Video on the Japanese attack on Indonesia & Singapore

Why the Japanese Were So Successful in Malaya

Video on the fall of Singapore

Came across this footage today on the fall of Singapore. The commentary is relatively accurate but some of the footage is a little suspect. As one example it shows British troops riding on a tank when there were no tanks to defend Singapore but the majority of the footage is Singapore 1942 related.

Singapore - The Inexcusable Betrayal by George Chippington

I have just finished reading this self published book by George Chippington that I thoroughly enjoyed. I was also fascinated to read that the book tells the story of the last stand before the fall of Singapore where George Chippington and his troops took up positions in the bungalows in the vicinity to the old Singapore Harbor Board house where I currently live in Singapore. This added some interesting history to the area that has been vividly captured in this eye eyewitness account.

Published in 1992 the book is based on Chippington's diary where from Dec 41 he took part in close combat against the invading Japanese forces from the Thai border to the streets of Singapore. As per the title of the book the author continously expresses his anger in frustration throughout the campaign of the poor leadership and the folly of the war they were expected to fight with inferior equipment and without the support of tanks or a functioning air force while the Japanese air force bombed at will and dominated the skies over Malaya. A thoroughly good read.

An old image of fortress Singapore

Not listed as to where the image originated from

Did Singapore have to fall? - Churchill and the impregnable fortress

I have just finished re-reading Hack & Blackburn's book "Did Singapore have to fall?" It is a most fascinating read and some of the photos of the the building of Singapore's early coastal defenses I have not seen else where. As much as I enjoyed the book I did not feel that the ending pulled it all together to conclusively answer the question that the book so succinctly asks in it's title. Never the less I do recommend it. The photo on the cover of the book is the replica 15 inch wartime gun on location in Changi. The barrel is 54 feet long. It is an interesting visit located close to the Changi Museum.

Fall of Singapore service 15th Feb 2011

Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) held the 44th memorial service on the 15 February 2011 in commemoration of civilians victims of Japanese occupation during the World War Two. The annual event aims to remind the country's younger generation never to forget the tragedy in which a large number of civilians were ruthlessly slaughtered during the dark days of the Japanese occupation and to make young Singaporeans clearly aware of the hardness to earn peace and the importance to establish total defense. The memorial ceremony was attended by more than 1,200 people, including Singapore Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen, representatives from government organs, uniformed services, diplomatic corps, business associations, religious organizations, schools as well as veterans and families of the victims. Wreaths were laid on behalf respectively of the SCCCI, the Singapore Army Forces Veterans' League, the ten major religious organizations, National Cadet Corps', and the students representatives in Singapore to console the spirits of the civilian victims of the Japanese occupation and all participants observed one-minute silence and took three bows in front of the memorial monument. Before the beginning of the service, the Singapore Civil Defence Force sounded the "All Clear" signal through its public warning system to commemorate the fall of Singapore to the Japanese during World War Two. The SCCCI has fixed Feb. 15 every year for a memorial service in commemoration of the civilian victims of the Japanese occupation. On Feb. 15, 1942, Japanese captured Singapore and occupied it for three and half years. According to incomplete statistics, at least 50,000 Singaporeans were slaughtered. On Feb. 15, 1967, memorial monument was built and memorial service was held each year ever since. Source: Xinhua

Final defensive lines before the attack on Singapore 1942

This interesting map shows the defensive lines around Singapore in preparation to defend the island from the attacking Japanese forces in 1942. History tells us that the diversionary attack on the small island of Pulau Ubin on the North East succeeded in bluffing defending forces command that it was the start of the main attack. However, the full force of the main invasion occurred on the North West side of the island. The rest is history

69th anniversary of the fall of Singapore 15th Feb 1942

This morning I attended the remembrance services for the thousands of civilians who died as a result of the fall of Singapore 69 years ago today. It was very well attended and it was good to see the number of school children who were in attendance. I have posted a number of photos on my Singapore1942 twitter site which you can access by clicking on http://www.twitter.com/singapore1942

Video footage showing the intensity of artillery fire on Singapore to support the invasion

Images from the battle for Malaya

Some more amazing images captured by Time Life Magazine taken during the battle for Malaya and printed in an article "Some Mementos from Malaya" in the March 1943 edition. The top two pictures highlight graphically the tragedy of war.