Peter Ewer

Contrary to popular belief the war in the Pacific commenced with the Japanese advances on South East Asia. Malaya & Singapore fell in just 70 days and was without question the tipping point that shattered Australia’s reliance on the British Empire - ultimately turning Australia to the US. This excellent book by military historian Peter Ewer documents the shocking ineptitude of the Allied defenders and the brutal swiftness of the Japanese advance.

The aim of the Japan was to expand its empire and expel European colonialism once and for all from Asia. Singapore, a prized target on the way to the oilfields of Dutch East Indies, was the jewel in the crown of the British Empire with its undoubted commercial importance. It was also seen as a supposed impregnable fortress lying between Australia and an expansionist Japan.

On December 8 1941 Japan entered WW2 when it invaded northern Malaya at Kota Baru. The Japanese contrary to popular belief at the time were accomplished and battle hardened in Manchuria and Indochina and they proved no match for the ill prepared and disparate Allied forces who defended the peninsular. Well before 1941 a complete lack of planning exposed the Allied forces in South East Asia. There was no front line air force of any note with obsolete planes making up the bulk of the service; there were no modern naval ships; untrained multinational troops; and surprisingly no battle tanks which were thought unfit for jungle operations. Within days of their invasion Japan had total freedom of the air and sea.

Japans relentless march south toward Singapore had the Allied troops backpedalling constantly. They abandoned headquarters, ammunition, equipment and supplies as they hastily departed. The Allied military hierarchy based in Singapore were beset with panic and infighting. The abrasive and arrogant Australian General Gordon Bennet proved incapable of working with anyone – superiors, subordinates and allies.

As the Allied forces retreated to Singapore they found themselves once again at the mercy of seriously flawed British assumptions – this time about the island’s defence. There with numerous tactical errors, technological shortcomings and strategic blunders – a prime example being the heavy coastal guns that faced south out to the sea. After the Japanese crossed the Straits of Johor and headed swiftly toward the city, British General Percival saw the writing on the wall and surrendered in February 1942. Percival went with close to 70,000 troops into the notorious prison camps and 3 long years of captivity.

After what is now regarded as Britain’s most humiliating military defeat came Australian Prime Minister Curtin’s defiant call to begin the battle for Australia. It also wasn’t long before the blame and recriminations started amongst the Allies with Australian troop’s insubordination, desertions and lack of fighting spirit widely propagated. Peter Ewer has produced a very well researched book encapsulating the experiences of the men in battle, the local civilians, military hierarchy, through to the politicians back home.… (mehr)