it so awful? Why did it all leave such a trauma in the colonial and military affections of the British? How did it all relate to the rise of China? And why does Burma continue to be so important and so fascinating to us today? Liz's book doesn't try to answer these questions in detail for us, but they're all here and they wash through every page of this thoughtful and very affectionate account of individuals, peoples, cultures and politics. And she's done a particularly good job of blending in the non-family material which fills out the wider picture and brings it up to date in 2012 - so I'm now much better-informed and very pleased to have spent time with these recollections and thoughts. For those who already know Burma and its situation, of course, the book will mean even more: I'm sure it will fill many gaps, raise many questions, and set many discussions going. If Burma IS your thing, or China, or the development of Christianity, or the British Empire, or indeed the State of the Modern World - well, hit the button and buy it! FOURTH REVIEW Emotional personal touch..., by Mr Michael R Lewis 27 Jan 2014 Distant and Dangerous Days in Burma and China: With Letters, a Diary and Historic Photographs (Paperback) So many historical books come across as plain and flat but this book really brings to life the story of Burma's recent history through a real live account and genuinely superb photographs. A brilliant read of a difficult time through the eyes of somebody who witnessed and experienced first hand the trauma and adversity. FIFTH REVIEW 4.0 out of 5 stars A glimpse into a lost world, by JPGY, 21 Jan 2014 Distant and Dangerous Days in Burma and China: With Letters, a Diary and Historic Photographs (Paperback) I found this book absorbing and informative, having previously known almost nothing about the history of twentieth century Burma. It is packed with photos, which add greatly to the interest, and the story of the author's mother's escape from the Japanese invasion in 1942 is fascinating. However I would have loved more of the personal history of her and her sister, and how they came to be in Burma and China respectively - it would have added even more human interest to their amazing stories. SIXTH REVIEW 4.0 out of 5 stars I have yet to read this thoroughly, by Bonjour (England) 23 Dec 2013 Distant and Dangerous Days in Burma and China: With Letters, a Diary and Historic Photographs (Paperback) I know the author and am very interested in the subject. Illustrations complement the text which is clear, informative and memorable SEVENTH REVIEW 4.0 out of 5 stars Distant and Dangerous Days in Burma and China, by Hilary H, 15 Dec 2013 Distant and Dangerous Days in Burma and China, 15 Dec 2013 I've read this book and I would highly recommend it and I've read the review on here by Anne Carter author of the book 'Bewitched by Burma.' I believe it's important to put the record straight here. Germaine states at the beginning that she had a shock when she suddenly saw the television images of the 2007 demonstrations in Burma. She explains her connection with the country through her family and asks the question - 'the important thing is - what would the people in this story think if they were here now and could see those television images? Like everyone they would feel utter horror.' So it is clear that the book is written from a political angle, and it seems to me that is why the final chapter - 'Dangerous times continued' - contains a factual and clear account of some events that happened under the military government ending in 2011. In her review Anne Carter states - 'the story ends abruptly in 2012 ...raising questions about Burma's future.' This is not at all an abrupt ending, but a sensible place to pause. Only experts who are in Burma now can make informed comments about current developments - or writers such as Emma Larkin who have travelled much within the country and have talked to many of the people. One glance at the website of 'Burma Campaign UK' will confirm that despite many changes there are still great causes for anxiety. Germaine sets out clearly what she is doing, and this does not include an in depth study of the work of missionaries or any mention of her own religious beliefs. She is not as Carter says '...skating over religious issues'. She simple states the obvious fact that it has been for centuries predominantly a Buddhist country, and that within some ethnic struggles still continuing are contained religious conflicts. (Although she doesn't refer to any specific ethnic conflict she may have been thinking of the Kachin people who are repeatedly being persecuted by the Burmese Army -as reported in Oct 2013, two months before the writing of this review - many of the Kachins are Christians.) This book continually moves from personal stories to contemporary events and back again, making the stories all the more vivid and meaningful. The first three chapters have interesting underlying themes such as the hostility to foreigners and Christians that Marian Chapman experienced in China and how this links with events and political movements and the emerging Republic. The Communist party is emerging and this connects much later in the book with part of the chapter already mentioned, '...Dangerous Times continued.' Underlying this book is a fundamental respect for human rights and the brutality that has been inflicted from many quarters throughout this period of history is referred to in a factual way. Although ambitious in concept and covering a long time scale from the mid 19th century till 2011 it all hangs together and contains valuable accounts of history. It must be said from reading Carter's review (and possibly her book that I haven't read) that she appears unaware that the part foreign missionaries have played in this country's history is very small compared to much more important ongoing issues of human rights and democracy. EIGHTH REVIEW Review by Anne Carter, author of 'Bewitched by Burma,' of Distant and Dangerous Days in Burma and China, 12 Dec 2013 4 stars Distant and Dangerous Days in Burma and China by Elizabeth Tebby Germaine. In Distant and Dangerous Days the author tells the story of two remarkable women, her mother and aunt, who worked as Christian pioneers in Burma and China in the mid 20th century, before marrying fellow missionaries and finally escaping back to the home country after many adventures. Based on her mother's wonderful diary and a few surviving letters, the meticulously researched narrative is mainly political and historical in content, covering a long period of time, and skating over religious issues. The story ends rather abruptly in 2012, the year before the book's publication, and raises many questions in the reader's mind as to the future of this beautiful and mysterious country, now that it is once more emerging onto the world stage, after half a century of isolation under strict military government. My prime interest in the book is that I share some of the author's experiences, having long ago been born into a missionary family in Burma, where I spent my early childhood. Much to my surprise, I even found a much loved uncle of mine being mentioned within its pages! Thank you Elizabeth. The outstanding chapters in Distant and Dangerous Days are inevitably those in which the narrator quotes from her mother's diary in full, relating the unbelievable story of her trek overland from Burma to India to escape the Japanese in 1942. What a hugely tenacious woman she must have been. My uncle had also planned to take part in this desperate walk, but as an elderly man he was eventually found a seat on a train and a plane, which almost certainly saved his life. Although I enjoyed the book as a whole, I'm not sure if I would have ploughed my way through it to the end, had it not been for my particular interest in Burma. It seems to me to try to cover rather too large a canvas, attempting to deal with Chinese as well as Burmese history, making it something of a struggle, on occasion, for the reader to follow. An index would have helped greatly. However, a large number of photographs light up the text, bringing out the intrinsic warmth of the Burmese people and the beauty of the countryside, the farming activities, the markets and magnificent pagodas. I do hope the book will be widely read, for it includes much interesting material. Anne Carter (author of Bewitched by Burma, published October 2012). Email : anne.carter4@virgin.net. NINTH REVIEW An important book taking us back in time., by Elaine Taylor, 11 Dec 2013 4 stars Distant and Dangerous Days in Burma and China: With Letters, a Diary and Historic Photographs (Paperback) This book combines letters and a diary and a first hand veteran's account with 'text-book' history, and stretches the links between them to the limit. Although none of the history contains anything new it certainly puts the original material in context and the result is an unexpectedly gripping read. The photos are obviously an exceptional part of the book, and are linked to the text in an interesting way that gives it colour and interest. The linking of Burma and China seemed an ambitious idea but again somehow it works because it starts with two sisters and the parallels in their stories, and includes mention of the Chinese troops in the Burma Campaign and little touches like the story of the 'Chinaman' in chapter 10. Including an account of life under Chairman Mao was also rather ambitious and the author has been cautious in her approach wisely suggesting there are different interpretations of this period in history. Had she included more recent developments ( which she wisely did not) she might have mentioned that in 2013 it was reported that China has nearly $14bn of interests in Burma- one third of all foreign investments in the country, much of which has been invested since 2008, mainly in hydro-electric power, oil and gas, mining, jade and teak. There are also controversial developments. Bearing this in mind the idea behind the book somehow holds together (just) and relates to the modern world. The story her mother tells in the diary is very gripping as a first hand account of experiences in Burma during the Japanese invasion of 1941/42, and the way it has been presented is really good. Interesting, by BB, 4 Jan 2014 TENTH REVIEW 3 stars Distant and Dangerous Days in Burma and China: With Letters, a Diary and Historic Photographs (Paperback) A fascinating personal look at an area of the world which is still shrouded in mystery 70 plus years after the events described in the book. Website www.elizabethtebbygermaine.co.uk
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