The fall of Singapore to the Japanese Army on 15 February 1942 is considered one of the greatest defeats in the history of the British Army and probably Britain’s worst defeat in The Second World War. The fall of Singapore in 1942 clearly illustrated the way Japan was to fight in the Far East – a combination of speed and savagery that only ended with the use of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in August 1945.
The loss of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942, was a foregone conclusion. Winston Churchill realised this but politically challenged to defend Singapore, he moved the gold and silver reserves from Hong Kong and Singapore to a safer place, and sent last minute reinforcements to Singapore. They arrived as the Japanese crossed the border into Malaya and were rushed forward up-country, to the stem the advance of the Japanese invasion force. Amongst the reinforcements was Colonel Cary's Owtram's 137th field Regiment. Captured when the Singapore Garrison surrendered, Colonel Owtram kept a secret diary, hidden and later retrieved forms the basis of this story: '1000 Days on the River Kwai' He tells a revealing story of the collapse of the front line, which allowed the Japanese invasion force, to over-run Malaya and seize Singapore. Thousands of captured Dutch, British and Empire soldiers were sent to Siam to build the infamous 'Death Railway'. Slaves of the Japanese, many died and rib-showing.. Read more
Richard Gough - Military Author and historian
The loss of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942, was a foregone conclusion. Winston Churchill realised this but politically challenged to defend Singapore, he moved the gold and silver reserves from Hong Kong and Singapore to a safer place, and sent last minute reinforcements to Singapore. They arrived as the Japanese crossed the border into Malaya and were rushed forward up-country, to the stem the advance of the Japanese invasion force. Amongst the reinforcements was Colonel Cary's Owtram's 137th field Regiment. Captured when the Singapore Garrison surrendered, Colonel Owtram kept a secret diary, hidden and later retrieved forms the basis of this story: '1000 Days on the River Kwai' He tells a revealing story of the collapse of the front line, which allowed the Japanese invasion force, to over-run Malaya and seize Singapore. Thousands of captured Dutch, British and Empire soldiers were sent to Siam to build the infamous 'Death Railway'. Slaves of the Japanese, many died and rib-showing.. Read more
Richard Gough - Military Author and historian
As featured in.
The Daily Mail 20/2/17
As featured in.
The Daily Mail 20/2/17
According to well-held popular opinion, the fall of the British possession of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942 was largely the result of ‘The guns facing the wrong way; out to sea, when they should have faced ‘inland’; towards the (then) British colony of Malaya (now Malaysia)’. But was this in fact the case? In this well-written and exhaustively-researched volume, Bill Clements seeks to clarify the situation. His narrative consists of two parallel themes; ‘Political’ and ‘Military’ the former providing ‘the reasons why’, the latter the military response.. The tale that results is one of conflicting orders, evolving and changing international policies, self-important experts, technological development and unnecessary expense. An inability to think beyond very fixed perceptions, also contributed to what eventuated. The miracle is that despite all the foregoing, some of the heavy artillery on Singapore was in fact able to contribute to its defence. The unfortunate aspect.. Read more
NZ Crown Mines
According to well-held popular opinion, the fall of the British possession of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942 was largely the result of ‘The guns facing the wrong way; out to sea, when they should have faced ‘inland’; towards the (then) British colony of Malaya (now Malaysia)’. But was this in fact the case? In this well-written and exhaustively-researched volume, Bill Clements seeks to clarify the situation. His narrative consists of two parallel themes; ‘Political’ and ‘Military’ the former providing ‘the reasons why’, the latter the military response.. The tale that results is one of conflicting orders, evolving and changing international policies, self-important experts, technological development and unnecessary expense. An inability to think beyond very fixed perceptions, also contributed to what eventuated. The miracle is that despite all the foregoing, some of the heavy artillery on Singapore was in fact able to contribute to its defence. The unfortunate aspect.. Read more
NZ Crown Mines
