Book
Elephant Company : the inspiring story of an unlikely hero and the animals who helped him save lives in World War II / Vicki Constantine Croke.
Record details
- ISBN: 1400069335
- ISBN: 9781400069330
- Physical Description: xiv, 343 pages : illustrations, map
- Edition: First edition.
- Publisher: New York : Random House, [2014]
- Copyright: ©2014
Content descriptions
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references, Internet addresses and index. |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition Note: | LSC 34.00 |
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Available copies
- 0 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
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| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cookstown Branch | 940.542591092 Willi -C | 31681002783694 | NONFIC | Checked out | 06/17/2025 |
- Baker & Taylor
Tells the story of James Howard "Billy" Williams, whose uncanny rapport with the world's largest land animals transformed him from a carefree young man into the charismatic war hero known as Elephant Bill. - Baker & Taylor
"J.H. "Billy" Williams always had an affinity for animals. So, when he responded to job offer with the East India Company to work with logging elephants his family wasn't surprised, though worried that he had already come back from World War I in one piece, would he be so lucky with India? Not only did he find his calling with the elephants in India, Billy and his elephants became war heroes. At the onset of World War II, Williams formed Elephant Company and was instrumental in defeating the Japanese in Burma and saving refugees, including on his own "Hannibal Trek." Billy Williams became a media sensation during the war, telling reporters that the elephants did more for him than he was ever able to do for them, but his story has since been forgotten. Part biography, part war story, and part wildlife adventure, Croke delivers an utterly charming narrative and an important, little-known piece of the legacy of World War II"-- - Baker & Taylor
Tells the story of James Howard "Billy" Williams, who found his calling working with elephants in India, formed Elephant Company at the onset of World War II, and played an instrumental role in defeating the Japanese in Burma. - Random House, Inc.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ⢠A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK
The remarkable story of James Howard âBillyâ Williams, whose uncanny rapport with the worldâs largest land animals transformed him from a carefree young man into the charismatic war hero known as Elephant Bill
In 1920, Billy Williams came to colonial Burma as a âforest manâ for a British teak company. Mesmerized by the intelligence and character of the great animals who hauled logs through the jungle, he became a gifted âelephant wallah.â In Elephant Company, Vicki Constantine Croke chronicles Williamsâs growing love for elephants as the animals provide him lessons in courage, trust, and gratitude.
Elephant Company is also a tale of war and daring. When Japanese forces invaded Burma in 1942, Williams joined the elite British Force 136 and operated behind enemy lines. His war elephants carried supplies, helped build bridges, and transported the sick and elderly over treacherous mountain terrain. As the occupying authorities put a price on his head, Williams and his elephants faced their most perilous test. Elephant Company, cornered by the enemy, attempted a desperate escape: a risky trek over the mountainous border to India, with a bedraggled group of refugees in tow. Part biography, part war epic, Elephant Company is an inspirational narrative that illuminates a little-known chapter in the annals of wartime heroism.
Praise for Elephant Company
âThis book is about far more than just the war, or even elephants. This is the story of friendship, loyalty and breathtaking bravery that transcends species. . . . Elephant Company is nothing less than a sweeping tale, masterfully written.ââSara Gruen, The New York Times Book Review
âSplendid . . . Blending biography, history, and wildlife biology, [Vicki Constantine] Crokeâs story is an often moving account of [Billy] Williams, who earned the sobriquet âElephant Bill,â and his unusual bond with the largest land mammals on earth.ââThe Boston Globe
âSome of the biggest heroes of World War II were even bigger than you thought. . . . You may never call the lion the king of the jungle again.ââNew York Post
âVicki Constantine Croke delivers an exciting tale of this elephant whispererâcumâwar hero, while beautifully reminding us of the enduring bonds between animals and humans.ââMitchell Zuckoff, author of Lost in Shangri-La and Frozen in Time
