--- product_id: 13999290 title: "Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II" price: "VT5441" currency: VUV in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/13999290-elephant-company-the-inspiring-story-of-an-unlikely-hero-animals store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II **Price:** VT5441 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II - **How much does it cost?** VT5441 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/13999290-elephant-company-the-inspiring-story-of-an-unlikely-hero-animals) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK The remarkable 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 In 1920, Billy Williams came to colonial Burma as a “forest man” 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 “elephant wallah.” In Elephant Company, Vicki Constantine Croke chronicles Williams’s 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 “This 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.” —Sara Gruen, The New York Times Book Review “Splendid . . . Blending biography, history, and wildlife biology, [Vicki Constantine] Croke’s story is an often moving account of [Billy] Williams, who earned the sobriquet ‘Elephant Bill,’ and his unusual bond with the largest land mammals on earth.” —The Boston Globe “Some 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.” —New York Post “Vicki Constantine Croke delivers an exciting tale of this elephant whisperer–cum–war hero, while beautifully reminding us of the enduring bonds between animals and humans.” —Mitchell Zuckoff, author of Lost in Shangri-La and Frozen in Time Review: A Remarkable Man, a Remarkable Life - This is a marvelous book on many levels. It is about the rewards of choosing a career you enjoy as opposed to all “the right” reasons – money, prestige, etc. It is about Elephants; if you didn’t have much interest or care for Elephants before, you will have a special place in your heart for these immense, strong, smart, social, kind, courageous, and memorable animals after reading this book. It is about the mixing of cultures – British and Burmese – and how British Colonialism, often criticized, proved to be of benefit to the local population. It is about the mysteries and miseries of the jungle and monsoon climate of faraway places. Of those Brits going to Burma to seek adventure, most found the loneliness, monotony, heat, Monsoons, mud, and lack of amenities unbearable and went back to England. And finally, it is about War – specifically the War in the Pacific in World War II and how the combination of courage and never-give-up character of “our greatest generation” achieved victory in Burma. While Elephants – their physiology, demeanor, and ability to be of immense use in the handling of two-ton teak logs – was a constant theme, the book weaves in the British character (how they maintained cleanly pressed clothes, well-cooked meals, and a sense of decorum in the hostile jungle climate is beyond me), and also love – of J.H. “Elephant Bill” for his wife, his workers, and his Elephants. The author did considerable research, much of that obtained from or in conversations with “Elephant Bill’s” son. This is a compelling, “page turner” story about a remarkable man who found his life’s passion, realized it, and made the most of it for himself and others. He learned as much from the Elephants and the Burmese people as they learned from him. Many of us wish for this kind of life – and honestly most of us are simply not cut out for it, but to live it vicariously through a book like this is an act of joy. I wish I would have read it when I was younger – but to have read it at all is satisfaction. Review: A fascinating and inspiring story. - Captain James “Billy” Williams was discharged from the British Army in 1920 after serving in combat for four years in WWI. Looking for adventure and a change of scenery, he accepted a job with a British company in Burma (known as Myanmar today) that was harvesting teak from the jungles. Upon arrival, he was dispatched to an outlying camp and soon became intimately familiar with the native handlers (called uzis) and the elephants who were doing the serious work of hauling teak logs to dry creek beds where they would be washed downstream on arrival of the monsoon season. Williams soon picks up the native Burmese language to converse with his uzis and is also able to communicate well with his elephants, understanding all their sounds and movements. He gives them loving care and talks to them in Burmese, heals their wounds and massages their wrinkled hides. We learn many fascinating details about elephants and their physical makeup: how they can eat up to 600 pounds of vegetation daily while foraging in the jungle at night, the location and function of various body parts, and how their intelligence allows them to accurately place logs while building a bridge. It’s a lonely job for Williams because there are sparse opportunities to meet eligible females and establish a relationship. It all changes in 1931 when, at the age of 33, Williams meets a young British woman in one of the camps named Susan Rowland. Luckily for Williams, Susan loves the jungle and animals as much as he does and romance soon blossoms, followed by their marriage. In the late 1930s, the coming war in Europe seems far removed from the Williams family but a real threat arrives when the Japanese invade Burma and bomb Rangoon on December 23, 1941. Susan and their young son, Treve, must be evacuated to Mandalay but James has a different mission: gather up all the company’s elephants and move them to safety away from the Japanese soldiers. It becomes a superhuman task and I had to stay up late one night to finish the book’s exciting ending. Author Vicki Croke has done a superb writing job, gathering material from interviews with Treve and combing through James’ voluminous diaries, reports and records. A map of wartime Burma is provided with extensive Notes and Index sections at the end. Overall it’s an fascinating and inspiring story about one man’s courage and leadership in a part of the world seldom visited or written about. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #63,873 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #49 in Historical British Biographies #139 in Traveler & Explorer Biographies #210 in World War II History (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 5,908 Reviews | ## Images ![Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/815a39ZvDwL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Remarkable Man, a Remarkable Life *by C***E on January 26, 2015* This is a marvelous book on many levels. It is about the rewards of choosing a career you enjoy as opposed to all “the right” reasons – money, prestige, etc. It is about Elephants; if you didn’t have much interest or care for Elephants before, you will have a special place in your heart for these immense, strong, smart, social, kind, courageous, and memorable animals after reading this book. It is about the mixing of cultures – British and Burmese – and how British Colonialism, often criticized, proved to be of benefit to the local population. It is about the mysteries and miseries of the jungle and monsoon climate of faraway places. Of those Brits going to Burma to seek adventure, most found the loneliness, monotony, heat, Monsoons, mud, and lack of amenities unbearable and went back to England. And finally, it is about War – specifically the War in the Pacific in World War II and how the combination of courage and never-give-up character of “our greatest generation” achieved victory in Burma. While Elephants – their physiology, demeanor, and ability to be of immense use in the handling of two-ton teak logs – was a constant theme, the book weaves in the British character (how they maintained cleanly pressed clothes, well-cooked meals, and a sense of decorum in the hostile jungle climate is beyond me), and also love – of J.H. “Elephant Bill” for his wife, his workers, and his Elephants. The author did considerable research, much of that obtained from or in conversations with “Elephant Bill’s” son. This is a compelling, “page turner” story about a remarkable man who found his life’s passion, realized it, and made the most of it for himself and others. He learned as much from the Elephants and the Burmese people as they learned from him. Many of us wish for this kind of life – and honestly most of us are simply not cut out for it, but to live it vicariously through a book like this is an act of joy. I wish I would have read it when I was younger – but to have read it at all is satisfaction. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A fascinating and inspiring story. *by R***S on May 26, 2015* Captain James “Billy” Williams was discharged from the British Army in 1920 after serving in combat for four years in WWI. Looking for adventure and a change of scenery, he accepted a job with a British company in Burma (known as Myanmar today) that was harvesting teak from the jungles. Upon arrival, he was dispatched to an outlying camp and soon became intimately familiar with the native handlers (called uzis) and the elephants who were doing the serious work of hauling teak logs to dry creek beds where they would be washed downstream on arrival of the monsoon season. Williams soon picks up the native Burmese language to converse with his uzis and is also able to communicate well with his elephants, understanding all their sounds and movements. He gives them loving care and talks to them in Burmese, heals their wounds and massages their wrinkled hides. We learn many fascinating details about elephants and their physical makeup: how they can eat up to 600 pounds of vegetation daily while foraging in the jungle at night, the location and function of various body parts, and how their intelligence allows them to accurately place logs while building a bridge. It’s a lonely job for Williams because there are sparse opportunities to meet eligible females and establish a relationship. It all changes in 1931 when, at the age of 33, Williams meets a young British woman in one of the camps named Susan Rowland. Luckily for Williams, Susan loves the jungle and animals as much as he does and romance soon blossoms, followed by their marriage. In the late 1930s, the coming war in Europe seems far removed from the Williams family but a real threat arrives when the Japanese invade Burma and bomb Rangoon on December 23, 1941. Susan and their young son, Treve, must be evacuated to Mandalay but James has a different mission: gather up all the company’s elephants and move them to safety away from the Japanese soldiers. It becomes a superhuman task and I had to stay up late one night to finish the book’s exciting ending. Author Vicki Croke has done a superb writing job, gathering material from interviews with Treve and combing through James’ voluminous diaries, reports and records. A map of wartime Burma is provided with extensive Notes and Index sections at the end. Overall it’s an fascinating and inspiring story about one man’s courage and leadership in a part of the world seldom visited or written about. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Doing justice to a great real-life story *by D***C on August 2, 2014* After reading the NYT's review of Vicki Croke's Elephant Company, I was so intrigued that I ordered it right away. This is the true story of Col. James "Elephant Bill" Williams, an Englishman who, as a young WWI veteran, went to Burma to try his hand in the business of teak harvesting. The teak industry was not yet mechanized and relied heavily on the power provided by trained elephants. Williams had been an animal fancier since early childhood and was instantly enthralled by the huge beasts. To say that he developed a bond with them is to grossly understate the case. His ability to understand and communicate with elephants, his love of jungle life, and his leadership abilities combined to propel him to success as a manager of teak forests. His career development is tracked skillfully related by Ms. Croke. She has researched her subject well, and Williams' character and personality are brought to light vividly as she chronicles the events that led Williams to become "Elephant Bill.". As an added bonus, we learn a tremendous amount about elephants, their behavioral quirks, and their interactions with humans. With the advent of WWII, the story becomes downright thrilling. Williams serves the British forces in Burma in their bloody struggle against the Japanese. He is made their first and only elephant officer, given the rank of colonel, and allowed to form the company for which the book is named. The company's elephants are meticulously trained and cared for, and completely loyal to Williams. Harnessing their intelligence and great strength, Williams is able to construct log bridges for British forces with unprecedented rapidity. Finally, and against great odds, he and his elephants are able to effect the evacuation of a large number of British nationals, native Burmese, and ethnic Gurkas from Japanese-held territory, across hostile terrain, and ultimately into the safety of east India. This is a remarkable story of a remarkable man. While a life such as Williams provides a lot of "can't-miss" material, only a skilled author can do it justice. Vicki Croke has filled the bill admirably, and I highly recommend this book. ## Frequently Bought Together - Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II - West with Giraffes: A Novel - The Women: A Novel --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/13999290-elephant-company-the-inspiring-story-of-an-unlikely-hero-animals](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/13999290-elephant-company-the-inspiring-story-of-an-unlikely-hero-animals) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-06-08*