Many books on the Malayan Campaign tend to use 'Singapore' in part of the title rather than 'Malayan' (compare the number of books listed under the search string 'fall of Singapore' to that under 'Malayan campaign' in Goodreads). The fact is the fighting in the Malayan Peninsula lasted 55 days and that in Singapore no more than a week. But it could be that Singapore was given the rather undeserving title of a fortress that made its fall all the more dramatic. Still, reading books on this campaign, one gets the distinct feeling that the word 'Singapore' is something of a misnomer. It is no different in this book of 560 pages, of which perhaps only the last 100 were on the fighting in Singapore itself.Hair-splitting aside, this book is an invaluable one for anyone who wants to learn about the Malayan Campaign. That it is well-researched cannot be disputed, one only needs to look at the amount of references at the end of the book to know. What is more challenging is to organise this amount of information and facts and to write it in such a way that would keep the reader going. This, the author did admirably. While the beginning of the book is a little slow because it was more a description of the expatriates' life in Singapore, this part of the book is important for it sets the context and contrast that would come later. Once the reader gets through it, the action starts, and it would not stop until the end of the book.
Some events were given more detailed treatment than others and rightly so. The part on the sinking of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse was most heart-wrenching; the description of the aftermath of Parit Sulong made one seethe with hate. The all-too-few successes against the Japanese gave some reprieve and consolation to the fighting Commonwealth soldiers and also to this reader (pg 243); the inaction and lost opportunities left the reader holding his head in despair <I really want to include this one on pg 311: The fate that anticipated for these sitting ducks (Japanese soldiers) is not hard to imagine. Nothing happened.> The footnotes, thrown sparingly about the book played an equally important role, take for example the one on how 'missing' in North Africa often meant taken prisoner but in Malaya really meant 'missing' (pg 403). Not only does it paint the picture of the terrain for the reader, it even reminded me of how we got lost in our own small jungle during national service.
Like other books on this campaign, the author asked the important question - whose fault was it? Had one started reading this book keeping this question in view, he would be brought along the whole campaign changing his mind several times. The author did not state his views explicitly but gave a good summary of the possible factors on page 484. However, whether by accident or by design, these were all just before General Gordon Bennett put the 8th Australian Division into action defending Singapore. The calamity that followed and the description of the almost zombie-like deserters following that gave a hint as to what he thought. But then there was also this oblique reference that could easily escape one's notice: this Indian lady by the name of Lakshmi Swaminadhan was featured in Chapter 2, early in the book, and then the book ended with a mention of the INA. Could that be what the author attributes to the defeat of the British/Australian forces?
All in all, a very informative and entertaining book which I highly recommend. While some may complain about the amount of details, I think the casual reader does not have to remember all the regiments and battalions that were engaged in the theatre. Those who are want to know more will find their interest well-served.
(P.S. Lee Kwan Yew was Singapore's Prime Minister, not President as said on page 550.)
---------------------------------------------------
These are some additional thoughts that I have as a Singaporean reading this book.
The Second World War is 70 years past, but it is not that long ago that only through one's imagination could we go back to see what it was like. For one thing, photography and even videography have preserved much real-life images for us. Then there are the many artifacts that are still around. Most of all, Singapore is but a small place, and the names of places have not changed all that much. Changi Camp is no more than 3 kilometres away from where I stay, Bukit Timah is still very much there, even Muar and Batu Pahat in Malaysia are familiar places where I visited as a child. I just didn't know that these were important landmarks in the campaign and it's aftermath. I think I cannot see these places in the same light again.
General Tomoyuki Yamashita, the commander of the forces in the campaign eventually surrendered to the Americans in the Philippines. That the Japanese army committed great atrocities to the Commonwealth soldiers and the civilians is beyond doubt. What is more tricky is determining to what extent the commanding officers are responsible for these atrocities. I do not intent to discuss this here, but perhaps this book which I intend to read may provide some answers. There is another officer in the Japanese army whom many Chinese consider to be more guilty - Masanobu Tsuji. He even wrote a book on this campaign which might be worth reading. According to a documentary I watched, wherever he went, a massacre would follow; he was never brought to justice in any tribunal.
Finally there is still the issue of who lost Singapore. Scholars will no doubt continue to try and assign blame for years to come. But the Commonwealth soldiers, as individuals, suffered in one way or another, many others died, all have no reason for themselves to be here. Would it be of value even if we eventually were able to pin the blame precisely on any one group of them? I have no such interest, I just wonder what would be more appropriate for me to say to the many who did not manage to go home, when I visit the Kranji Memorial - 'Thank you' or 'Sorry'?
(Find this book at Goodreads)
