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A
Sinister Twilight
THE FALL OF SINGAPORE 1942
BY NOEL BARBER
THE BLACK HOLE OF CALCUTTA A SINISTER TWILIGHT THE FALL OF SINGAPORE 1942
A Sinister Twilight THE FALL OF SINGAPORE
1942
by Noel Barber
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY BOSTON 1
9 G8
Maps on endpaper and pages by George
First Printing
Copyright reserved this
2
and 124
Annand
w
© 1968 by Noel Barber. All rights
including the right to reproduce
book or any parts thereof
i?i
Library of Congress Catalog Card
any form
Number:
68-16479 Printed in the United States of America
L445526 FOR
"Jamie"
The one and only James the novelist
Kinross,
— remembering
all
the
happy times we spent together and all
the encouragement he gave me.
"I confess that in
my mind
the whole
Japanese menace lay in a twilight,
needs.
sinister
compared with our other
...
If,
on the other hand,
Japanese aggression drew in America, I
would be content
to
have
it."
— The Second World War, Winston
S.
Churchill
Acknowledgments
My grateful thanks are due to the many people who made this book possible: Lady Thomas, widow of Sir Shenton Thomas, the Governor during the war, arranged for the embargo on her husband's unpublished private papers and diary extracts to be lifted for the
first
time. Brigadier Ivan Simson, the Chief Engineer
Director of Civil Defence in Singapore in 1942,
me his me many to
available
He
also gave
lengthy, detailed, unpublished reports.
Mr. A. H. Dickinson, Inspector-
hours of his time.
General of Police, lent
me much
me police reports,
of his time.
Sir
Robert
and gave
papers, letters
Scott, Director of the
Eastern Section of the Ministry of Information, and a of the
War
and
made
Council in Singapore, gave
me
Far
member
permission to use his
unpublished notes, and also spent much time reading the manuscript for
me. Mr.
Hugh
Bryson, Secretary of the British Associ-
ation of Malaysia, was directly responsible for leading
me
to
an
extraordinary cache of several deed boxes containing invaluable
who ranged Secretary. Many had
accounts of particular aspects of the war, by authors
from businessmen
to the
Acting Colonial
been compiled during the
first
months
of internment, concealed
from the Japanese, and had hardly seen the I
am
also indebted to Dr.
light of
W. McGregor
day
since.
Watt, Director of
Civil Medical Services in Singapore during the war,
who
cor-
rected passages referring to the civilian nurses; and to Mr. James
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
X
who made
Leasor
available to
me
a lengthy tape recording of
General Percival's views just before the General died. I
am
who
lent
B. C.
me
their day-to-day diaries or notes,
Canon A.
time:
M.
also indebted to the following (in alphabetical order)
J.
C.
compiled
Bennitt; Mrs. Freddy Bloom; Mr.
J.
at the
and Mrs.
"Tim" Hudson; Mr. and Mrs. Hay; Mr. George Hammonds; Mr. Leslie Hoffman;
Buckeridge; Mr. and Mrs.
Mr. C. T. Kitching
(for the
loan of his late father's diaries); Mr.
"Willie" Watt; Dr. Cicely Williams.
Mr. L.
Newsom
Davis,
who worked
closely with the late
Gov-
and Mr. C. W. Dawson, Minister of Defence at the time, both gave me much of their time and made many invaluable suggestions after reading the manuscript, though I should make ernor,
it
clear that the opinions expressed
by
me
are not necessarily
shared by them, nor for that matter, by the
many
others
who
read the manuscript. I
should also like to thank Mr. John
J.
Tawney, Director of
the Oxford University Colonial Records Project, for his help; the Superintendent of the
Rhodes House Library, Oxford,
for
London
Li-
Donald Dinsley,
for
searching out important documents; the
brary for their unflagging zeal, and the
many
An
patient
staff
lastly,
of the
months he spent helping me with
research.
alphabetical bibliography of the books consulted, includ-
ing those whose authors and publishers have kindly permitted
me
to use extracts,
appears at the end of this volume.
Noel Barber London & Singapore November 1965-October 1967
Contents
Part One: Before 1
2
3
4 5
6
THE THE THE THE THE THE
LAST DAY OF PEACE FIRST DAY OF
WEEK OF DISASTER MONTH OF INACTION MONTH OF THE BOMBS END OF THE MYTH Part
7 8
9 10
WAR
3
18 31
55 73 105
Two: During
AWAITING THE ATTACK THE ASSAULT BLACK FRIDAY THE DYING CITY
125 162
2ig 247
Part Three: After 11
12
THE ROAD TO CHANGI THE YEARS OF AGONY
287
BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
345
32O
351
Principal Characters
THE CIVILIANS freddy retz, a young American widow philip bloom, a doctor whom she married during the siege the reverend jack ben n itt, of Singapore Cathedral george hammonds, a journalist karen,
his half-Siamese wife
"buck" buckeridge, lucy,
of the Singapore Fire Brigade
his wife
Leslie hoffman, a journalist
tim Hudson, of Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., and a Divisional Commander of Air Raid Precautions marjorie, his wife mei ling, the Hudsons' amah "wee-wee," a Chinese ARP warden working with Hudson jimmy glover, Managing Director of the Malaya Tribune julienne, m.
c.
French wife
hay, Inspector of Mines
marjorie, dr.
his
his wife
cicely Williams, an English doctor
THE GOVERNMENT shenton thomas, LADY THOMAS, his wife
sir
the
Governor
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
Xiv
Stanley jones, Colonial Secretary rob scott, a member of the War Council a.
h.
Dickinson, Inspector-General of Police
rt hon. sir alfred duff cooper, Churchill's special envoy group-captain r. l. nunn, Head of the Public Works Department
hugh fraser, Acting Colonial
Secretary
THE MILITARY AIR CHIEF-MARSHAL SIR ROBERT BROOKE-POPH AM, Commanderin-Chief Far East
general
sir
Archibald wavell, Commander-in-Chief,
(American, British, Dutch, Australian)
rear-admiral
e.
Command
spooner, Senior Naval
j.
lieutenant-general
a.
e.
ABDA
Officer
percival, General
Officer
Com-
manding Malaya air vice-marshal
c.
w. h. pulford, Senior
RAF Officer
brigadier ivan simson, Chief Engineer and Director-General of Civil Defence
major-general manding
all
h.
gordon bennett, General
Officer
Com-
Australian troops
THE OPPOSITE CAMP general tomoyuki yamashita, Commander-in-Chief
of
Japanese forces in Malaya
colonel masanobu
tsuji, Chief of Planning Staff in Malaya
all
PART ONE
Before
1
The
Sunday, December In the
last
j,
Last
Day of Peace
ipji
uneasy days before
its
decades of peaceful, unhurried
no city in the world quite like Singapore. With the outbreak of war in Europe, the leisurely ways of a steaming, opulent Eastern city had been transformed overnight into a life of almost unseemly frenzy. A Euexistence were to be shattered, there was
rope in turmoil, a rearming America, urgently clamored for raw materials
— and Malaya had over three million
acres of
under cultivation, and produced half the world's rubber planters and the the desperate race to
tin miners,
fill
tin.
rubber
To
the
one thing only mattered
—
the holds of vessels impatiently lining
the quays of Keppel Harbour.
Singapore was the focal point for for
it
was
this vast,
expanding
trade,
to this teeming, frenetic port, ninety miles north of
wagons rolled down the peninsula's ancient railway, bearing their cargoes of crude rubber tapped
the equator, that the single-line
by Tamils in lonely plantations sometimes 400 miles to the north near the Siamese border, or of tin dug by the Chinese from the mines that
impinged
like vast ant
heaps on the jungles of
central Malaya. First the railway reached the island
— diamond
shaped, measuring twenty-six miles across, fourteen from north to south
— which
lay at the southern tip of Malaya,
and which
connected to the mainland by a causeway across the narrow
4
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
Straits of Johore.
From
island, until
The
itself.
docks were
verdant
sprawling city
at the docks of the great
ended
it
there, the railway straddled the
but the
at the southern tip of the island,
southern boundary of the city stretched four miles along the sea, sometimes palm-fringed, sometimes an ugly span of docks, ware-
and shunting yards. was everywhere. Each street seemed
to lead to a lap-
ping water's edge, to ships shimmering on the
fiery horizon, to
houses, cranes
The
sea
the glimpse of a passenger liner in the outer roads attended by a
patched brown
flurry of sampans, to the square
of junks, to
sails
a hard-worked, battered, rusted freighter being loaded
human
endless streets
conveyor belt of chanting coolies.
did not lead to the
hub
River, the
heart of the
on which packed
Not
Down by
the docks
fish,
and
see agile
hopping
Chinese
across the river
foot.
river — and — a potent smell
and the
them
compounded
the smell of the tropics,
dried
one could
as steppingstones,
without ever wetting a clustering around
but one alive with sampans
were born, lived and died; sampans
so close to each other that
boatmen using them
the
which twisted through the
a large river,
entire families
if
then they led to the Singapore
sea,
of the metropolis,
city.
Or
by an
in the
narrow
streets
assailed the nostrils;
of drains,
swampland, of
a score of sweet spices that lay waiting to
be un-
loaded from the junks which had sailed north from Bali, Java
and the Spice smelled,
it
Islands.
Curiously,
was never forgotten.
from up-country
him he had
for a
To
weekend
it
was not unpleasant; once
the planter or miner
in the city, the
first
arrived as clearly as the big lettered sign
pore Railway Station.
It
was the smell of Singapore
of an exciting, polyglot city built
coming
whiff told
on Singa-
— the smell
on swamp, where the heat and like a blanket; where half a million Malays, Chinese and Indians jostled the gaudy, narrow streets while the European tuans drove past in their cars. humidity pressed down day after day
THE LAST DAY OF PEACE It
was
In Chinatown, whole
a city of extravagant contrasts.
families pecked at their Lunch with chopsticks
Lacquered ducks
hung from shops
5
by the roadside.
as flat as pancakes, birds' nests, sharks' fins,
more than
that were little
holes in the walls.
Chinese hawkers cried their wares, loping along with the heavy containers of food dangling at both ends of the bending
bamboo
bony shoulders. In every garish street colored washing on poles jutted out like flags from the windows of poles arched across
the
tall,
belong to another world, in flapping shirttails and of Chinese life
A few blocks away and bustle seemed to
This was China.
flimsy buildings.
the poles of washing vanished.
The
noise
streets filled
women
with languid Indians in
The
in vivid saris.
had gone. The men squatted on
hectic frenzy
their
haunches
or walked gently, almost indolently, often holding hands; the
women
sauntered by with their dressed-up children.
pavement was daubed with the pertly spat out to peppers
Every
scarlet stains of betel nut, ex-
by incessant chewers. The smells had changed
and curry and
tropical fruits.
Round
—
the corner, the
road became an Indian market, alive with shoppers in front of
mounds
of fruit spilling over into the street
— mangoes,
pa-
payas, star fruit, lichees, pomelos, chilies.
Yet
if
and jumbled but swarming, the government and
there seemed to be
confusion of houses, fragile
no end
to the color
business sections of the city were entirely different, with the
space and orderliness of a typical Colonial streets
were replaced by
verges
and sensuous
Traffic
policemen
spotless
city.
The narrow
wide avenues with trim grass
flowers, or exotic flame or frangipani trees.
at every
corner
still
wore basketwork "wings"
strapped across their backs, so they did not need to wave their
arms in the incessant heat, but leisurely turned their rect the cars. its
The
slim spire of
St.
feet to di-
Andrew's Cathedral rose from
island of cropped green, near the
dome
of the
Supreme
Court, and the ostentatious, soulless but gentlemanly govern-
A SINISTER
6
TWILIGHT
white and clean and slightly forbidding, clustered together as though for protection. Raffles Hotel was a block away facing the sea, as the road turned along the waterfront, past merit
offices,
the green padang of the Cricket Club, with cricket pitches,
football
its
and
tennis courts and bowling greens.
"White" Singapore was above all a beautiful city. Not only did the sea beckon at every corner, there were patches of green everywhere
— sports
tween straight
streets
grounds, golf courses, parks, gardens beleading out of the city to the island
vil-
where the gentle Malays lived on the edge of rubber or coconut plantations or by the sandy beaches with their fishing traps. It was as though the early planners had (with all their lages,
build some tangible copy of the
faults) striven to left
life
they had
behind in England, something to compensate for the wet
And somehow
heat from which nobody could escape.
Men
succeeded.
which demanded
collars
and
ties
and limp white
suits for office
(known
wear, dinner jackets or short white mess jackets
"bum with
— and tinel
freezers") in the evenings, yet
its
tang of adventure, its
they had
sweated and cursed at the Colonial shibboleths
its
noises,
as
everyone loved the city
its
smells,
opportunity for making a fortune.
its
A
leisurely life
man-made
sen-
dominating the narrow waters between the China Seas and
— and thus between East and West, between — Singapore those carefree days was
Ocean Asia and Europe
the Indian
in
irresist-
ible.
With new wealth, with money
to
burn,
new
trade
boomed. The skeleton-like rickshaw wallahs, each with a dirty cloth
round
his taut neck, the veins showing,
Orchard Road, carrying passengers tiny eight-horsepower yellow
ting
down men and women
Ford
at the
to the
taxies
twist of
bobbed along
Asian markets.
buzzed past them,
Cold Storage,
had
a
The set-
grand white
building selling everything from "French" bread freshly baked
THELASTDAYOFPEACE
7
each morning to Sidney Rock oysters flown in daily from Australia; to say
of
nothing of row after row of tinned foods nostalgic
home, of England, of the next
Irish stew,
and
supreme quality of being
The
leave; sausages,
baked beans,
cream which had the
for the children, English ice "safe."
heart of the city was Raffles Place and here, or in the
adjoining Battery Road, you could buy the latest books at Kelly
and Walsh, get an Elizabeth Arden Chinese
ladies) at
"facial" (very popular with
Maynard's the chemists, or
new
wait for friends in Robinson's
if
you were bored,
air-conditioned restaurant.
Everyone knew Robinson's, whose big new building dominated Raffles Place. Robinson's sold everything of aspirin over the counter to a a lonely planter
up by
coffee in Robinson's"
— from a bottle
motor lawn mower delivered
the Siamese frontier.
was a catch phrase.
"I'll
to
meet you for
In short, the place
was an institution.
For the white man, a gentle pace.
life
consisted of regular activities taken at
Nobody could hurry
in a country
where the tem-
perature stayed around the nineties for most of the time. started early, finished
around
five o'clock.
There were
Work
sports at
the various clubs before the sun set at six-thirty every day of the year.
And
House
in
men would
go home, past Government
grounds of a hundred
acres, often to a big, old-fash-
after that,
its
ioned bungalow in the outskirts; not pretentious, but big so as
room for the hot air compound with its glimpses to give
banana
to circulate,
leaves, all giving the impression of
removed from any
city.
and surrounded by
a
of attap huts, palms, broad, green
One
up-country jungle far
of the peculiar charms of Singa-
pore in those days was that the city never seemed to encroach on the outskirts.
The dripping
most over the
city,
and
jungle foliage seemed to hang
at night the
al-
bellow of bullfrogs in the
mangrove swamps kept some people awake. Even on the Bukit
A SINISTER
8
Timah Road, with
its
TWILIGHT
canal running
pick orchids by the roadside.
gin slings after a day's work.
Money was cards
plentiful but
you could
their stengahs or Singapore
— long before
— nobody carried any
to the sea,
At the Tanglin Club the occabeyond the tennis courts as on the
monkey would lope off veranda members gratefully downed sional
down
cash, for
the vogue of credit
under the
chit system ev-
eryone signed for anything from a tin of cigarettes to a In one's
own
and amahs,
house,
life
was
assisted
new
car.
by an array of Chinese boys
so that after tennis or volunteer snooker at the
phone home and order dinner for a dozen friends, secure in the knowledge that it would be ready in an hour, and that if there were not enough plates to go round, Cricket Club,
it
was easy
to
would have been borrowed from neighboring
they
(Guests often found themselves eating with their
and
forks
when
Whiskey, berries
and
own
boys.
knives
invited out.)
gin, cigarettes
were cheap in a duty-free
fresh roses arrived daily
Cameron Highlands, smoked and
from the
hills at
port. Straw-
up-country
salmon from Australia.
fresh
In those happy days, Singapore was the
last resort of
yesterday
in the world of tomorrow.
And
this
was especially true because the white man, the tuan,
not only lived a
life
which the
made more cocooned in a myth of
tropics of necessity
than usually comfortable, he was also
utter security. It was not smugness, nor was
went much deeper than fully fostered
after
that;
by authority
September
1939,
it
at
that
A
complacency.
It
was an absolute conviction, care-
home, even nothing
mother might send her sons
after
Munich, even
— nothing
could ever disturb the peace of Britain's racy."
it
—
on earth "arsenal of democ-
to fight in
Europe, they
might die in that distant war with Germany, but meanwhile life would go on in Singapore as it had done since Raffles snatched
THE LAST DAY OF PEACE
9
the magic island from under the noses of the Dutch in 1819 in order, as he said, "to secure to the British flag the maritime superiority of the Eastern seas."
the Japanese were behaving belligerently,
Certainly,
after all, the evidence of security
was indisputable.
it
been rushed out
The
was there for
all to see
but,
— and
Prince of Wales and the Repulse had
to the empire's mightiest naval base (though
without a carrier escort)
.
The RAF
flew overhead.
And
across
and breadth of the peninsula and island the troops stood to arms, thousands and thousands of men, all spoiling for a fight, and only disgruntled because they were convinced there would never be one. the length
"just in case"
—
was a limb of a Britain
at
People prepared for the worst of course for,
however remote, Singapore
still
—
war. Volunteer nurses, air raid wardens, auxiliary firemen, local
There had been practice brown-outs and sessions of bandage rolling. Men and women had volunteered for blood transfusions. Food for six months had been stored, medical supplies for two years. It had all been done with a will, yet it had sometimes been difficult for
defense volunteers had trained for months.
civilians to realize
for there
were few
be whipped into a
it
was not just an exaggerated make-believe,
visible signs of
impending war.
state of anxiety
shelters in the streets.
when
No one could
there were hardly any
Despite the war raging in Europe, there
no rationing. The clubs and hotels dispensed unlimited drinks. There was dancing every evening, bathing every Sunday, at the Tanglin or Swimming clubs, or on the beaches
w as r
virtually
facing Johore less than a mile across the Straits
— a shore
defended, but as yet unmarked by a single pillbox or
barbed wire. True, one saw large numbers of troops, but civilians
it
seemed they had no sense of urgency. The
to
be
roll of
to the officers
dressed for dinner in their best blues; the other ranks went
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
10
dancing, souvenir-hunting, or
queued up
Mr. Mimatsu's the
at
Japanese photographer behind Raffles Hotel, who with eager hisses offered cut-rate photos of groups of soldiers to be sent
home
to wives or sweethearts,
like living in a big garrison
mood had
This
To
the
European
civilians,
it
was
town during peacetime maneuvers.
spread throughout Malaya.
It
touched not
only the 18,000 Europeans — half of them women and children — Malaya, but the Asians who had been caught up in
also
in
the fortune fever. For the polyglot population included 2,000,-
000 Malays, almost
many
trade,
at
as
— who
many Chinese
concentrated on
that time having no real roots in the country
—
and 1,000,000 Indians and Tamils, who worked on the rubber estates and the railways, plus Armenians, Arabs, Javanese, Burmese. Malaya absorbed them all tolerantly. But to them war was not only unlikely,
it
was an event they did not even compre-
hend. Britain had never conquered Malaya, first
footholds
— and
for over a century
warlike Malays the arts of peace.
War
it
it
had bought
its
had taught the once-
to the people of
Malaya
was a phenomenon that was completely mystifying, for there
had never been a military governor, no occupying army (apart from a small garrison in Singapore) and the whole country was "ruled" by a police force which employed
less
than 200 British
officers.
And
just to
make doubly
sure that
nobody became apprehen-
—
and military leaders reiterated almost daily and with the same insistence displayed by Chamberlain after sive, politicians
Munich
— that there would be no war with Japan.
very confusing.
And
it
was even more
It
was
all
difficult to forget that
next morning there was rubber to be tapped, tin to be mined, ships to be loaded
— and money
to
be made.
This was Singapore on December those
who
lived there,
it
was a
city
7,
1941.
No wonder
that for
on the brink of paradise; and
THE LAST DAY OF PEACE no wonder that
On
it
11
that with their blinkered eyes, they could not realize
was a
city
on the brink
of war.
Sunday morning, Jimmy Glover, the shrewd Yorkshiremanaging born director and editor of the Malaya Tribune was on the balcony of Dulverton, his house at Holland Park outside this
the city,
when
his
phone rang. Glover had worked
the top during fifteen years in Malaya.
man who, through
the Tribune,
man
Chinese, and he was a
showed, for across
Sunday edition of
Cambodia Point was
and the ships were, according ing west
— toward the
at the
newspaper
this
Cambodia
off
to the details that followed, steam-
east coast of
wish to spread alarm, but pressed, particularly
his
of the
was, how-
southern tip of Indochina,
Malaya or southern Siam.
Glover had hesitated before printing the
announcement
He
front page in black type stared the omi-
its
nous headline "27 Japanese transports sighted Point."
to
In his forties, he was a
championed the cause
unafraid of authority.
ever, afraid of the future, as the
way
his
news was too
when read
in
story, for
significant to
be sup-
w ith an
official
conjunction
telling people not to travel,
holiday to return home. Glover wondered
he had no
T
and urging those on
"how long
the peace
and serenity which I had come to regard as my right in Malaya would last." The telephone stammered again and Julienne, his French wife, called
To
Glover's
to
him, "F01 you, Jimmy."
astonishment
An
Chief-Marshal
Sir
Robert
Brooke-Popham, Commander-in-Chief Far East, was on the other end of the line in person, and \cry angry. Before Glover
—
could edge a word
in,
he complained bitterly about the Trib-
une's "pessimistic view of the Far East situation." "I consider
it
most improper
to print such alarmist views at a
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
12
"The
time like the present," he snorted. serious as the
position isn't half so
Tribune makes out."
"That's not
Glover.
fair," retorted
by Reuter's and passed by the censor.
"The news was
To
presence of those Japanese transports off
released
me," he added, "the
Cambodia Point means
war."
Glover managed to keep his temper until Brooke-Popham had rung off. Then he and Julienne got out the car and drove
what had become almost a weekly
to play their part in
rite
—
Sunday morning drinks at the Seaview Hotel. Not far from Glover's house, in a bungalow requisitioned for four British officers, another man was reading the significant headline
— and
he, too,
was
filled
with foreboding.
Ivan Simson, Chief Engineer Malaya to
become deeply involved
Brigadier
Command, was
destined
in the siege of Singapore, not only as
a leading military figure, but ironically as a civilian too.
had been posted instructions
Malaya only four months previously with
to
from the
defenses in the area
Simson
War
Office to
— only
improve and add
to find himself
to the fixed
blocked by military
minds which seemed uninterested in everything he proposed. At fifty-two, Simson was a professional soldier of long standing
He
with a distinguished record.
with a trim military mustache
was handsome, straight-backed,
— and
urged him to be doing something. across the length
and breadth
times on horseback.
He had
traveled 6000 miles
Malaya by plane, by
He knew more
than any other soldier
Only
of
a restlessness that always
of the country
car,
even
and
terrain
at
— and more about the lack of defenses.
a few days previously he
had received the shock of his he had been struck by the ignorance of troops on the best methods of dealing with
life.
When
enemy Office
visiting formations up-country
tanks.
Yet he
knew
that large quantities of official
War
pamphlets giving non-technical advice had been sent from
London
before he took over his job.
THELASTDAYOFPEACE He had found pamphlets,
They had been
military headquarters.
had
densed
and asked leaflet
cupboards
of at
there for months, since
arrived.
Simson had been Percival
Hundreds and hundreds
die pamphlets.
lying, neatly tied in bundles, in the
still
the day they
13
so appalled that
he had sought out General
for permission to
compile quickly a new con-
on the
subject.
Percival
had agreed
— though
most military leaders in Malaya, he did not think the Japanese would use tanks. Simson was convinced they would and like
had gone ahead. But only
come
off the press less
Now
it
just in time, for the last leaflets
had
than twenty-four hours previously.
was Sunday morning
— and there was no time
to lin-
Nor would there be any Sunday. Simson drove down to his office
ger over the black type of the Tribune.
swimming at
for
him
Fort Canning.
ize
this
It
would take the
best part of
Sunday
to organ-
a Malaya-wide distribution of the only instructions Allied
way of dealing with the would soon be rumbling down the pe-
troops were ever likely to get
tanks Simson was certain
on the
best
ninsula.
By
far the
most popular place
on Sunday morning was miles or so out of Singapore on
for drinks
the Seaview Hotel, a couple of
the east coast road. It not only faced directly
on
to the sea, laced
with the long, spidery lines of Malay fishing traps and the low,
hot green islands beyond; but in the curious way that a place will catch
next —
on
— and
so
be popular one day, but shunned the
and lofty dome in the center, had become identified in the minds of Singaporeans with Sunday morning drinks at the local pub back
home
this unlikely
in England.
pore, but never
venue, with
Home
its
pillared terrace
always tugged the emotions in Singa-
more than on Sunday mornings, when one had
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
14
time to think (and inevitably drink) while bridging the mental as well as physical void between breakfast and a large curry lunch. It
was a
fine
The
hot day by the time the Glovers got there.
violins of the orchestra struggled through palm court selections from Ivor Novello and Disney's Snow White. As Jimmy glanced
round, the Chinese boys, balancing trays of gimlets, stengahs or
Tiger beer, slithered from table
to table.
It
was
stifiingly
hot
before the monsoon. The sun penetrated everywhere, and one
could hardly touch the wooden
Sunday uniform of open-necked
tables.
shirts
The men
and
shorts
— in
their
— wiped away
the sweat that appeared at their necks every time they gulped a
drink or
made
the physical effort of grabbing for the chit to sign
(the worst insult in Singapore
was to describe a
man
as "pencil
in shorts — fanned themselves
shy").
The women — many
as they
gasped for air and with minute handkerchiefs daubed at
the beads of moisture
on
also
their foreheads as they leaned across to
talk to their neighbors, their fretting children left
amahs
at
home
or at the
behind with
Swimming Club.
Every table was occupied and everyone seemed to
know
ev-
There was a great deal of waving and beckoning and invitations to share the small, round, crowded tables facing the sea. Glover waved to Freddy Retz (Freddy being short for eryone
else.
Elfrieda), a
New
husband had died drifted
down
to
Yorker of twenty-seven and a widow, whose a year or so previously in
Penang and who had
Singapore to escape painful memories. She was
not a "typical" American, though she had the good figure, the long, elegant legs
her race.
and even white teeth that are the hallmarks of
Beside her
sat a
major
in the
Royal
Army
Medical
Corps, a South African called Philip Bloom, a gentle, intelligent
man
with a crinkly smile,
who was
obviously more than nor-
mally interested in Freddy. Leaning across from the next table
THE LAST DAY OF PEACE to talk to her
was George Hammonds,
15
assistant editor of the
Tribune, with his beautiful Eurasian wife. Tall but not gangling,
a
with serious eyes behind spectacles, and forever clutching
round
fifty tin
of Players,
George was one of those characters
every polyglot city produces.
A man
everybody knew, part of
the middle stream of the city, the sort of a
room
at Raffles
parsons,
pimps
itant voice,
when
there was
man who
no room
to
be had. Policemen,
— everybody knew George, with
and everybody was envious
of
could get you
his slightly hes-
him when they
first
saw Karen, his wife. She sipped an orange juice, uncomfortably aware that most of the
young
officers
eying her
ily
produced a ish
—
lounging round the nearby tables were greed-
for her
startling
Danish father and Siamese mother had
mixture of two handsome
races, a firm
Dan-
chin with wide, enormous soft pools of eyes framed by high
cheekbones; the
tall
figure of the
Viking with the slow,
effortless
movement of the Asian. She was stunningly beautiful. George Hammonds, now thirty-five, had fallen madly in love with her when he had arrived in Singapore ten years previously, had maraway and cheerfully resigned from the Tanglin Club, an all-white stronghold where her presence was unwanted. By now the Seaview was packed. Latecomers were being turned away, for the moment had arrived when the orchestra on
ried her right
its
stage struck
waiting.
up
As the
all
had been
starling-like chatter ceased abruptly,
everyone
the resounding chord for which
picked up small, rectangular cuds placed on the tables each
Sunday and bearing the Be an England."
verses
and chorus of "There'll Always
This Sunday singsong before lunch had become a
among
the British inhabitants, and as silence
gave the drinkers their
final
cue.
Then
fell,
ritual
another chord
the orchestra, almost
with the reverence of an organist in church, started the
first
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
l6
By
verse.
the time the chorus had been reached, every single
man and woman was
the cheap, sentimental
lustily singing
words, "There'll always be an England,
And England
will be free,
England means as much As England means to me." If
It
was
as
if
to you,
the throaty, out-of-tune voices united everyone
briefly in a burst of shared loneliness;
the soldiers sprinkled
more away from
among them,
the last raid
not only the civilians, but of
all
Africa, the Russians defending the gates
Hammonds was not lump
them 8000 miles or fighting in North of Moscow. George
on London, the
sentimental but "the syrupy song brought a
away from a war which distance had made incomprehensible; and on this Sunto the throat" as
everybody sang so
far
day, unknowingly, unwittingly, "There'll
land" was more —
it
was a swan song
to peace
though hardly anyone seemed to realize plays
on
Sunday.
this last
no
diaries
it,
and a way of
life,
for a curious light
and papers
that were later
emotion and opinion, with frustration and
to be filled with terness, give
The
Always Be an Eng-
real clue to
how
people
abundantly clear by omission that
all
except to
felt,
bit-
make
it
sense of apprehension was
absent.
A
mile or so away, near
erend Jack Bennitt
it
Andrew's Cathedral, the Rev-
up
in his diary as "another hot
and apart from noting that
fine day,"
morning
summed
St.
—
slept
till
twenty to seven when
celebrate at the Cathedral at ten to"
cording.
went
To
for a
everybody
swim."
did on Sunday."
"I did a terrible thing this
it
—
was supposed to
little else
was worth
was an "ordinary day."
"We must have had a curry "I think
I
we went
tiffin
to the flicks."
"I
re-
suppose
I
— we always Nobody
re-
THELASTDAYOFPEACE members doing anything his diary,
Worked
"Up
all
for eight.
at 4 a.m. for
Now
a.m."
swim
Tanglin Club.
in
office.
he was preparing for a luncheon party
Cricket Club,
at the
though the Governor noted
urgent cable from Colonial
Hammonds
George
snooker at
special,
17
It
was looking forward to a game of
Jimmy and
was, in fact,
Julienne Glover to
one Sunday
like a
a
hun-
dred others, and with the monsoon ready to break, the lucky c
hance of a fine day stuck in people's memories more than any
other single
None
fact.
realized this was a
Sunday nobody
ever forget; for this was not only the last
day of a way of
"Come
life
in Singapore
day of peace,
it
would
was the
never to return.
on!" cried George
the second chorus rip!" as they
last
Hammonds
and hundreds of
to
Freddy Retz,
lusty voices swelled out
reached the words they knew by heart, "There'll always be an England,
And England
"let
will be free."
The
First
Day
of
War
Monday, December 8 At 1:15 a.m. precisely, while Singapore slept, a telephone call awoke the Governor, Sir Shenton Thomas, and banished all thoughts of sleep. General A. E. Percival, General Officer
Com-
manding Malaya, speaking from military headquarters at Fort Canning with agitation and urgency in his voice, informed the Governor that the Japanese had begun landing operations at Kota Bahru, a coastal town on the east coast near the Siamese border.
"Well," replied Shenton Thomas, "I suppose you'll shove the
little
men
off!"
Then,
still
Governor
in his pajamas, the
picked up the receiver of his direct "green" telephone and told the police to begin the long-planned rounding
nese males.
dered
Awakening
coffee,
warning him
his wife
and dispatched to stand by.
and the
up
servants,
of
all
Japa-
Thomas
or-
a message to his Colonial Secretary
Only when he had phoned
several
other departmental heads did the Governor scramble into a pair
and an open-necked shirt, while his wife poured out a much-needed cup of coffee which they sipped on the large firstof slacks
floor balcony of
Government House where they normally break-
fasted.
Here, for a few moments, they enjoyed their
last
Singapore at peace. Because Government House
is
glimpse of built on
a
THE FIRST DAY OF WAR rise,
1()
the balcony offers a magnificent view, and as they sat there
in the bright moonlight, the great
glowing port and
city
were
spread out before them, looking like one of those old-fashioned, slightly
blinked in the hot
The
gray etchings.
indistinct
air,
of
lights
and toward the center
it
the
streets
was possible
to
distinguish the silhouettes of the Cathay Building (Singapore's
only skyscraper) and the white municipal buildings in brighter light.
moon
Beyond, the
crowded with dozens of vessels of
On any
this tropical
fears,
night
played on the
harbor
all sizes.
was very beautiful, and
it
a ring of
still
if
either
had
they said nothing; the coffee finished, the Governor
told his wife to go back to bed.
Tomorrow would be
a busy day,
but there was nothing anybody could do now, for the war was still
400 miles away.
Shenton Thomas had
at this
years after an honorable,
if
time been Governor for seven
unexciting, career in the Colonial
and he was now approaching the time of retirement. Of average height, he was beginning to put on a little weight, but in a way this suited him, especially in his starched drill uniform with its white cockaded topee. He rather prided himself on "being easy to get on with." He liked being liked. He had alService,
ways believed that
it
was the duty of the white
the interests of "the natives,"
man
to look after
and though he appreciated the
trappings of high office (which included a yacht), he was not
pompous.
If
he had a
fault,
it
was a tendency
to
be over-optimis-
tic.
He had
inherited
ter of civil
many
government,
administration headaches in the matfor,
as
Governor, Shenton
Thomas
ruled one of the most complicated constitutions in the British
In 1941 Malaya comprised the Straits Settlements of Singapore, Malacca, Penang (with Province Wellesley on the
Empire.
mainland opposite) which formed
a British colony.
But Shen-
A SINISTER
2o
TWILIGHT
concerned with the Federated States of MaPerak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Pahang. A federal laya government at Kuala Lumpur administered their general polton
Thomas was
also
—
but in
icy,
many
respects each
was self-governing.
If this
were
not enough there were also the Unfederated States of Johore, each governed by its Trengganu, Kelantan, Kedah and Perlis
—
own
autocratic Sultan with a British adviser,
and incorporated
Empire by separate treaties. As Governor of the Straits Settlements and High Commissioner for both the Federated and Unfederated States, Shenton Thomas often had to deal with eleven separate governments before an agreement affecting Main the
laya as a
whole could be reached.
As Singapore slept on, there was nothing else the Governor could really do at that time of night. He could hardly rouse the city and alarm his people, for after all, the Japanese at Kota Bahru were 400 miles away, and might well have been driven back into the sea before dawn. anomalous.
And
his position
was somewhat
For though he bore the courtesy rank of Com-
mander-in-Chief, he had no
more
military authority than his
King who enjoyed a similar title. He might have become highly unpopular with the military, who had in this moment become the real masters,
had he acted without consulting them.
Below the veranda, the grounds bathed in moonlight looked Shenton Thomas descended the broad staircase
so inviting that (so
magnificent that "descended"
is
about the only appropriate
word) and strolled out through an equally pretentious porch onto the lawns in front of Government House.
He
was
still
pac-
when at four in the morning the telephone rang again. Air Vice-Marshal C. W. H. Pulford, who commanded the RAF, wanted to speak to the Governor. He had news as terse and frightening as Percival's. Hostile aircraft ing between the flower beds
were approaching Singapore. They were already within twenty-
THE FIRST DAY OF WAR miles of the
five
The Governor had
city.
21
barely time to
tele-
phone the Harbour Board and the Air Raid Precautions before the first bombs came crashing down at exactly 4: 15 a.m.
It
took
Jimmy Glover
less
than
five
minutes to get
his car out of
the garage and set off with Julienne for the Malaya Tribune, on Anson Road near the docks. The journey presented no difficulty for the streetlamps were on. Orchard Road was a blaze of light. So was military headquarters at Fort Canning. As they
approached the center of the
new law brightly
courts
—
the arc lamps picking out the
so did the illuminated clock tower of the Victoria
Memorial Hall. padang,
city,
and the municipal buildings shone even more
By
the time they reached the Cricket
waterfront
the
Club
had become crowded with people,
mostly Chinese watching the flashes of gunfire.
By Fullerton
Building an ambulance swerved past them into Battery Road; fire
engine clanged along Collyer
the red glow of a
The
raid,
Quay
to the
dock
a
area, chasing
fire.
by seventeen planes, was not big and, possibly be-
cause the streetlights remained on, thousands of bewildered
Chinese, Tamils, Malays ans
— refused
alert.
— together with hundreds of Europe-
to believe this
was anything but another practice
An Englishwoman who
Raffles Place
lived above her dress shop near
had been hurled out
of
bed by the
blast
from a
bomb, but when she phoned the police and cried, "There's a raid on!" the officer soothed her by saying it must be a practice; at
which she retorted,
son's has just
been
"If
it
is,
they're overdoing
it
— Robin-
hit!
Reverend Bennitt was convinced was "not the real thing."
He
was an
for
most of the night that
\RP
it
warden, and when the
guns started he had dressed quickly ("leaving
off the
dog
collar
A SINISTER
22
TWILIGHT
and reported to his post at Yoch Eng school near Kallang Airfield, where he and his fellow wardens decided, as he noted in his diary, that "it was a good idea to give us an for this sort of job")
unrehearsed practice spoilt the realism
Long
133 injured.
Sixty-one people had
bombs had fallen in direct hit on Robinson's
Most of the
Chinatown, though one had scored a
new
only thing that
was the lack of blackout."
before dawn, the raid was over.
been killed and
The
as realistic as possible.
air-conditioned restaurant in Raffles Place, and another had
shaken the police headquarters in
New
Bridge Road, where
"Dickie" Dickinson, Inspector-General of Police, was going
about his methodical task of seizing nese fighting vessels, and rounding
Japanese on
Mimatsu, the spired,
whom
forty-five suspicious Japa-
up every one
he could lay his
"official"
was a World
photographer to the
War
I
of the 1200
hands — (including forces,
who,
it
Mr. tran-
colonel seconded to Singapore to
photograph troops). Dickinson called a shower
and
it
a night
breakfast.
around
7 a.m.
So did George
and drove home
Hammonds who
Glover had worked without a break through the night. At
had been worth it for the Tribune had beaten the Times by two hours with its special edition.
it
for
with least
Straits
But the Tribune had not included one item of news which had not yet been released news of such staggering and world-shattering significance that it was, by a strange twist So
it
had.
—
of irony, to relegate the
coming
struggle in Malaya to secondary
importance in the global strategy of the war.
As Singapore prepared for its first breakfast at war, Chun hill had gone into the dining room at Chequers for dinner. Mrs. Churchill had not been feeling too well, and did not come down
THE FIRST DAY OF WAR
2}
but sitting with the Prime Minister were Avercll Harriman and John Winant from Washington. Churchill "looked very grim and sat in complete silence." Though news of the attack on Malaya had not reached him, he was certainly for the meal,
aware of the imminent dangers and was possibly depressed because he could see no clear hope that any such attack would
automatically bring in the United States. Just before nine o'clock, Churchill told Sawyers, the butler at
Chequers, to bring in the portable radio
Hopkins had given him). There was
— and for
a
(a
$15
moment
set
which Harry
or two of music
then an anonymous voice warned listeners to stand by
important news.
One can
picture the scene at Chequers as the three men, un-
suspecting, sat in silence, waiting.
then
it
came
— the news
change the fortunes of war and assure ultimate
vic-
BBC
an-
that
was
tory
beyond
to
And
all
In a calm, grave voice, the
doubt.
nouncer told them that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor.
There were no Incredibly, of
what to
That was
all.
But
it
was enough.
none of the three men had had the remotest idea The BBC had beaten Churchill's own intelliby hours, with news that came as a profound
to expect.
gence service
and
details.
—
Churchill an almost exhilarating
Xo wonder
Churchill's
first
— shock.
emotions bordered on something
akin to elation. After months of cajoling, begging, bargaining
with Roosevelt, the Japanese had brought the United States into the war.
And no wonder
that
when
later that night
news of the attack
on Malaya came in over the air, it was dwarfed by the magnitude of what had happened at Pearl Harbor, by the profound implications of a disaster that had without warning changed the whole concept of the war.
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
24
time that Churchill was dining, the radio anaround breakfast time in Singapore. nounced the same news For George Hammonds, breakfast was not eaten that morning
Almost
—
at the
at least,
—
not while
was
it
news.
knife
to
It
Retz was driving age
when
down
—
for "just as
murmuring by
spear an egg" the radio
He dropped his drop off me too."
warm and
fork,
I
was about
his side told
and "the
him
tiredness
to
the
seemed
was the same with everyone. Freddy
to Raffles Place to look at the
she was startled to see a friend
run
bomb dam-
straight out in front
and shout, "Hi! You're in the war!" Within moments the Japanese raid on Singapore and its implications had been forgotten, save by the curious Chinese who blocked Raffles Place and Battery Road. The electrifying news of Pearl Harbor
of her car
made everything
else
seem unimportant
— even
the prospect
of another raid that night, even the Japanese landings
on the
east coast of Malaya.
Singapore had ing,
its fair
when work had
share of Americans, and by mid-morn-
started again,
when
the dust
and debris had
been cleared away, there was visible evidence of the new nership in arms. Driving
part-
up Orchard Road on her way home,
Freddy Retz espied one or two small American flags which had suddenly appeared as though out of nowhere, blossoming myste-
windows of Chinese shops. By lunchtime George Hammonds and his friends were toasting their "new allies" at the long bar at the Cricket Club. More than one bemused American had a hazy afternoon siesta without ever hav-
riously from the
ing been permitted to sign for a single drink.
United
States into the
The
entry of the
war was received with profound
relief,
and the
feeling of elation was doubtless reinforced by the first war communique issued from General Headquarters in Singa-
pore. Briefly this
announced
that the
first
Japanese attempt to land
THE FIRST DAY OF WAR at
Kota Bahru had been repelled.
communique spread
the story that
25
A few hours later a second only a lew bombs had been
dropped on the
airfield outside the town without causing casuCrowding round the briefing officer for his copy of the communique, George Hammonds read the reassuring words: "All surface craft are retiring at high speed, and the few troops left on the beach are being heavily machine-gunned." Hammonds had already been tipped off that military operations in the north were not going as well as had been hoped, so
alties.
he read the words with a certain skepticism, but to an unin-
formed community of mingled races the pulse of the
first
official
news of the
re-
Japanese attack did nothing but inspire confi-
dence.
After
all,
the long, narrow Malay Peninsula stretched 400
miles from the Siamese border to the Straits of Johore and Sin-
gapore Island; a backbone of granite mountains rising to 7000 feet zigzagged
down
its
center.
Four-fifths of the country
covered with dense, tropical jungle
— the rain
anese had landed on the east coast, with
its
forests.
The
silvery beaches,
was Jap-
but
With the no troops already drenching the countryside,
with poor roads leading due south from Kota Bahru. first
monsoon
rains
could hope to advance southward through
Nor did
rain.
it
seem possible
to
armchair
this
impassable
critics that the
ter-
Japa-
nese could strike westward on the single road from Kota Bahru across the
neck of the peninsula where they knew they could
and railways in the west. For northern Malaya was crowded with troops and RAF fighters and bombers ready to pick out enemy troop coin en 11 at ions and slaughter them. For
find better roads
months they had been
eagcrl
\
awaiting
jus(
such an opportunity
moment to demonstrate the superiority in battle of the man over the Asian. How often had it been drummed
as this; a
white into
them
— and the
civilians too
— that
it
was one thing for
A SINISTER
26
TWILIGHT
the Japanese to fight the Chinese, but wait till they came in contact with British steel! It would be vastly different for the Japa-
World War
had hardly come face to face with white forces since the Battle of Port Arthur in 1905, when they had only been matched against a demoralized, cor-
who
nese
(despite
I)
rupt force of Czarist Russians.
And
tacked an isolated
bound
A
now, what had happened?
to
such rash
British outpost —
enemy
tiny
force
had
well, that sort of thing
happen, but they would pay the
at-
was
inevitable price for
folly.
communique that a mind, particulary among
Indeed, so graphic was the wording of the visual picture sprang
immediately to
the Asians. It was not difficult for
them
to
imagine the moonlit
beach, with a few khaki-clad Japanese left bewildered to their fate
by cowardly comrades who were bolting "at high speed" in
And
their boats.
since this
came
direct
presumably was what they wished the
Why
lieve.
from military sources civil
otherwise should they issue a
it
population to be-
communique which
was so manifestly misleading? Of course the surface craft were retiring "at high speed" (a phrase
which would give the simple
Asian the impression they were running away); they dawdle?
The Japanese had landed
and were naturally returning
The
why should
their troops successfully,
to their base as quickly as possible.
The beaches at Kota moonlight when shortly after
truth was significantly different.
Bahru had been bathed
in bright
midnight three transports anchored two miles offshore. Almost immediately the sparsely held defenses were being shelled by the attacking warships. craft
Within the hour the
— which had proved
difficult to
were making for the shore.
Japanese landing
launch in a heavy swell
—
defenders fought magnifi-
and though the Japanese captured two strong points bedawn after heavy hand-to-hand fighting, this first and crn-
cently,
fore
The
first
THE FIRST DAY OF WAR cial battle in
the Malayan campaign was by
everything was changed bv
holding the
Still
sudden
a
fto
g J
means
lost until
town when
vital airfield outside the
were
British forces
disaster.
a
rumor
swept the lines that the Japanese had broken through and were at the perimeter.
It
was quite untrue, though "the passage
su av bullets probablv gave credence to utes,
some unauthorized person
— gave
to this
instructions to evacuate the airfield.
ior officers false,
Within
it."
— never
it
made
a rapid reconnaissance
was too
a
oi
few min-
day identified
Though two
sen-
and proved the rumor
Everybody bolted by any vehicle they
late.
could grab. In their terror they did not even destroy the stocks of bombs, the petrol, or
make
matter of hours Kota Bahru was in enemy hands.
nous preface of the panic and disorder
The
Within a was an omi-
the runways unusable.
to
It
come.
bare bones of the situation were that the High
had been caught on the hop, Americans had suffered
just as
Command
thousands of miles away the
a similar late at Pearl
Harbor, and the
High Command natural ly enough was doing its utmost to cover up in the hope of better news to come.* But then, in these early days, even the High Command did not realize that the Japanese invasion of Kota Bahru, under the overall direction of General Yamashita
conquer Singapore prong
zones tend to
Tokyo
in
Siam and
7.
the Pa<
is
make nonsense
ol
ific
in
Tokyo
as far
bad;
that differing local time
comparisons, but by the clocks
the Japanese atta< ked Pearl Harbor, Malaya, Singora
Hong Kong
early hours of
within
Decemh<
•This was born out
Thomas
So
vast
to
onl) one oi a carefully timed four-
which had been do ided upon
attack,
November in
— was
— the man destined
h\
that "the original
Geni
a
lew hours of each other in the
Malaya ! i
mm" En
at 2: 15 a.m.,
Pearl
Harbor
W
ivell who in 1948 admitted to Shenton the lade of preparation must be placed on
the heads of the military who, Wavell Japanese invasion or prepared properly
tvai
for
convinced, uerei realty expected a it.
A SINISTER
28
at 3:25 a.m., Singora at 4 a.m.,
When
TWILIGHT and Hong Kong
at 8:30 a.m.
translated into local Pacific times, however, Pearl Har-
bor was attacked at 7:55 a.m. on the 7th and Malaya at 12:45 despite the fact that there was only an hour a.m. on the 8th
—
and ten minutes between the two. The timing of the attack on Kota Bahru was ironically determined only because it was Sunday in Pearl Harbor,
when
the Japanese expected most of the
U.S. Fleet to be in harbor.
Of
all this
after they
the
first
tions
the civilians in Singapore
— in
fact
had read the communiques the news looked good on
Monday
of war, even
though a number of uneasy ques-
were already being asked.
pened
knew nothing
And why
Since the
into action?
known about
Why
had hap
had they not
hadn't the British night fighters gone
High Command must obviously have
the Japanese landings shortly after one o'clock,
and had been presumably on the for Japanese
for instance
during the raid?
to the streetlights
been put out?
What
bombers
alert,
how had
it
been possible
to penetrate to within twenty-five miles of
Singapore without any advance warnings?
These questions could hardly have been answered
at the
time
without seriously undermining public confidence, and even to this
day they have never been properly answered, though what
had actually happened was standable) that
official
so simple (and in
reticence at the time
is
its
way under-
a little hard to
understand.
had been as follows: Pulford of the RAF had warned the Governor at 4 a.m. that hostile aircraft were approaching Singapore, which gave Shenton Thomas only fif-
The
actual situation
teen minutes to alert the Pulford's
"number two,"
thirty minutes'
city.
later
warning of the
Yet Air Vice-Marshal Maltby,
admitted that the raid.
RAF
had had
Nobody has ever explained With only fifteen min-
the mystery of the lost fifteen minutes.
THE FIRST DAY OF WAR warning
utcs'
it
would have been impossible Part of the city was
blackout in Singapore.
operated by
own
men
29 to order a crash
by gas lamps
lit
with old-fashioned poles. Some
had
districts
There was no central switch, and in any event, the ART was not on a war footing. Its leadas on any other night of peace. And it ers were in bed asleep true all was also the "top brass" the Commander-inthat their
electrical installations.
—
Commanders
Chief, the
Colonial Secretary
—
—
of the three services, the Governor, the
all
spent hours after
1
a.m. discussing the
landings at Kota Bahru and not one of them thought of ordering a blackout, because
not one of them thought a raid was remotely
possible, since the nearest
Japanese
airfields
were 600 miles
dis-
tant in Indochina.*
made by seventeen Japanese
Since the raid was
people in Singapore the
main
attack.
felt that a
airfield of Seletar
Unknown
planes,
few night fighters taking
many from
off
could have quickly broken up the
to them, three Buffalos of the
Royal Austra-
had been alerted and warmed up. The had been eager to take on what one of them was later to
lian Air Force actually pilots
describe as "the most perfect night-fighter target which
ever seen." last
Permission to take
moment by RAF
did not trust the
and feared that
off was,
however, refused at the
headquarters, apparently because the
AA gunners,
in their
some not
have
I
yet
RAF
blooded in warfare,
enthusiasm they might have shot at our
planes. So night fighters did not go up.
The main first
question, however, which lingered deeply
day of war was the distressingly obvious lack of
Most of Singapore had been
built so close to sea level,
on
this
shelters.
and on
such marshy ground, that deep shelters were held to be virtually
•On his way to police headquai u is. Dickinson, the Inspector-General of Police, had noticed that even Fort Canning, the military headquarters, was a blaze of light.
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
go
Even the most shallow slit trenches filled rapidly with water and provided breeding grounds for mosquitoes. In happier days it had almost been a joke that when a cricket match was about to begin on the Cricket Club padang, the captain who had won the toss invariably elected to bat were it low tide, but impossible.
chose to bowl were the tide lapping against the high water mark.
government committees had debated the shelter question thoroughly, but it is hard to escape the feeling that the very real problems had served in the twelve months preceding war as Several
excuses for misguided policies.
ernment, made
Swampy ground,
deep shelters impossible;*
slit
said the gov-
trenches were
But there were many who were thoroughly disgusted by the official government attitude, who felt that in a raid it was better to dive into a trench at the breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
risk of catching malaria;
might be impossible,
who
at least the
felt that
even
if
deep shelters
government could have put up
blast walls in the streets. Instead there
were virtually no shelters
Chinatown. and thousands of deaths.
for the ordinary people, especially in to result in thousands
But *
This
that was in January, the
is
a fallacy.
Raffles Place.
There
is
month
of the
And
this
was
bombs.
today a large underground car park in "swampy"
The Week
Tuesday, December g
Hammonds
George
of Disaster
— Tuesday, December 16
was not a
man
given to swearing, but as he
communique which the Tamil messenger had just handed to him in the Tribune office, he iet it flutter down on his desk and said blankly, "What a pack of bloody lies!" read the
It lie
was shortly after ten o'clock on the Tuesday morning. Les-
Hoffman, who worked
in the
He smiled faintly, Hammonds angry.
opposite.
George
for
it
took a great deal to
an Order of the Day," explained George
"It's
can't believe so
Tribune newsroom, was
it
—
I
can't believe
made and
tions are
tested.
.
make
bitterly.
"I
anybody could deliberately
tell
many lies. Here! Read it." Hoffman read over the more important
We are ready. We have had
sitting
passages:
plenty of warning and our prepara.
.
We are confident. Our defences
and our weapons efficient. Whatever our race, and whether we are now in our native land or have come thousands of miles, we have one aim and one only. It is to defend these shores, to destroy such of our enemies as may set foot on our soil. What of the enemy? We see before us a Japan drained for years by the exhausting claims of her wanton onslaught on China. Let us all umeinber that we here in the Far East form part of the great campaign for the preservation in the world of truth and justice and freedom. are strong
.
.
.
.
.
.
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
g2
George wiped the sweat from glasses of the ice-cold, fresh
mos on
lime juice he always kept in a Ther-
— including the incredible
truth than the average civilians
that this grandiose proclamation
months previously. "They say it was
"We
neck and poured out two
Both he and Hoffman knew much more of the
his desk.
George.
his
to give
fact
had actually been prepared
them time
six
for translations," said
could have done the whole job in the
office in
a
couple of days."
Hoffman was
a slim,
handsome young man
tined to have a big future in Malaya.
mixed blood
—
his father
instinctive intuition
of twenty-six, des-
Perhaps aided by his
had come from Ceylon
— he had an
where British officialdom was concerned, this document still remain obscure,
and though the authors of
Hoffman immediately put condescending tone, ation, could only
its
mean
his finger
on one
salient point.
Its
patent obliviousness to the true situthat
had come from the "Whitehall had made
it
wallahs." It bore their trademark. Official spokesmen
Hoffman or Hammonds at offthe-record briefings that their policy had been to avert war with Japan by treating the Japanese with kid gloves, while at the same time deliberately exaggerating our military strength to make them hesitate in case the first line of policy failed. Even BrookePopham, the Commander-in-Chief, had been forced to endorse this line of attack. Hammonds had toured the island and Malaya time after time. He had seen for himself that Whitehall's it
abundantly clear to
men
like
boast of an impregnable fortress, a powerful troops,
modern
aircraft
carrier to
highly trained
was nothing but a myth.
Barely a week previously the the Prince of Wales
fleet,
Navy had been on show when
and the Repulse had
guard them. Indeed
three cruisers, four destroyers
all
arrived, with not a
that could be mustered were
and some smaller
craft.
Few
peo-
THE WEEK OF DISASTER pie
on the island realized
that these
ft*
two great warships had been
ordered to Singapore by Churchill against the express advice of the Admiralty, fleet
who had urged him
of older battleships.
Churchill, however, had insisted on
new ships because really modern ship in
sending the effect of a
to dispatch instead a larger
of "the tremendous political
He had
the Far East."
at least
agreed that they should have air support and the carrier Indomitable
had been detailed
had run aground
to attend them.
was about
just as she
Unfortunately she
to sail for
Far Eastern
waters. Notwithstanding this setback to his plans, Churchill
Wales and Repulse should
insisted that the Prince of
Singapore
— without
Hammonds had
had
sail for
air cover.
good deal of the
also seen a
soldiers
who
con-
There were over 88,000 of them who halls when on leave. On several up-country he had found only a few who were "jungle
stituted the garrison.
crowded the Singapore dance tours
trained"
among
the 19,600 British, 15,200 Australians, 37,000
Indians and 16,000 locally enlisted Asians. single tank
on the
Yet few people in Singapore
Hammonds had
And
there was not a
island.
knew
this.
Only
that
morning
overheard Karen telling their eight-year-old
daughter Barbara the war would be over in a couple of weeks. She probably
felt
—
as
thousands did
— that
since the jungle
was "impassable," the Japanese would have to launch a seaborne assault against Singapore,
and could never survive against the In fact some of these
great 15-inch guns that faced out to sea.
guns (contrary to popular misconception) did have a limited traverse,
but they were
still
totally ineffective against
ammunition Even worse, the supporting gets as their only
rounds each.
land
tar-
consisted of armor-piercing shells. 9.2-inch
guns had only thirty
Since Whitehall reckoned that
—
if
invested
—
Singapore would have to hold out for six months before naval
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
34 relief
could arrive,
this
meant
that in the event of a siege the
gunners would be in the ludicrous position of only being able to fire
one
shell
each six days.
As for the communique's boast that "our defences are strong," George had actually taken the children bathing a couple of weeks previously, choosing a spot they loved on the north shore and they hadn't seen so much as a strand of barbed wire, a
—
pillbox, or a single trench. Just Johore, opposite.
Had Hammonds known
of the desperate plight of the
RAF,
he would have been even more shocked; he had had his doubts
when watching
the ancient Wildebeeste planes with their old-
fashioned open cockpits; he had wondered
why members
of the
Singapore Flying Club had dubbed the BufTalos the "peanut specials."
had
told
Yet after
all,
Hammonds
Brooke-Popham, only a week previously,
at a
conference that, "we can get on
right with the Buffalos here.
Malaya."
And
after
all,
They
are quite good
Brooke-Popham was an
enough
RAF
type.
all
for
He
should know. In
fact,
instead of the 366 first-line aircraft
which Whitehall
had promised Malaya "by the end of 1941" the RAF could only on a shop-soiled, bedraggled assortment of 141 operational
call
aircraft,
on the peninsula,
fields
Of
mostly obsolete or obsolescent.* fifteen
had only
its
twenty-two
air-
Of
the
grass runways.
four airfields on Singapore Island, pleted the day war broke out,
Tengah had only been comwhen officers and men laid 400
yards of metal paving in twenty-four hours.
But keep
of
this,
his eyes
even George
Hammonds
— who was
trained to
open and was frequently trusted with
record information
— knew very
off-the-
little.
* This force was composed of 17 Hudsons, 34 Blenheim bombers, 27 WildebeettC torpedo bombers, 43 Buffalos, 10 Blenheim night fighters, three Catalina flying
boats, four Swordfish, five Sharks.
1445526 THE WEEK OF DISASTER He
inter-service
vaccilation,
years
made
had, however,
;>,
;,
his business to study the history of
it
quarrels,
throughout
stupidity
the
from 1925 when London had met to disways of protecting Singapore's growing new naval service chiefs in
cuss the best base.
It
had
all
started then
— with the navy and army wanting
heavy fixed armaments to repel an attack from the air force
proposing the use of
sea,
and the
which they claimed could
aircraft,
enemy before it came within range of the big guns. The navy and army had won and this had precipitated an inter-service quarrel so bitter that by 1929, when Hammonds
attack an
—
attended military conferences, he had to travel
RAF
tween the army and
miles be-
five
headquarters while, incredibly, the
navy headquarters w as fifteen miles distant by road from the r
There was virtually no cooperation betw een the services. The army had insisted that no enemy could ever advance by land dowTi the Malayan peninsula. The RAF had a totally different conception, and as early as 1936 had started constructr
city.
ing airfields up-country, without properly consulting the army,
which would have
to
The army was
defend them.
furious.
George remembered one angry brigadier shouting, "Some of the bloody airfields can't ever be defended.
The damn
fools
have built them in the wrong places."
This bitter quarrel was no doubt one reason why British
Army
chiefs stubbornly refused to
down
nese force could ever advance "Officially"
—
for
more than one
Malaya had sent reports back
to
officially
admit that any Japa-
Malayan peninsula.
the
British
general
in
pre-war
Whitehall warning that such a
They had been quietly pigeonholed, not only "to teach the RAF a lesson," but because the navy threw its weight behind the army. Right from the start the navy had course was possible.
staked
its
reputation on the
come from
the sea,
i,i<
and now
I
it
that
any Japanese assault must
stuck to
its
useless
guns
—
so
A SINISTER
36
much
TWILIGHT
no one ever gave any
so that
serious thought even to de-
fending the north shores of Singapore Island.
As the quarreling continued, the picture to George Hammonds was one of "unrelieved stupidity." Even when war broke out in Europe, the services were still involved in inter-service disputes or were in disagreement with the civil government.*
The open
quarrel with the civil government had erupted into the
at
one bitter conference where
demand
the military
Hammonds had
listened to
conscription of civil labor, only to be told
by the Governor that the Foreign Office insisted on priority
for
and rubber production. The F.O. view was that Japan had been at war with China for over three years and was in no positin
"The
tion to attack.
threat to Singapore should be regarded as
remote, and nothing should interfere with Malaya's economic
Foreign
effort," said the
between the
Office.
As a
result, strained relations
were to spread rapidly to a point where
services
they also deteriorated into sharp antagonism between the military
and the
civilians.
In June 1940, the picture underwent a startling change with the collapse of France. Until this relied
on a French
fleet in
moment
Britain
had always
the Mediterranean to contain the
Italian Navy, allowing British warships to patrol Far Eastern
waters.
Now
keep her
laya to land
At long
and last
other choice
would be
the Mediterranean, leaving the defense of
Ma-
air forces.
Whitehall turned to the
— and
RAF — they
gave a promise that 366
had no
first-line aircraft
Malaya by the end of 1941. They also to do something about the "mu1940 jealousy and mutual determination to avoid co-operation" f
decided tual
Britain was dramatically faced with the need to
fleet in
available in
— in October
—
* Even as late as 1939, there was, according to the official history, The Japan, "insufficient consultation between the services in Singapore." f From The War Against Japan.
War
Against
TH between the
W
E
services,
1
1
O
K
F
1)
1
S
ASTER
^
by appointing Air Chief-Marshal
Sir
Rob-
Brooke-Popham Commander-in-Chief Far East. Brooke-Popham was sixty-three. He had served with the RAF in World War I, and in 1937 had become Governor of Kenya, only to be reinstated on the active list in 1939. The news of his ert
appointment reached Singapore editors before
terms of
ref-
made public, and consequently the first brief nouncement did much to cheer up those "in the know," for
an-
his
erence were
bitterness actly
between the
services
what was needed
—
a
was an open
man
other personalities and heal the
George
Hammonds would far
wounds between
war
the services.
never forget his sense of dismay,
when he was
told
that
from being overall commander, would have
no control over the navy; ate
This was ex-
of seniority to dominate the
even stupefaction, at Fort Canning
Brooke-Popham,
secret.
the
for survival in
so that, with Britain fighting a desper-
Europe, Singapore discovered
itself in
the
ludicrous position of having two Commanders-in-Chief, each responsible to a different authority in London, while the
Com-
bined Intelligence Bureau, on which each of the three services
on Japanese intentions, troop movements on (and which should obviously have been under the
relied for information
and
so
jurisdiction of the C-in-C)
remained under the control of the
Navy.
Brooke-Popham,
in fact,
was nothing more than a buffer
unkind might say an old buffer. By November 1940, Brooke-Popham had succeeded
—
the
up
a
GHQ with a principal
ters at
touch
staff
of seven
officers,
in setting
with headquar-
This certainly enabled him to keep in opposite number in the navy and with the Com-
the naval base.
w ith r
his
bined Intelligence Bureau, but on the other hand, he was fifteen miles away from the army and very forces of which he was in
it
meant that and the
RAF —
command.
These headquarters were served by an intelligence
service
A SINISTER
g8
which hardly lived up
to
its
TWILIGHT
name. Just before the Japanese
at-
tack, George Hammonds had gone with several spare-time ARP wardens to a lecture, where an RAF officer had insisted that
there was pilots
no need
could not
Ward had
to
fly
man ARP
in the dark.
stations at night as the Japanese
On
another occasion a Colonel
given a lecture stressing the magnificent fighting
and the intensive jungle training of Japanese troops. was not invited back to air his "defeatist" views. Another
qualities
He
instance of the intelligence service's abysmal talent for misinfor-
months before war broke out in Malaya, when the navy had asked the Chief s-of-Staff for some Hurricane fighters, and the Vice-Chief of the Air Staff (on their advice) had retorted that Buffalo fighters "would be more than a match for mation came
six
the Japanese aircraft which were not of the latest type."
This unfortunate appraisal was made only a month before a Japanese Zero had
made
a forced landing in
China and
details of
armaments, tankage, performance were passed to Whitehall.
its
But
"this valuable report
quence that when the
first
remained unsifted" with the conseBuffalo planes found themselves fac-
ing Zeros in combat, the British pilots were
under the delu-
still
sion they were flying the better machine.
Now been
war had come
fulfilled.
to Malaya.
Nor could
None
of the promises
had
they be now. Ships that should have
routed the Japanese, bombers that could have devastated their convoys of troops, Hurricanes that could have blasted the Zeros
out of the
—
tanks that could have matched Japanese tanks had been sent to meet the enemy on other fronts. No wonder that later, when the official history came to be writall
ten,
skies,
these
The War Against Japan remarked gloomily
Base at the Western Gateway of the ish strategy in the
Far East, was
Pacific, the
doomed
that "the Naval
keystone of Brit-
before the war started."
THE WEEK OF DISASTER The
first
thing Freddy Retz did
39
when America entered
the war
MAS) and
was to join the Medical Auxiliary Service (the
ar-
range to start work at the General Hospital; the second was to
up
fix
blackout in her
a
flat
in
Chatsworth Road, between
Tanglin and the Alexandra Hospital. was an old-fashioned
It
of a converted house;
it
flat
had
a big living
name
open Morris
small green
of
car,
A Chinese amah
Marsha was Freddy's
With
ited a massive pedestal desk seven feet
the
slave,
name
with the romantic
Spot" was Freddy's pride and joy.
floor
room, dressing room,
and bedroom and a garden with a tennis court. with the unromantic
ground
consisting of half the
of
and a
"Green
she had inher-
flat
long and four feet wide
with a knee-hole big enough for her and Philip Bloom, on his occasional It
later.
visits,
was a
to shelter
under during the
typical, agreeable, airy flat
raids
— "and
which came
practically im-
possible to black out."
But
a constant blackout
was virtually impossible in a humid
country where people sweltered the
women
closed,
where
conies;
where indeed
living
room
like
to
moment
window was
a
Freddy virtually lived on their
bal-
most people the balcony was the main
of the house.
pore compromised with a
So except during actual
brown-out — which
raids, Singa-
allowed the
in-
show a little light behind the balcony. On this morning Freddy drove down to Robinson's. Because of the bomb damage in Raffles Place, she had to park the Green Spot in Collyer Quay, and once inside the emporium with its crowd of shoppers, it took her an hour to get near the counter. habitants to
All
around her frenzied women were begging
terial.
Fortunately there was plenty
up
for
blackout ma-
— the trouble was a lack of bomb
debris; others col-
assistants.
Some were
lected the
remnants of the furniture from the bombed
rant
on the top
floor.
clearing
This had
to
the
be taken
down
restau-
to a basement,
A SINISTER
40
TWILIGHT
where Robinson's planned to set up a temporary restaurant so the ladies could still meet for morning coffee. People solved their blackout problems in different ways. In her
Amber Mansions Karen Hammonds
flat at
blacked out the
dining room by covering the windows and openings with bro-
caded Indian shawls which George had planned to take
on
his next leave in
Above
in the
Europe. first
days of war, people tried, almost desper-
emulate London's motto of "business
ately, to
came
ail,
a point of
honor not
than necessary with work
On
the very
dancing
first
hotels;
to let the
— and
night,
at Raffles Hotel.
mate in luxury
as gifts
as usual."
It be-
Japanese interfere more
for that matter, play.
Hammonds went
George and Karen
In those days this was Singapore's
ulti-
a rambling, ornate building, world-
famous, with a vast roofed-over veranda for dancing, flanked by
lawns where dinner was sometimes served in front of a majestic line of
tall,
ning out
been
fanlike travelers' palms.
at Raffles
invited,
but
all
Normally an expensive
was "an event," and the Hammonds' had day Karen had hated the idea of leaving her
daughter and baby son; George, however, crisis, it
eve-
felt that
was supremely important for the white
man
now, in to
Asian that he was not afraid, though he realized that
this
show the this
was
something that Karen with her mixed blood perhaps couldn't quite understand. In fact George
—
felt
"even more scared than
I had to insist I knew the people were watching us and would take their lead from the way we behaved." They almost had a row, but what finally won Karen over was the Order of the Day. George felt that in the circumstances it
Karen, but
was better not Raffles
was a dreary
brown out chestra
to disabuse her.
on
flop.
No
preparations had been
the vast, barnlike veranda where its
made
Dan Hopkins'
to or-
raised dais was playing old-fashioned dance music.
THE WEEK OF DISASTER The
41
were so dim that the only illumination seemed
lights
provided by the moonlight.
through a
series of
A
to
be
few couples struggled gallantly
slow fox-trots (dance music was invariably
played at a slow tempo as a deterrent to excessive sweating) and
amount of forced humor as couples bumped each other ("Oh! I knew it would be you with those big
there was a certain into
feet!")
and the men, with the aid of pencil
tinguish which chit they
Relief sirens
— and an
sounded.
had
torches, tried to dis-
to sign.
excuse to go
— came
home
when
only
Every waiter bolted (allowing more than one
shadowy figure a swig from the whiskey and Karen began
to feel terrified
bottles left
on the
about the children
at
As they drove down Stamford Road, however, the sounded —
it
had been a
Amber Mansions, amah
sitting
the
it
on the
was
false
all
table)
home. clear
alarm — and when they reached
to find the children asleep
floor in the dark,
wearing George's
and the tin hel-
met.
George could do nothing about making an improvised shelter, so he decided that the next morning he Living in a
would buy
a
rain-filled
slit
flat,
dozen mattresses and
them around the dining room table as splinter protection. Those who lived in houses were more fortunate. Though the government still insisted that
Jimmy Glover
pile
trenches were breeding grounds for malaria, realized that even the smallest rise of
ground
to seep away. He dug a zigzag trench, boring partly into the grassy bank leading from his house to the garden below. This he planked over, and covered the planks with earth from the trench. Then he dug a narrow ditch to carry the rain
would allow water
away.
"Buck" Buckeridge
of the Auxiliary Fire Service
— had a different kind of problem. Every
demand had been
refused.
He
Two
— the AFS
was short of helmets. requisitions
had been
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
42
no helmets had So Buckeridge decided on more unorthodox tactics.
put in months ago to the Colonial rived.
Office;
ar-
eoatee beard, as he always did when Tuesinsr O O Co O on his bristling waited for a quiet period, then confessed worried, Buckeridge '
his
problem
who had
a
to a Swiss friend
week previously
who
J
ran an import business, and
told Buckeridge, with typical Swiss
caution, that he might be able to lay his hands
ment
of helmets
if
on
war came.
Well, Buckeridge
said,
war had
discovered that the helmets had been there
now under
shipment to Siam,
pride, the Swiss businessman
met. But of course
it
all
— and now he
the time, awaiting
the control of japan.
produced one
Buckeridge was taken aback.
come
definitely
a small ship-
It
— and
was exactly
couldn't matter
With some
moment German hel-
for a
like a
The only thing that He sent a lorry to
less.
did matter was getting helmets for his men. collect them.
To
other people, the problems were
nard's the chemists,
tered
windows
raid.
To Jimmy
it
more
meant getting wood
board up their
shat-
Glover, whose printing plant was near the
emergency printing plant
home.
May-
against possible looters in the event of another
docks and therefore highly vulnerable,
his
to
personal: for
in the large
it
meant
compound
problems. Without any hindrance he was able to
a
an
Dulverton,
seems incredible that he encountered no serious
It
an attap-covered print shop.
bought
installing at
new
He went
start
building
out and quite easily
linotype machine, a range of hand-set type, then
transferred a flat-bed printing press
and twenty tons
of news-
Anson Road to Dulverton. A hundred coolies from company worked in relays for thirty-six hours laving an underground cable to run the machines. The Singapore Telephone Company installed a special line. print from
the electricity
Though
it
seems strange that the Governor had not lonc ago r
THE WEEK OF DISASTER
43
conscripted every one of these coolies to erect blast walls in
Chinatown, getting
at least
Glover knew what he wanted and
set
about
with typical Yorkshire determination; a quality that
it
seems to have been sadly lacking in the more rarefied atmosphere of the
War Council.
For already in the ling of the bitterness
initial
and
days of war there was the
pettiness that was
doomed
to
first
ink-
break up
any coherent action, and in which Mr. Duff Cooper, Chancellor of the
Duchy
September
was
9,
who had
of Lancaster,
arrived in Singapore
to figure prominently.
He had been
on
sent out
originally to study ways of improving coordination in the vast territories
— ranging from India
to
New
Zealand
— under the
British flag in the Far East.
Already he had unearthed some absurd situations. In Singapore he had discovered two important
own
staff
— doing exactly the same job
officials
for
— each with
his
two different White-
Economic Warfare and the The two men lived in the same house, their information. Their only grouse was
hall departments, the Ministry of
Ministry of Information.
happily pooling that they this
all
were not allowed access
to
any naval information,
was under the control of an ex-naval
twenty years
officer
as a magistrate in the Fiji Islands
who had
as
spent
"and whose con-
ception of his duties," as Duff Cooper dryly noted, "was to pre-
vent anybody, especially the Americans, from obtaining any
in-
formation whatever."
Duff Cooper was a short have gone
far in politics
man
of remarkable ability
had he not been disposed
routine work as something to be despised.
He
who might
to treat dull,
enjoyed making
excellent speeches, he was a brilliant writer, with a remarkable sense of history,
and he had
a
shrewd brain. But he loathed any-
thing that smacked of routine.
ous success in
London
as
He had
hardly been a conspicu-
Minister of Information, possibly for
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
44
but he was a close friend of Churchill's, and it is escape the conclusion that when he resigned the Min-
this reason; difficult to
he was sent to the Far East so that he could be found the sort of a job which hardly called for an exacting role, in an area where the Prime Minister had repeatedly emphasized that he istry,
did not expect an extension of the war.
The outbreak
of the
war had changed the picture completely,
and on the Wednesday landings (and
when
— three
days after the
had
the civilian population
the disastrous news about to descend
Japanese
first
little
inkling of
on them) Churchill sent
Duff Cooper a personal telegram which elevated
him
to Resi-
His
dent Minister for Far Eastern Affairs with cabinet rank. task
was
(in
Churchill's words)
to include settling
home"; but
way
to
emergency matters on the spot when
"time does not permit of reference
his terms of reference
warned him
was in no
"impair the existing responsibilities" of the Commanders-
in-Chief or government representatives rectly with their
who would
still
deal di-
departments in Whitehall.
Apparently Duff Cooper had other self
that he
president of a
War
ideas.
He now found
Council which met
daily,
him-
and he
pre-
Duff first meeting that Wednesday evening. Cooper had an aggressive personality that he sometimes found
sided over the
contain;
difficult to
and
like
many
highly intelligent men, an
ability to see quickly to the heart of a "ifs"
and "buts" a source of great
difficult to
but in
this
problem
to
which he
highly individualistic
dealing, not only with the
that
made
irritation to him.
understand his impatience
sions over a
problem
all
It is
he had the simple answer;
War
Council he found himself
Governor
(to
little
whom
he referred
man"), but with the
Commander-in-Chief and commanders of the three
services
instinctively distrusted the idea of a political figure telling to
run
their war.
not
at the often endless discus-
felt
scathingly amongst his friends as "the
how
the
who
them
THE WEEK OF DISASTER There was trouble
at the very first
~, |
meeting. Duff Cooper was
soon claiming that his instructions included "the development of a clearing house for the
matters" and
made
strong powers.
it
prompt settlement
Sitting across
Thomas made no bones about
of
minor routine
War
Council should have
the table
from him, Shenton
clear that the
the fact that he did not agree. In
Duff Cooper's appointment certainly didn't mean a
his view,
War Council
with executive powers to run the war.
Duff Cooper retorted that
if
the
War
Council had no
real
would be nothing more than political adviser. Duff Cooper had a special "stony stare" and now, leaning across, he fixed it on the Governor, and added in a steely voice, "As far as I'm concerned, the duty of the War Council is to wage powers, then he
war."
At
this
point Brooke-Popham, the C-in-C, opened his eyes and
spoke up. Brooke-Popham had an unfortunate habit of falling
—
a trait
on the slightest pretext, particularly at social functions which may have been due to the onerous duties imposed
on
advanced
asleep
his
years.
It
was
a habit that
enraged Duff Cooper,
uncompromising brain. And he made no secret of the fact that he didn't like Brooke-Popham. This did not deter Brooke-Popham. In the council chamber at Duff Cooper's
who had an
home
in
alert,
Dunearn Road
there was dead silence
among
bers as the Air Chief-Marshal said politely, but with
the
mem-
ominous
determination, that he took his orders from the Chiefs-o.f -Staff in
Whitehall and not from Duff Cooper
— and he didn't propose
to change.
Duff Cooper could hardly control himself. "You've produced the worst example of the old school tie I have ever met," he cried.
Brooke-Popham
"smiled
sweetly"
and
merely
"That's not fair!"
Shenton Thomas supported Brooke-Popham
drawled,
— which
meant
A SINISTER
46
TWILIGHT
from that moment Duff Cooper and the Governor were so much so that Shenton Thomas privately sworn enemies that
—
summed up
with the words, "From the
to a friend their relations
time of his arrival to the time of his appointment as of the
War
Council, he was as pleasant as could be; thereafter he
was exactly the reverse."
Perhaps the impatient Duff Cooper
had forgotten one sentence buried
gram
to
Chairman
in Churchill's personal tele-
him: "The successful establishment of
depends largely on your handling of
it
this
machinery
in these early critical
days."
Dramatically enough this unseemly wrangling took place at almost the same time on that Wednesday evening as the people of Singapore were to receive the
which
civilian
Unaware
first
morale was never destined fully to recover.
of the wrangling in high quarters
such a devastating influence on his
had
just
but dusk was
following morning — to prevent
In the hot,
stifling
open room with air.
its
It
life,
which was
George
at the Cricket
to exert
Hammonds Club
to the
had been a suffocating day
The Tamils were
falling.
backstop nets so they could
vating
own
walked out of the long bar
veranda overlooking the padang.
was cheap)
major shocks from
of two
mark out
taking
down
the tennis
courts in fresh places the
a simple expedient (providing the labor
brown worn patches
at the baselines.
evening, the lazy fans turning in the big
array of silver cups hardly stirred the ener-
Music blared from a
radio, but
nobody paid any
at-
tention as the showered tennis players emerged from the locker
rooms boisterously demanding long, cool drinks. Hammonds remembers that he was in a "long chair," the sort, always popuwith swiveling extensions on which one could and George was tired after long journeys between the Tribune and Dulverton helping to organize the Tribune's lar in the East, rest one's legs,
relief printing works.
He
hardly realized the music had stopped,
THE WEEK OF DISASTER that a voice
den stop
was speaking out of the radio. loud talk
in the
chair, for
now
the
at the
room was
It
47
was more the sud-
bar that brought him out of his
utterly
still
announcing impersonally that the Prince
except lor one voice,
Wales and the Re-
of
pulse had been sunk.
The silence continued old member dropped his shattering noise began a
George
tion.
— until one
glass; like a starting pistol, the
pandemonium
sudden
of bewildered conversa-
ran out of the club," got into his
"literally
which was parked
for perhaps thirty seconds
members' enclosure, and raced
in the
Fullerton Building to the Tribune
office,
car,
past
forgetting Karen, for-
getting everything. All
who were
ber this moment, ill,
who "In
felt
... As
of the
news sank
war
.
down
.
.
in
for the night.
and
horror
who worked at the Blood Transfushift when a doctor came running
told her the news, adding in a rasping, his
emotion, "You'd better stay
The casualties may
Freddy Retz was in her at the
full
day
brusque voice, possibly to hide
on
bed the
in
upon me."
just finished her
the passage
and who remem-
never received a more direct
turned over and twisted
I
"Dickie" Dickinson's wife,
had
that evening
the same, awful stunning shock as Church-
the
all
shock.
sion,
on
in Singapore
fiat
start
coming
waiting lor Philip
General Hospital, never turned up.
in soon."
— who, being
But there was a
knock on the door, and her neighbor Mr. Jim Henry, who lived in the flat above, came to offer advice. He was going to buy a stock of food
and whiskey and bury
the garden.
"It's
in
for
Freddy
at
the
same time?
the news reached Raffles Hotel, the famous veranda
emptied "as though the Leslie
under the tennis court
the beginning of the end," he said gloomily.
Could he get some supplies
When
it
last
waltz had just been played," and
Hoffman, who had been meeting someone
there,
"had
a
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
48
feeling that everybody suddenly felt terribly guilty
— caught
out drinking." After the
first
Jimmy Glover turned
shock,
he had invited up to Dulverton first
bitter thoughts entering his
Japanese have
bombed
to a friend
whom
and gave voice to the head: "Within 48 hours the
for drinks
Singapore, landed troops, captured an
and sunk two battleships. It looks like bad unified conon our part." The disaster had a profound effect on Singapore. Only a mat-
airfield trol
hours before, the two great ships
ter of
Navy — had
— pride of the British
and up the east coast. the cheers as they had berthed at
out of the harbor
secretly slid
Their very presence there
—
had greeted
the naval base, the publicity that
had somehow seemed an augury, a proof needed
— that the naval base
their arrival
—
—
if
proof were
after all these years
meant some-
thing tangible and real.
Now
they had gone, and
waiting at the Tribune
it
seemed
office to
to
make up
George Hammonds, a
new page
one, as
though "not only the ships had gone to the bottom, but the bot-
tom had
fallen out of everything else as well."
What had happened? guaranteed
air
Despite a warning that he could not be
cover from land-based planes, Admiral Sir
Tom
had decided that the two battleships with four destroyshould sail up the east coast "looking for trouble." He had
Phillips ers
hoped
for air cover, plus
monsoon weather.
On
an element of surprise because of the gth
the
cable that "fighter protection sible."
Yet, while the
.
Then
received a
will not, repeat not,
be pos-
skies hid the British
the sky suddenly cleared
Phillips radioed Singapore that he
cided to return to the naval base.
when
.
heavy rain and gray
warships they steamed on.
and immediately
.
— Tuesday — he
They were on
Phillips received a report that the Japanese
their
had
—
de-
way back
were invading
THE WEEK OF DISASTER the township of Kuantan,
He
north of Singapore.
on the
49
east coast, barely
140 miles
decided to "go in and help." Unfortu-
nately two unaccountable things happened.
For some extraor-
dinary reason, Phillips did not trouble to notify Singapore of his
And
change of plans. false.
The
result
the report of the invasion of
was that the Japanese
pilots
Kuantan was
were offered a
sit-
had identified the bombers and fifty-one torpedo
ting target after their reconnaissance planes
warships. Thirty-four high-level
bombers went into the of 840 officers
By now worst
attack, sinking
total loss
and men.
— though the
— the
both ships with a
tactical
civilian population did not
advantage had been
British troops in northern
Malaya were
nese thrust inland from Kota Bahru. iantly the defenders fought, this
was
lost forever.
falling
It
a
know
back
On
the
land
as the Japa-
did not matter
how
val-
kind of war for which even
While the British staggered under a burden of heavy equipment in blinding rain, swarms of Japanese commandeered bicycles and rode pell-mell through the rubber plantations. Often they wore nothing but shorts and singlets. They resembled the Malays so the
few seasoned troops were
closely that to
many
totally
of the British
whether they were friend or
foe.
unprepared.
it
The
was impossible
to
tell
Japanese bypassed the
"impenetrable jungle," moving swiftly through dripping rubber plantations or the narrow roads that linked one to another, often so silently that the British
knew nothing
attacked from the rear or cut
To
off.
the rubber plantation presented
an
unknown world
no
until they
were
the Japanese, the jungle or
fears.
To
the British
it
of elephants, tigers, snakes, flying foxes
was
— of
unearthly noises, of buzzing insects, dripping vegetation, of
humid rubber rain,
plantations,
which bred a damp,
could be anywhere
now
monsoon the enemy
hissing with torrential
isolated gloom.
— or everywhere.
In there
A SINISTER
50
TWILIGHT
This was bad enough, but due to faulty strategy at headquarters, British troops were falling into a trap which was to have disastrous consequences.
It
most immediately after the
warned the commanders ware
was a trap of which Churchill,
in Malaya, in a
assault,
troops required for ultimate defence of Singapore
lest
al-
had gravely cable which ran, "Be-
Japanese
first
Is-
Malay Peninsula. land and fortress are not used up Nothing compares in importance with the fortress." But already the Japanese, by moving rapidly over all kinds of country, by using enveloping tactics rather than head-on assault, were acor cut off in
complishing just what Churchill had feared. Added to decision
War
and hesitancy
at
Against Japan put
Popham] did not
The need
for a
this
"It
is
fully realize the
possible that he
The
[Brooke-
importance of speed.
Wednesday, December
.
atic
Japanese attacks on
lost,
the
— the
10,
when command
quality.
.
at
of the
and most of these were being withdrawn from Malaya
Singapore Island.
.
RAF was falling back too. After systemRAF planes — many of them refueling RAF had only fifty planes fit for opera-
had been
on the ground
that, as
Command."
seas
tions
it,
was so disastrous
quick decision was not apparently realized
headquarters, Malaya
And by
GHQ
this, in-
The
Japanese had 530 aircraft
—
all
to
of better
Daylight bombing of Japanese troops were stopped
—
because our bombers could no longer be given sufficient fighter protection. As a result of this decision, Dutch air reinforcements flown in from Java were already being flown back again because they had not been trained for night bombing.
—
Now trophe.
it
was the turn of the civilians to have a
Although the
nevertheless tal.
disaster occurred far
had a profound
effect
on
all
taste of catas-
from Singapore,
it
the people of the capi-
THE WEEK OF DISASTER The Malaya Tribune
51
printed a local edition at George
Town,
the only city in Penang, the beautiful hilly island off the west of Malaya,
coast
On
nearly 400 miles north of Singapore.
Wednesday evening Glover put through a routine call to Paterson, the local editor, who assured him that all was well; the island was calm. Japanese aircraft had been "buzzing around all day" without dropping any bombs, though they had attacked the
RAF airfield at
raid
had been
The
Butterworth on the mainland opposite.
clearly visible
from Penang, said Paterson, and
wardens and police had found
it
impossible to stop crowds of
Asians lining the seafront for a grandstand view of Butterworth
being blitzed.
About eleven ber 11
—
flew over
a
o'clock the next
— Thursday, Decem-
formation of twenty-seven Japanese bombers again
George Town, and again thousands of people rushed
out to see the "free show." in perfect formation.
sounded
as if every
They looked
There was not a
nor the bark of a single it
morning
AA gun,
bomb had
when
up, watching the planes
British fighter in the sky,
the
bombs
fell.
"At
first
fallen simultaneously; then for
some minutes there was an earthquake-like rumble of explosions." In a second, the hot, steamy morning had been transformed into chaos. One of the first bombs demolished the fire station. Another hit a main police station. Hundreds were
more were badly injured, and left There were virtually no shelters. There
killed instantly, thousands
writhing in the
streets.
was no defense, and altogether over a thousand people were killed.
This was the
first
terror raid
on Malaya
— and though
it
was
perhaps hard for the people of Singapore 400 miles to the south to visualize the chilling catastrophe in terms of
killed
more
and maimed, the long-term disastrous than the raid
itself,
effects
for
human
beings
were to prove even
even when the
first
shock
A SINISTER
52
TWILIGHT
was over, the more penetrating shocks
remained
still
to come.
Town
Before the attack the colorful streets of George
had
been plastered with the boldly printed Order of the Day, "We are ready; our preparations have been made and tested; our defences are strong
and our weapons
main "weapons"
allotted to the defense of the island against at-
tack consisted of nothing
This
realization,
efficient."
more than two
In stark truth the
six-pounders.
which soon reached Singapore on the Asian
grapevine, provided the
first
shock.
The
second was to have
even deeper implications and exert a calamitous
morale throughout Malaya. in Singapore,
Unknown
effect
to the civil
on Asian
government
which had firmly guaranteed that no discrimina-
and Asians should be shown in the event of any evacuation, the military commander of Penang now took it upon himself to order the secret evacuation of all European women and children. Without warning, European women who had played a magtion between whites
working alongside Asian
nificent role,
them
for leadership,
were told
women who
to prepare to leave
looked to
by night.
was a military order "which could not be disobeyed." strictest secrecy
tion."
And
this
The
was "a military opera-
morning the Asians in Penang awoke the invincible tuan had deserted them.
so the next
discover that
Worse
was enjoined, for
still,
when
It
to
the few troops were evacuated, together
with the European men, their ineffective scorched earth policy
was so palpably clumsy that the Japanese were
left at least
one
and oil and petrol in warehouses, scores of launches, sampans and junks including twenty-four self-propelled craft which they were using oil installation, large
quantities of tin ingots,
—
—
within a few days to infiltrate behind British
lines,
and, worst of
Penang radio station from which they were soon transmitting propaganda to the people of Singapore.
all,
THE WEEK OF Unaccountably, news of the
D IS ASTER
loss of
until three days after the disaster,
5^
Penang was not
and when
it
released
reached London
there was little reaction, despite the earlier report of the sinkings of the
home the
two great warships. Penang was remote.
— immersed in the great
To
those at
and the entry of raid on Penang must
issues at stake
— an
United States into the war
air
have seemed insignificant and a long way away.
Penang had a far more stinging effect even than the loss of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse. The delay in the official announcement of the news In Singapore, however, the
fall
of
had resulted in the wildest rumors from refugees reaching Singapore. Suddenly, instead of being treacherous
and cunning, the
Japanese had become monstrous and inhuman.
Penang
in a
dramatic sort of way crystallized to ordinary people in Singapore
new and terrifying picture of the Japanese. It was as though the enemy had been invested in the eyes of both civilians and soldiers with superhuman qualities.
a
Infinitely worse, air
and give
"It has tion,"
Duff Cooper chose
been necessary
he
this
a totally distorted picture of
said.
"We
to evacuate
many
moment
He
go on the
of the civilian popula-
can only be thankful so
been safely removed."
to
what had happened.
many
people have
was of course thinking only of the
Europeans, and the Asians realized
this, for
every listener
knew
Europeans had been evacuated. incensed Shenton Thomas summoned a meeting of the
that virtually only the
An
leading Chinese, Indian and Malay representatives in order to apologize.
In a dramatic confrontation he told them bluntly
that the civilian evacuation of
Penang had been carried out
without his knowledge or that of the Colonial Secretary, but
though
this
was undisputed
it
was too
done, and a wave of defeatism swept
white and colored alike.
late.
down
The damage was to Singapore,
to
A SINISTER
54
TWILIGHT
Duff Cooper had opened his broadcast with the homely words, "I consider that
one of
my duties
should be to keep in close and
constant touch with the people of Singapore by speaking to
them on It
the radio from time to time."
was perhaps
as well for the tattered
morale that he never broadcast again.
remnants of
civilian
The Month
Up
to
New
After the
of Inaction
Year's Eve, 1941
first
terrible week, the raids ceased, leaving the people
of Singapore in a state of unreal calm.
Though
up-country was increasingly depressing,
its
the news from
implications were so
masked that the people of the island continued to exist kind of dream world. They were in the war but not a part of
carefully in a it.
Gasping with heat, drifting uneasily from one day
(in
much
the same
way
as the
to the
next
people of Britain had done during
"phony war"), they existed on rumors. This was all too understandable. The newspapers were compelled to fill their columns with long dispatches from the North African and Russian the
fronts since almost all local
news was
rigidly censored.
Only the
communiques, studded with meaningless phrases like back to prepared positions" and "strategic withdrawals," attempted to conceal a multitude of disasters. George official
"falling
Hammonds, however, was
able to follow the progress of Japa-
December by studying Kong and Shanghai Bank advertisements which gave
nese advances throughout
the
Hong
a daily
list
of branches "closed until further notice."
Despite the generals, the red tabs, the
staff cars,
the troops
dancing and sweating in the barnlike halls known
as the
World" and the "Happy World,"
realization of
war
in the air.
there was
Up-country Malaya was
as
no
"Great
remote from Singa-
A SINISTER
56
TWILIGHT
pore as France had been from England in 1940, and possibly the fact that each was separated by a strip of water helped to
And
heighten the illusion of security.
then too, the
— accompanied now by — have drained away seemed soon rain
humid
heat
spells of
drenching mon-
all
energy, to have
to
robbed the
leaders, military
even the ability
to face
up
and
stifling,
civilian alike,
of all drive,
to facts.
Up-country, however, the hard-pressed troops were falling
back on one ill-prepared position after another, worn out, hungry, tired, in the
unceasing rain.
Singapore, where
many
was
still
It
foods were
buy two
still
unrationed; where milk
morning by
delivered promptly each
vans. People could
was a different world from
tins of
the
Cold Storage
member
food a day for each
and even the butter and meat rations were three
of the family,
times as large as in Britain. Eating out presented no problems, for
though
Raffles, the
Seaview and other hotels scrupulously
observed two meatless days a week, this poultry and
made
little
difference as
game "did not count."
There was
still
plenty of petrol, for almost everybody drew
the extra allowance allotted to civil defense workers,
many large
people had two
one and use
its
cars, it
was a simple matter
and
to lay
since
up
the
generous ration for the Morris Minor.
Schools went on as usual, and one which had had to be hastily
evacuated from up-country
opened
in
now
advertised that
it
Tanglin for the benefit of anyone wanting
had
"re-
to further
the education of their children."
On
the last day of the
to pick (in
autumn
up her daughter Barbara
term, Karen after the
Hammonds went
annual Nativity play
which Barbara played one of the wise men).
Bennitt's wife
Reverend
had spent Friday the nineteenth mixing her
Christmas pudding; the next day her husband led his annual carol concert,
which raised a gratifying
profit of $47,
and no
THE MONTH OF INACTION doubt the Bcnnitt family at the
Swimming Club
felt
57
they had earned the dip they took
later.
For some there were terrifying echoes of the enemy guns that could not be heard and the
enemy
aircraft that
The wounded started arriving in increasing numbers. One morning, Freddy
seen.
could not be
Singapore in ever-
Retz was phoned onward two she never returned the easygoing day routine where there had always been time
And from
o'clock.
talk or to slip
Now
that day
out to Robinson's for
at
to
to
tiffin.
every room, every corridor of the General Hospital was
crowded with the wounded. Day lances waited
day a queue of ambu-
after
by Singapore's railway station
for the trainloads to
from the north. Suddenly the hospital was overflowing,
arrive
and Freddy was giving morphia
injections, cutting badly
burned
from open wounds, changing dressings every hour. For over a month she had to go round the wards night after night with a torch, a pair of forceps and a kidney basin, and take the maggots out of open wounds maggots that had come from the
clothing
—
eggs of the ever-present Mies.
Confusion seemed
rife
throughout the
Deputy Municipal Engineer, was asked
Mr. Gilmore, the
city.
to dig trenches six feet
wide and three feet deep on the many sports grounds in Singapore in order to prevent Japanese aircraft from landing.
managed work was
to
round up
several
half finished another
must be re-dug.
If
machine-gunning.
straight trenches
piled
but when
that the trenches
The
would be
easy tar-
coolies filled in parts of the
trenches which they had laboriously others;
coolies,
people crowded into them during a raid, Gil-
more was solemnly warned, gets for
hundred
official insisted
He the
dug and staggered the
Mr. Gilmore asked what to do with the displaced earth
up on each
came another
side.
officious
He
was
busybody!
told,
"Leave
it
there."
who pointed out
Along
in horrified
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
58
tones that soft earth ists.
With
away.
a sigh,
made
ideal landing
His coolies had just finished
when along came
grounds for parachut-
Gilmore made arrangements to cart the earth this
back-breaking
task,
the Health Authorities. Trenches in low-lying
ground were breeding grounds
for mosquitoes, they insisted.
At first they demanded that every trench should be filled in, but after some argument, agreed they should be half filled. Most of the dispersed earth was carted back, and the bottom two feet of each trench
filled in.
In the docks confusion was just as bad. Vital rubber stocks lay
awaiting shipment because incoming ships could not always be
unloaded. Yet the same vessels often contained equipment desperately needed by troops up-country. Whitehall, however, was
unable to agree on rates of pay for coolie labor, and so quently there were not enough coolies to unload the
They were working
rubber or
for
ing the military could do about
fre-
ships.
and there was nothEven though the army
tin firms, it.
wanted conscription of labor, Shenton Thomas received a cable from Whitehall instructing him that "the ultimate criterion for exemption [from military
service]
should be not what the
G.O.C. considers practicable, but what you consider maintain the necessary production and
ment."
labor manage-
efficient
Such a vague instruction could apply
from a coolie tapping rubber on a plantation
essential to
to
anybody
broker
to a
—
sitting
in his Singapore office.
In some cases the civilian reaction was arrogant. "We're pro-
ducing
all
things up."
the rubber
The
mission to turn
— but
down
a
row
army seems
to
be mucking
secretary of the golf club refused the
it
into a strongpoint until he
committee meeting; another cut
the
of trees
his line of fire until
officer
on the
army
had called
per-
a special
was refused permission
outskirts of the city to
he had produced written authority.
to
improve
THE MONTH OF INACTION Up-country similar confusion existed military
and
Tanjong Malim (on the west
at tor
from General
Sir
in relations
During December the
civilians.
r)(
)
between
British Resident
coast of Malaya) received a
let-
Lewis Heath, Commander of the 3rd
In-
"The army no longer requires civil assistance line Cameron Highlands-Tapah-Telok Anson-
dian Corps, saying,
north of the
Bagan-Datch and
this
warn any such persons etc."
an indication that you have authority
is
as
you consider may wish
to
withdraw
Naturally enough, the British Resident warned
ians to leave.
another
Four days
officer (not
Send authorities
later
ture civil authorities
all civil-
he received an insolent wire from
Heath) saying, "No
run security police
to
to
etc.
.
do not run away from
civil .
.
authority Ipoh.
ensure that in
fu-
their duty."
Ipoh was of course well north of the line General Heath had drawn. In the small settlement of Port Dickson on the west coast, Jack Masefield, in charge of the police, was suddenly presented with
twenty
women and
children evacuated by order from Singapore.
Port Dickson was a tiny township with perhaps
They housed, uees,
and had
fed
— and
just got
some
in
them
even clothed
nicely settled in
ordered them back to Singapore
Thomas was warning
cases
—
fifty
at the
Europeans.
— the
when an
same time
as
evac-
official
Shenton
evacuees from the north that Singapore
was too crowded to receive any more.
As December dragged on, the news got gloomier and gloomier. The whole of Kelantan and Province Wellesley was falling into Japanese hands together with the greater part of Perak.
Within three weeks of the
first
clash of aims, the Japanese
were
in control of over 100 miles of territory clown the west coast,
made deep penetrations from the as Kuan tan, about 140 miles from
while on the east they had coastal areas as far south
Singapore. Everywhere the tale was one of unrelieved defeat.
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
60 Jitra
had been
a disastrous loss four days after the outbreak of
war; so had been the decision to abandon the defensive line
above Penang on December
Yet
17.
it
make geographical sense of Jimmy Glover said, "The constant
for, as
references to towns
behind positions previously mentioned
villages
frank explanations of retreats It is
for the average
the wordy communiques
civilian to
and
was hard
— was exasperating."
— without
equally hard to understand the thinking of some generals
When
at this time.
Brigadier Simson, the Chief Engineer, went
Major-General Gordon Bennett (commanding the 8th
to see
Australian Division) he found that there was an urgent
impossible to
it
make him
need for anti-tank defenses. "At
did not wish to discuss the matter at
all,"
Simson noted
realize first
he
after the
meeting. Simson was horrified. Couldn't the Australian general
understand that "there was nothing on the long road to prevent
enemy racing to Johore"? Apparently Gordon Bennett could
the
night he wrote, "Malaya discuss with
road.
.
.
.
me
sent Brigadier
Simson
to
the creation of anti-tank obstacles for use on the
Personally,
preferring to stop
No wonder
Command
not, for in his diary that
that
I
have
little
time for these obstacles
.
.
.
and destroy tanks with anti-tank weapons." the Japanese never slowed down, no wonder
that time after time British, Australian or Indian troops were
annihilated by skillful Japanese enveloping ish side
wrong
decisions were made.
down. Orders went off.
The
first
astray.
Whole
tactics.
a jungle country
who had
pockets of troops were cut
where the British had
crack troops, relieving
as a great sur-
not one single tank in Malaya. In
never operate, the Japanese tanks cious rows of rubber trees.
the Brit-
Communications broke
Japanese tanks appeared and "came
prise" to the British
On
And
insisted that tanks could
moved
easily
between the
spa-
while the Japanese rested their
them with other
who had been fighting or on the move
forces, British "troops
for a
week" could only
THE MONTH OF INACTION
Gl
automata and often could not grasp the simplest order." And with the occupation of Penang, the Japanese had fight 'like
been presented with a considerable barges which the they
army had "forgotten"
now shipped
hind our
lines,
their
to destroy,
and
in
which
the west coast, landing be-
who had never been warned
men who had
not slept for a week,
and nervous and weary with constant
By Christmas
half of Malaya's tin mines
rubber plantations were in
enemy
of the prow-
As confusion spread, panic
speedy, mobile enemy.
often set in amongst sluggish
men down
junks and
then going straight into the attack against inade-
quately trained troops ess of this
fleet of boats,
hands.
men
retreat.
and a
The
sixth of the
"arsenal of de-
mocracy" was going bankrupt.
One
senses that
War
Council was rapidly coming to a head. Even in the
official
papers a note of glee creeps in as one rival scores a minor
victory
about
this
time the tug-of-war for power in the
over another in a free-for-all that was utterly divorced from the realities of a
war rapidly engulfing them.
There could be
little
doubt that Duff Cooper was winning.
The Governor was being
increasingly relegated into a figure-
head stripped of any power. So was his Colonial Secretary, Stan-
whom
Duff Cooper had taken a violent dislike. This was understandable, for though Stanley Jones was con-
ley Jones, to
scientious
and hard-working, even
bled to dispel the picture of a qualities,
his close friends hardly trou-
man who,
could be arrogant, and
despite
some excellent
at times intolerably rude,
even
though to his close friends he might have been charming, considerate and witty. He was a strange mixture. He was an ex( ellent musician, he collected with discrimination,
and he had
turned his house in the grounds of Government House into a
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
62
warm and personal place. But his abrupt manner, his "cussedness" as Hammonds described it, made him many enemies. Now Shenton Thomas and Stanley Jones came up against Duff Cooper again,
this
time over the question of evacuation.
Duff Cooper wanted priority for Europeans. Shenton
Thomas
War
Council
was rigidly opposed to
became
little
it.
The argument
in the
more than an acrimonious wrangle, but before Shenton Thomas
could be resolved
it
received a cable from the
Colonial Office stating that there was to be no discrimination in
any evacuation. was a
It
was one of those odd coincidences
coincidence — which almost
for Duff
— and
it
Shenton Thomas
his job,
Cooper was convinced the Governor had asked
for the
cost
had arrived without request and Thomas never did discover what had prompted its dispatch. "Anyway," he admitted gloomily to Dickinson, of the Police, cable to be sent, whereas in fact
"Duff Cooper never believed the
it
it
was a coincidence, and
was in
mud."
Dickinson was to have startling confirmation of affairs,
had
I
and from no
less
a person than Duff
several times invited
Road
for
him round
this state of
Cooper himself, who house in Dunearn
to his
man with few men against
an evening stengah. Dickinson, a handsome
a penchant for "spit
and polish," is one of the no subsequent historians have ever uttered a word of criticism. He combined iron discipline with a charm and kindness that had earned him the nickname of "the gentle policeman."
whom
For some time Dickinson had sensed that Duff Cooper was anxious to ask finally got
him something. On
round
the night that Duff
to the question, the
two
men were
on the veranda, each with a whiskey and tired and hot and with his shirt sticking to
soda.
Cooper
sitting alone
Duff Cooper,
his back, waited for
the boy to depart before telling Dickinson that he was extremely dissatisfied
of the
war
with the effort.
civil
administration over their prosecution
Their abysmal
effort
could not, he
said, stand
THE MONTH OF INACTION up
to
asked
any severe
Looking Dickinson
test.
him what would happen
straight in the eye, he
Duff Cooper, could per-
he,
if
63
suade Whitehall to recall the Governor.
Dickinson was completely taken aback.
To
he retorted.
weak or strong ain. "It
It
was unthinkable,
millions of people in Malaya, the Governor
— was
much
as
a
symbol
as the
King was
—
in Brit-
was just not on," and would be a fearful blow to civilian
morale.
Duff Cooper did not seem put out, and changed the subject by suggesting that the civil government might be improved ley Jones, the Colonial Secretary,
son said that
it
went
if
Stan-
Again Dickin-
instead.
should not be done, though he had to admit that
Stanley Jones had an unfortunate manner. It is
an extraordinary feature of
this semi-secret
tween Duff Cooper and Dickinson that a
man
meeting be-
of Duff Cooper's
experience should have exhibited such an astonish-
political
ing lack of caution in canvassing
men
in the Governor's service
must be remembered that for all his power, Duff Cooper remained an uneasy stranger in the midst behind
of an
his back,
it
establishment which instinctively regarded
Nor did he know
suspicion.
(One of the
but
his favorite
gum
the country,
grumbles was
"Why
trees before the Japs get
or
don't
him with problems.
its
we burn down
them?" without the
local
knowledge that with an average of eighty rubber trees to the acre, there were over 300 million rubber trees in Malaya.) Above all, what Duff Cooper failed to realize was that, though Shenton Thomas was not a dynamic personality, he was greatly liked by the leaders of the various racial communities. He was "for them."
standing, to
He
was, in fact, approachable, helpful
and even
if it
and under-
took a great deal of time for suggestions
go through the cumbersome
mill of civil government, the
country was used to this easygoing tempo, and
Malay and Indian leaders trusted him.
its
Chinese,
A
64
SI
xNISTER
TWILIGHT
After his unsatisfactory meeting with Dickinson, Duff Cooper
"some senior
sent an airmail letter to Churchill suggesting that civilian officials"
could not cope with war conditions and that
other changes might later be necessary.
One
Duff Cooper was quietly
of these was already en train.
hastening the recall of Brooke-Popham. Even before war broke
out in the Far East,
it
had been agreed
(who had been Chief of Expeditionary
Force
Staff to the
in
that General Pownall
Commander should
France)
of the British
succeed
Brooke-
Popham. He was a younger man, and had practical experience of modern war. No fixed date had been decided for the takeover, and when the Japanese attacked, the Chiefs of Staff in Whitehall had decided that it would be unwise to change horses in midstream.
They pointed out
to Churchill that in
Brooke-Popham had no authority
any event
to control or interfere with
the actual military operations which lay in the hands of the three service commanders.
Cooper who found
Popham
so
it
intensely)
This decision was relayed
Duff
so unsatisfactory (and disliked Brooke-
that he
took the unorthodox step of
bringing pressure to bear on Churchill through his
This ruse proved
secretary.
to
effective,
War
Cabinet
with the result that the
Chiefs of Staff found themselves the recipients of political directives
which forced them into taking an action they thoroughly
disapproved. General Pownall was instructed to leave for Singa-
pore as soon as possible.
He
arrived on
over from Brooke-Popham four days
We now of the
come
war
peace of
to
later.
one of the most extraordinary
in Malaya,
mind
December 23 and took
and
it
that he did not
the day he assumed
command.
was perhaps
know It
secret meetings
Pow nail's
as well for
of this, for
it
took
pl.u e
on
was between General Percival,
THE MONTH
INACTION
or
65
Commanding Officer, and Brigadier Ivan Simson, his Chief Engineer the man who had discovered the bundles of antithe
—
tank
leaflets.
Simson's attempts to improve and add to the defenses had
been balked
seemed
to
at every turn, largely
by General Percival,
who
have a fixation against such measures. Above every-
Simson was most concerned about the complete lack of any defenses on the north shores of Singapore Island, Eacing thing
else,
Johore, and
now becoming
increasingly vital as the Japanese ad-
vanced southward. Nothing had been done, nothing was being done, despite
many
previous pleas. Simson had
time that his only chance of ever persuading Per<
throw up any defenses on the north shores general alone, so that he could talk to
not before other senior
At
long
ival to let
him
lay in getting the
as
man
to
man, and
officers.
the opportunity arrived
last
him
felt for a
—
at
11:30 p.m. on Boxing
Day, December 26. Simson was on his way ba< k from the front
and General Heath had given him an urgent message
for Perci-
During the long journey down the peninsula there had been two air raids. The brigadier was dead tired, grimy and unwashed, but Heath's message gave him the excuse he had longed val.
for,
and he made
his
way
directly to Flagstaff House, Percival's
residence.
some When, however, Simson an-
Percival was just about to go to bed and looked with
astonishment at
this late visitor.
nounced
that he bore an important message, Percival invited
him
Simson took
in.
off
Percival politely offered gratefully accepted.
The
Sam Browne and
his
him
a
Brigadier gave Pen ival the message
and then instead of leaving, drew that he talk
would
revolver and
whiskey and soda, which Simson
like to take this
a
—
deep breath and announ< ed
opportunity
<>f
a
on the subject of defenses. Percival looked "a
heart-to-heart trifle
startled"
A SINISTER
66
but
down with
sat
was a
difficult
TWILIGHT and
a tired expression
man
to
"warm
listened.
The General
up." Tall, thin, with two protrud-
ing teeth, he was a completely negative personality, and his instinct
—
when
faced with a problem was that
whose
in direct contrast to Simson,
"Well
—
let's try."
first
thought was always
This was why Simson had elected
risk all at this strange
first
couldn't be done
it
to stay
and
meeting in the dead of night, and now
he spoke with the passionate eloquence of the professional. De-
main job. He believed implicitly in their value which history had repeatedly proved in modern war. And he had all the materials at hand. Indeed they had reached Malaya long before the Japanese attacked. He had the staff and materials, he said to Percival, to throw up fixed and semi-permanent fenses
were
his
underwater
defenses, anti-tank defenses,
obstacles,
fire
traps,
mines, anchored but floating barbed wire, methods of illuminating the water at night.
And
since
it
now seemed
inevitable that
would soon reach Johore and attack the island across the narrow straits, the matter was now one of extreme urgency. But it could be done, said Simson. He could throw up the Japanese
defenses on the north shore, covering the Johore Straits, "and the water surface
To
and shore
line
would be the main
killing area."
the Brigadier's dismay, Percival refused his pleas, but Simson
— "knowing must not give way the situation was — put down whiskey leaned forward and said "Sir — must emphasize the urgency of doing everything
so critical"
as
I
his
intently,
glass,
I
help our troops.
and
tired
miles.
They're often only partially trained, they're
dispirited.
And
please
better equipped,
to
They've been retreating
remember,
and
sir,
for
hundreds
of
the Japanese are better trained,
they're inspired by an
unbroken run
of
victories." It
had been a powerful
plea.
At
first
Simson had
tried to
speak as dispassionately as possible, but as the clock moved
THE MONTH OF INACTION round
one in the morning and he seemed
to
impression, Simson found
"And
it
hard to control
has to be done now,
comes under
fire,
now, we can do
cried,
still
"Look
here,
was
General —
me any
if
we
start
at last in despera-
I've raised this ques-
reasons.
— why on earth are you taking
morale of troops and
What's more,
At
least tell
me
this stand?"
at this point that Percival finally
believe that defenses of the sort for the
room and
You've always refused.
you've always refused to give
It
But
refused to change his mind.
alone in the
tion time after time.
one thing
he pleaded. "Once the area
civilian labour will vanish.
The two men were Simson
sir,"
be making no
to
his anger.
it."
Incredibly, Percival
tion
it
67
you want
gave his answer. to
"I
throw up are bad
civilians."
This was the commanding
officer speaking, and Simson was remembers standing there in the room, suddenly feeling quite cold, and realizing that, except for a miracle, Singapore was as good as lost. One can understand Simson's horror, and wonder too why Percival had found it necessary to make such an illogical excuse. For Percival must have been well aware that, long before he had taken over command of Malaya, defense lines in Johore and
"frankly horrified" and
on the north shore of the island had been the frequent subject of discussion. The reason they had never been built before the war
(when there would have been no labor shortage) was simple; every department in Whitehall had refused to foot the
war that might never take place. Now,
at least, in
war
bill for it
a
could
and should have been done.
As he put on
make one "Sir,"
Japanese
last
he
his
Sam Browne, Simson could
said, "it's
start
not forbear to
remark.
going to be
running
all
much worse
over the island."
for
morale
if
the
A SINISTER
68
Then he
closed the door behind him. It was just two o'clock
on the morning of December
By one
TWILIGHT
27.*
of those astonishing coincidences that
permitted in a work of
fiction,
would hardly be
Brigadier Simson was the central
character in another equally astonishing scene three days later,
when, by pure chance, he became involved in the struggle
power between the Governor and Duff Cooper. to
do with the
secret
It
for
had nothing
meeting that had taken place between Per-
cival
and Simson. Not a soul knew about
ever
met Duff Cooper, while he had only
this.
a
Nor had Simson
nodding acquain-
tance with the Governor.
Nevertheless
it
seems that Duff Cooper had heard good
whom
re-
and resoon December 30, the Brigadier received an urgent summons to attend that morning's meeting of the War Council. Unknown to Simson, Duff Cooper had decided that an "overlord" was needed to handle and control the various branches of civil defense which came under Shenton Thomas, and while Simson was making his way to Dunearn Road, Duff Cooper announced to the startled War Council that the civil ports about Simson,
he described
as "a sensible
lute officer," for
defense organization was unsound, and that he had detected "a certain lack of confidence"
proposed that one *
Why
man
among
the civilian population.
should be appointed to run
all civil
He de-
did Percival have such an idee fixe about defense works? Simson believes some other Commanders in Malaya who were indifferent, "somewhere in their military education such a dictum on morale had been impressed upon them or they possibly misunderstood the value of defenses in the circumstance! such as now existed." It is interesting to note that when Hore-Belisha was Se< ie tary for War he visited the BEF in 1939 and was aghast at the lack of defense works, and plainly showed his annoyance, with the result that, according to nil diary of December 2, 1939, "Ironside (GIGS) after his visit to BEF, came to see me and with great emphasis told me that the officers were most upset at the
THE MONTH OF INACTION fensc
t)<)
— and the man should be Brigadier Simson.
had timed
when
choosing a day
the Governor was absent from the
Council, for the appointment he had in official
Dull Cooper
dramatic announcement with political acumen,
this
prerogative of the Governor.
mind
War
was, of course, the
In fact
Thomas
was, as
Duff Cooper well knew, on an up-country tour, and Stanley Jones was deputizing for him. Duff Cooper hoped that in the Governor's absence he could bulldoze the appointment through the Council.
Simson had arrived and was waiting
by a summons from
pletely mystified
He
was called
in,
an anteroom, com-
man he had
a
never met.
and Duff Cooper said he had defense and had given some lec-
offered a chair,
heard he was an expert on tures
in
civil
on the subject in Malaya. Would he care
to give the
War
Council a brief resume of his lecture?
Simson was
He had
given a series of
but they were based only on a modest acquaintance
lectures,
with
as startled as the others.
civil
defense in
London during
the blitz.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you," he replied. "But I'm not an expert.
I
suppose
as a regular officer in the
Royal Engineers,
have the necessary background and training, but
I
that's all."
Nevertheless he described as best he could the civil defense organization in London, gave details of
its
equipment, and was
asked to retire.
A him,
few minutes later he was called back and Duff Cooper told
"The Council
has unanimously agreed to offer you the post
of Director General of Civil Defense
— subject of course
to the
approval of General Percival." (Duff Cooper had no qualms on this
score.
He had
already sounded out Percival,
who had
agreed that Simson could take the post while also retaining his military position of Chief Engineer.)
"I'm extremely sorry," said Simson, speaking straight from the heart, "but
I
can't possibly accept
it."
A SINISTER
JO
TWILIGHT
Duff Cooper's 'voice sharpened"
as
he asked brusquely,
"Why
on earth not?" Simson told him that he believed Singapore would shortly be invested, and during a siege the Chief Engineer became a key
man often second in
importance only to the G.O.C.
In an almost comical fashion, Simson was
once again.
A
few minutes
later
Cooper, fixing him with his special stony
but the
sorry, Brigadier,
War
now
asked to retire
he was recalled, and Duff stare, said firmly,
"I'm
Council had decided that you
must take over Civil Defence." He indicated that the subject was now closed. Simson had been ordered into this job.
The Governor,
Cooper poohSimson's questions of possible opposition, and then of course, was away, but Duff
poohed all and there gave him in writing plenary powers to cover both Singapore Island and Johore. He also made certain that the text
Times
be-
Shenton Thomas reached Singapore before breakfast the
fol-
of Simson's commission was published in the Straits fore the
Governor returned.
lowing morning. Jones had already advised him of what had happened, and by the time the Governor reached Government House, ready for coffee on his favorite balcony, he was fuming with rage at what he considered "a despicable trick" by Duff
Cooper. His
ADC
in such a rage.
remembers
What
had rarely seen Thomas
that he
particularly angered
him was
to learn that
Duff Cooper had already told several of his friends
"put one over on the
little
man."
Stanley Jones was waiting for him. of coffee
and
He poured
and quietly advised Thomas
without demur. flatly
The
refused.
He
cancel
bluntly that
if
it.
out two cups
to accept the situation
Governor, however, showed more
was the one
appointment, not "the Chancellor,"
He would
how he had
who as
spirit
should have made
ail
he called Duff Cooper.
After some discussion, Jones warned him
he canceled the appointment
— especially
as
it
THE MONTH OF INACTION had already been lead to an
open
announced
officially
rift
and
Shenton Thomas calmed down
He
— and
all
offered
it
could
And
he
hold Cabinet rank.
Then he thought of a Simson by now in an in-
—
promptly canceled
plenary powers, substituting them with
He
—
a little.
sent for Brigadier
position
tolerable
in the press
that "anything could happen."
emphasized that Duff Cooper did after
compromise.
71
Duff Cooper's
more modified
orders.
Simson no explanation.
"You can have
full
powers in
civil
defense on Singapore
Is-
land only," he said, adding coldly a warning, "but they'll be subject to the existing law,
challenged, you
must
and
any one of your
if
refer the matter to the
activities
Malayan
is
legal de-
partment." Johore, he added, was "out."
As patiently
as
he could Simson pointed out that
refer questions to the legal department,
the
whole object of speed
in
it
him
to allow
powers in Johore.
said, for there
was
he had to
Duff Cooper's plenary powers.
Simson then begged the Governor It
if
completely stultified
vital,
he
to retain his
was a large
untapped labor force of evacuees from up-country remaining there to avoid
working in Singapore.
"That's impossible," replied the Governor. legal rights to
do
such a thing. If
we
"We
did, the Sultan
have no would blow
up."
Johore was an unfederated erful,
state
fabulously wealthy old man,
who had
— and the Sultan was a powwho dined
off
gold plate, and
Thomas, who, on (which had heard some un-
already crossed swords with Shenton
the advice of the Colonial Office
seemly rumors from Johore) had at one stage virtually barred
from entering Singapore. Yet the Sultan had power own state of Johore. Shenton Thomas thought he could
the Sultan in his
have been awkward.
On
the other hand,
the Sultan was a
staunch British patriot (he had, indeed, presented Britain with a warship)
and Simson made the obvious suggestion: "Well," he
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
72
go and talk to him.
said, "let's
He
seems a reasonable sort of
chap."
Shenton Thomas refused to abandon
There was
his stand.
Fortunately, the Governor's
only one consolation for Simson.
substitute orders were never printed in the local press
Simson spent the
rest of the
war with the Governor's
— and
restricted
orders in one pocket and Duff Cooper's plenary powers in the other.
Duff Cooper knew and accepted the situation, but
"The
Percival admitted privately to Dickinson,
as
General
situation cre-
ated by [Duff Cooper's] appointment of the
DG
of Civil De-
who
was,
I
fence was fiably,
made over
the Governor's head
think
justi-
rather incensed at the proceeding."*
New
Budget celeand answering in its leading article "If inrather sweepingly, one must admit stant dismissal had been the unavoidable consequence of proved incompetence, the ranks of the Malayan Civil Service would have been seriously depleted since 8th December." The article appeared on the first day of the New Year, when, as though awakened from a drugged sleep, the people of Singapore were suddenly plunged into a chilling awareness of reality. brated
Year's
it
Eve came and the weekly
by asking
—
For
"Who
—
was the month of the bombs.
this
Straits
are our leaders?"
discover themselves thrown brutally
Now
upon
the civilians were to
their
own
untried
re-
sources. * The War Against Japan put it more bluntly: "The selection of the senior Royal Engineer Officer in Malaya for the appointment of DGCD at a time when it wai possible that Singapore might be invested seems in retrospect to have been a mistake. Brigadier Simson accepted the appointment only under prd sure. Not only did he consider his task as Chief Engineer to be the more important, but in his opinion it was too late to reorganise effectively the civil defence. Nevertheless he did what he could, and it was largely due to hil efforts and to the devotion to duty of the members of the various units that, when put to the test, the civil defence service functioned as well as they did." .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The Month
Bombs
of the
January, 1942
Even
to this
day no historian has come near an accurate compu-
number
tation of the
January
1
of civilian deaths in Singapore between
and the day on which the island capitulated.
In England during the heavy periods of a very different story; the
with documents.
however
No
had been
Ration and identity cards had made
who had
it
com-
vanished in the course
such aids to identification existed in Singapore,
— particularly
in
Chinatown, whose influx of refugees
from up-country was daily increasing the tion of half a million. After a raid,
of
it
whole population had been provided
paratively simple to trace those of a raid.
bombing
it
city's
normal popula-
was discovered that scores
men, women and children had simply vanished
— and more
no idea as to their idenIn some of the heaviest attacks whole sections of Chinatown were obliterated and hundreds of bodies were never dug
often than not the
officials
had
little
or
tity.
out.
The
hospitals
and aid
but even most of these were
posts did try to lost in the
keep some records,
confusion following sur-
render.
From now
on, hardly a day was to pass without
raids.
Overnight Singapore became a
trasts.
Houseboys and amahs stayed
city of
stolidly
its
quota of
bewildering con-
with their masters,
on serving "formal" meals. Before men went to work each day, however, those who had no modern plumbing had, insisting
A SINISTER
74
TWILIGHT
because of the coolie shortage, to dig a hole at the bottom of the
garden and bury the night residential
Tanglin
area,
soil (as it
with
its
was politely
called).
In the
up-to-date houses, a friend
with a modern lavatory was a friend indeed.
Down
at the
docks the labor force was dwindling under the
incessant strain of sirens
and
falling
bombs. Hundreds of work-
ers had fled with their families to villages inland. No shelters meant no labor. British troops were soon forced to unload their gear under a hot tropical sun. As for the vital raw materials so urgently needed at home, huge stocks of rubber remained piled high on the wharves without a single man to load them into the
waiting ships.
The raids were
made by formations of twenty-seven, fifty-four or eighty-one planes. They rarely needed any fighter escort, and their method of bombing was simple. The formation was led by one marksman who, when he felt he was on target, signaled to the accompanying pilots. All then dropped their load of bombs at the same moment. almost always in daylight, and
had devastating
and Brigadier Simson reckons that throughout January at least 150 people a day were buried in the cemeteries, though obviously many more were killed and never It
results,
traced.
Despite Duff Cooper's gloomy forebodings, the
civil
defense
behaved magnificently, the Chinese volunteers in particular working under constant bombing with a fortitude many Europeans might have envied. Despite a shortage of hoses and mets, the
and
fires.
end
as
hel-
ARP
and the AFS coped with hundreds of incidents Often there were no canteens, no food for hours on
one raid was telescoped into another.
Most Tamil native burial squads disappeared after two out ol three Tamil camps had been bombed. In the hot and humid city bodies
began to decompose quickly. After a raid they were
THE MONTH OF THE BOMRS
75
laid out for a brief period so that relatives
could identify them
and arrange
But
(at
for decent burials.
first)
mained unclaimed,
was carted away
it
to a
if
a corpse re-
mass grave. In severe
raids
men
tains
of smashed-up houses, and when the stench of putrefying
flesh
became noisome, nobody would
could not always reach the bodies under the moun-
week the danger of typhus was
Within a the government or-
collect them.
so great that
dered free injections.
Though
communiques were still noncommittal, even emhopeful, everyone knew now that the Japanese
the
barrassingly
were advancing toward Johore of
Singapore Island —
tants
when
steel
of the Cricket
so that
— the
it
state
immediately north
was no surprise
Club
(though the club
as a deterrent to gliders
bar remained open).
The Golf Club was
finally
military strongpoint, with anti-aircraft guns
The Coconut
clubhouse.
to the inhabi-
pylons sprouted on the beautifully kept padang
turned into a
and troops in the
Grove, Singapore's most fashionable
nightclub, closed down, together with two of the three "worlds."
Though
the dance
band
at the
Swimming Club had packed up
and departed (leaving a notice by the stage "We'll be back!") the club remained a popular center for swimming, and lunch was
still
served on
its
broad veranda overlooking the pool. In-
deed there was an added, served,
macabre, "attraction." As lunch was
one could sometimes watch
sonally as
At the
if
one were watching
Raffles
a
a raid
war
on the docks,
its
as
imper-
film.
Hotel the management had
satisfactory blackout for still
if
at last perfected a
large dance room,
and the orchestra
played from eight to midnight, though transport soon be-
came a major problem, as most taxis vanished after dusk. By day it was better, though more and more bewildered evacuees, often with children, crowded the streets, passing endlessly in dejected little
groups through Raffles Place
as they
made
for
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
76
Robinson's, whose cellar had by shift restaurant
—
hot,
quently packed with
but
now been turned
into a make-
— now
at least a shelter in itself
women
fre-
searching for friends evacuated
from up-country. For the price of a
coffee, they
would wait
for
and sure enough the friend always seemed
to
turn up.
one waited long enough, "everybody" turned up
at
Robinson's,
hours,
especially those
who
had fled on military orders with
If
no money,
and who now, as though turning to an old friend, went to Robinson's which had been a part of their lives since the day they
had first landed in Malaya. the wife of Buck Buckeridge, the AFS Lucy Buckeridge worked in chief who had acquired the German-style helmets the accounts department at Robinson's, and solved their prob-
—
With
lem.
—
the agreement of the manager, she
opened a private
"bank" which made loans of a hundred dollars or so*
to those in
urgent need of "petty cash." (All the loans were entered in the
which were kept open until the day before surrender,
ledgers,
when
they were locked in Robinson's strongroom.
opened by the Japanese. Not
It
was never
a single survivor failed to repay
his or her debts.)
As soon post
as
shops, private firms
offices,
sounded though
it
to
the sirens sounded, everything closed
was "business
make up
as
existence.
The
free periods,
— but the moment the
all
clear
usual" with a sort of added frenzy, as
for lost time.
oddly enough, comparatively
mainly for the docks and
— banks,
The
safe, for
airfields.
center of Singapore was,
the
But
bombers were aiming it
was a crazy sort of
big shops calmly sold their wares during raid-
but a
woman
setting off for Raffles Place could
never be sure whether the shop would be open. Things worked
— but they worked in different ways, and the
result
was often
bewildering.
Freddy Retz, on her way *
The Malayan
dollar
is
worth 33 U.S.
to the hospital cents.
one morning, was
THE MONTH OF THE BOMBS
77
driving her Green Spot near the municipal buildings planes
came
over. She ran into the
where Tamil laborers
(at a
the
Supreme Court building and
open doorway
sheltered inside the
when
—
roadway
in front of the
moment when dock
labor was des-
perately needed) were diligently scything the grass verges.
Karen
Hammonds
home
rushed
for
Barbara at school and noticed that her different.
It
Lunch after picking up
amah somehow looked
took her a couple of minutes to realize that instead
amah had changed why (for such a
of wearing the traditional white blouse, the into a black one. liberty
And when Karen
was unheard
the Japanese pilots
The
schools
of) the
amah
would not
had
asked her
replied stolidly that
it
was so
see her.
started their spring term, as Buckeridge
discovered after he had received an urgent instruction to take
over a
school in Tanglin for an extra
girls'
AFS
post
— and
ar-
rived to discover the girls in the middle of an exam.
Mundane
chores were
remembered refrigerator
As the
still
the order of the day.
Hammonds
that evening to pay the fifteenth installment
— "only seven payments
Straits
on
his
to go."
Times gloomily remarked, "Everybody
country seems to have been lulled into a
in this
false sense of security
by confident statements regarding continuous additions to our
armed might. The only people who have not been bluffed by them are the Japanese." It
was on
this
evening that Leslie Hoffman, Hammonds'
league on the Tribune, invited George and Karen
dinner party for
to Raffles for a farewell
ised to leave for Australia before the
man had been married nant.
less
than
his wife
end
a year,
Convinced that Singapore would be
Hammonds
who had prom-
of the
and
month. Hoff-
his wife
was preg-
invested, he insisted
that she should leave. Raffles if
the
was crowded.
tempo was slow
The
orchestra was in great form
— and the boys
col-
— even
in their starched white
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
78
uniforms bustled from table to table taking orders. There was a sprinkling of
officers,
one of
whom
sat
ogling Karen for
minutes before coming across to their
fully ten
table,
bowing
and announcing simply, "You're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," and left. It put them all in a good he mood and George, after his second whiskey and water decided to stop trying to persuade Karen never touched soda politely,
—
—
to leave, at
any rate for that evening.
Karen was looking stunningly beautiful. She was more
re-
laxed, she was not as afraid as usual, for the simple reason that
the children were in the safe hands of two sergeants
had invited to baby-sit
Two
to share her
when
Christmas turkey, and
merah had been
due when the still
excellent.
sirens sounded.
shook the cavernous room.
was
who had
she
offered
off duty.
drinks stretched into three or four.
fried ikan
whom
The
The
fish
steaks
course of
were almost
Fifteen seconds later a near miss
The
effect
was
electrical.
George
dancing with Karen when a Chinese boy, bolting for
the door, almost knocked her down, slithered across the crowded floor and disappeared. By the time that George had fought his way back to their table with Karen, every boy had vanished. As Karen sat down, Leslie Hoffman (one of those imperturbable characters who always seem capable of a smile in moments of stress) calmly announced that as their steaks seemed destined to be delayed, he had better go and cast an eye over the kitchen front. He had a languid way of moving and he uncoiled his slim body from his chair, strolled across the empty room and pushed his way through the doors leading to the kitchen. In less
than quarter of an hour Leslie,
who was an
excellent cook, had
returned bearing a tray with four steaks and four cold Tiger beers.
THE MONTH OF THE BOMBS While the
civilians did their best to
tations to "carry
much more
on
difficult
fense organization
and thus helping
Cooper
changes in the
it
civil
been given a job.
Simson was finding
than he had imagined to put the
on a more
realistic basis.
but with making their work
told Duff
obey the Governor's exhor-
as usual" Brigadier
with the bravery of individuals
facilities,
79
w as
beyond dispute
to save lives.
For though Simson had
m?ke
defense system, he was no defeatist.
Now
he
radical
He had
about doing what he could
set
—
providing them with better
too late in the day to
r
civil de-
His concern was not
— that was
easier,
it
to im-
prove the defenses against air attack. Before anything
else,
he had decided
to
spend two or three
days watching the volunteers of civil defense at
work during
There was no point, however, in appearing in uniform; would have put the men on their "best behavior." So he took off his red tabs, and in the denching rain put on his old macintosh and became part of the crowds. He gave assistance whenraids. it
ever he could
— but always
as
His disguise resulted in at
an unknown
least
civilian.
one unusual experience.
He
was helping to carry the wounded out of a small hotel in Mac-
pherson Road which had been
hit,
when
the sound of screeching
horns and car sirens heralded an approaching VIP, complete with a convoy of outriders.
Thomas
ARP
It
was the Governor.
Shenton
stepped out of his car with his wife, mixed with the
workers ("he showed great sympathy and understand-
Simson shrank into the anonymity of the crowd. The following evening Shenton Thomas asked Simson round
ing") while
for a drink to see son's ability to
how he was getting on. men that he and
handle
mained on good
(It says
much
the Governor
for Simstill
re-
on the veranda, with the last rays of the sun glinting on the windows of the Cathay Building, Shenton Thomas suggested, "You know, Simson, if I terms.)
As they
sat
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
80
were in your
around and
shoes, I'd get
men
was out yesterday watching the
know,
"I
At
first
sir,"
at
see things for myself.
I
work."
replied Simson, "I was there
and
I
saw you."
the Governor refused to believe him, but Simson de-
scribed the scene with such a wealth of detail
Thomas said, "But I didn't see you, Simson!" "No sir," replied the Brigadier, "I was working
that finally
as a stretcher
bearer."
Simson had hoped quickly discovered
stemmed from
ble
choose his
it
to
make some rapid
was not going
to
be
easy.
Part of the trou-
had not been permitted
the fact that he
own second-in-command. Duff Cooper had
own man, Mr.
F.
Company, one
D. Bisseker, chairman of the Eastern Smelting
of the biggest
men
"government apathy," with the
in "tin."
him on
sight (a
Before getting small to the
ask
result that
many members of the Malayan
Simson met Bisseker liked
staff,
and
to
picked his
Unfortunately for
Simson, Bisseker had long been one of the sternest
liked by
but he
changes,
down
he was heartily
dis-
Civil Service.
for the first time early in first
critics of
— and
January
impression that he never changed).
to work, they
in all innocence,
had
to find
an
office
and
a
Simson drove with Bisseker up
grounds of Government House to see Stanley Jones and
him
to provide the necessary
To
accommodation.
Simson's
astonishment the Colonial Secretary refused to help in any way.
This seems incredible, considering that Simson was trying save
some of the 200 or more
killed in raids.
find a small
civilians a
day who
to
were being
Yet Stanley Jones refused point-blank even to
office,
and, according to Simson's notes, "his refusal
was couched in very rude terms."
It
the bitterness that existed between
was Simson's
many
officials
first
inkling
oj
and business-
men. "I was soon to discover,"
Simson noted, "that no
civil
servant
THE MONTH OF THE BOMBS
8l
would help Mr. Bissekcr or anyone associated with him." In point of fact Shenton Thomas on several occasions pressed Simson to get rid of Bisseker, but Simson always gave the same reply: "I'll
do
so immediately
if
he
But
fails at his job.
until
then. I'm not prepared to challenge Duff Cooper's choice."
The
first
office in
of his
thing Bisseker did after leaving Jones was to rent an
pocket.
headquarters until
and they took over Simson and
his office.
his assistants did a magnificent job against
were almost
that
—
staff and furnish it and pay for it out Here the two of them made their modest later in the month when Duff Cooper left
Tanglin Road,
own
— but not
quite, at that time
odds
— overwhelming.
They concentrated on finding men and transport. They organized pools of labor, commandeered vehicles right and left, so that when the services asked for men to work at given spots, they could often oblige. Simson, of course, had his military duties Chief Engineer
as well as
Director-General of Civil Defence.
"By working nineteen hours far as civil defense
the
a
Governor
a day,
I
was able to do both." As
was concerned, Simson managed
to sack the chief of the
more vigorous
leader.
as
He
to
persuade
ARP and replace
him with
tightened
up
the volunteer force,
rearranged duties, produced more mobile canteens, so that
though there were never enough es o
men
al-
to deal with the increas-
ingly heavy raids, the volunteers at least got
some
spells of rest,
and a few creature comforts, during the long hours of digging out bodies or fighting
fires.
Every day Simson reported progress after
to
Duff Cooper, usually
lunch and again each evening. Soon the evening meetings
became more informal, taking place after a quiet dinner at Duff Cooper's house in Dunearn Road. Duff Cooper liked the modest,
efficient soldier,
problems with the
and appreciated the
civil
government, he
fact that, despite his
still
managed
to
keep on
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
82
speaking terms with the Governor. Usually they dined quietly
with Lady Diana, the toast of London and
men
New
York, the two
taking their coffee into Duff Cooper's study after the
"scratch meal" was over.
Naturally, Simson reported his brush with Stanley Jones to
Duff Cooper, and
two
men
dinner together, the
after the fourth or fifth
talked iar into the night. It was
why he had Simson told him
Duff Cooper asked Simson tackling civil defense.
defenses facing Johore. For the
first
ence he unburdened his soul, telling
on
first
this occasion that
refused the job of
of the urgent
favour things
him
every detail of the dra-
if
you'd prepare
— and
of the
Cooper asked Simson, "I'd take
me
— both military and
a
list
civilian
for
time in Duff Cooper's pres-
matic midnight meeting with General Percival general's obtuseness. Duff
need
of the ten
it
as a
most important
— which you think should
have been done in the past months." This
"list"
was
to
have
a
curious sequel, for Duff Cooper dispatched a copy to Churchill.
Duff Cooper also broached his favorite
topic.
"Can you
someone," he asked the Brigadier, "who could take over ernor and Commander-in-Chief?
He would need some
suggest as
Gov-
sort of
Simson suffered from none
military experience of course."
the loyalties that had affected Dickinson
posed a similar question to him.
He
of
when Duff Cooper had
hesitated for another rea-
and Duff Cooper, thinking he was embarrassed, added, "It would be very distasteful to me to depose the King's representason,
tive.
On
the other
hand
I
won't hesitate to do so
if
we can
find
the right man."
Simson had only hesitated because he could not think of "the right
man." "Like you,
the country.
And
I've
sir,"
been
he explained, "I'm a newcomer so
busy I've refused
all social
to
en-
gagements."
This conversation took place a few days
after General Sir Ai
THE MONTH OF THE BOMBS
83
— on the — Supreme Commander of President Roosevelt
chibald Wavcll had been appointed
suggestion
a
ABDA
(American,
British,
Dutch,
newly formed
Command,
Australian)
comprising forces in the various war theaters in the Far East
The
apart from the Pacific).
the idea of having Wavell
British Chiefs of Staff
(who had up
U.S. troops
effect
if
bad news from Malaya. Nor did Wavell his first
wry comment was,
the baby, but this sibly flattered
is
been Comnew command, no of having
there were to be
relish the
"I have heard of
twins." Churchill,
men
new
more
post, for
having to hold
on the other hand
(pos-
by Roosevelt's confidence), urged Wavell not
shirk this "unenviable
Within
had disliked
on American public opinion
under a British commander
to
command."
a matter of days
new headquarters
(as
to that time
mander-in-Chief India) taking over this
doubt fearing the
of
Wavell flew into Singapore from
his
At nine in the morning, after a meetwho had showed him Simson's "list," he
in Java.
ing with Duff Cooper,
and cross-questioned the Brigadier for an hour, demanding details of every obstacle that had been placed in his way. Then Wavell sent for Percival. It seems that Wavell still sent for Simson,
could not believe that Percival had really deliberately ignored
and the advice of his Chief Engineer. Perhaps Wavell might have wondered if Simson, as an engineer, had been exaggerating, or was biased. At any rate, he said nothing to Percival at first, but reached for his cap and asked the the north shore defenses
General to accompany
him on an
inspection of the island's de-
fenses.
The two generals drove up to the north shore, and of this historic moment when Wavell first realized the shattering truth, we have only the sketchiest account from a letter Wavell later wrote. But we do know that as they got out of their car and stood facing the Straits of Johore, with the mainland a bare
A SINISTER
84
TWILIGHT
thousand yards away, Wavell, in his
own
words, was 'Very
He
shaken that nothing had been done."
much
turned to Percival,
and speaking "with some asperity" demanded why no defenses had been started and asked for some explanation "for his neglect."
The G.O.C.'s answer must have taken Wavell aback, for Percival made precisely the same reply he had made to Simson
—
that the construction of defense
works would have had a bad
on morale. Wavell retorted sharply that the effect on morale would be infinitely worse were the troops on the peninsula to be driven back into the island. And, he warned Percival, the danger now seemed quite possible. effect
One can
sympathize with Wavell's "asperity"
from the danger
for,
quite apart
to the island, British negligence of this sort
hardly calculated to inspire the Americans under his Wavell's
new
job was a big one
— and
it
was
command.
had one immediate
consequence, even as the shaken general drove back with Percival to Fort
new
Canning. There did not appear to be a place in the
hierarchy for Duff Cooper,
who
at this very
moment had
received a telegram. It was from Churchill, and Duff Cooper
who
naturally already
been half expecting
knew In
it.
it
of the
—
ABDA Command — had
the Prime Minister told his old
now at an end. The Prime Minister's return home "by the safest and most
friend that his mission was cable instructed
him
to
suitable route."
Duff Cooper and Wavell were to have a evening,
when Duff Cooper
farewell dinner.
The
invited
to remain.
to
meeting
Dunearn Road
thai for a
situation was discussed at length, and
Wavell made no bones about the
Cooper
him
final
fact that
They both knew
he would
that since
like Duff
America had
generously agreed to allow her forces in the area to serve under British
commander, any
political adviser
would have
a
to be an
THE MONTH OF THE BOMBS American. Yet Wavell a
felt that
useful function even
if
Duff Cooper could
85 still
perform
he were restricted to Malaya.
(It
should be remembered that though events had forced Duff
Cooper
to
remain in Singapore,
had covered
his original terms of reference
a vast area of Asia.)
Duff Cooper didn't like the idea sent to
do
a job. Events
at all.
had overtaken
He it.
had, he said, been
The dinner
party
broke up at midnight after Duff Cooper had given a firm "no."
Duff Cooper went straight to bed, but he had hardly fallen
awoke him. An urgent message had
ar-
rived by hand. Sleepily Duff Cooper tore open the envelope.
It
asleep before a servant
contained a note from Wavell, together with a draft of a
gram which he proposed
to
tele-
send to Churchill requesting that
Duff Cooper's orders to return be canceled and that he be
jumped out of bed hastily, managed to telephone Wavell and begged him not to send the cable. He stressed the fact that, in view of Wavell's new job and the ABDA Command, he would have no position, nor any au-
retained in Singapore. Duff Cooper
thority.
In fact he was not even needed, and could probably do
much more useful work elsewhere. Wavell tried in vain to persuade him to change his mind, but Duff Cooper was adamant. In any event, there was little time for discussion as Wavell flew
back to Java the next day.
on January 13, Duff Cooper left with "an uncomfortable feeling that I was running away" but with the knowledge, which was true, that despite the pleas for him to stay, he could not do So,
so because "if I stayed
I
should be without any power or
signifi-
cance."
Before leaving he sent a final cable to Whitehall expressing
once again his conviction "that there existed a widespread and
profound lack of confidence
in the administration
breakdown might well paralyse the
and
that, as a
fighting services, changes
86
A SINISTER
were desirable."
This was
to
TWILIGHT have significant repercussions.
Within a week, a cable brought the revelation Jones had been ignominiously dismissed.
We
have a fascinating picture of the
that Stanley
moment
Jones's dismissal, because just before this time
of Stanley
an old friend
of
had arrived out of the blue. She was Marjorie Hay, wife of M. C. Hay, government Inspector of Mines, who had joined the volunteers as a corporal. She was well read and she kept an excellent daily diary. and intelligent the Colonial Secretary
—
After midnight, Marjorie, accompanied by
Ah
Lit,
her house-
and made straight for she had cabled Stanley Jones
boy, drove over the causeway from Johore the Colonial Secretary's house, for
(whose wife was in England) asking for a bed.
had never arrived but Jones came gown and found a "bed" for her.
to the
The
telegram
door in his dressing
Life in the Colonial Secretary's official residence in Govern-
ment House grounds had changed visit.
a great deal since her last
Half a dozen other evacuees, including
Hugh
Fraser, the
Federal Secretary, were now all "doubled up," some sleeping under the piano in the corner of the living room, others under
"L" part of the dining room overlooking the grounds. Yet despite this influx, Stanley Jones had managed to keep up some pretense at normality, and though he scrupulously refused to buy any food which was not available through normal sources (for a black market was already springing up in the big table in the
the city) dinner was served each evening with beautiful silver
and
and lace mats, and the vases were filled with fresh flowers. Only the clothes of the diners seemed a trifle bizarre. Instead of black ties the men wore open-necked shirts, and Marjo-
rie
glass
Hay remembers
that
was dressed in a blue
The
on the
first
shirt, shorts
evening, just after a raid, she
and red
slippers.
devastating news of the dismissal overwhelmed the Colo-
THE MONTH OF THE BOMBS There had been
nial Secretary four days later. 4
87 a
heavy raid
at
and Marjorie, together with Stanley Jones and the other had made for the shelter, leaving Hugh Fraser, who
\.m.
evacuees,
said "he couldn't
be bothered," to sleep peacefully in
a
deep
armchair throughout the raid and afterward despite the strident tones of the
all clear.
While the
sirens
were announcing the end of the raid
Sir
Shenton Thomas was returning with his wife from the shelter through the spacious grounds of Government House when a retary
handed him an urgent
Since
cable.
it
sec-
was franked "Top
nobody except the Governor possessed the key to the code and he hastened to his study at the far end of the big downstairs reception room. Before he had decoded the first line he became aware that in Whitehall orders had gone out that somebody should be sacked. But who? As he afterwards confided to a friend, the cable was worded in such a devious manner that until he had reached the very last line, the Governor was conSecret"
vinced that he was decoding news of his
knew
that Duff
Cooper wanted
own
dismissal, for "I
me."
to get rid of
vital one on the last line of But Stanley Jones's most certainly was. There was nothing for the Governor to do but pen a personal note and
His name, however, was not the
the cable.
send the cable
down
where Marjorie Hay,
to the other big
after
house in the grounds,
an early breakfast, was on the veranda
when Stanley Jones walked out
after reading
freshly starched white drill trousers
and
it.
Immaculate
a buff-colored
in
"palm
beach" jacket, Jones's face was grim as he carried the cable in his hand. Without a word he handed
it
to her,
waited until she had
and then announced that Hugh Fraser would be taking over. Even at that moment the natural courtesy of this strange, mixed-up man did not desert him and he told her, "I'm sure Hugh will let you stay on." But his control was only surface
read
it
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
88
He went
deep.
to see the
Governor, and in tears begged to be
allowed to stay in Singapore.
ARP
warden, but Shenton
He
Thomas was unable
friend. Fearing that his presence ties,
even offered
become an
to
to help his old
might encourage divided
loyal-
Whitehall had insisted that he must be flown out on the
first
available aircraft.
The
dismissal broke Stanley Jones.
During the next few days
he said his few private farewells, including a special "thank you"
Jimmy Glover whose Tribune announced bluntly that the wrong man had been sacked and that Stanley Jones had been made a scapegoat. Jones had much to answer for. He could be awkward and obstructive, as Simson had discovered. Yet those who had to
pierced his aggressive and unpleasant exterior liked him, and Jones's last hours in Singapore left a lasting impression
members ing, the
of his circle.
Over farewell drinks with
on other
Tommy
Kitch-
Chief Government Surveyor, he confided that the rea-
son Whitehall had advanced for his recall was that of lack of
coordination between the services and the
civil
administration.
And though Jones's manner toward friendly, well-mannered men like Simson had been appalling when they met for the first and only time in their lives, many senior civil servants like Kitching
still
were ready
to
felt
that this was the grossest slur of
all.
They
admit that Jones had an unfortunate manner, but many felt, was not his fault and lay fairly
lack of coordination,
and squarely on the shortcomings of the military. Although a question was to be asked later in the House
Commons,
the news of Stanley Jones's recall
made
little stir in
England. The Economist commented,
No
clear report has
come
out, but quarrelling
tions are obviously going on,
of
and recrimi na-
with past maladministration
as
THE MONTH OF THE BO M
BS
89
the background with the Governor, the Colonial Secretary, the
Command,
Military nity
the Civil Servants, the non-official
and the journalists
partial information,
it is
Through
as protagonists.
not
a
pleasing picture; and
seem easy for some Britons in Malaya Malays as allies instead of coolies.
to
commu-
the haze of it
does not
regard Chinese or
Desperately the Governor tried to restore confidence. circular to the
The day
Malaya
Civil Service he declared:
minute papers has gone. There must be no more from one department to another, and from one department to another.
of
passing of officer in a
files
"The announcement is about two and commented the Straits Times acidly. Indeed
In a
for
w^as,
it
by mid-January,
around the Muar River on the west
a half years too late,"
after a ferocious battle
coast, eighty miles
north of
Singapore (in w hich out of 4000 Indian troops only 800 T
turned), British forces
had been pressed back
line stretching across the
re-
to a ninety-mile
southern tip of the Malay peninsula
from Mersing to Batu Pahat.
It
was barely
fifty
miles from Sing-
apore Island.
seems incredible, but even when the news filtered through
It
to
Singapore
—
as
it
was bound
to
do
—
that the Japanese
were
overrunning Johore, the civilian population did not seem able to grasp
its
implications.
Even now, many preferred
to believe
had deliberately retreated to Johore where the clubs) the terrain would be "more favour-
that British troops (so
it
was said in
able to us." Despite the evidence before their eyes
city,
the inces-
bombing, the lack of any serious defenses against
air attacks
dispirited,
sant
wounded
— streams of
— people victories,
troops in the streets of the
did not see these
but more
latest
enemy advances
as Japan*
as a skillful Allied delaying action leading
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
go
up
to the
moment where
the tide of
war would turn
in Johore,
the battlefield of our choosing.
The
Chinese, however, were far
doubts about what had happened swiftly along the
realistic. They had no Muar. The news traveled
more at
Asian grapevine with the result that suddenly
overnight, as though a secret order had gone out, an event oc-
curred which was to shake the fortitude of white Singapore more
profoundly than any raid.
Every Chinese shopkeeper abruptly terminated the age-old chit system.
down was only
Except in the clubs and some of the big
now
the startling order of the
mean one
thing.
As George Hammonds put
Chinese way of telling us we'd had
stores, cash
day — and it,
could
this
"It
was the
it."
In a city which had lived on credit since the days of Raffles, a
community
in
which even the humblest
monthly, thousands of
men now
literally
out sufficient loose cash to buy food.
clerks paid their bills
found themselves with-
The
situation
acute that the government was forced to start paying
employees twice a month; also offered advances of
up
as
an added incentive
to
S30 to anyone
became
many
of
to stability,
who wanted
to
so its it
buy
food stocks. Inevitably there was a run on food by those of substantial funds.
still
in possession
Indeed the government unwittingly exacer-
bated the situation by urging people to lay in stocks.
Bucker-
idge bought five
pounds of tea, five pounds of coffee, twenty pounds each of sugar and flour, a case of condensed milk and a bag of rice. His wife Lucy insisted that goods like tea and coffee should be
stored
in
tins,
but
everybody seemed
to
have
conceived the same idea and there was a sudden shortage of con-
Buck got hold of some four-gallon kerosene tins, washed them out and eventually got rid of the smell of kerosene by repeatedly swilling whiskey in them, round and round. tainers. Finally
THEMONTHOFTHEBOMBS
Ql
Glover, with the aid of a tribune van, was able to stock his
compound
"shop" in the
at
Dulverton with provisions, and even
acquired special uniforms for
now been appointed heads guard against
theft.
Hammonds and
them up with sticking But while
it
it
who had
Freddy Retz bought some tinned salmon,
coined beef and rice and packed
tennis court, lined
himself
of a small private police force to
it
plaster, after
in old bread tins, sealing
which she dug a hole
with sacking, and buried the
remained possible
in the
lot.
to lay in tinned stocks, there
was a sudden shortage of fresh food. Japanese troops were ready fighting
less
ern Johore with
than seventy miles from Singapore in north-
its
lush market gardens which since time im-
memorial had been Singapore's kitchen garden. fresh food like chickens, fruit
noticeably. these each to
travel
women
al-
and vegetables began
Supplies of to dwindle
In the old days the Chinese cookboys had fetched
morning from still
relied
villages
further afield,
on the
island.
often during
more and more on
Now
raids;
they had
inevitably,
the food from the Cold Stor-
Here strange figures in uniform were now in evidence strolling around the store like military shopwalkers; volunteers who not only had to keep an eye on distracted Asian assistants who
age.
often did not creetly
know
making sure
the prices but were also charged with disthat
no customers got more than
their fair
share.
Yet,
though the shoppers could no longer pick and choose the
food they wanted, most of the big stores
still
carried vast stocks
Freddy Retz, walking down Battery Road, found a choice of a dozen makes of refrigerators. Kelly and Walsh had just received a new shipment of the latest books from
of luxury goods.
England; gas cookers and electrical appliances were "featured at reduced prices" in one store; and with a grim irony, Robinson's
had an extensive display of the
"latest fashions" for
women and
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
92
children; garments at which the penniless evacuees could only stare longingly.
Many women
evacuees and their children were reduced to
They had
liv-
no money, apart from who in some cases the small amounts lent to them by offered the lucky ones a bed. But the more unfortunate were ing out of one suitcase.
little
or
friends,
billeted in hastily prepared dormitories in Raffles College or
where families and
schools,
who had been
their fretting babies,
used to half a dozen servants, had no privacy and often nowhere to
cook even simple baby foods. Few had the faintest idea what
had happened time was to
The
to their husbands.
go out — but now the hot
by swift downpours of drenching even cars were forced to stop. almost unbearable,
it
rain,
only way to pass their
streets
were often cut
sometimes so
And though
the heat in
was the humidity that made
it
mildewed books,
itself
was
really intol-
Everything was dripping wet to the touch
erable.
off
fierce that
—
clothes,
and floors. Never, so it seemed, had the northeast monsoon been so fierce. Some resourceful women
who
salt,
walls
hardly possessed a change of clothing did the only thing
possible
— they took a
taxi or
Club, changed into bathing their clothes in the ladies'
came
out, they
swam
begged a
suits,
lift to
and while
it
the
Swimming
rained washed
changing rooms, then when the sun
after laying out their clothes
on the lawns
to dry.
This
crazy, unfamiliar pattern
which now dominated the
of the civilians in Singapore was complicated
alarming by a
fifth
column
lives
and made more
scare shortly after the introduction
of martial law in January.
Martial law in
the civilian population.
was a precautionary move, and the
Governor
felt
It
that he should
go
to the
itself
hardly affected
microphone and reassure
the population that they need not entertain any fears on account of
it.
Unfortunately, though Malaya had virtually no
fifth col-
THE MONTH OF THE BOMBS
93
umnists, he linked the two subjects together, by saying that
... I signed the proclamation because it was necessary to make certain that evil-doers against the state shall be punished quickly. ... I know you "there
is
no need
for
anyone
men who
will agree that
to worry.
conspire against the state
.
.
.
should
be dealt with properly and quickly." This was an unfortunate choice of words. Although Sir Shenton
Thomas' intention had
merely been to reassure the public that martial law would make comparatively
little
difference to their day-to-day lives, his refer-
ence to evil-doers and conspirators aroused an uneasy suspicion
column was
that the existence of a large fifth
the sole reason for
imposing martial law, and soon hundreds of people were looking nervously over their shoulders.
One morning soon
after this
announcement Hammonds arcup of tea and discovered that
rived at the Tribune, called for a
one of the messengers had been arrested things, of
being a
German
spy.
Angry
— suspected,
of all
at this ridiculous news,
Hammonds drove to a sub-police station in River Valley Road. He discovered that although the Chinese boy had not been officially arrested
he had been seized by a group of angry Chinese,
and was now being manhandled. One waved of the
his
helmet
— one
German-type helmets which Buckeridge had acquired,
and given later the
to
Hammonds
for 'office use."
a couple of days
happen to one of Buck's men, had no alternative but to withthat Buckeridge
same misfortune was
with the result
Only
to
draw every one of the suspect helmets, leaving
his
men
unpro-
tected against falling shrapnel.
On
another occasion, a messenger reported for duty
at the
hands and crying that the police were seizing all the bicycles they could lay their hands on. He begged for a chit to prevent the police seizing his precious machine, the
Tribune wringing
his
only piece of property he possessed in the world.
Hammonds
A SINISTER
94
TWILIGHT
phoned the police. The story was well founded. The military had demanded over a thousand bicycles, and the police had been given power to seize any machine in good condition unless the owner could produce on-the-spot evidence that he could be ex-
Why were
empted.
the bicycles needed? asked
Hammonds. No-
body apparently knew. George gave the Chinese a chit, but also advised him that the simplest way to save his bike was to remove all
the air from the
tires.
Within twenty-four hours the great bicycle fiasco came to an abrupt end when the army, which had originally demanded
—
1200,
"found they had made a mistake" and required only
So nine out of ten bicycle owners could theory only) have their machines back
now
—
if
(in theory,
100.
but
in
they could ever find
them.
By now
woman
virtually
every
was doing some
able-bodied
sort of
European man and
war work. All Europeans reach-
ing Singapore from up-country had to register at a
Bureau where Marjorie Hay "had
Manpower
to confide crudely
my
exact
age to a beauteous young Chinese maiden, at which she gave a
vague though charming smile.
that far." sion,
No man
while for the
I
doubt
if
she could count
to
go or
up
was allowed to leave without special permis-
women who wanted
to leave, there
was an
evacuation committee with priority to those with the most dren. But
me
many women could not make up
their
chil-
minds whether
stay.
—
Some would have gone immediately and Karen Hammonds was one of them except that in some curious manner the word had gone around that it would be like running away. A woman like Karen with a family would have found no difficulty in obtaining a passage. But she and many others felt that
—
they could not ask to go. to
What
they wanted in their hearts wai
be ordered to go, what they needed was an
official
lead from
THE MONTH OF THE BOMBS the government, "useless
was
It
implementing a demand by Churchill that individual — and
to the
sailed
from Singapore
Some were being
RAMC — who it
in
mid-January the Nar-
for Australia half empty.
at the hospital.
worked
also
who
at
the
Philip
of the
Hospital — had
General
plain that he wished to marry her
Bloom
and
that he
wanted
her to go. But Freddy refused, even though as an American zen
it
would have been
hospital,
For she
—
—
r
but by the wide eyes of the Eurasian and Chinese
unteers; eyes
would be
On
easier for her to get a passage.
citi-
was haunted not so much who w orked with her hundreds of wounded overflowing into every nook of the
like others
by the
all
such lead ever came.
pressed to go, including Freddy Retz,
was working full-time
made
No
mouths" should be evacuated.
left
kimda
95
all
which somehow seemed
right in the
Tuesday, January
of their raids,
end
20, the
and eighty-one
if
the
to say that everything
memsahibs elected
plane in the air
—
AA
guns. For the
first
to stay.
Japanese stepped up the intensity
waves of twenty-
aircraft in three
seven flew leisurely over the heart of the city ish
vol-
so high that they
— with not a
Brit-
were undisturbed by the
time Orchard Road was badly damaged.
Tim
Hudson, manager of the Dunlop Rubber Purchasing Company (and a divisional ARP commander) was driving his wife Marjorie to the General Hospital where she worked in the
MAS, and was
opposite Wearne's garage
appeared, looking to sea."
He jammed
the nearest drain.
Hudson
the
first
bombers blue
the brakes of his Hillman and both dived for
But there was barely room
the smelly concrete ditch so
20 yards away.
when
"like silver fish floating in a
Tim
for Marjorie in
ran for the shelter of a
The bombs seemed
to straddle
them.
doorway
One
oblit-
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
96
Tim, who was lifted across the pavement into the road. He had a vague impression of a body flying through the air, but almost simultaneously two bombs landed either on or near the drain. A third tore a hole at the side of the road, uprooting a lamppost and hurling a car through erated the shophouse next to
the broken plate glass front of a shop.
Hudson groped
his
way
through the fog of dust to look for Marjorie. Three blazing cars
— and next
them was a petrol tanker. A European with his right arm blown off, the stump bleeding, yelled, "Get the bloody tanker away!" Somewhere behind that dust Marjorie must be lying. Tim had to discover her and drag all
but stopped him
to
bombed drain. "For Christ's sake get a move on
her out of the
—
ment," yelled the man; an instant later road, dead or unconscious. this
Tim had
blow up at any mohe had flopped in the
it'll
never driven anything like
monster before. Somehow he climbed into the high cab,
— he never knew — and was a the tanker lurched forward
discovered the switch and crashed a gear in
which one jumps.
it
in
that he couldn't change gears.
of
series of
Something now went wrong, he suddenly discovered
Orchard Road, now
and came
to a halt
the opposite side.
He jerked across
alive with figures, hit
with his front
off-side
the wide stretch
an uprooted
tree,
wheel in the ditch on
Only then did he scramble out and run back
for Marjorie.
The
all
clear
sounded
as
he reached the drain and started to
dig with his hands, dragging out three dead Indians
who were
on top of her; with a tremendous effort he managed to pull them aside and discovered Marjorie, covered with dirt and de-
lying
bris.
Before he even saw her, his hands, scrabbling in the
felt soft invisible flesh,
she was dead. face,
He
and
his first sickening
tore the debris away,
and leaning down,
dirt,
thought was that
uncovered her ashen
tried to pull out the
body from which
THE MONTH OF THE BOMBS most of the clothes had been ripped
97
She did not move.
off.
bottom of the deep trench, but Tim reach it, cupped his hands and threw some in
Filthy water lined the
clambered in to her
face.
After what seemed like an age her eyes suddenly
flick-
— the
blast
She owed her
ered and opened.
that killed the Indians
tected her
A
when
life to
one thing
had thrown them on top of her and pro-
the second
bomb
fell.
few yards away the Cold Storage had had a "near miss."
Jimmy Glover was
outside, waiting for his wife Julienne
had gone in to do some shopping. As
seemed
store
happened
inside;
cloud with
unknown
to shake;
Jimmy
watched, the entire
him something
terrible
had
without warning the whole store started
and
gas,
to
who
to
as the horrified yet strangely fascinated
shoppers watched the visible wraiths creeping toward them, one
screamed "Gas bombs!" It
was not
The bomb had damaged
gas.
the refrigerator room, causing a leak of
knew
and
this,
in a
pandemonium
the pipes leading to
ammonia, but no one
woman
every
ran for the
doors which were always kept closed because of the air-conditioning.
women
Screaming, coughing, spluttering
assistants to
fought with
wrench the doors open. Julienne covered her
face
with a handkerchief and, in acute danger of being trampled underfoot,
somehow managed
to crawl to a side door, forced her
way out and ran stumbling across the road where she found Jimmy. Still choking and gasping she promised him, "From
now on, Some
I'll
do
my shopping at six in
distance
bombs had
away
in the
fallen killing
garden of Cathedral House two
Archdeacon Graham-White's secretary
but leaving Mrs. Graham-White,
untouched.
the morning."
who was
knitting beside him,
In the grounds of Government House, twenty-six
bombs had fallen, killing only Nine alone had exploded in
and some chickens. the Colonial Secretary's com-
a
tawny
cat
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
g8
pound. Marjorie Hay,
had had no time as blast
blew
all
who had been
to reach the shelter,
the ceiling, showering the
room
in plaster
the veranda,
under which she was
debris.
A
second
The phone
instal-
was damaged, and Marjo-
pajamas, which were drying on a veranda rail "were
reduced by blast to a network of the driver's quarters
ploded
and
blast slicing off the top
its
sheltering.
lation was smashed, the water system rie's silk
but dived under the piano
the doors off their hinges, tore a gaping hole in
bomb landed just outside of the piano
alone in the living room,
and
bomb embedded
slits."
One bomb demolished Another unex-
set several cars alight.
itself in
a corner of the veranda of Gov-
ernment House, and the grounds between the two houses were pitted with scars and craters and littered with torn-up trees. Just as
Hugh
Fraser, the
new
Colonial Secretary, and his
were returning for lunch, the bombers struck again.
pushed Marjorie under the long dining
staff
Fraser
table; the others
man-
There they brown feet be-
aged to squeeze in crowding her uncomfortably. waited for
half an hour — watching a
pair of
longing to
Ah
who was
Lit,
Marjorie Hay's boy,
calmly setting
the table for lunch.
Soon the raiders had trating
on the docks. At
left
them
in peace
Raffles the boys
and were concen-
returned to duty and,
dressed in spotless white uniforms, started to serve the corner, by the synagogue off
Beng Swee
tiffin.
Place, the
Round
dead were
being laid out on the pavements for identification.
There were three raids that day and in the evening Shenton Thomas and his wife visited Hugh Fraser to inspect the damage. Marjorie Hay found them "pleasant, ordinarily devoid of pomposity, but if now they are just a trifle puffed up over their unexploded bomb, it must be forgiven them." Stanley Jones was still waiting for the plane due to take him away from Singapore to
South Africa on Friday;
all
he growled was, "I'm damned
if
THE MONTH OF THE BOMBS I'm going on that Friday plane as ness
brought
relief
if
if
QQ
I'm running away." Dark-
not peace, and Leslie Hoffman spent the
night in the Tribune building, after coping with a linotype op-
who had
erator
arrived at five-thirty with the news that his wife
had been killed and there was nobody
By
to look after the children.
time Hoffman was nsed to such disturbing reports and
this
refused to believe him. "I'd heard about the office boy and his
grandmother's funeral." Putting on a stern front he explained that
was too
it
late to get a substitute
and the man went on night
duty "quite happily."
Next morning the Japanese bombers returned and proved the heaviest raid the city had yet experienced. At
this least
383 people were killed and over 700 wounded, most of the casualties in Chinatown. Over 100 aircraft attacked the Asiatic quarter of Beach
Road where
forty-seven shophouses were de-
Another bomb scored a direct
stroyed.
hit
on Clyde Terrace
market. Scores of people were burned to death
when
a third hit
Havelock Road Market.
George
Hammonds
friend had just asked
snooker fused
(at
was in the Cricket Club
him
if
at the time.
A
he would like a game of "volunteer"
which George professed some
and the man went moodily
skill)
but he had
re-
room
to
off to the billiard
knock a few balls around.
on the padang. The second hit the members' car park by the main entrance, lifting one car like
The
first
bomb blew
a crater
through the side of the building into the billiard room, where the man who only a minute or two ago had
a toy
and hurling
it
asked George to play was killed instantly.
people had miraculous escapes. At the time when the second wave had been on the way, Buckeridge's fire engine had
Many
been en route, Court.
He had
its
bell clanging, to a fire
left
Lucy
to
behind the Supreme
spend the morning with a friend in
A SINISTER
100
Malcolm Road on the
TWILIGHT
outskirts of the city.
Hours
turned to fetch her, racing past Dickinson's big house on Pleasant, then crossing
Whitley Road
he
later
re-
Mount
to reach the winding, hilly
—
There was nothing nothing but a pile of smoldering debris. The house had received a direct hit and his own AFS men told him everybody inside had been killed. At that very moment Lucy ran toward him. "I thought she was a ghost," recalled Buckeridge. She told him that she had been trying to phone but couldn't get through. Just before the bomb fell she had walked down the road to a small Chinese shop to buy a bar of chocolate. It was in this raid that the godown in Keppel Road which was by the docks, used by Tim Hudson to store Dunlops rubber, suffered its first bomb; however, thanks to his foresight, it was hardly damaged, for after the very first raid on Singapore, Hudson had constructed an enormous shelter for 200 inside the godown by stacking up scores of squat, tightly packed bales of rubber, supporting a rubber roof six feet thick with planking. Now, lane on which the house had stood.
dozens of pieces of shrapnel tore the roof into "a piece of lace,"
and
in the next
godown eleven
coolies
were killed outright. But
not one piece of shrapnel penetrated more than a few inches into
own rubber shelter. Hudson was a a spare-time divisional ARP commander remarkable man who throughout these perilous days somehow his
—
—
managed
to
do three
jobs.
In addition to buying rubber for
Dunlops, and controlling his
Tiong Bahru matters.
in
ARP
Chinatown, he
wardens
also broadcast regularly
on
at
ARP
Indeed, he was becoming something of a local radio
hero, for his talks were factual,
down
mising, in direct contrast to the
handed
station with 300
to earth
official
and uncompro-
platitudes so often
out.
In his early
forties,
Hudson was
still
trim and slim enough to
THEMONTHOFTHEBOMBS look well in his khaki
ARP bush jacket.
a thatch of thick, dark
brown
hair,
101
Of average
he sported a
height, with
tuft of
brown
beard which stuck out at an aggressive angle so that he looked not unlike Captain Kettle.
One
feels
he would have been
pleased with the allusion, for he could be aggressive, short-
tempered with fools and his
astute; three qualities badly
needed
in
job which entailed buying 4000 tons of crude rubber a
month from running an
a variety of Chinese (not office staff of
handled the heavy
all
of
them honest) and
twenty, together with 500 coolies
who
bales.
That night Hudson was broadcasting and he dispensed with his normally censored script. Throughout the day he had worked alongside Asiatic AFS and ARP men who toiled without helmets, without food, without drink, and now he spoke passionately and movingly of the Chinese describing the heroic work they were doing, the example they were setting; and painting a word picture of the fatalistic attitude to life and death that made them carry on impassively. He described how after the first big raid he had driven down to Beach Road where bodies
—
lay
untended in the
friends
and
streets,
the
flies
crawling everywhere as
relatives waited for the burial squads.
mind were two
pictures he
would never
forget.
Etched in
The
first
his
was of
Chinese children nonchalantly playing ball while lorries un-
ceremoniously loaded up a grisly assortment of corpses, and a little
boy, running too fast as he chased the ball,
—
them on his smock. And the other picture was of while four grave hoses playing on a burning shophouse
before wiping fire
over a man's
and as he got up, looked at his bloody hands, then smelled the blood on them uncomprehendingly
headless body,
— perhaps
fell
—
old Chinese ladies were carefully throwing cigarette tins of
water on the flames in an effort to help.
Hudson had been
in the thick of
it,
but to others
this big raid
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
102
had hardly made an impact. Freddy Retz dived into a shelter to find it occupied by several elderly ladies, each with her own cushion, and all occupied with needlework or knitting. Leslie Hoffman and his old father were in their shelter when a polite Chinese arrived and announced that he had come to read the gas meter.
George
Hammonds was at the Singapore who occasionally used to
with the two sergeants Karen.
They had asked him time and
again
a visit to this temple of the Singapore tuan. special passes
— and on
Golf Club, baby-sit for
he could arrange
if
He had
obtained
had been astounded
his arrival
to find a
dozen golfers putting out on the greens, and could hardly believe that
he himself was
drinking a
sitting there, peacefully
gimlet in front of the lake, with the war so close.
There were other evening George Chinese taxi
girls,
visited the
New World
next
with
its
only to find that he couldn't get in because of
the crowd of waiting soldiers
World was
The
strangely peaceful interludes.
Hammonds
— possibly
because
New
the
advertising in the Tribune, "Non-stop dancing and
cabaret and the usual
tiffin
dance on Sunday." This was only
one of the bizarre advertisements now appearing in the Tribune, and as the
staff
which normally handled these
ments had shrunk, George often had staggered
when one came
in:
For
sale
to help out
advertise-
— and
was
— European guest house
Good business proposition. Reply The Goodwood Park Hotel still adver-
in select non-military area.
with bank references.
and tourists. The Alhambra cinema offered Greta Garbo and Ramon Navarro in Mata Hari. The Cathay advised readers to "fling away your troubles and have a fling at love and laughter" by tised itself as
Charmingly
watching their
latest
situated.
Ideal for visitors
comedy.
But the Personal Column
of the
with heartrending advertisements:
Tribune now began
to
fill
THE MONTH OF THE BOMBS Mrs.
J.
IO3
Norman Milne
of Lower Perak and her two children Newton Road, Singapore, and anxious for any
are staying at 27
news of her husband, Sergeant
Can anybody
Ah Chan,
please give
N. Milne.
J.
news
husband
of her
to Mrs.
Wong
c/o Maynards', Battery Road.
Lim
Will Mrs. Jennie soon
as possible, as she
Day
after
is
please write to her sister
now without
a
Lamoon
as
home.
day the Tribune carried a large government public
notice ordering
evacuate a stretch of the northern
all civilians to
— an
advertise-
to the
calm and
coastline "purely for precautionary measures"
ment which was presumably reported back
peace of Chequers, causing Churchill to cable angrily, "I
am
concerned about the fullness of the information given in the Singapore papers.
.
.
.
Why
is it
necessary to state that a mile
on the northern side give everything away about
has been evacuated for defensive purposes of the island?
.
.
.
They seem
to
themselves in the blandest manner. After
all,
they are defend-
ing a fortress and not conducting a Buchmanite revival."
There were other
signs of war. In Singapore the
Cold Storage
and produced, in its common with all other bakers, a new government "health bread" which resembled something like a wholemeal brown loaf. As the army fell back across Johore, some of the governstopped baking
delicious French bread
—
though ment food stores were thrown open to the public when the new s first reached Singapore it was treated as just another rumor. But at night, when Jimmy Glover was in his ofhce, 7
one of his newspaper vans returned from Johore Bahru, the capital of the state, and the driver had two cases of tinned milk
which had been given
to
him.
The next morning Tommy
Government army. Could his
Kitching, the Chief
Surveyor, received a telephone call from the
A SINISTER
104
TWILIGHT
department do a rush job printing new bank notes? Money was
running
short, partly
body was now forced
army needs, partly because everypay cash. Not far away, yet in another
owing to
to
government department, Mr. Eric Pretty was almost simultaneously being asked to consider the possibility of burning $5 million in notes, in order to stop the Japanese
from getting them.
Day by day life became crazier. Tim Hudson drove an old main ARP store headquarters in order to get some
lorry to the
desperately needed picks and shovels. serted.
hours.
ema.
A
sign
the place de-
pinned to the door announced: Back
The man
Two
He found
in charge
had taken time
miles away George
went into the Cricket Club just in time to see
two
Hammonds,
off to visit
in four
the cin-
after locking his car,
and returned Having no key,
for a pre-lunch drink,
men
stealing his car.
they had torn out the floorboards and were already starting the ignition with a piece of wire; as he yelled at them, the car leapt
away, leaving the floorboards on the ground. there shouting after them, until a
not
know
said quietly,
George drove back let.
to
George stood
member whose name he
"Take mine. I'm leaving
Amber Mansions
in
did
an hour."
in a large shiny Chevro-
6 The End of
The Last Days Xot
until this
pear to have
— and,
—
moment
as the battle for
and
last
Johore moved inex-
days of January
— does
it
ap-
dawned on Churchill that Singapore was indefeneven more terrible, that Britain might have to
make what he described island
Mvth
of January
orably toward disaster in the
sible
the
as
an "ugly decision" and abandon the
diverting reinforcements to Burma.
fortress,
For
it
was not until January 19 that the myth of Singapore was finally
exploded for Churchill himself
who had been taken
in
— the one man above
by the grand illusion of the
all
others
fortress that
never was.
The news came
in the
form of a cable from Wavell,
in reply to
one which Churchill had sent him asking, "What would happen in the event of
your being forced to withdraw on the island?"
How many
Churchill posed a series of vital questions.
troops
How
would landings be prevented? What were the defenses on the landward side? Could the "Fortress Cannon" command the Straits of Johore? Was everything pre-
would be needed?
pared?
"It has always
the vital last
need
is
seemed
to
me," his cable read, "that
to prolong the defence of the Island to the
possible minute, but of course
I
hope
it
will not
come
this."
Wavell's reply came on January
19.
It
told
him
bluntly:
to
A SINISTER
106
TWILIGHT
all plans were based on repulsing seaborne on the Island and holding land attack in Johore or farther North, and little or nothing was done to construct defences on North side of Island to prevent crossing Johore Straits, though arrangements had been made to blow up the Causeway.
Until quite recently attacks
Churchill was horrified. In place of the legendary fortress in
which he had believed, there was "the hideous spectacle of the almost naked island." "I ought to have known," he wrote
"My told
later.
known and I ought to have been have asked. The reason I had not asked
advisors ought to have
and
I
ought
to
.
.
.
was that the possibility of Singapore having no landward de-
no more entered into
fences
my mind
than that of a battleship
being launched without a bottom." Churchill's immediate reaction was to dictate a blistering
minute I
to
must
General Ismay for the Chiefs of
me
for a
moment
fortress of Singapore,
with
its
was not entirely to be
To
Committee:
confess to being staggered by Wavell's telegram.
never occurred to
What
Staff
is
.
.
.
It
splendid moat half-a-mile wide,
fortified against
an attack from the northward.
the use of having an island for a fortress
made
...
that the gorge of the
if it
is
not
into a citadel?
and combined with immense wiring and obstruction of the swamp area, and to provide the proper ammunition to enable the fortress guns to dominate enemy batteries planted in Johore, was an elementary peace-time provision which it is incredible did not exist in a fortress which has been twenty years building. construct a line of detached works, with searchlights
crossfire
And
he added
bitterly, "I
warn you
this will
be one of the
greatest scandals that could possibly be exposed."
To
Wavell, Churchill cabled personally:
want to make it absolutely clear ground to be defended, every scrap I
that I expect every inch of of material or defences to
THE END OF THE MYTH
IO7
be blown to pieces to prevent capture by the enemy, and no question of surrender to be entertained until alter protracted fighting
To tress"
among
the ruins of Singapore City.
the Chiefs of Staff he sent his
own
ideas for
how
the "for-
should be prepared against attack:
made at once to do the best possible while the Johore is going forward. The plan should comprise: An attempt to use the fortress guns on the northern front by firing reduced charges and by running in a certain quantity of high explosive if none exists. By mining and obstructing the landing-places where any considerable force could gather. By wiring and laying booby-traps in mangrove swamps
Let a plan be battle in (a)
(b)
(c)
and other (d)
(e)
places.
By constructing field works and strongpoints, with artillery and machine-gun cross-fire. By collecting and taking under our control every ceivable small boat that
is
found in the Johore
field
con-
Straits
or anywhere else within reach. (f)
(g)
(h)
By planting field batteries at each end of the straits, carefully masked and with searchlights, so as to destroy any enemy boat that may seek to enter the straits. By forming the nuclei of three or four mobile counterattack reserve columns upon which the troops when driven out of Johore can be formed. The entire male population should be employed upon construction defence works. sion
is
to
be used, up to
The most
rigorous compulwhere picks and the limit
shovels are available. (i)
Not only must
the defence of Singapore Island be main-
tained by every means, but the whole island must be fought for until every single unit and every single
(j)
strongpoint has been separately destroyed. Finally, the city of Singapore must be converted into a
A SINISTER
108 citadel
and defended
TWILIGHT
to the death.
No
surrender can be
contemplated.
There is a note of grim irony in this detailed list of instructions. At least seven of Churchill's points had been contained in the list which Brigadier Simson had compiled for Duff Cooper, and which Duff Cooper had passed on to Churchill. Not even the order had been changed by Churchill. In other words,
ment
it
had taken Churchill himself
to order Percival to imple-
the precise ideas which the Chief Engineer
had been advo-
cating in vain for months.
The
Chiefs of Staff sent their version of this dramatic minute
though for some unexplained reason they decided
to Wavell,
not to include the
Wavell replied telling
him
final three
to Churchill in the only
the doleful truth: "I
Now
depressing picture." issue:
paragraphs.
am
way he could
sorry to give
— by
you [such
a]
Churchill was faced with a cruel
should the reinforcements already on their way by sea to
Singapore be diverted to Burma? "There was to turn their realized, as
prows northward
he told the Chiefs of
to
Rangoon."
still
ample time
For Churchill
Staff:
Obviously nothing should distract us from the Battle of Singapore, but should Singapore fall quick transference of forces to Burma might be possible. As a strategic object, I regard keeping the Burma Road (to China) open as more important than the retention of Singapore.
That evening he could not make up his mind. In the utmost secrecy for this was a matter which concerned the Australians
— — deeply Churchill
asked his Chiefs of Staff to consider the
problem and meet him
"We
later,
advising them to bear in
mind
th.it
may, by muddling things and hesitating to take an ug\)
decision, lose both Singapore
and the Burma Road."
THE END OF THE MYTH
1O0
By some extraordinary chance the Australians in London obtained a copy of this minute. How this came about has never been explained, but Sir Earle Page, the Australian delegate in
London, promptly cabled
its
on the Australian cabinet was lian premier, cabled
The
contents to Australia. electric.
effect
Mr. Curtin, the Austra-
an angry protest to Churchill.
all the assurances we have been given the evacuation of Singapore would be regarded here as an inexcusable betrayal.
After
Singapore
is
Empire and
a central fortress in the system of the
We
understood that it was to be made impregnable, and in any event it was to be capable of holding out for a prolonged period until the arrival of the main fleet.
local defence.
Even
in an emergency, diversion of reinforcements should be Netherlands East Indies and not to Burma. Anything else would be deeply resented, and might force the Netherlands East to the
Indies to
On
make
a separate peace.
the faith of the proposed flow of reinforcements,
We
acted and carried out our part of the bargain.
we have
expect you
not to frustrate the whole purpose of evacuation.
The for the
phrase "inexcusable betrayal" had an unpleasant ring
Prime Minister, and though he was
that Curtin's message to infer that this fact
had not decided the did influence
him
later to
issue, it
is
maintain
difficult
not
to a considerable degree.
Churchill became very conscious of "a hardening of opinion against the East."
renowned key point in the Far though he had "no doubt what a purely military
abandonment
And so,
of this
decision should have been," ish
was decided
to fight on.
The
Brit-
18th Division (composed of territorial units recruited in
East Anglia), as
it
planned
now on
the long sea route, proceeded to Singapore
— even though by January
naling Wavell,
"We
are fighting
all
26,
we
find Percival sig-
the way, but
back into the Island within a week."
may be
driven
Percival was so worried
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
110
that he sent a private letter to Wavell, backing
looks as
we should not be
if
is
now reduced
"Our
now on the edge was the moment when
ulation doubled to a
and
more than
total
fighter
of disaster, and, in terms of his-
— the great — should have been a million city
dynamic leader with the soul of
ors
"It
to nine."
Singapore was tory, this
his cable.
able to hold Johore for
another three or four days," he wrote. strength
up
its
normal pop-
rallied
under
Raffles to prepare for the rig-
and street fighting. It is easy to what might have been the thousands
terrors of siege warfare
—
conjure up a picture of
—
up defense works; the civilians dropping everydanger upon them
of troops hurriedly throwing
—
suddenly aware of the
thing to barricade the streets and fortify each corner; the issue of small arms to eager squads of to
defend each
under
street
and each house
docks. Alas, there was
no dynamic
Shenton Thomas
if
to the death; the coolies
leader.
more grim than
is
.
.
.
was
involved.
is
all
very well
total war,
in
be grim, no and China, and
It will
in Britain, Russia
the people of those countries can stand
we.
It
"This
to broadcast,
which the whole population doubt, but no
in ill-assorted uniforms, ready
unloading precious war materials from the
fire stoically
for Sir
men
up
to total war, so can
Europeans, Indians, Chinese, Malays
— we
all
stand
together side by side, shoulder to shoulder."
They were "shoulder their energies
and
how
Who
to fight?
their families
was that
all
if
loyalty?
was to
they
men
to shoulder"
of
Who
to direct
them where, when, feed them? Who would look after was to
left their jobs? all
— but who was tell
The
tragedy of Singapore
creeds were prepared to fight, but the
flowery exortations were never crystallized into direct, unified action.
Troops
as well as civilians
were confused and insecure.
THE END OF THE MYTH
111
For nearly two months they had been fed on pompous pro-
A ruthless censorship
had hidden the truth from them. Never once in the campaign had loyal and patriotic men
nouncements.
had a "father figure"
And now,
at its
to
moment
whom
they could turn and offer help.
of destiny, Singapore was like a storm-
There was no single mind, no direct and control the thousands
tossed ship without a captain.
man cast in who awaited At ill's
this
very
call.
moment
of great urgency
clarion call to action
and the
civil
ment on the
heroic mold, to the
—
it
actually took the service chiefs
government ten whole days
rates of
— and despite Churchto thrash
pay for the desperately needed
War
problem was discussed in the Singapore
the navy labor.
and the
RAF demanded now
Brigadier Simson,
for higher wages, protection
injury.
The
civil
War
on the
First,
Council, where
conscription of
also
out an agree-
coolies.
all
available
Council, asked
during raids and compensation for
government inexplicably
danger pay "was undesirable since
it
insisted that special
would lead
to inflation."
After three days of argument the government agreed to some
wage
increase in so, it
For
took the
now
ity to
rates
and a measure
of compulsion. Yet even
W ar Council another five days to agree on details. r
commanders
the service
spend money on increased
Governor and the three multaneous cables
to
said that they
service chiefs
London
had no author-
rates of compensation.
The
thereupon dispatched
(where, one
would have thought,
a single cable would have sufficed) asking for a free hand to
wages.
On
January
29,
pore announcing the
an emergency
new
labor
(
Bill
was passed
onditions. But
two days later, on January 51, that Whitehall and gave the military authorities a free hand.
By then
the Japanese were
less
si-
it
fix
in Singa-
was not until
finally capitulated
than thirty miles away.
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
112
In London, Churchill, fearing the worst, asked the House of
Commons
for a
Vote of Confidence on January
the course of his survey of the war, told the
had a great deal of bad news think
highly probable
it
Wrapped up
in this
.
bad news
lately
we
.
.
will
and during
Commons, "We have
from the Far
shall
be
27,
East,
and
I
have a great deal more.
many
tales of
blunders and
shortcomings, both in foresight and action."
Hammonds
George few hours flat
in
heard
later, sitting in
Amber
this
the dark, listening to the radio in his
He
Mansions.
"Churchill's given
up
speech broadcast to Singapore a
the fight.
turned
You and
Karen and
to
said,
the kids are off on the
next ship. Don't argue." Within a couple of days he was told by the government evacuation committee she could go
"when you
can get her on a boat."
To
all
who heard them,
— and the
Churchill's grave
behind them
clear implications
and somber words
— stood out
like a
warning beacon. Within a matter of hours, almost minutes, the
word had gone out along the grapevine. The four troopers which had recently brought in the 18th Division were due to leave. It was now or never. As though compelled by some instinctive urge for survival, the rush
began by
civilians to
war had now become
the larger issues of the
personal, agonizing decisions that
would
whom
crystallized into
affect their lives pro-
foundly.
Tim Hudson when an
was
off
duty that night and was already in bed
old friend rang
him
at
wife was leaving the next day.
midnight and told him that
He
urged
Tim
away. She was on night duty at the hospital, but that she
must
leave, so
his
to get Marjorie
Tim
decided
he got the car out and drove through the
name with
P and O. But to his consternation, when Marjorie returned from the hospital, she refused to go. All through the morning he tried to persuade her blackout to register her
the
THE END OF
MYTH
Till
\
\
>\
but her resistance was so strong thai in the end he was forced to
phone the P and
O
and cancel the
ticket.
"They thought
was
I
crazy."
For others the simple equations of "stay" or "go" was tor
de< ided
them. Leslie Hoffman had already booked his wife
place
a
on the Empress of Japan. Now suddenly he was told officially that in view of the bitterly anti-Japanese articles he had writ ten.
man
he would, with his Asian blood, be a marked nese took Singapore.
him still
his wife.
But
and
the Japa-
permission had been granted for Leslie's old
widowed
father was
him would return? After position had been explained, the government immediately living in Singapore
alone.
the
go with
to
Official
if
Who knew when — if
Leslie didn't want to leave
— he
ever
gave Leslie's father permission to go too.
Knowing
the danger of remaining under Japanese rule, Leslie
drove through the blackout to his father's house and told him to pack.
But he had reckoned without the old mans stubbornness.
His father absolutely refused to budge. "I've lived in Singapore for fifty years,"
he
said.
"It's
my
home, I'm not going
to
be
pushed out by a bunch of Japanese."
and
Leslie
made no
his wife implored, begged, cajoled, threatened;
difference.
Hoffman now
heartbreaking decision.
If
it
found himself faced with a
Singapore
fell,
he could expect no
mercy from the Japanese; he might never again see his wife and unborn child. If he went, he might never again see his father. In the end, he decided to send his wife and stay himself.
During that night there were six Japanese raids, and at dawn George Hammonds received a phone call from the military, telling
him
that
all
service wives had been ordered out, that
was leaving that night, and
it
was time
for
Karen
though "H.E. will make no evacuation order lower British prestige."
as
Karen gulped a cup
he
to
go
feels
of tea,
a
boat
— even
it
would
grabbed
a
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
114
piece of toast and, leaving the children with the amah, set off
with George for the P and
The government had and
O
O
office.
centralized
which had moved
its office
all
from the center of Singapore
dangerous Agency House
to the less
town.
When
off the
main
bookings through the P
at
Cluny,
five
miles out of
they reached the bottom of the long uphill drive road,
George
left her,
promising to return
he had attended the morning military briefing.
as
heart sank.
some order. verges where the main road
In vain police were trying to
Scores of cars lined the grass
met
the drive,
ging
down
some
of
soon
as
Karen's
instill
them askew with their wheels Several had obviously been
into the ditches.
by machine-gun
And
fire.
women and
dren stretched almost out of sight into the
office.
— the
slowness of
it,
hit
winding, climb-
at the foot of the
ing drive, a long, slow-moving procession of
almost biblical picture
sag-
It
chil-
was an
mothers tugging
on the verge of tears, the hurt, brittle words with which they tried to mask their fear, some with children in at their children,
their arms, all seeking the shade of the trees that lined the drive.
The
lucky ones had their amahs with them.
The
winding,
white procession kept to the left-hand side and hardly seemed to
move
as
Karen joined the
women moved more
tail
end.
Down
quickly, aware of a
had reached the bungalow, they had got off.
They almost ran
new
the opposite side
their tickets, they
to their cars, eager to pick
be on their way. Karen noticed a friend further
who wished her good
luck — and
They
excitement.
up up
were
a suitcase, to in the
told her that she
queue
had been
queueing since midnight.
Twice during the
hot, sticky procession
anese air raids forced the
women
toward the
office
to take cover in the concrete ditch at the side of the road. after three
hours
Jap-
and their whispering children But
— during which time George had not returned
— Karen Hammonds reached the house.
In more normal times
THE END OF
MVTH
T11K
~ I
1
had been the pleasant private residence of the P and O chief. It was a big bungalow, with a handsome porch and a Large this
veranda with rattan shades which could be lowered against the rain. sit
Now
it
had
all
the frenzied atmosphere of an evacuee tran-
camp. True, the orchids in their pots were
the trees, but the beautiful green lawns
muddy brown,
still
hanging from
had been turned into a
whilst indoors the two big downstairs
rooms were
bare of the "best furniture," which had been carried upstairs
and replaced with rows of cane chairs. Karen almost stumbled into the welcome shade of the room, and gratefully gulped a long drink offered to her. She found herself facing
two
tables.
One was
for bookings to
Colombo, the
other to Britain. She had already decided to go to Britain, but
even
as she
walked towards the "U.K. table" she remembered
George and her resolve weakened. sign at a crossroads.
I
knew
it
"I felt
I
was standing under a
was immensely important that
I
should not take the wronor road." In the hot, crowded room, distracted P and gled to cope with a horde of heat,
many on
the verge of
they really wanted to go.
mind
It
was typical of
At
that
"Come on now,"
said
officials strug-
undecided officer
and
moment George
gripped her arm, and steered her to the
chief,
this
that Karen should suddenly turn to an
don't really want to go!"
O
women, some half fainting in the hysteria, and undecided whether state of
wail, "I
appeared,
table.
Mr. Frank Hammonds, the P and
kindly and asked for her passport.
he made the startling discovery that
Hopefully George produced
it
Thumbing
had run
his military
and
it
through,
out.
press permit, to-
gether with an identity card which Karen had been issued civil
defense work.
Politely but firmly
the fault of the
must return
to
P
It it
O
lor
bore a duplicate of her passport photo.
was rejected and she was told that
it
wasn't
and O; regulations were regulations and she
Singapore and get her passport renewed.
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
Il6
In tears she set
off
down
the
George four hours (and two
and she was once more able
"way out"
side.
It
took her and
raids) to get the passport
renewed,
end of a new queue. Finally she reached the U.K. table again and got her ticket a slip printed on a duplicating machine with her name on it and a few brief embarkation instructions. She was told to take her place at the
—
that mattresses
would be provided, but not bed
be necessary to take her
some sandwiches
for the
own
first
plate, knife, fork
few hours.
The
linen.
It
would
and spoon and
scrap of paper bore
no berth or cabin number. Karen barely remembered the return journey to Amber Mansions. Her first necessity was to obtain some money for the jour-
now
ney, but by
all
the banks were closed.
In desperation
George phoned the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, said he was speaking from the Malaya Tribune, and demanded to speak to the
manager. "It created the right impression. " Karen was
promised £25 in
traveler's checks
her way to the docks. She had fore she
had
to
which she could
little
collect
more than an hour
on
left be-
be on board, no time for good-byes, just a few
much had happened, and happy together. Then George was bun-
minutes in the living room where so
where they had been
so
dling the suitcases and the children into the back of his shiny
new Chevvy.
—
Karen was to be far luckier than many others for she had a car, money and a man to help her. But for all too many women and children this was a time of complete confusion. Many did not have the faintest idea what to do. Authority appeared nonexistent.
No
left to their
orders were issued to the evacuees,
own
The government could have used the Company to give them official guidance
devices.
Malaya Broadcasting
and
who were
advice, but not a
confusing period.
word was heard over
the radio during this
Many women who had been
up-country had neither
money nor
papers. Yet
evacuated from
when
they came
THE END OF THE MYTH crowding into the P and
O
office,
"7
they discovered that regula-
tions forbade their obtaining their vital tickets until they
had
been issued with documents which regularized their positions
and gave them the necessary authority
to leave.
Hoffman had been at Cluny helping some friends when a middle-aged woman, distraught and in tears, arrived at the table with the news that her mother of eighty-one had lost her passport when ordered out of Kuala Lumpur, and was now in hospital. Both wanted to leave Singapore and her mother was able to travel, but the old lady couldn't get a new passport beLeslie
cause
man
all
the Japanese photographers had been interned.
drove back to the Tribune, found a
staff
Hoff-
photographer and
was able to send the pair of them gratefully on their way.
Some women were alert enough to bypass officialdom. One young married woman had been living in a remote rubber plantation and had never been near enough to a government office to have her maiden name changed on her passport. On arrival at the U.K. table with a baby in her arms she was told that her passport was not in order. Refusing to accept defeat she walked across to the sistant
"Colombo
who looked
baby. "It's
at the
mine —
table," stood in front of a different as-
"Miss" on her passport and then
at the
— and
sailed
illegitimate," she said curtly
that night.
Many
"useless
mouths" had no idea
sult
in case
it
did not want
lowered Asian morale. As a
re-
Marjorie Hudson was awakened in the middle of the night
by an old friend children.
and
news
government had
The government
agreed to stake their fares home. to publicize this
that the
it
With
who had come from
up-country with her three
three children she should have left weeks before,
was only when she begged Marjorie for money that she
discovered that every shipping agent had been instructed by the
government that in
cases of hardship,
children could "sign" for the
trip.
European women with
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
Il8
But many women
who had
still
resolutely refused to go. Freddy Retz,
the hospital after twenty-four hours of nearly non-
left
became involved in such an argument with Philip Bloom who had come to fetch her that he stopped his car and they had a blazing row. Finally Philip turned to her. "Well if you stay, will you marry me?" Without a moment's hesitastop work,
—
tion Freddy told
him
that she
was February
And
after that
6.
the subject of leaving again.
tioned
it
would
— on her birthday, which
promise they never mentioned
Two
who never men-
other people
were Dickie Dickinson and
his wife
Bunny.
"It never
entered either of our heads to go." Dickinson was obviously doing vital work, and fusion.
Bunny was
in virtual charge of
Jimmy Glover's French
blank to leave
— "with
Blood Trans-
wife Julienne also refused point-
typical
French vehemence."
So did
Marjorie Hudson, despite more arguments. She "had a job to
do" and that was "Well,
if
spade," said
you
that. insist
on
staying, you'd better
Tim Hudson,
tisement in the Straits Times.
This was a fervent appeal
compound
every householder with even the smallest
growing vegetables. Supplies of in the near future
—
start
to
to start
would be distributed
fertilizers
by the Food Production
government announced through the
tomorrow
go out and buy a
pointing to a bold government adver-
press,
Office.
Eagerly the
"Don't put
it
off
till
growing vegetables today!"
All night and half the
morning the docks and
their approach
roads had been heavily attacked by formations of Japanese twin-
engined bombers with Zero fighter
escorts.
downs
The
in the docks
were raging
fires.
gled with that of burning tar and rope.
had been
killed,
and
as the carloads of
Half the big go-
smell of rubber min-
Hundreds
women
of civilian!
approa< hed Col-
TIM
END
Ol
Quay and moved on along
lver
It
the waterfront,
was ever} woman
for herse
had long since given up an) attempt driven by husbands or servants,
— and then people walked.
ambulances kept
to
marshal the
drove
they could
to
three-mile
*
die-
— not only because of the conon their way,
lorries,
racing to get the military stores away from the
docks and into Singapore Island so the ships could
Japanese sunk the sitting targets
had brought
in the
twenty-six
h
bomb had
landed that morning killing
as the troops sweated to unload military equip-
ment. Newly arrived soldiers of the 18th Division the dockside, lolling
on
They had only
spirits as
before the
now at the Main Empire Dock. One had a hole in
of the big. rectangular
men
sail
— tour huge troopships whu
18th Division, berthed
her iron deck where a
high
and too
at last
freedom, but because the\ dashed head-on with convoys
irmy
ment.
Cars,
traffic.
as Ear as
5
I
ed stream of "useless mouths
Wharf
smoking
ol the
Hie police and the army
t.
just
he
1
dock area were often impassable
late, to
IK)
running while bodies were dug out
their motors ruins.
M VTH
Till'.
their
just
mountains
sat
of luggage
been disembarked, and
about on
and equipwere
all
in
they waited to go forward into an action about
whose outcome they were pathetic
The monsoon
ally optimistic.
rain had ceased, but there were
many who humid
would have preferred a wetting to sultry, steaming, weather that made the sea they faced look tray hurtful to the eyes.
women and them
off,
The
Even- inch between the
i
<>ulcl feel
|<'stling
for their turn to pass through the
O man — one
pencil
who had come
— who
took
lonely
down
steel
man
to see
the heat through shoes.
lowns and the ships
lin<
jammed with gasping women, and
burnished
quays, which were seething with
children and their menfolk
were so hot that one
like a
or just waiting patiently
one small gate where
with
a
-
very small table 2
\
sat a
and one
name, writing
beautifully but with painful slowness in a ledger.
I'
it
A SINISTER
120
Among
TWILIGHT
who were converging on the Reverend Bennitt, driving his wife and daughter who had passes for the Empress of Japan. "The Rev" drove the thousands of people
docks, was
them down
early past big fires
on a
heavy with the
air
Mrs. Bennitt always remembered
smell of burning godowns. the look
and through
British soldier's face as he helped
them out
and noticed her husband's "dog collar." "Bless cried. "Where did you come from?" car
Because they had got there
us,
The Rev was
early,
of the
Rev!" he
able to see
them on board, but somehow he couldn't bear to stay. Neither could Leslie Hoffman whose wife was also going on the Empress. As the women disappeared in the throng every man, as though to hide his feelings, made off as quickly as he could. George Hammonds with Karen and the children reached the docks a little later, for the normal route to their ship had been blocked by a direct hit which had caused a huge arrival they
luggage
fire.
On
their
saw an indescribable scrum of women, children and
— without a
single porter or coolie to help.
Every
man
had vanished as they stood in the "sweaty mess of humanity." With George carrying the suitcases, they moved in the labor force
forward toward the
man
with the pencil
at the rate of a
yard
They were still queueing with other women including Marjorie Hay and Lucy Buckeridge when the
every half hour.
—
siren
—
sounded and George
shambles that would result
felt if
a
cold and sick at the thought of the
bomb
fell
But the
in their midst.
planes passed over, the crowd calmed, and the P and
O
pencil
plodded steadily on as the thin trickle of women flowed up the gangway and into the ship. Like the other men, George could not bear to wait. After what seemed like an eternity of pushing and shoving, carrying Karen's luggage, he saw her and the children past the P and
O
man, and on
to the
gangplank.
Then
they vanished into the big vessel just as the sirens sounded again.
THE END OF THE MYTH George dived
and children
for the nearest shelter,
outside, he left
121
women
but when he saw
and squeezed down by the
side of a
godown.
As the embarkation proceeded,
the
changed into a sunset the color of blood,
hot to
day
suffocating
be followed by the
swift
pink twilight of the tropics and a period of blessed dark-
ness.
Then
ing the
a bright
city, as
big ships a
moon broke
though
last
over the edge of the sky light-
to give the
women
lining the rails of the
indelible picture of the waterfront of Singapore,
now almost deserted. Behind the make out the tall, flimsy Chinese houses more ornate buildings of the merchants
once a great thriving port but scarred docks they could
cheek by jowl with the
And
and the occasional row of palms.
silhouette of the city, sometimes silver, was
with the crimson glow of
Back
here and there
lit
fires.
bungalows the
in their
background, the
in the
farewells to those they loved
better they should go," wrote
had each other eight and
men
wrote their
and might never
The Rev
a half years
own
private
see again. "It
in his diary.
"We
is
have
— eight and a half years
with the best wife in the world and nearly
five
with the loveliest
ever daughter."
In those
leaguered
last
city,
few hectic hours before Singapore became a befour ships
managed
West Point and the Wakefield
to get away.
Two
troopers,
on the Friday, carrying a large number of European women and children and some Asians. Now, a day later, under the tropic moon, the Empress of the
Japan prepared
—
all
women and children and the 900 on board. And as the big ships
to leave with 1500
Duchess of Bedford with sailed out
left
to arrive safely at their destinations
tired troops of the Imperial forces
causeway for the
last
was already doomed.
— the
first
were preparing to cross the
stand in the "fortress" they did not
know
PART TWO
During
Awaiting the Attack
Sunday, February
As
if
to
i
compensate
beautiful.
It
- Sunday. February S for war, the
first
few days of February were
was hot, but the humidity had dropped with the
passing of the northeast monsoon, and
shower washed the grimy, bomb-scarred
poured on an awakening most exciting pecked away
tropical
only an occasional
city.
The burning
sun
world that was always at
Thousands
the rains.
after
now
its
of Java sparrows
upturned earth of the Cricket Club padang;
at the
brightly colored birds flashed
among
the rubber trees.
In the
down to the edge of moon shone out of a jet-
Botanic Gardens, monkeys gamboled almost Tyersall Road.
And
black sky laced with
The
at night a bright
stars.
crossing of the causeway on the night of Friday
day (January 30-31) had been such
a closely
guarded
twenty-four hours elapsed before Singapore
morning
of Sunday, February
and read
1,
pers that the island was invested.
— Satur-
secret that
woke up on
in the local
the
newspa-
Thirty thousand troops had
crossed the 1100-yard causeway, miraculously without a single casualty.
The
last
men
to cross
were the
Commanding
Officer
and the pipers of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders,
way from the Siamese frontier, and
had fought every inch
of the
had by now been
but de< imated.
all
faded away at 8:15 a.m. on
who
As the
skirl of the
the Saturday — when
the last
pipes
man
was
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
126 safely
on the
— the causeway,
island
which was 40 yards
wide, was breached. Railways, water mains, lock gates, boulders
weighing a ton or more were blown sky-high, and when the dust had cleared, the water was racing through a gap of 60
feet.
This had been the actual moment — twenty-four hours — when the of Malaya had Singapore realized
be-
fore
battle
it
And
ended, and the siege of Singapore begun.
yet, in the first
few beautiful days that followed civilians hardly realized the difference in their lives, for this was the brief interlude between
and
siege
assault.
The
Japanese had reached the causeway, yet
they needed time to regroup and prepare to that civilians
who
pore glittering with tus
on the
island, so
lived through this lull before the storm seem
remembered not
to have
fall
so
much
staff officers,
the daily
bombing
or a Singa-
but in retrospect a strange
hia-
between two episodes of a tragedy.
It must have been a strange moment of time, for as the British and Japanese prepared for the battle, the opposing armies, with
a bizarre irony, could even catch the occasional glimpse of each other.
Separated by
little
more than
a thousand yards of water,
British troops could at times plainly see Japanese soldiers walk-
ing about on the other side of the
Straits.
It
seemed wildly im-
possible that this ''peace" could ever be interrupted, that the figures they
could clearly make out were not law-abiding citizens
of Johore.
When
General Gordon Bennett visited his forward
Australian positions he looked across the Straits and saw a Japanese all
staff
car drive along the waterfront.
the world as though
"had a long gaze
To
An
officer alighted, for
war were a thousand miles away, and
at the Island."
the people of Singapore, this was the classic beleaguered
citadel of military history
—
stoutly defended, well prepared for
siege warfare and,
all,
surrounded by Churchill's "splen-
above
did moat" across which, given a determined defense, no enemy
could hope to force a passage.
At
first
Europeans compared
AWAITING THE ATTACK
127
their role in history yet to be written with the embattled de-
fenders of Malta and Moscow, not realizing thai the circumstances
were completely different —that Malta was an impreg-
nable
fortress
honeycombed
with
rocky
shelters,
whereas
Singapore was a shelterless, swampy island; that Moscow was the heart of a country whose citizens preferred death to dishonor,
whereas Singapore was a hotchpotch of many races with hundreds of thousands of people
who
hardly
knew what
the struggle
was about.
— or — thought they knew of the preparations which had been made — preparations which seemed such a moment Their
illusions
were heightened because everyone knew
for just
as this
There was food enough for six months. Singapore's tw o largest cinemas, the Capitol and the Pavilion, together with other caches, had been turned into food dumps. Nine thousand cattle had been imported from Bali for slaughtering; there were 125,000 pigs on the island. Milk rationing would
adequate for any
siege.
T
be unnecessary
as the tw
r
o large dairy herds normally kept in
Johore had crossed the causeway
late in
January
—
in fact they
could be seen grazing by the roadsides or on the golf course.
Hong Kong had this
capitulated because
it
could never happen in Singapore.
million gallons a day normally
been
lost,
but the
pumped
had had no w ater r
— but
It
was true that the ten
in
from Johore had now
island's three reservoirs assured the popula-
tion of seventeen million gallons a day
— more than the island
was using under war conditions.
To
the civilians in those early days, the feeling was one of
unqualified optimism.
What
the military felt
— or did — was,
however, a very different matter.
would take the Japanese "at mount an offensive against the island, and now
General Percival reckoned that least a
week"
to
it
A SINISTER
128
he and his
staff officers set
menting an
TWILIGHT
about the complicated task of imple-
meet the three Japanese
overall plan of defense to
divisions across the Straits of Johore.
Singapore Island, which Churchill had insisted "must be fought for until every single unit and every single strong point
we have seen, roughly the Wight, diamond shaped, twenty-six
has been separately destroyed" was, as
and shape of the Isle of miles across and fourteen miles from north size
much
undulating,
of
it
was
to south.
Generally
time covered with luxuriant
at that
jungle or swamp, together with rubber and coconut plantations
and many orchards and small market gardens. In contrast
to the
massive granite mountains of the mainland, the island boasted
nothing higher than two
Timah was
the center, of which Bukit
hills in
the largest, rising to just under 600 feet.
The
vast
majority of the population was concentrated in the city at the island's
southern
tip,
while the few villages were clustered
around junctions dividing the excellent seventy-two miles of coastline, creeks
or rivers,
There were
much
scarred with small
it
no defenses apart from those protecting
The two northern
the naval base from seaward attack.
facing Johore across the Straits
ered to his horror
or near the
frequently edged with mangrove swamps.
virtually
causeway — were
of
roads,
—
east
and west
virtually undefended, as
when
shores
of the shattered
Wavell had discov-
inspecting the area with Percival early
in January.
— and preoccupation with not up— morale seemed obvious had been bad enough,
Percival's indifference
setting
for
that an attack
even more after
his
difficult to
WaveU's
understand
fateful visit.
and Wavell was, have thought
it
must be launched from the mainland, but what
it
after
all,
is
why
Percival did nothing
Wavell had plainly shown in
is
his anger,
supreme command. One would
a simple matter for
him
to
have ordered Percival
AWAITING up
build
to
ATTACK
Till
120
the defenses on the northern shores
—
in
words, to implement Brigadier Simson's suggestion^ instead of "ordering" he "urged,"
parently,
Against Japan little
says,
Eoi
as
other
But, ap-
The War
"Despite considerable pressure from Wavell
more was done
until the 83rd [January]
when an
outline
plan for the defence of the island was issued, followed by a more detailed one
on the 28th. IK
that time
it
was too
late, for
(
ivil
labour was no longer available."*
The
truth
is,
of course, that Percival, despite his weak, unpre-
possessing appearance, was a
and
as
man
of peculiar stubbornness,
long as books are written about
on
speculate
combine
n g: pore, historians will the character of this military leader who seemed to
the opposites in
all
ble personal
charm
if
human
Si
1
nature.
one met him
He had
socially,
considera-
but an irritating
stubbornness in front of a military map; a completely negative, colorless personality
when
dealing with a group of men, but a
career at staff college which had been brilliant.
He had
an
abil-
work out military schemes which looked excellent on paper, but which somehow frequently got bogged down in pracity
to
tice.
(as
Even
his detractors
admit he had a penetrating mind but
Wavell and Simson had discovered) he did not always take
kindly to the advice of others.
When
Ian Morrison of
The
Times met him he found a man who "had a mind that saw the difficulties to any scheme before it saw the possibilities." He would argue endlessly to gain a point (his point) and it is possible that Wavell — clearly anxious — was talked out of convk
to fortify the
tions
his
northern shores
and retired exhausted from
the verbal battles. • 'Little
island
provision had been
itself.
Even when
made
against the possibility of a struggle on the 'H\ obvious as the Jap-
this possibilil
anese forces swept into Johore. nothing uas undertaken which reflected the British Prime Minister's demand for heroic measures." The Japanese Thrust (Official
Australian
War Hisu
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
130
On
paper Percival could match the Japanese strength, for he
—
but this had approximately 85,000 men to defend the island were baseline least noncombatant, was on paper only. At 15,000
unarmed
The
troops.
infantry battalions (thirteen British, six
Australian, seventeen Indian,
two Malay, plus two
British
one Australian machine-gun battalions) with supporting
and
artil-
and 152 AA guns, were in a pitiable state. Six of the British battalions had only recently landed, the other seven were under strength. The plight of the Australians was even worse. All exlery
cept one battalion had been
reinforcements.
Some had
weeks of enlistment.
"The
Many
"made up" with many untrained sailed
from Australia within two
hardly
knew how
to
handle a gun.
decision to select these untrained Australian reinforce-
ments
for
Japan.
Malaya was unfortunate,"
The
says
The War
Indian units were also in a woeful
Against
state, after bear-
ing the brunt of heavy fighting on the peninsula. Their losses
had been appalling,
many good
so that all except
raw, untrained troops.
one battalion included
There was a desperate shortage
of
officers.
men on whom
These were the
Percival could call to face the
Japanese across the Straits of Johore, which varied in width from seven hundred to shita
five
thousand yards, and where General Yama-
was assembling three crack Japanese divisions
perial Guards, the 5th
and the 18th
divisions
— The Im-
— the
18th hav-
ing been landed unopposed in southern Johore. All were fresh
and jungle-trained. They were backed up by strong armored forces, including tanks. They also had over 200 aircraft against one token squadron of Hurricanes all that was left of the
—
RAF. As Percival saw
He
it,
he was faced with two broad
could either spread out his
men
alternatives.
along the coast to prevent
the Japanese landing on the thirty miles of northern beaches, or
AWAITING
ATTACK
ill E
1
alternatively he could hold the coastline only thinly large reserves of troops to fight the battle
Though admitting
itself.
forces at
that
our disposal ...
morale
to build
effect of a successful
and keep
on Singapore Island
wis not possible with the
*'it
defence," Percival opted for this
ft]
up
first
a really strong coastal
alternative because "the
Landing would be bad both on the
troops and on the civil population."
No doubt
made
Percival
knew he did not have
how
triguing to note
on a
dec ided
because he
the forces to
implement
it.
But
Percival had changed his mind, for
strategy for
felt it
the right decision, even though he
which he did not have
would be good
it is
in-
now he
sufficient troops
for morale; yet
only a
month
had refused Simson permission to erect fixed the very same spot bee ause he felt it would be bad
previously, he
de-
fenses at
for
morale.
Anyway,
this
was
his
broad
strategy,
and the island was
split
The
18th
which covered the entire
into three areas
coastline.
and the 1 ith Indian Division were placed in the Northern Area which extended along the north coast, from Changi in the east to the causeM <\. Cordon Bennett's 8th AusThis tralian Division was deploved in the Western Area. British Division
stretched from the River Jurong in the south (but west of Sing-
and including ti way in the north. The less important Southern Area was entrusted to the fortress garrison together with locally recruited troops. There was also a apore
city)
up
to
small Reserve Area in the
One
thing
the forces.
is
Two
c
entCl
i
>t
immediate! v apparent about the disposition of divisions had been allocated to the area east of
the causeway, but only on<
way.
the island.
This provides yet
trca
try
anotfa
way in which Percival Waved. For Waved (rightly
west of the causeinstance of the
ainst the advice of as
it
turned out) was convinced
132
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
that the Japanese
would
attack the
the other hand, seems to have
would had firmly suggested
northa^
had an idee
coast.
Percival,
on
fixe that the Japanese
attack the northeast coast, despite the fact that Wavell
newly arrived troops of the
that the fresher,
18th British Division should defend the northwest shore, where
he was certain the Japanese would be most likely
to attack.
no doubt partly influenced by the fact that 400 one Japanese troops had landed on the island of Pulau Ubin Percival was
—
of the
many outlying
islands. It lay
on
this
between the northeast
The Japanese met
tip of
no resistance chunk of rock surrounded by muddy shores, and which
Singapore and Johore.
virtually
could never, by the wildest stretch of imagination, have been Japanese springboard for invasion. Even
used
as a
told
Wavell (no doubt
at great length) that
so,
Percival
he believed the
Japanese would attack east of the causeway, and in the end, Wavell, probably with a sigh,
that
felt
'
'since
Percival
.
.
.
seemed convinced of the probable direction of the enemy attack" he had to allow the man on the spot the final say in the disposition of his troops.
Possibly
it
were placed
did not
— the
make much
British troops
difference
were
soft after
whereas the Australian contingent contained troops
where the troops weeks
many
at sea,
untrained
— but what did make a difference was yet another
traordinary decision which Percival shoulders.
It
was one which was
now
to
took upon his
ex-
own
rob the Australians of
even the slim chance of defending their coastline. So obsessed
was Percival with his belief that the Japanese would attack the northeast coast, that without warning he suddenly ordered Brigadier Simson's Royal Engineers to shift vast quantities of defense material
from the northwest coast
All Simson's military training,
all his
to the northeast coast
knowledge of military
engineering, cried out against the futility of the order.
For
A
W AITI NG
rn
E
ATTACK
1 i
— though he had received
weeks
i
DO direct orders from Percival
— Simson
had been quietK "stocking" the northwest shores oi Singapore Island, which "everybody, including General Wavell, had predieted
barkation
main danger point owing
as the
faeilities
available
the
to
enemy on
booby
Lyon
traps,
lights,
landing points, barbed wire of
drums
all sorts
opposite
the
Johore shore." At suitable places the engineers had of mines,
good em-
to the
left
stoeks
of petrol for fires at
and
Simson had
pickets.
even coneeived the idea of stripping the hundreds of dereliet ears in the city of their
headlamps and
batteries to light
up
the
water in the killing areas.
Abruptly Percival ordered the Kngineers quantity of materials.
was
difficult to
and
their staffs
To
Simson, the order "was incredible.
follow the minds
on the subject
<>{
all
if
the responsible leaders
problems
to the Japa-
they wished to launch an attack on the island.
had previously reconnoitered the Johore shores both
He had
causeway.
facilities
ing men. tanks, stores, for a
major
and road
No
attack.
marshes and mangrove iwampi
access for
such
had
to be
moved — in 5.
it.
Everything
By a stupendous moved and dumped east of the
double-quick time.
the defense stores weie
causeway by February
embark-
facilities ex-
east of the causeway.
Vet there was nothing Simson could do about
effort, all
Simson
sides of the
discovered that only to the west of the cause-
way were there reasonable isted in the
It
ol defeiM e w»>iks." For the north-
east coast did, in fact, present insuperable
nese
to transfer this vast
that night, however, reports ol
During
heavy Japanese troop concentratio
rig
the northwest coast
reached Percival, and the following morning Simson was told to
move
all
the material back
this time.
then, of course,
it
was too
late.
in IVrc aval's mind at make sense. This was eviNothing he did seemed to conference at which Gordon Bennett (who found the
It is difficult to
dent in a
1>\
know what
ivas
going on
A SINISTER
134
TWILIGHT
meeting "depressing") was present. appoint a military adviser to the
"who should be could force the Percival
the strong
civil
Bennett
civil
they should
government
man behind
— someone
who
the throne, one
administration out of
seemed impressed with the
felt
its
peacetime groove."
idea, and, waiting until the
other
officers
had departed, he drew Gordon Bennett
asked
him
he would take on the job. Bennett said that he
would
if
aside
and
—
become Military Governor of Singapore though he did agree to become military adviser if Shenton Thomas would "act under his instructions in all things." Nothing came of Gordon Bennett's idea, so Percival considprefer to
ered the alternative of taking over complete control himself.
He
was, after
in military
all,
command, and
course would have been perfectly proper
under
siege.
Thomas was
historically, such a
now
the "fortress" was
His excuse for not doing so was pathetic. Shenton the King's representative, and he, Percival,
knew
nothing of the organization of the various government depart-
He
ments.
diminish
Of
it.
all this
ance.
might, he said, even increase confusion rather than
the civilians were, perhaps mercifully, kept in ignor-
There
from them
was, however, one fact
— the
from two huge
gushing, writhing, black plumes of smoke
fires far to
at the naval base,
which could not be hidden
the north.
They were
and they had been burning
jumped
to the natural conclusion that
scored two lucky this
itself.
hits.
But
slowly,
The omiand now started
At
first
people had
Japanese aircraft had
rumors began
to spread that
was not the work of the Japanese, but of the
seemed absurd, of course,
dumps
for days.
nous clouds had drifted across the green island to darken the sky above the city
the oil
yet the stories persisted,
British.
It
and when
AWAITING THE ATTACK Hammonds
questioned
his military friends
l
who could normally
be relied upon to help him. they closed up like clams
him
suddenly, the truth was revealed to
,
in
— until
an off-the-record
press conference.
The eign
briefing
room was crowded. Local newspapermen,
correspondents — with
Cathay Building where
ground
American and Australian
British.
— jammed
newspapers predominating
staff officers
the stuffy
room
Hammonds had been warned that be historic. The briefing officer gave a up Hammonds)
in the
sometimes held their backthe meeting
talks.
promised to
for-
few prelimi-
nary remarks ("a softening
process," whispered the corre-
spondent next to
before he finally
came
to the
point.
There had been words) about the
a lot of speculation, he said (in so
fires at
the naval base.
came suddenly of
room
he should put
Hammonds
tough newspapermen beimpending drama, the sense
full of
and aware
silent
felt
Suddenly, as
the correspondents "in the picture."
always remembered, the
He
many
of
momentous news. None, however, could have guessed
whole truth — that not only had the
British fired the oil
the
dumps,
but that the entire naval base had been evacuated by the Royal
Navy.
A
note of despair at the useless waste creeps into George
Hammonds' the defeats
notes.
— did
I
"Never throughout ever feel such
a
all
the fighting
—
sense of utter dismay,"
wrote. "It seemed impossible that this naval fortress which cost
£60 million and taken seventeen
been thrown away
like this
been excavated when flected;
hills
six mil lion
had
where eight million
<
l><
ubii
had
<>t
a fight for it."
cubic feet of earth had I
feel
he
years to build could have
— without even
This was the place where
all
aside
and
a river de-
earth had been used
to
reclaim swampland before construction had even been started.
Out
of nothing a vast
and mighty base had
arisen, with pewter-
A SINISTER
136
colored
oil
TWILIGHT
tanks holding a million gallons of fuel, with machine
underground munition dumps, dry docks, graving docks, giant cranes, a floating dock so big that 60,000 men could stand shops,
on
its
bottom, twenty-two square miles of deep-sea anchorage.
There was even
a self-contained
town
for thousands of
with cinemas, churches and seventeen football Britain's great
and
it
had been built
just such a
moment
for
This was
fields.
symbol of naval dominance in the
Pacific Ocean,
one reason, and one reason
of destiny as Britain
now
faced.
this story of equivocation, of ineptitude, of the
men
only; for
And
myth
in
all
so assidu-
ously fostered, nothing can match in grim irony the fact that
moment
when
the
ueless
and impotent.
Worse was
of destiny finally did arrive, the base was val-
yet to come. After a series of probing questions the
briefing officer was finally forced to admit that the base had in
been evacuated before the troops had crossed the causeway. "But I thought they'd been withdrawn to the island to defend
fact
the base?" one voice asked.
There was no answer. Nor could
there be, for the navy had pulled out
thousands of pounds
w orth T
— leaving
the Japanese
of equipment.
Over the next few days George Hammonds was able to piece together the incredible chain of events which had brought about this catastrophe effect
—
a catastrophe that
on the morale
of troops,
was
from
to
have a shattering
whom
the guilty secret
could not be hidden for long.
Though most ary, there still
had gone by mid-Januhundred men and a labor force
of the few naval vessels
remained
several
some thousands, and it appears that on January 2 the Admiralty in Whitehall had warned Rear-Admiral Spooner, the Naval Commander-in-Chief, to get his skilled personnel many of them civilians away from the base. When the army had
of
1
—
—
been ordered
to
withdraw
to the island,
Spooner had decided
to
AWAITING rHE ATTACK transfer the entire
Singapore. This
European Naval and
1 ;
civilian
move was made on January
dockyard
g8; by
stall to
January 31,
however, Spooner had done move; even before the island had
been invested, he had unaccountabl) sent most of them lon, leaving
to Cey-
only a few to give technical advice to the army unit
which would be responsible because the army
for the
work of demolition. Perhaps
"being
felt bitter at
left to
carry the baby,"
senior officers quietly let slip another astounding bit of news.
For some extraordinary reason. Spooner had not mentioned either to that
al lv
Malaya
Command
or even to General Percival person-
an elaborate scorched earth scheme, which should have
been carried out by the naval dockyard
Not only
over to Percival's troops.*
had been handed
stall,
but without telling
that,
anybody, the silent service had silently disbanded
—
its
invaluable
danger areas
a force used working and which the army would have welcomed, Not a word of
civilian labor force
had reached Percival
to
— but when
in
finally
this
did reach him and
it
his senior officers, their natural conclusion
was that Whitehall
and the navy had already given up the
In his diary Gordon
Bennett
summed
it
up
in his
manner, "This demolition the It
mainland
is
.
hara<
(
.
istk Australian forthright
even before
.
reflects the lack of
an admission of defeat."
tei
fight.
confidence in our cause.
Later,
was to emphasize: "The hurried
know
.
.
.
The War Against Japan
eva< uation of the Base left
unfortunate impression in the minds of not
we withdrew from
many
soldiers
who
an did
that the Admiral, although perhaps precipitately, was
acting under instructions."
We first
have a picture of the bewildV
troops
when they stumbled
-
ne that greeted the cited acres of this
command was assumed !>\ Percival f>nt despite 'Ik- urgency of the no overall control of both dvil and military affaiis was established."
•"Operational situation
<>n
The Japanese Thrust.
A SINISTER
138
TWILIGHT Hammonds
once-thriving nerve center, for George
visited the
who
base with some correspondents, including Ian Morrison,
described
it as
"my most
tragic
memory
of the
whole Malayan
campaign." Lolling Indian sentries at the gates waved them inside with-
out bothering to inquire what they wanted.
They walked
past
deserted barracks which had housed a labor force of 12,000 Asians; near the
was
littered
empty administration
with equipment
offices
— everything
an acre of ground from shirts and
truncheons to gas masks and wooden lockers. that could
order;
lift
out an entire gun turret was
enormous
The
great crane
still
in working
ships' boilers stood in the boiler
shop awaiting
the Japanese Navy, together with lathes, spares for seaplanes, shelves of radio equipment, scores of boxes of valves; one ware-
house was
filled
with huge
causeway George could
coils of rope,
still
In the
wire or cord.
upper works of the giant
see the
way from England. To Hammonds it looked as though every man had bolted at a moment's notice in panic, and though this was not true (and much of the equipment was valueless to the Japanese) condifloating
tions
dock that had been towed
all
the
on the base did give that impression.
A football still
lay by
the goalpost of one pitch. In the Mess Hall was a table of halffinished meals.
The cooking
boxes of cutlery and
plates,
galleys
were crowded with opened
and pans
— some
still
dirty
—
to
feed thousands, as though a hurried meal had been interrupted.
In the barracks half-cleaned belts and buckles lay on beds. "It was like the
Marie
Celeste/' Flies
moved
unmade among
busily
the edible rubbish, swarming away in angry black clouds as the rats
came
out.
Scavenger dogs
— lean and hungry and mean —
fought over morsels of food or scratched and bit at closed doors
behind which they could smell food.
A
party of troops arrived in four trucks on a "legitimate
AW A scrounge."
Hundreds
i
i
\
i
(.
i
ATTACK
r
ii
of tropical shins
were tossed unceremoniously into one
men who had treat;
I
and shorts and boots Lorry
—
to
warehouse stacked with
a
bully beef, tinned fruit and cigarettes, and as one
pocket with fags he turned to
mey! In ries,
It's
like
fact, as
1
George was
oil a
warm
to discover, the
each making three trips a night lor left
filled his
said, "Bli-
body."
army needed 120 lora week, to remove the
behind by the na
the siege of Singapore had indubitably started
would have been
re-
eases of
man
lammonds and
I
pinching the rings
portable equipment
Though
be used by
hardly changed their clothing during the long
other soldiers raided
ftQ
difficult for
newspaper correspondents
anybody
still
to
deny the
— and — those
it
fact
remaining on the island
now
re-
ceived an incredible order: on no account must they use the word siege in their cables. To the amazement of Hammonds, the word was also banned from the columns of the local press. The word "siege," said the briefing officer solemnly, was bad for local morale. The word "investment" should be used instead. However, after some heated argument, the spokesman did finally give the irate newspapermen permission to say that Sing-
apore was "besieged."
what was the
difference, while as Ian
his elegant prose, "it
tain English verb
was
but
Hammonds
Bewildered, George
in<
asked
Morrison pointed out
in
onsistent to permit the use of a cer-
to den\
noun which
us the use of the
cognate with that verb, for possible
ill
effects
is
which that English
noun might have on a population whose native tongue was not English." (In fact, when Morrison cabled to The Times the cenbut inadvertently put in a word sor struck out the word that does not exist, so that Morrison's (able reaching London started
"The besiegement
ipore
began
.
.
.")
A SINISTER
140
TWILIGHT
Relations between the press and the censors had been deterio-
— understandably they frequently do — but suddenly they took a turn the better
rating for weeks
times of stress
in
as,
for
with the appointment on the
War
Council of
Rob
Scott, a
young Scotsman whose propaganda skill had long been a byword in Asia, but whose opportunities to look after the press had until now been limited. Scott had been appointed Director of the Far Eastern Bureau of the Ministry of Information just before the Malayan war. He was thirty-five, with "a broad open face, a dark moustache, very Scottish both in voice and manner." A man of tireless energy, he was always accessible. But though his job had been to organize propaganda, and though he was known to every newspaper correspondent, he had not been able to help them as much as he would have liked in such problems as censorship. Now, however, Scott was suddenly asked to become a member of the War Council, sitting together with the Governor and the commanding officers of the three forces. Such was his personality that within a few days he was threatening
to resign
from the
control over press
War
Council unless he was given
full
and censorship. He was immediately granted
the powers. It
but
was a small thing that had caused Scott to become so angry, it
was the
sort of ridiculous incident that
vast gulf existing ple.
A
emphasized the
between officialdom and the ordinary peo-
United Press correspondent, Harold Guard, had
ten a homely
little
story
about
writ-
his everyday life in Singapore
— how he had done his own washing in his bombed house, how
.
he had bought a leg of pork and cooked
it.
It
was the
sort of
"human interest" story that thousands of women would read. The censors, however, thought otherwise. Who could possibly be interested in reading about pork in grave times like these?
There was something
sinister,
something mysterious, about
this
AWAITING THE ATTACK seemingly innocuous ligence.
They
article.
It
was passed on
141 to Military Intel-
too did not like the look of what must surely be
The
an elaborate code.
upshot was that Guard was brusquely
ordered up to Fort Canning for interrogation and told could send no more messages city
— until
Rob
a furious
he
any sort out of the "invested"
of
Scott heard about
rescinded and then personally
th.it
it,
had the decision
demanded more powers.
Friction
between the press and government diminished from that moment.
To
new hazard was now added
the civilians a
daily
bombing. Early
ing artillery
in
February the Japanese opened harass-
from the mainland. Long-range guns
fire
high ground in Johore
w ere T
This was unlike anything
guns
unopposed Japanese loads.
ome
for granted,
had ever imagined
fatalistically
where the bombs were
take shelter except
Xow
t ,
w hen the
away
after
from the
Few bothered
to
Lives.
There was something almost
about this sound which they had never heard before
low whine
in the
became
a wild,
it
Likely to fall.
tell
however, an utterly different and alto-ether more men-
inhuman until
dropping
raiders were directly overhead.
T
acing element entered their
—a
thud
were launched with an almost
raids, too,
clockwork punctuality, and the civilians could whistle
used to the
to take the dull
e\en the regular sight of
aircraft lazily peeling
The
on
itv as well.
bombs; they had learned
of the anti-aircraft
bomb
<.
else the civilians
or expected. In a way, they had bet whistle of falling
sited
able to bring within range not only
the island's four airfields, but the entire
their
to the ruthless
cli^t.i
i
:<
e
that slowly crept
up the
screaming noise culminating
scale
in a pierc-
And no one knew where the noise would end. Marjorie Hudson had just driven her husband to Dunlop's
ing crescendo.
godown, and was queueing
for her butter ration in the
Cold
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
142
when
Storage
the
first shell
landed in Orchard Road. "At
first
nobody had any idea what the sound was," she remembered later, "the noise seemed to hang in the air for an age. I felt though
as
been hypnotized
I'd
—
— then a soldier shouted,
I
can't describe the terrible
and the queue scattered and I dived under a counter. I can't remember what happened to the others." Freddy Retz heard it too. "At first I thought it was an automobile revving its motor."
scream
Now,
'It's
a shell!'
were being stepped up. Using four
too, the raids
re-
paired airfields in Johore, the Japanese were sending not only
dive-bombers but fighters to cruise low over the
gunning the
streets or
bombs which
city,
machine-
dropping showers of small anti-personnel
burst in the air into hundreds of tiny, sharp frag-
ments of shrapnel. The pockmarks of war showed more and more. Hardly a street did not have
mark
dusty ruin to places
seemed
only been first
night
the end.
The
the
nel scars.
gaping hole or a jagged
bomb or shell, though some charmed lives. The Cricket Club had
the path of a
to bear
bombed
its
Robinson's was never hit again after
once.
— and was
to
remain open
for business right to
Singapore Club was untouched except for shrap-
But
in
some
parts of
Chinatown
entire streets
had
been obliterated. The Singapore railway station had been badly damaged. In the nearby dock area half the godowns had gone
now
so acutely short that,
Gordon Bennett noted, "the unloading
of the ships was slow,
up as
in flames
the
and
men working
civilian labor
only one shift per day. That leaves the ship
idle for two-thirds of the
By
was
day in a constantly bombed area."
end of the first week of the siege, at least two hundred people a day were being killed not including those whose the
—
bodies were never found. Raids could no longer always be
naled by
sirens.
The
sig-
blue sky and the sun were obliterated by
smoke from the burning
oil
tanks that
hung over
the city. Each
AWAITING THE ATTACK
143
—
day there was mounting evidence of an uglier
mood particularly among the troops. Bewildered knots of men wandered, "grimy, lost, leaderless, without orders." They were sprawled haphazardly rect
all
over Singapore, seemingly without anyone to
them. Without warning,
pound
for
hour
after
of troops could not find an officer to
Many
ing to take.
"who
all
The road from Tim Hudson's house
Orchard Road was blocked
umn
di-
Kitching found the com-
of his house filled with convalescent soldiers
looked hale and hearty." to
Tommy
hour because a
tell
them which
col-
turn-
of the troops were desperate with fatigue
—
but often they could not find their units and had to sleep on the
YMCA after a supper of
and buns. Others who did manage to find their commanding officers still had nowhere to sleep because there were not enough tents, and billeting officers had been unable to requisition enough rooms. Gunners could not find their guns, army cooks could not find their raw floor of the
tea
—
materials.
reeling
Inevitably,
drunken and disheveled troops appeared,
around the main squares, waving
(Creme de menthe was a great
more
bitter
— and
more
bottles of
cheap liquor.
Their mood became
favorite.)
belligerent with each
new
raid or
rumor.
Sometimes the sullen troops became
"Willie" Watt,
violent.
head of the famous Singapore import firm of McAlister's, a straight-backed Scot well over six feet his office after
an all-night
stint
tall,
with the
was being driven
to
Observer Corps when
two drunken soldiers forced their way into his car during a traffic
jam,
and
chauffeur-driven,
fought in
started
non-fighting
World War
the insults passively. scruff of the
making
I
— was
insulting
civilians. fifty,
He managed
remarks
but not the to get
neck and hurl him out of his
about
Willie — who
man
had
to accept
one soldier by the car; as the
followed, however, he landed a vicious swipe with his
second
rifle
butt
A SINISTER
144 across Willie's his
arm
TWILIGHT
arm and almost broke
it.
Willie spent weeks with
in a sling.
Looting was rapidly becoming widespread. clanging along to a
fire
beard, jeered, "Let
it
pelt
him with
big,
Leslie
bunch
a
burn, dad!
too late."
It's
Buckeridge was
of drunks,
amused by
They
his
started to
oblong "missiles," two of which landed by
his
They turned out to be cartons of cigahis way home when he noticed,
side in the front seat. rettes.
when
Hoffman was on
with the precise eye of a newspaperman, a Chinese boy laboriously trying to ride a
brand-new bicycle
group of Chinese children in
in
far too big for
an enormous abandoned American
car.
A
Further on, a family
when
outside a smashed dwelling was eating rice girl
him.
nearby Beach Road were playing a tiny naked
ran breathlessly toward them carrying a chicken.
The
under her clothes and hurried
inside
mother
guiltily
bundled
it
the ruins.
Thomas
In Government House Shenton
Each morning
according to his station."
which invariably ended with brought the day's
menu
toast
on guests wearing
collars
and
personal problem.
that
it
doctor diagnosed
though lunch was now
ties,
He now
faced an urgent,
His w ife had been taken seriously as
amebic
in-
though he dispensed
T
it
—
— the cook
Shenton Thomas, however,
with a dinner jacket in the evenings.
new The
after a breakfast
and marmalade
for his approval,
largely reduced to cold cuts. sisted
struggled to "live
dysentery — which
ill.
meant
was quite impossible for her to go to the shelter in the
grounds. Yet the
bombing
raids
had
killed several of his
staff,
torn a vast hole in one corner of the enormous white "palace,"
and now the Japanese guns suddenly found the range of Government House. Firing from Johore, at 24,000 yards range, and aided by an artillery spotting balloon floating high over the 7
Straits,
they
bombarded
the Governor's residence with devastat-
AWAITING rHE ATTACK Lady Thomas could not
ing accuracy.
Governor's dress
ADC
did the best he could.
1
, j
leave her bed, but the I
sing ever) sjfare mat-
he could hud, together with bales of wool sent up
to
Gov-
ernment House by the Red Cross, the ADC made a shelter of ts under and around the big banqueting table in the formal, ground-floor dining room.
enough
to allow the
he small entry hole was just high
1
Governor's wife
be wheeled in on a very
to
low stretcher. In the chaos of this refugees
"phony
war.'' the civilians
more and more bewildered.
felt
and
a host of
Almost everything
they were told seemed to be contradictory.
In his "Battle of
Singapore" Order of the Day, Percival had made great play of phrases like "the
"rumor
mongering" —
in fact there
w as
Wavell issued part
is
enemy within
r
his
all
virtually
Order
"loose talk"
oui
and
calculated to alarm civilians (when
no
fifth
column
\
few days later
which he said that "our
of the Day, in
time for the great reinforcements" which he
to gain
demanded that "we must leave nothing behind undestroyed that w ould be look to you all to fight of the least service to the enemy. ... promised would
arrive.
Yet
next breath he
in the
r
I
this battle
without further thought
bombed, shelled
of retreat/'
To
the million
civilians with their backs to the sea,
clear
how anybody could
how
the scorched earth policy which Wavell
retreat
from
a
it
was not
beleaguered island, nor
demanded would
be of help to the reinforcements whii h he had promised were on their way.
There was no inspiration them, no leaders to take
whom
up arms. Xo wonder
intelligent
making
man
to the
<
mlians. no direct appeal to
the) <<>u!d turn, d
tl
no clarion i>ennitt
—
a
calls to
highly
— was primarily concerned with the problem of
his will (leaving
one copy with the P>ishop and posting
another to his wife) or disma \cd when
"I
played bridge too long,
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
146
and made
a fool of myself in the last rubber through sheer ex-
While some played bridge or quietly got drunk, others, as Ian Morrison discovered, formed queues outside the cinemas. With a rare understanding, Morrison did not think haustion."
it
was altogether complacency. "I could understand that people
should prefer to watch a film rather than waiting for news of the fighting."
Donahue
of Minnesota, the
in Britain,
pore.
He
was now
flying
first
Flight-Lieutenant Arthur
American
to fly
and went with some
after days of
RAF non-
friends to Ziegfeld Girl at the
Alhambra Theatre. "The shock was quite rude was over; completely
with the
one of the last Hurricanes in Singa-
was given a couple of hours' leave
stop flying
around mopingly
sit
lost in the lovely
for us
when
it
atmosphere of American
and song and gaiety and peace, we stepped out into the teeming oriental traffic and the sweltering tropical sun to be reminded that we were halfway round the world from America, girls
with our enemies only a few miles away."
Small pleasures (or small problems) loomed larger than
life.
Jack Bennitt noted with satisfaction that "the Municipality fixed us a gas heater" for his hot bath.
when he unexpectedly acquired $5;
Tim Hudson
twenty-four tins of sardines for
Freddy Retz was equally pleased
dry ginger ale and two Hoffman took time off for
cial
was normal, the place coffee."
George
was delighted
to pick
up
bottles of salt ("very
a dozen spe-
hard
to find").
a haircut at Robinson's, "where
full of
Hammonds
all
people having their morning
received his monthly bill for $4.50
from the Swimming Club and
felt,
"I suppose we've got to go
supporting them but they might cut
down
die sub
on
when nobody
uses the place." It
was a curious, unreal existence. There were now more
diers than ever before
tion of
impending
on the island and
battle
—
to say
sol-
despite the antic ipa-
nothing of impending defeat
AWAITING THE ATTACK
— the
thing the troops did
first
when
was to buy souvenirs to take home. the narrow, stifling er's
Change Alley
they got an hour's leave
The
small shops
— traditional
— which helped
their up-country trade. sales of "serious
stalls in
Quay
— were
in peacetime.
In Raffles Place, Robinson's reported
than ever before
and
bargain hunt-
paradise linking Raffles Place with Collyer
jammed with more customers than sales
147
more over-the-counter
to offset the collapse of
Kelly and Walsh reported increased
Round
books."
the corner in Battery Road,
Mrs. Lily Jackson worked on at Maynard's the chemists, super-
intending Elizabeth Arden beauty treatments. Fraser and Neave still
bottled their soda water; Tiger beer was
brickworks carried on making bricks
still
brewed; the
— while Percival was plan-
ning his scorched earth policy.
Wearne's Garage in Orchard
Road was inundated with minor
repair jobs because cattle from
and motorists regularly hit them in the blackout. At night you had to book a table if you wanted to go to Raffles. The Cricket Club was filled with noisy drinkers, and many members went there dithe dairy herds
rectly
from
had reached the outlying
offices
or
ARP
headquarters for a quick shower be-
cause the club was centrally placed.
"World," a soldier had
to
districts
queue
At the
for half
could get a twenty-five-cent dance with a
sole
remaining
an hour before he
taxi-girl
— unless he
and waved them, whereupon the percentage) would attach herself to him for the
invested in a roll of tickets, girl
(who got
rest of the
a
evening
her polite but firm
— until "God Save the King," that amah
or mother
is,
when
would whisk her away from
and take her home in a rickshaw. For some, the war brought sudden riches. Since December Singawhen all the Japanese fishermen had been interned a disappointed soldier
—
—
pore had suffered from an acute shortage of the delicious that
abounded
in the coastal waters, for the
fish
Malay fishermen
A SINISTER
148
now
TWILIGHT The Chinese
only caught sufficient for themselves.
— until
make good fishermen
did not
a few enterprising ones discov-
ered that after Japanese raids on the docks (in which
bombs
fell
hundreds of dead or stunned
in the sea)
by the water front waiting
Sometimes
Hudson was
acts of
be picked up.
kindness had unforeseen sequels. Marjorie
asleep one afternoon, after night duty at the Gen-
eral Hospital,
when Mei
Ling, her amah, announced that two
on seeing
soldiers insisted to
to
many
fish floated
her.
Marjorie got up, sleepy-eyed
—
be confronted by two muscular Australians whose faces were
"Don't you remember us?" asked one
vaguely familiar.
in
pained tones. Suddenly she did. They had been brought into the hospital slightly
after treatment she
them and had taken them home
sorry for
Now
wounded, and
they wanted to show their gratitude.
had
felt
for a square meal.
One solemnly
pre-
sented her with a Mills bomb. "If the Japs try to rape you," he
explained gravely, "just pull out the pin.
Then
you'll
know
nothing."
For many, gone, George
life
had changed
Hammonds
left
Now
drastically.
that
Karen had
Amber Mansions and moved
into
Dulverton with the Glovers. Leslie Hoffman, whose wife had also left,
moved
in with his eighty-year-old father into the house
where he had been brought up in bling old bungalow on in a
compound
stilts
St.
that raised
Michael's Road, a ramit
six feet off the
cluttered with frangipani
and
ground
tulip trees.
The
house lay out in the suburbs on the way to Serangoon, and nothing in
it
had
really
changed
— including the old Chinese amah
— since Leslie had been born there twenty-six years previouslv. The
first
thing Leslie did was to go out and buy a powerful
shortwave radio
set.
monds, "I'm going
"When to
Hoffman's wife had
Tim Hudson
the balloon goes up," he told
be in touch with the left,
but other
Ham-
rest of the world."
women
still
refused to
spent hours vainly trying to persuade Marjorie
to
A\v A [TING
Jimmy
leave.
So did
mantly
— until
It
happened
ATTACK
Mil
Glover, but Julienne also refused ada-
Tribune received
the
a direct hit.
noon. Glover had gone
at
i.|<)
Rob
to see
headquarters in the Catha) Building, but Scott was ence, so Glover
had stayed talking
never hatted an eyelid
when
Kenny was
his
would never allow her while she was Scott
came
Glover always reckoned
"barometer"; he knew that
to stay
at
in.
He
was dressed
ings until the admiral, the genera]
Volunteer Defence
at
the-
War Council
and the
a
From
when
— a "terrible and awe-inspiring sight"
anese aircraft
Glover
it
bombed
looked
as
the docks and
offices
could see the
twenty-seven Jap-
Anson Road
he-
His premonition had been
To
right.
The Tribune
— a night-
dream he had realized. One look told the Tribune could not possibly be printed in the
mare ending
to the
wrecked building.
The
stall
was rushed out to Clover's emei
gency printing plant at his home-, and the Tribune the
area.
drove there through the dust
were a shambles of broken, twisted machinery
Glover that
was
though the entire Tribune area was being
pattern-bombed, and somehow
and smoke.
as
He
the sirens went.
men
the fourth floor of the Catha] the two
em-
mild ticking
Scott was tired, for he had been on dut) that night.
relaxing with one of his acrid cheroots
meet-
air marshal,
me
barrassed by the uniform of a corporal, "gave off."
Scott
hope.
still
in his local
Corp uniform, which he even wore
raid
Rob
Singapore were doomed; but
it
her desk there was
still
She
secretaries.
bombers were overhead, and
Bft)
she had to be driven to take shelter." that Irene
in confer-
Rob's confidential secrc
to
among wartime
Irene Kenny, 'a jewel
tary,
Scott at Ins
compound
— came out the next da)
cars taking the papers in
as usual,
hay,
I
— printed
in
with relays
ol
where Glover
had organized a central distribution depot. That was the day rostei when Clover put down his wife's name on the P and This was
also the
day when Britain
Lost
the only vessel out ol
A SINISTER
150 all
TWILIGHT
convoys of reinforcements that arrived. She was the Empress
of Asia
— an old tub loaded with
automatic weapons, heavier
guns and other war material, mostly for the 18th Division. One of a convoy of four ships bringing in supplies, she
the vessels passed through the
When
Sunda
astern as
Strait in the early
morning.
she was only seven miles from Singapore, nine Japanese
dive-bombers spotted her and
set
was small when she sank,
life
fell
her on
all
fire.
Though
the loss of
equipment was
the precious
lost.
There was one cheerful note
On
Friday, February 6
in this period of
— Freddy's
birthday
gloomy
— she
Bloom were married. Both were on day duty
waiting.
and
at the
Philip
General
Hospital, and they had arranged to take an hour off during the
morning, though a heavy raid their plans.
Freddy
at ten o'clock
— the only American
almost wrecked
girl in the hospital
—
was in ''Comforts Corner" near the X-ray Department and Philip was in the operating hit
room when
on the X-ray Department.
there, started to run.
danger of
room
—
bomb
scored a direct
knowing Freddy was
Then he slowed down
panic" — and
to find
Philip,
a
—
near
"I realised the
walked slowly toward the shattered
Freddy on the
floor,
under the bulky form
of an
RAF orderly. Freddy had brought a clean uniform it
was ruined, and "looked
coal mine."
as
though
However, she borrowed
it
to the hospital,
but now
had been worn down
a clean white
.1
uniform from
("Mind you return it by lunch-time!") and about eleven o'clock she and Philip set off for the registrar's office in Fullerton Building, stopping on the way at da Silva's, the jewelers, in High Street. They had seen the perfect star sapphire there, which Philip wanted to present to her as a combined ena colleague
AWAIT
I
\
i;
i
in
\
a
l
l
c.
k
i,i
and birthday ring imc after time they had trio! to sneak an hour off to bu.) it, !>ut had never been able to leave the anient
Philip had,
before the shops closed
hospital
phoned
l
to say they
The) stopped
would
the car
on
ill
(
tins pai
Silva's
at d.\
ti<
ular morning.
but every jeweler's in High Street boarded
up
aftei
the raid.
Philip banged and rattled the big \u^\ bai across the
with
a tray of
stars"
jewels on the
— but
wooden
empty. They were on the
shutters, but obviously the place u.is
point of getting into the eai
tele-
Bind not only his shop,
- to
-
however,
when Philip spotted a street tradei ground in front of him. He had no
he did have a beautiful cabochon sapphire, so
Freddy got her ring.
They had
barely reached Fulleiton Building before the sirens
sounded again. This big building had
tem of
its
own
so that the General
Boor and government
Tommy there
offices
above
Kitching — who had
— had
knocked out
all
<
"business as usual"
a
Post Office
ould function during
Ins
government surveyor's
the
i;lass
in
sys-
on the ground raids. offices
the building, which
was largely air-conditioned, and boarded up ever) window. Certain sections
were "safe spots" where people could work during
sounded klaxons
alerts until roof-spotters
to
indicate aircraft
were directly overhead.
One room other wasn't.
in the registrar's office
The
registrai
in a "safe spot"
wis eld
anxious to get this routine and as
was
I
to loin
it
tie
— the
worried, and
unromantic) chore over
quickly as possible. Despite the siu-us. he agreed to start the
ceremonv
in
the "safe
suitably solemn.
who that
did intone)
meant
a
mad
Philip and Freddy stood there,
:
The registrai when rush to
I
potters'
til
ihelfc
I
-
klaxons went
lindei the stairway,
spent ten minutes until the) heard
"Now. where were we?
intoning 'he was the son
isked
the ih».
— and
where they
"raiders passed" signal. rar
benignly,
and
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
152
Freddy, secretly amused at this evidence of British phlegmn, suggested, "Can't
we
start all
over again?"
They
did.
Then
klaxons went again — and back they scuttled under the All this took a considerable time
late back.'
lives, for
stairs.
"and Philip kept on looking
his watch, apparently forgetting that this
day in our
the
at
was a highly important
he never stopped muttering,
mustn't be
'I
"
Finally they were married.
The "ceremony" was
followed by
a brief embrace, the perfunctory congratulations of the registrar,
and then Mr. and Mrs. Philip Bloom were driving
pell-
mell back to the hospital. "See you this evening," cried Philip before leaving for his
office.
"We'll have a celebration some-
how."
Freddy ran toward the nurses' changing room, and returned the clean white uniform to her colleague, changing back into the old one.
whole crowd
When
"You'd better hurry," said the nurse, at
'Comforts Corner.'
Freddy got
like wife of
there, Mrs.
Graham-White, the
the Empress of Asia. She
nothing but towels round their waists
to
— survivors from
had distributed mugs
Freddy reached the long line of
as
frail, lady-
Archdeacon Graham- White, was vainly trying
look after a queue of grimy, half-naked sailors
but
"there's a
"
men
of steaming
— some
— Mrs.
tea,
wearing
Graham-White
turned to her thankfully, and announced blandly to the nun.
"This
is
Freddy. You'll be glad to hear, gentlemen, that she go!
married just a few minutes ago." gize for this
And
then as though to apolo-
unseemly conduct, she added vaguely, "She's Amer-
ican."
One
sailor started to cheer.
The
others took
it
up
— and
thai
queue
was Freddy's wedding reception. She was toasted by
a
unkempt men, clutching towels round their one hand, holding up mugs of tea with the other.
waists with
grimy,
o(
AWAITING THE ATTACK
153
Philip had promised her "a night out to celebrate" but by
DOW
the shelling
made evening
drove her back to the
flat
excursions too difficult so he
He had
instead.
buy
tried in vain to
K>me champagne, but Jim Henry, the neighbor who lived above, came down with an extra bottle of Scotch and that, it seemed, was to be their "celebration"
come
surprise.
They were
lorry swept into the drive,
shouted, "It's
sitting
and
— until
they got a wel-
on the veranda when a
big-
in the dark, a cheerful voice
Jim Patterson."
Patterson was an old friend of Freddy's from up-country to
whom this
He had no
she had written giving her address.
idea that
was her wedding night, but he was a cheerful, gregarious
iharacter,
and when Freddy
he shouted back,
cried,
"Fine!
I've
"Hi! I've just got married!"
brought you just the right
present."
He
had.
To
was
their astonishment, the lorry
rilled
with an
unlimited supply of champagne. Philip, Freddy and Jim Henry ran outside with torches, and with an assumed nonchalance Patterson said,
"Help
yourself!"
and heaved not one, but two
cases
champagne out of the capacious interior. "Plenty more where that came from!" he cried cheerfully. There was a simple explanation. Patterson had hitchhiked all the way from up-country, one jump ahead of the Japanese.
of vintage
Every time he found an abandoned until there
he drove
car,
was no more petrol in the tank.
until
he came across another.
been
this lorry
The
last
loaded with champagne.
The Blooms
this
day to
visit
southward
Then he walked on
abandoned vehicle had
causeway toward the end of January, hid by chance chosen
it
He it,
drove
it
across the
and now had quite
them.
spent "a hilarious evening" but they never saw
Patterson again, possibly because within two days, the shelling
became
so
bad around the Chatsworth Road
area, they
decided
A SINISTER
154 it
was
safer to live in the
moved out
neighbor,
TWILIGHT
General Hospital. (Jim Henry, their
Freddy took her pictures
too.)
off the
wall, threw the frames away and packed the pictures in the one
suitcase she took with her.
She gave Marsha, her amah,
her
all
Malay money and begged her to go to her kampong. Then they after one last, lingering look at the Green left in Philip's car Spot which she never saw again.
—
Three days
It
was about
later the
this
house was obliterated by
time that
Tim Hudson made
broadcast which was to bring
him
peans (even intelligent ones) he fined
local fame.
this
an uncensored
Like
many Euro-
entertained some unde-
still
hope that a miracle would occur
was in
shellfire.
to save the island.
And
it
frame of mind that he asked the heads of the Malayan
Company to allow him to give an uncensored talk. He had spent weeks now helping to dig out corpses of people, many of whom could have been saved had there been sufficient Broadcasting
shelters, or
mind
even blast walls.
He
begged the right to speak
— and indeed, announced firmly but
wise he would rather stop broadcasting.
his
politely that other-
The
situation was deli-
Tim Hudson
had without question become their star speaker, with a big following; but the MBC was a government
cate:
Somewhat
department.
MBC MBC
agreed.
No
were
bored
as
to
Hudson's
doubt the many
alert
as the listeners
however,
surprise,
minds working
—
—
Hudson gave Marjorie heard the anger
would be
and
for the
with the uninspiring pro-
grams which government policy had forced them
And Hudson could so they felt who knew what he was talking about.
the
be trusted.
to broadcast.
He
was a
man
news that night and when the nurses' common room, "I went pale at
his broadcast after the it
in
bitterness in his voice."
arrested.
She was convinced he
AWAITING THE ATTACK no use telling people and has stuck it out,"
"It's
155
had thousands of
that Malta has
air
Hudson over the air, "or that Chungking has had worse than we have had. They have ideal Singapore has nothing except drains and odd slit shelters. trenches. The official shelter policy has been bungled." He
raids,
went further. "Scores of
tin
nothing specialized to do.
Many hills
town.
I
The
effect
I'll
was
urge the government to round them
of coconut trees that could easily be cut
And
if
the
government
guarantee to go out and get Listeners
electric.
jammed
though fortunately Eric Davis managed son and
tell
him
the
to get
it
says
it
can't
myself."
phone
lines
—
through to Hud-
immediately to the Cathay, and Hud-
to return
down expecting a moment he walked
— not that
son remembers, "I drove
rocket
gave a damn." But the
into the
—
— but
work tunnelling into the hills around the are of soft earth and tunnelling would be easy-
to shore the tunnels.
find the labour,
knowledge
specialized
to
There are thousands
down
miners have arrived in Singapore
They have
from up-country.
up and put them
said
office,
I
Eric
—
and canary-colored stockings got up, gripped his hand and said, "I want to shake your hand. If there's any trouble, I'll be behind you."* Because, of course, there would be trouble for, after all, the Malayan BroadcastDavis
in khaki shorts
—
ing
Company was
to reflect
a government institution,
government opinion.
There
was, however, another underlying, deeper reason
Hudson's
caused
broadcast
Though he had been * In his
MBC
and was supposed
in
government
why
circles.
broadcasting to the people of Singapore,
book Singapore Goes
at the time, wrote,
dismay
off
the Air, Giles Play fair,
"Hudson himself
is
majority of Europeans, though he's probably more
—
who was working on
fairly typical of the critical,
more
the
hard-working
aggressive,
more
than most of them more determined to push the administration into some kind of action or to assume the responsibilities of leadership himself. To my mind he's one of the men whose names shouldn't be forgotten when this war is over, and whatever the eventual fate of Singapore he deserves praise and fearless
recognition."
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
156
he was unwittingly the
man
first
— know the bombing — news
and
world
—
fully suppressed since early
which the censors had
par-
under
pitiable state of the civilians
ticularly Britain
shelling
to let the outside
success-
December.
For weeks, foreign correspondents based in Singapore had
been trying
to write articles
about the lack of defenses and
shel-
Every attempt had been ruthlessly cen-
ters against air attack.
As George Hammonds put it, "Shelters was a dirty word and you were never allowed to mention it." There had, howsored.
ever, always
MBC
been one exception to censorship. Since the
was a government department anything that went out on the
was "censor-free."
MBC" rally
correspondent quoted "as announced on
his dispatch automatically passed the censor,
assumed
George
this to
five
heard Hudson's talk and was round
minutes begging for a copy of the
that once the
government tumbled
to this
would do everything to stop the London. He managed to file to Britain within
loophole,
And
so,
officials
for the first time,
Even the the next
little
civilians
had been done
Straits
natu-
at the
script.
He
unexpected
story reaching
half an hour.
London learned something
grim way in which a million
— and how
who
be a reflection of government policy.
Hammonds
Cathay within
knew
If a
air
were living and
of the
suffering
for them.
Times was astounded, and
in a leading article
morning said,
Divisional
Warden Hudson seems
to
be the chief unoflu
i;il
spokesman for Singapore's Air Raid Precautions Department. We say "unofficial" because the very forthright nature of some of Mr. Hudson's remarks is so entirely out of tune with what we are accustomed to hear from official spokesmen. The most surprising thing about his campaign for more vigorous action that he is allowed to conduct it from the studios of the Malaya Kfl
Broadcasting Corporation.
AWAITING THE ATTACK
157
government reaction was one of unconcealed anger Hudson was called to ARP headquarters and told formally that "several senior members of the government are displeased with
The
first
what you've
You've done more harm than good. Your
said.
wis a serious blow to public morale."
however, he was
summoned
to another
talk
During the afternoon, meeting
—
this
time of
a
came from none other like all who came in contact than Brigadier Simson. Hudson found Simson "extremely charming and courteous, with him very different character, for the invitation
—
—
and most anxious to help," for Simson
"Try and put your ideas into you want
— money
isn't
practise.
important
many words, You can have anything
said, in so
— though
you'll
have to
find the labour."
Hudson was able to tell Simson that scores of European tin who had been evacuated from up-country had already phoned the MBC studios offering to help. They would supervise the tunneling and Tim was sure that his own coolie force would help. Within a few hours Hudson had commandeered a miners
of old lorries,
fleet
had
chopping down coconut palms,
started
and was digging scores of tunnels
to
They undoubtedly saved hundreds
of lives.
be shored up with timber.
Hudson's broadcast resulted in a complete reversal of the cial
government shelter
that
it's all
many more w ould be r
after
but
as
he wrote, "The tragedy
is
would have listened to me at who knows what would have happened, and how
too late now.
the beginning,
Soon
policy;
offi-
If
they
T
alive today."
dawn on February
8,
Tim Hudson and Buck
ridge were taking a shower in the Cricket
spent fighting a big
fire
Club
after a night
near South Bridge Road.
walked into the locker room, George
Bucke-
As they
Hammonds waved
a
good
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
158
Then
morning.
almost casually he mentioned that a Free
French boat was leaving that night. She was one of the last conand did voy, in which the Empress of Asia had been sunk
—
know Jimmy Glover's wife? She was going on it. Hudson and Buckeridge looked at each other. The same thought crossed both their minds. It was now or never. Hardly they
bothering to thank
Hammonds
for the vital
news he had im-
and Hudson
to the
Tim sent a message
that he
parted, Buckeridge drove to Robinson's
General Hospital. Marjorie Hudson was on duty, but
must speak
to her immediately.
He
waited patiently for twenty
minutes before she came out into the hospital grounds and
beckoned her
to sit in the car.
quarrel in our lives." felt that in
To Tim
Marjorie
it
''we
had the only
serious
was running away. She
her way she was doing a job as important as he was.
the
argument was simple:
be ten times better for for hali
To
There
Tim
me
if I
"If I'm caught,
know
an hour, with Marjorie in
but
going
to
They argued
you're safe."
tears,
it's
finally
—
— perhaps
more from exhaustion than a change of heart Marjorie gave in. She went back into the hospital "feeling terribly guilty and in tears" as she said her good-byes. Tim's klaxoning cut them short and when she came out, still in uniform, he drove her straight to Cluny. They queued for two hours, but when they finally reached the Agency House, the P and O officer recognized Hudson in his uniform and gave Marjorie her chit immediately
— warning her
that the Felix Roussel was sailing that
and she hadn't a minute to spare. Only one thing Marjorie insisted on.
night,
mean
it
Tim — without
"I
saying good-bye to
drove from Cluny to Stevens Road in silence.
minutes
to
won't go
finally
I
Mei Ling." Th<\
Tim
pack a suitcase and say her farewells
and when Marjorie
— and
gave her
to their
walked across the lawn
five
amah,
to the gar
AWAITING THE ATTACK
159
Mei Ling stood on the veranda. Mei Ling's last words were, "Better you go. I look after the tuan." "That was the worst moment of guilty/' wrote Marjorie
all
— when
I
to her
really felt
later.
Buckeridge had the same difficulty in persuading Lucy, but
w aste the best part of a day queueing at Cluny. One of the P and O men worked with Backer idge in the AFS, and Buck was able to go straight in. He got the chit, didn't bother to examine it, and drove to Robinson's, picked up Lucy and drove as far as he could tow ard the Felix Rousse which was berthed at the far end of Keppel luckily they
had not needed
to
r
r
Harbour. At the same time
Jimmy Glover and George Hammonds were
driving Julienne to the docks. It took
cover the three miles from Collyer
them over three hours to to the wharf. No-
Quay
body had organized parking. Cars cluttered up the dockside; often they
had been driven by women who were departing and
who had then just abandoned them. There was nobody to take them aw ay. There w ere no porters, no volunteers to help the scores of unattached women and their children. "The result r
of ail this,"
r
Glover noted
failed to reach the
later,
"was that over 300 passengers
wharf in time, and the ship had
to leave
without them."
Tim Hudson was
already on the quayside with Marjorie,
looking around for Buckeridge and Lucy, as they had agreed to stick
together so the wives could try to share a cabin.
they had been
Though
w arned to bring only hand luggage, there was utter confusion when some passengers arrived with carpets, packr
ing cases of furniture, while two highly placed wives insisted
(and succeeded) on having their cars hoisted on board during a raid.
Buckeridge was the
first
to reach a large four-berth cabin.
A SINISTER
l6o
Two women
had already
other two were empty. the
P and
at the
O
chit,
TWILIGHT
A
French steward bustled along, took
put Lucy's suitcase on one bunk, then looked
two other ladies
— and
Buck. Once again he glanced
at
the slip of paper that served as a ticket, ically,
two berths, but the
laid claims to
"But m'sieu, you
and
at
said almost apologet-
can't sleep with these strange ladies."
"Me! I'm not going!" grinned Buck.
The P and
steward pointed to the
O
had quietly made
most agonizing moment
it
Buckeridge's friend at the
ticket.
out to "Mr. and Mrs." "It was the
I've ever faced," said
Buck, for
it
was
not as though he had deliberately decided to run away. Here, suddenly, with a raid in progress, he was on a big ship
haps the
last
leave — and
to
with a
wrote Buck that night in his diary,
"But
ticket. "it
—
per-
of course,"
couldn't be done.
I
couldn't rat."
Tim Hudson
was also tempted. At the foot of the gangway
sergeant stopped
him
saying that passengers only were allowed
on board. Tim, who was
in uniform, said he merely
carry his wife's suitcase to her cabin. on, but just as
a
Tim started to climb
The
sergeant
wanted
to
waved him
the steep gangplank he
felt a
tug at his shoulder and the sergeant muttered, "If vou've got any sense you'll stay
on board.
And you
won't be the only one.
There's no hope here, mate." In the cabin die steward politely informed the four of them
some
that the ship wouldn't be sailing for
care to have a drink the bar was open. so
it
was
— providing
It
lounge was jammed with
when
a ship
men and women
well drinks with forced cheerfulness,
going
if
they would
seems incredible, but
a pathetic echo of the boisterous
scenes that always take place
women were
time, so
home on
leave.
is
sailing.
good-bu
The main
having their
last fare-
almost as though
the
Hudson and Buckei
faced the age-old problem of fighting their
way
to the bar when-.
AWAITING THE ATTACK
l6l
"we watched an extremely slow bar steward select a bottle, methodically pour a chink, hand it over, do a little arithmetic on a slip of paper, dollars to sterling, count the money, hand out the change, pick up a glass, polish it, hold it to the light, and take another order." Somehow, Buckeridge managed to get four bottles of beer and some glasses and carried them head-high to a table, where they in
Buck's words,
carefully take
had
an order,
drink before their brief farewells.
a last
Long before the Felix Roussel sailed that night for Bombay, the men had left. Jimmy Glover and George Hammonds had returned to Dulverton where there was work to be done getting out the next day's paper. Hudson, oppressed by the thought of returning to the loneliness of Stevens Road, had half decided to sleep at his
ARP
headquarters,
should spend the night at his
and
when Buckeridge
flat
suggested he
over the Central Fire Station,
Tim gratefully accepted the offer.
After a scratch meal of sardines
two
men
stengah.
sat It
ette of St.
on the balcony of the
was a warm,
station drinking a last
tropical, starry night,
with the silhou-
the air for a
moment, then
The
stars
seemed
his sense of
to
hang
in
the sky was black again.
time for fireworks!" cried Buckeridge,
a
after
was broken by a red and then a blue
rocket bursting far to the north.
'Maybe
beer, the
Andrew's Cathedral in front of them. Shortly
ten o'clock the black sky
"What
and bully beef and
who never
lost
humor.
distress signals," said
Hudson more
soberly.
and blue rockets had been fired by the Japanese to announce that the first crack troops of the 18th Chrysanthemum Division had crossed the Straits and had landed successfully on the island. In
fact,
—
the red
8 The
Assault
Sunday night, February 8- Thursday night, February 12 In
all
sions
the catalog of ineffectual leadership, unfortunate deci-
and wrangling
in high places
of Singapore, nothing
is
which contributed
to the
fall
quite so puzzling as the virtual absence
of any deterrent action during the last precious hours of daylight before the Japanese attacked. It ers
is
not as though the attack-
took the defenders completely by surprise.
Everything
pointed to an imminent assault on the northwest coast of the island,
and even though Percival had
of feint attacks, so easily ignore
it is
mind the danger modern general could
to bear in
hard to believe that a
what was happening around him.
At dawn on this fateful Sunday, a daring Australian patrol which had silently crossed the Straits of Johore during the ni»ht and penetrated nearly two miles into enemy country, returned with highly disquieting news.
They had
seen clear evidence
massive troop concentrations opposite the Australian
oJ
sector,
west of the causeway. As they skirted the jungle-lined roads opposite their shores, they
choked with military
had seen
traffic.
The
with collapsible boats. Here was
have made the commanders
for themselves
information which should
work
troop formations. Unfortunately the
at once,
dawn
planning new
report did not
General Percival until three-thirty that afternoon.
never been explained.
they were
inland creeks were jammed
vital
set to
how
rea< h
Why,
hai
THE ASSAULT Long before
163
had received the delayed message, how-
Percival
news was corroborated by direct
ever, the patrol's
dawn, the Japanese launched savage and sustained tacks
and
At
bombing
at-
from their airbombers came in low over the wave, for hour after hour. Some
on the forward Australian
strips in Johore, fighters
action.
positions. Flying
light
coconut palms in wave after
planes scattered anti-personnel
bombs. Others swept into
low dives, their machine guns blazing.
The
shal-
Australians, en-
trenched in hurried, often makeshift defenses in jungle country or plantations of coconut or rubber, could it
out,
which
do nothing but
stick
to their credit they did.
These sustained attacks might not in themselves have been
enough
to
convince Percival that landings would follow shortly,
but they were only a mild foretaste of what was to come.
By mid-
morning, the Japanese planes were being rested, and then the Japanese opened
up with
the most fearful barrage of the entire
campaign. For hours during the blazing day
enemy guns reBy sundown they
pounded the Australian positions. had wreaked such damage that every telephone line between the Australian units and headquarters had been cut. And yet, British artillery hardly opened up in reply. Here unless the Japmorselessly
anese were executing a colossal bluff
probable point of attack.
where
in the
this in
rubber jungle across the
men were waiting landing
And
— was
—
clear evidence of a
turn meant that someStraits large
groups of
for zero hour, together with concentrations of
craft, artillery,
army
vehicles
—
in short, all the compli-
cated paraphernalia required to launch an attack
on
a heavily
defended island. True, the British had virtually no aircraft to spare, yet a sustained
counter-barrage would surely have done
something toward disrupting the highly organized Japanese plans.
with
Instead the Japanese were permitted to carry
little
Even
or
no
them out
interference.
after sunset
— or when the barrage against the Austra-
1
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
64
not diminish, but
lians did
the British guns
may
remained
if
anything increased in intensity
silent.
seem, ''Neither Malaya
Why?
Command
Incredible though
nor Western Area
— it
[i.e.
Percival or Bennett] was however seriously perturbed by this,"
The War Against Japan, "each apparently thinking that it was the first of a number of days of softening up, or that the enemy would switch the bombardment back next day to the
says
Causeway and northeastern shores
of the Island.
As
orders were given during the evening for artillery
a result
no
to
be
fire
brought down on the probable enemy forming-up places."
Had this extraordinary decision been who did not believe the Japanese were have been understandable. But
this
the
judgment
of generals
ready to attack,
was
far
it
might
from being the
case.
General Percival had predicted that the Japanese would require a week to prepare. He had been right In point of
fact,
—
now when
week was up, he refused to believe in his own judgment. Ironically, Percival was wrong on two counts. He was certain the Japanese would attack the northeast shore and but
the
stuck to this rankling fear which was unfounded; he gave the
Japanese eight days
ment was
In a story of so
what difference the siege
to prepare,
and ignored
this
when
his judg-
right.
it
many
and "buts," no one can be sure would have made to the ultimate outcome of "ifs"
had Percival opened up
none, though
it
a counter-barrage. Probably
might have lengthened the defense by
a feu-
days.
A
curtain of shells on the Japanese positions might have
made
it
impossible for the
enemy
to cut all Allied
tions lines in the northwest of the island
the gateway to disaster in the
At
intensive
this
communicawas to prove
night.
enemy attacked. The Japanese had made preparations. They had evacuated every civilian from zone ten miles deep. They had set up their military
half-past ten the
a coastal
coming
— and
THE ASSAULT
165
headquarters in the imposing brick and green tiled Imperial
dominated the
Palace of the Sultan of Johore, which
which had the next
a
Straits,
and
high square tower from where General Yamashita
morning could plainly
Three
see his troops
winding
their
way
had been assembled together with 3000 vehicles, 200 collapsible launches powered by outboard motors and a hundred larger landing craft. For a w eek they had (as we inland.
divisions
r
DOW know) been carrying out
practice landings day
and night
and small rivers jutting into the secret the rubber plantations. The 4000 troops se-
in the countless creeks
hiding places of lected for the
first
assault
wave were
veterans of fighting in
all
dusk — and
Now after secure in the knowledge that would not be exposed to air attack the spearhead troops carried their boats on their shoulders several miles from the inChina.
—
they
land creeks to the shore.
The
first
troops attacked
on
a broad front
on the northwest coast of the island
Tanjong Murai (Tanjong
is
under cover of devastating
the
between two bays
— Tanjong
Malay word
artillery
for
and mortar
Buloh and promontory)
fire.
The
first
Australian sentries on the Singapore shoreline spotted the boats
The alarm was given, and hundreds of Australians opened a withering fire. The first wave of enemy troops was destroyed. So were many in the second wave. bobbing across the black w ater. r
Yet such successes could not continue, for the Australians were fighting against
one overwhelming disadvantage. According
plan, the killing area in the Straits should
come
as light as
lights,
day
which were
suddenly have be-
— illuminated by scores of
brilliant search-
there, waiting to be switched
fenders could blow the 7
enemy out
of the water.
on
so the de-
Instead there
was blackness everywhere, and the Australians could only haphazardly against invisible targets.
How
to
fire
could they be sure
where the weaving small boats were? All they could see was
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
l66
the occasional blacker shadow against the water,
they could
all
Men
hear as a guide was the high whine of outboard motors.
cursed and shouted for light as they stumbled against each other
And
in the dark. lessly,
still
cloaked in blackness.
And
to the artillery at this critical
been planned
for the
came on relentwhat had happened counter-barrage had
the small rubber boats then, too,
moment?
moment
A
of the attack.
Instead, British
guns remained mute.
There was tralians
Nobody was or the guns.
know
it
at that time.
able to get a signal to either the searchlight teams
Long before
the Japanese
had begun
— and
instructions ever reached either the searchlight crews or
the artillery. action.
And
without those signals they could not go into
In other circumstances, the searchlight teams might
have been adventurous enough
to use their
own
initiative to
throw their beams across the water without waiting but
it
happened
structions that
on
to scram-
communication had been cut
ble ashore, every line of
no
though the Aus-
a simple, tragic explanation,
defending the beaches could not
that they
had been given the most
on no account were
for orders,
explicit in-
searchlights to be switched
until the signal was given. Apparently
it
was thought that
if
would be destroyed by the Japanese. Thus it was left to the infantry to send up SOS signals before a few guns opened fire. By then, however, the Japanese were ashore along the entire front, and before the Australians realized what was happening, they were fighting with bayonets in the damp, somber plantations, and the Japanese, as always, seemed to be everywhere in front, behind, on either side, inthey were
lit
too soon they
—
filtrating swiftly
behind disorganized pockets of Allied troops
cut off from their colleagues. Swarming through the close, cate country, each Japanese party was led by an
compass strapped
to his wrist. Carefully
officer
intri-
with
avoiding any frontal
a
at-
THE ASSAULT
167
they sought out the gaps in the Australian lines and
tacks,
pushed through behind them. Once the Australians no compasses
—
and were attacked from
lost sight of the Straits
the rear; they did not even
the
maze of the jungle,
lit
— who had
know which
direction they faced in
only by the stabs of light from gunfire
and the occasional Japanese barge burning offshore. By 1 a.m. the Australians were withdrawing from
ward
positions. It
which Kenneth
was a catastrophe of the
Attiwill,
who
first
magnitude, of
fought throughout the campaign,
"Groups of men became separated from
gives a graphic picture: their
comrades in the bewildering darkness. Others
way.
Many
Some
died.
their for-
lost their
Timah.
straggled back as far as Bukit
Others even reached Singapore City, and long before they could be picked up, re-organised and sent back the disorganisation was complete.
The
withdrawals was to dislocate the
effect of the
and by ten o'clock on the morning of the 9th less then twelve hours after the assault had been sighted the 22nd Australian Brigade, on whose fighting power had whole brigade
area,
—
—
rested the defence of the northwestern area of the Island, was
no
longer a cohesive fighting force." *
By then nearly 4000 Japanese had secured
a firm foothold
on
the island. Their forward elements were already advancing toward Tengah Airfield, west of the city. And by then, the High
Command had nounced with taken to
issued
first
communique,
mop up
the enemy."
white
lies, it
which
though no doubt some
To
be wiped out.
civilians
were
being
left
with the impres-
on the island would soon
Percival, however, suffered
Story
an-
anyone familiar with Perci-
sions himself, for in his battle report to
The Singapore
is
it
was possible to read between the
sion that the few foolhardy Japanese
* In
in
irritating blandness that "offensive action
val's polite little lines,
its
from no such delu-
Wavell he said bluntly:
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
l68
"Enemy landed
in force
trated about five miles.
on west .
.
.
coast last night
Situation
in view of the very extended coastline
Have made plan this
and has pene-
undoubtedly serious
which we have
to watch.
for concentrating forces to cover Singapore
if
becomes necessary."
He it
is
had, indeed.
leaked out
During the
The
plan was top secret, but unfortunately
— with disastrous
results.
night, few people in Singapore City
had the
re-
motest idea of what was happening barely twenty miles away,
though everybody could hear muffled
hammering
sounded
like a far-off
— and had heard
of the guns to the north.
storm
— an
illusion that
all
day
— the
At times
it
was heightened
when, during the evening, a brief but violent thunderstorm
As the thunder clapped directly overhead, it until, was as though the distant storm had finally come closer in each period of silence that followed, the sullen sound of the drenched the
city.
—
distant guns echoed through the streets, with the rain hissing
down on
A
bombed, charred buildings. knew what was happening. Shenton Thomas
the skeletons of
few civilians
was having a
last
the news. Freddy
nightcap
when
Bloom had
finished extra duties
ing through a corridor to her
when an army "It's started!"
—
Percival telephoned
room
and was walk-
in the General Hospital
up and whispered conspiratorial ly, but no more than Leslie Hoffman had a hunch the village Timah, telephoned a friend in Bukit sister
bustled
—
a hunch so on the main road linking Singapore and
know
him with
the causeway. "I don't
anything," said the friend, "except that
loose over to the west,
and
I
all hell's
can't sleep for the noise."
broken Bucker-
idge was not told anything but, though technically off duty, re-
ceived a friendly warning to stand by "in case of urgent calls."
THE ASSAULT 'Tve been standing by
169
months," he retorted
for a couple of
dryly, "so another night won't hurt me." Around midnight, an
army contact phoned Jimmy Glover at Dulverton and told him that "a small party of Japanese" had landed on the west coast but warned him that on no account must the news be released before the official communique had been issued. There was nothing he could do, so Glover told the boy not to awaken him or Hammonds unless the nearby AA guns went into action, and
—
they both slept fitfully through the night, with Glover "subconsciously aware of the increased
the north of the island." ever, for the
Tribune had
tempo
of the artillery activity
They were both up to
on
before dawn, how-
be printed and on the
streets before
lunch.
About nine o'clock the official news of the landing was announced on the radio. Ian Morrison was in the press room at the Cathay starting to type out a story of the bombardment for The Times when the news came through. He had no time to think,
but tore the piece of paper out of his typewriter,
crunched
man had
new
dispatch. Leslie Hoff-
driven to the Cathay in his open
MG sports car to pick
it
into a ball,
up any news on
and
started a
As he ran down the stone steps after hearing the bulletin, knots of bewildered men and women were already clustering round the entrance as though knowing the importance of the building and waiting hopefully his
way
to Dulverton.
for fragments of information.
groups of anxious
Men
of
all
When
men and women
he drove
outside the
off,
he saw other
Supreme Court.
races — Europeans, Malays, Chinese, Indians —
jos-
round the entrances to all the public buildings, as though gathering some strength from the proximity to officialdom, as tled
though
it
somehow
eased the intolerable suspense that he could
already sense around him. Driving past
he saw a most unusual sight for a
St.
Andrew's Cathedral,
Monday morning
— streams of
TWILIGHT
170
A SINISTER
men and women
crossing the greensward
and going
into the
church to pray.
At Dulverton, Hammonds was looking over Glover's shoulder communique, which had been phoned to them, was typed out, and muttered, "Aren't you glad you got Julienne away?" for it seemed that the JapaGlover must have been relieved inland from the northwest coast, could nese, who were thrusting not be more than thirteen miles away from Dulverton. Not that they had any time to reflect on anything except one fact: if the Japanese advance were not held, the Tribune might be driven from its emergency printing office in a matter of hours. "It's all over bar the shouting," Leslie Hoffman said to Hamas the
—
monds when he you've
got time."
still
It says
arrived, "you'd better pack a suitcase while
much
for the loyalty of the Asian
workmen
setting
type, proofreading, preparing the flatbed press, that the Trib-
une came out at all that morning, for "the war and the noises of war were coming closer." Several hidden artillery positions had been established in the jungle not far from Glover's bungalow
— and
they were obviously inflicting
troops, for
damage on
the Japanese
throughout the morning the area was raided at
half-
hourly intervals by Japanese planes searching for the guns.
From
and Hammonds could screeching down, like Nazi Stukas,
the veranda of Dulverton, Glover
easily see the
enemy
aircraft
into shallow dive-bombing attacks.
caped damage.
At
a time
were being disrupted
phone
to the
all
Miraculously, Dulverton
when water mains and
over the island, Glover was
Cathay and keep in touch, while the
still
able to
special elecu
cable he had had installed for his machines bore a charmed
Bombs
tore
up
the surrounding compounds.
es-
telephones
The
u
life.
dusty spurtl
of machine-gun bullets danced in straight, savage lines on eithei side of the cable.
But apart from the occasional nervous
fli<
kei
THE ASSAULT the
power kept on
— and the men
171
in the attap shed
remained
at
their machines.
When
the
loaded them
first
wet copies were gathered
Hammonds
center at the Cathay.
man
the third.
They
pers,
traffic,
to his distributing
took the second load, Hoff-
faced increased hazards in getting through
to the center of the city
military
Glover
off the press,
and took them down
in his car
along roads virtually monopolized by
After he had
dumped
his last load of
newspa-
Glover climbed the stone steps of the Cathay to have a
word with Rob ticed that
Scott.
Irene
Kenny had
And when
fallen."
The moment he
entered the
vanished.
office
he no-
"The barometer had
he asked for news of her, Scott replied that
he had ordered her to leave
—
an hour's notice. She had
at half
been furious. There had been an outbreak of tears and protest, but Scott had packed her into a car which had stopped for
minutes
at the
YMCA
to allow
five
her to pack a grip, and then
taken her straight to the airport.
"What does
that
mean
in terms of
your opinion of holding
out?" asked Glover.
"Oh! They've dropped a shade
— say forty-nine
to fifty-one,"
replied Scott with a smile.
By now island
it
must have been
clear to those in authority that the
was doomed, and Brigadier Simson was urgently demand-
ing from Sir Shenton
Thomas
the right to put a comprehensive
scorched earth policy into practice. misingly .
.
.
to
made
it
Churchill had uncompro-
clear that he expected "every scrap of material
be blown to pieces to prevent capture by the enemy"
but so far
little
had been done, even though
as far
back
as early
January Simson had suggested to the Governor that "a phased
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
172
programme
of destruction" should be prepared
Simson wanted
and approved.
at all costs to avoid a repetition of the disaster at
Penang when much valuable equipment had been Japanese.
left for the
Despite his urgent representations to the govern-
ment, however, Simson had been unable to extract any decision until toward the
Though on
end of January.
the surface
it
would seem
to
have been a relatively
simple matter for a beleaguered city to implement Minister's orders to
blow up anything
that
Prime
its
might be useful
to
the enemy, the situation was fraught with certain complications.
The Governor was had
responsible for civil affairs
still
to consider the fact that
many
if
or
when
— and
he
the city capitulated,
would no doubt try to carry on as best they could. The military naturally wanted to deny as much as possible to the enemy, but since Percival had refused to
of the Asian businessmen
assume the authority of military governor, Shenton Thomas
did in fact have the
done
to the
last
hundred or
word on what so
major
Simson wanted carte blanche
should, or should not, be
civil installations.
with them
to deal
all as
soon as
and on the evening after the Japanese landing, the two on the Governor's favorite veranda overlooking the city,
possible,
men
sat
sipping their stengahs.
need
for speed.
after time
The
Brigadier tried to emphasize the
His arguments were simple but cogent.
Time
during the retreat down the peninsula engineers had
been unable
to get
government sanction
dredgers or stocks of rubber until too cally impossible to get the orders
that the Japanese
ble material.
to destroy items like tin
late.
through
had been presented with
He wanted
at all costs to
It
had been
— with
physi-
the result
a great deal of valua-
avoid delay.
The Gov-
ernor, however, felt Simson was taking too pessimistic a view oi
events to come, and had
Public services such as
made up
his
mind what should be
gas, electricity,
done.
water and sewage were
to
THE ASSAULT
173
remain untouched. The Governor would
also
undertake to
ar-
range for the demolition of rubber and tin stocks and the radio station.
Though Simson might have chafed with and
tience,
felt
a secret impa-
he could get results more quickly, he could
not cavil at these decisions, for though Churchill had demanded
complete denial, such a course was incompatible with a the death. It was one thing for an retreated;
it
army
to scorch the earth as
was quite a different matter for an army
the earth of a fortress
it
fight to
had been ordered
to
it
to scorch
defend to the
last
man.
But then the Governor dropped a bombshell. After going through the
list
of civil plants, he told Simson politely but
firmly that he refused to sanction the destruction of about forty
Chinese-owned engineering works.
As Simson listened openoff the list. There
mouthed, the Governor calmly crossed them were big workshops,
many equipped with
the latest
and most
modern machinery. Others were stacked with brand new
vehi-
cles.
Simson,
who could
hardly believe his
be invaluable to the Japanese.
The Governor into
it
Why
sir?
ears, cried, ''But they'll
What's the reason?"
held up his whiskey glass and gazed reflectively
before uttering, quite calmly, a phrase that seemed des-
tined to haunt Simson throughout the campaign.
words of General Percival
Echoing the
at another, earlier, historic
Shenton Thomas said simply, but with complete
would be bad for morale." "But we can't make a present
meeting,
finality,
"It
of all this to the
enemy!" cried
hard, long look"
and then
Simson.
The Governor coldly, "I
"gave
me one
would remind you, Simson,
that
we
said
haven't lost the
island yet."
And
that
was
all
he would say on the matter.
Most of the
A SINISTER
174
TWILIGHT
more important Chinese engineering works were left in running order for the enemy and Simson could only study the names still left on his list: some forty-seven British-owned plants. These
—
he could deny
to the
enemy, together with
liquor and stocks of petrol and
which would be destroyed by companies themselves.
oil
the military authorities or the oil
The
vast quantities of
Governor's decision "resulted in the enemy receiving
welcome present of new vehicles and well equipped workshops":* and we can only surmise the reasons behind it. Of course the Governor was rightly proud of the way in which he "looked after the natives" who would have to carry on after any surrender. He believed Malaya was their country and that he was there to protect them (against themselves if necessary). But one must also remember that the Governor's responsibilities, though unchanged in theory, had in practice been whittled away. Duff Cooper had seen to that and so had a war which had not only swept across a country, but had swept away the cobwebs of Colonial government. Slowly but relentlessly the Governor had found himself becoming more and more of a figa
—
urehead, whose
he was
at
many
friends could plainly see horn miserable
not being permitted to do more than sign unimportant
make "public appearances." Even his critics admit that Shenton Thomas was incapable of a mean action, and without any doubt he believed that the Chinese would have to "carry papers and
on" and must be
left
with the means to do
it
— though
ory hardly tallied with the ruthless way in which
all
this the-
fishing boat!
had been smashed up or sunk. Ironically, there is no doubt that Shenton Thomas would have been appalled had anyone sug gested that his decision was hindering the global war effort.
The meeting broke up shortly before dinner. enough, neither man had mentioned the problem of *
The War Against Japan
Curiously destroN
THE ASSAULT the vital
machinery and
1
75
the sprawling dockyards.
facilities in
These were run by the Singapore Harbour Board, which was law unto
itself
dens and
fire
with
its
brigades.
hours, however,
it
own
electricity plant,
even
own
it
a
war-
In view of what was to happen in a few
was a significant and unfortunate omission on
the Governor's part.
Simson had already gathered
Men from
work.
lition
PWD),
sufficient
the Public
men
to start the
demo-
Works Department
(the
and Indian volunteers, started the complicated task of destroying the machinery of the forty-seven firms. They faced tremendous physical hazards, for the shelling of the city was beginning to assume drumfire
together with courageous Chinese
proportions, while one air raid followed another so swiftly
seemed
thev
to
The
be incessant.
and wide, and were often
firms
difficult
w ere T
also scattered far
to reach, while
sented serious technical problems for engineers
and
some
PWD
pre-
men.
Tanjong acres and emmanaging di-
Thorneycroft's ship repair and boat building yards at
Rhu,
five
miles east of the
city,
covered nearly 12
ploved 700 people under Mr. Stewart Owler,
The
rector.
its
sprawling boatyards and repair shops, the slipways
by the shore, the machine rooms and power plants, represented the best part of a life's
worked
there.
It
work
to
was heartbreaking
the senior Europeans
— but
so
who
generous was the
cooperation that the denial team largely finished the work of destruction in twentv-four hours.
Not
all
firms were so cooperative.
Some
plants
w ere only r
de-
stroyed ''despite the active opposition of the owners or their agent." nial
Several owners did everything possible to delay the de-
scheme.
Some lodged
Big plants with head tioned their cases there
personal appeals with the Governor.
offices in Britain,
home governments
were hand-to-hand
for
Australia or India peti-
exemption. In one or two
scuffles as
Europeans
tried forcibly
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
1^6
to prevent Simson's
men from
doing their job. "British firms
were most reluctant," wrote Simson every obstacle in the
way
of the
later,
PWD
"and one or two put
when demolition was
finally ordered."
Perhaps the worst case of
was no question that
it
concerned a big garage. There
all
had
to
even the Governor had admitted list.
So,
Simson's
be rendered unserviceable this
by leaving
it
—
on Simson's
thinking that this was just one more "job to be done,"
men went round and
started work.
Unknown
to them,
however, the garage had powerful friends at court. So powerful, in fact, that Simson's
men were
actually in the process of destroy-
ing workshops and vehicles belonging to the garage their astonishment they
were abruptly ordered
when
to
The
ga-
to stop.
rage owners were able to wave a slip of paper before their eyes.
Written instructions
to
from the government
exempt them had been received directly with the result that, as Simson noted
—
enemy reaped the advantage." By contrast, few civilians attempted to defy the order to smash up the liquor stocks. The horror stories of the Japanese drunken rampage in Hong Kong were too fresh in people's minds to be forgotten or ignored. Sir Shenton Thomas had not only announced that a total ban on all liquor would come into force
wryly, "the
noon on Friday the 13th, but had ordered big firms smashing up their stocks immediately. The Customs led
at
to start
the way
by breaking tens of thousands of bottles of hard liquor, though as Buckeridge pointed out to Hudson, "That didn't hurt. Sim t
when have
the
Customs had any
feelings?"
city, people were destroying their own precious some cases the results of years of "collecting." Jimmy Glover had for years been storing the finest French wines Eor the
All over the
stocks, in
time when he and Julienne would retire to Cameron up-country.
Now, he and George Hammonds spent
I
[igh lands,
the evening
THE ASSAULT
1
"smashing bottles of precious liquid from some of the
77
finest
vineyards in France."
Buckeridge was helping out at Robinson's after one of Lucy's colleagues
had phoned,
worth of strong Friday.
—
stuff
"We've got half a million dollar's and we've got to smash it all up by
saying,
We need volunteers."
— while the customers in had no inkling of what was happening — Chinese boys
For the best part of a day and a half the store
lugged case after case of whiskey, gin and brandy out of Robin-
courtyard behind the store where other boys
son's cellars into a
were waiting
There, a team of six
to rip off the tops.
smashed the bottles in the only way possible one by one
at a brick wall opposite.
Buckeridge in his diary, "just
else
had
"I never realised," wrote
long
it
takes to pull twelve
throw them against a wall."
bottles out of a case, then
Something
how
men
— by hurling them
be destroyed
to
— bank
And
notes.
this
was even hotter work than smashing bottles under a blazing sun, for the notes ior official.
retary.
had
The
to
be burned under the watchful eye of a sen-
task fell to Eric Pretty, the
Acting Federal Sec-
Despite the run on money, the Treasury reserves
still
and early in the morning Pretty went to the below the government offices in Empress Place, not far
totaled $5 million, vaults
from Fullerton Building.
In the next cellar was the furnace
used by the government to destroy confidential papers.
day to burn the money, for though there was a Si 00 bills, "it
seemed
an awful lot of messengers to to
fives
to
me," said
and
toss the
Pretty, "as
tens." Pretty
fair
It
took a
proportion of
though there were
could not just allow the
bundles into the furnace. Each batch had
be checked and the numbers of the notes recorded
as the
boys
brought them in from the vaults. "I never imagined I'd have so
much money All this
to burn," sighed Pretty.
work
of destruction
—
to say
nothing of the problem
A SINISTER
178 of living
TWILIGHT
— was being enacted against a grim background of
in-
creased shelling and bombing.
Chinatown was badly hit time and again, and it was after one typical raid in one of the poorest districts that Rob Scott and Ian Morrison found "a marvellous atmosphere of helpfulness and fellow-feeling. One could not help admiring these people who, with so
direction from
little
above, were doing what they could."
Malays, an Arab with a
fez,
some Chinese,
a couple of Euro-
pean wardens were digging the victims out of a ruin that had received a direct
Scott
hit.
In
started digging too.
all
and Morrison
they found thirteen bodies, and
last Scott
— many
mutilated one could hardly recognize
happened. As Scott
lifted the
—
it.
of
And
body out of the
children started howling miserably, with one
so
then something hole, a
group
little girl,
ously the eldest, struggling and crying and trying to self
all
them children reached the body of a woman
the time a ring of stoic Chinese
stood watching. At
seized shovels and
of
obvi-
make
her-
understood. Realizing that she was the daughter, Scott held
her back.
"She continued to struggle and was trying to say
something through her
tears."
Eventually, with the aid of a Chinese, Scott discovered what
it
"Her mother had some money tied in a sash round her waist. The little girl wanted the money. She was afraid that someone might take it away." Rob Scott bent down, unfastened the red sash tied around the woman's waist, and found a purse containing four dollars and a few small coins. "It was probably was.
the family's entire worldly wealth." girl
who
snatched
a snuffle."
Scott
it
Scott gave
without a word, though "her crying became
It
at least saving
the
was the natural reaction of generations
Chinese, scratching a bare living out of the
whelmed them.
to the little
found nothing cynical or grasping about
little girl's action.
was
it
soil.
The
oi
little girl
something out of the disaster which had
over!
THE ASSAULT Not only was Chinatown bombed
now
singled out Orchard
Road
wide, straight street was the
and military headquarters garded of the
All
This
link between the city
The
Fort Canning.
Japanese
re-
— despite the presence
Cold Storage, the municipal market and other big shops. traffic tore along it, running the whined and crashed. Half the build-
day long the military
gauntlet of the shells that ings
79
Japanese
as a target for their guns.
main military at
The
ruthlessly.
as a legitimate military target
it
1
seemed
to
have been hit by now. Abandoned or burned-out
Water gushed along the deep gullies from unmended pipes. Here and there bodies lay waiting to be collected, many of them civilians, for people had to live to cars littered every corner.
carry on.
George Hammonds, usually
went
to the
car at the corner of
much
like
everyone
else,
municipal market
Cuppage Road.
had
to
buy
food.
He
at 5.30 a.m., parking his
On
this
Tuesday there was
buy at the market, for only a handful of apathetic Chinese stood around in the vast hall lit by guttering candles. After buying some vegetables, George went across the road to not
to
empty as the market, with barely a dozen civilians wandering in the enormous building. At least in the Cold Storage George discovered ample stocks of butter and bacon. the
Cold Storage which was almost
as
After driving over to Robinson's to get a haircut, George
walked into Raffles Place. With the heat of a new pressing
down and
Hammonds wiped tin,
day
the bright sun already hurting his eyes,
his glasses, pulled a cigarette
and lingered on the
He remembers
stifling
from
steps of the big store for a
vividly the scene.
The famous
his
round
few minutes. square
— had hardly been touched.
— the
Even the noises of war were muffled by the high buildings, and the square was rilled with people of all colors some in white ducks, some in shorts, others in sarongs either busy or uncon-
real heart of
white Singapore
—
l8o
A SINISTER
cerned, going in
and out
Indian
of shops, talking at the corners.
Malay driver was car; a
containers dangling from the old,
on the pathway dozed over
street trader squatting
tray of cheap trinkets; a
wheel of a man's parked bearded white
man
TWILIGHT An his
fast asleep at the
food hawker bobbed along, two
bamboo
across his shoulders; an
in shorts, sports shirt
and sandals came
out of Kelly and Walsh, the booksellers, clutching a big new
volume with into
— and was already dipping
eagerly
he brushed past George on his way into Robinson \.
as
it
a shiny cover
perhaps for a coffee and a read.
Two
Chinese workmen were
walking along arguing when one suddenly turned to the other with an obvious
nowhere
a
insult.
In a flash they were brawling. Out of
policeman appeared to separate them. "It
so normal," wTote George, "It
a long, long
But then
way
Singapore in those hectic, tragic days was a con-
all
T
to his
own
his conscience
told
him
clergy to
interned.
to face
could resolve.
The Bishop
of Singapore had
though he hoped the Japanese would allow some
remain
at liberty,
this
If
man had
problems. Jack Bennitt faced one which only he
and
that,
seemed
off."
fused pattern, a w orld in which each and every
up
all
made even Orchard Road seem
he was sure some would have
happened, he
classed as "non-essential"
felt
that
to be
Bennitt should be
and be interned with the other
ci-
vilians.
The at the
who had never missed an hour of his double dm: cathedral and Yoch Eng first-aid post, accepted the do Rev,
sion stoically
— until a friend suddenly appeared with
and announced dash for Java. priest,
a suit*
that a small coastal vessel was going to
He
begged The Rev
he argued, was
less
to
come
along.
i-
An
make
I
interned
valuable than a priest at liberty. Aftei
wrestling with his conscience, Bennitt went to the cathedral and
wrote a note to the Bishop saying he was leaving. suitcase hurriedly,
he got out his car and drove
Packing
his friend to the
THE ASSAULT
l8l
docks, reaching the rendezvous during a raid.
As they scrambled
out of the car they had to step over bodies lying in the greet
A
wounded child was crying piteously and instinctively The Revbent down to comfort it. while his friend urged him to hurry, shouting that there was not a
moment
As he calmed the child and
reach his wife
ship
Rev stood up. shook he couldn't go.
him
Not
the shelling
The
Of course
hand.
how many
word he watched
his
friend disappear
the blazing docks to
and destroyed the note.
On
as usual/'
daily "collar
o[ a
his
suddenly
from the cathedral the Governor was
far
on
a
Then he drove back from
into the ship.
"carry
head and waved
And
comfort and help in the long years of
to
Without
the cathedral
his
to
there in front of his eyes.
come.
he could comfort people now,
If
would he be able captivity?
chance to escape and
his last
His friend was yelling for
The Rev
stopped whimpering.
it
— perhaps and daughter — was
The
looked up.
to lose.
and
tie"
trying to
still
the one
hand he continued to hold a conference at Government House but
—
was so bad that he had moved
his
bed
to the
corner
downstairs drawing room, while his wife spent the night
He made
ander the dining room table. heavily
bombed
almost daily
areas in an effort to bolster morale
answer the Japanese
who were now
visits to
— and
to
using the captured radio at
and Lady Thomas had run away. The grounds of Government House to say nothing of the city were not only plastered with bombs, but with an incredPenang
announce
to
that he
—
—
ible
assortment of
enemy
leaflets.
One
bore
a
crudely drawn
picture of a girl languishing in the arms of a soldier, with the
puzzling caption,
Tommy!
I
am
"Nightmare
going
of
'Oh
your neglected wife:
Another announced that Singa-
crazy.'
pore was rioting, that British and Australian troops were cretly
evacuating the island.
up your troubles
in
It
your old
urged the Asian troops kit
to
se-
Tic k
bag and co-operate with the
l82
A SINISTER
Nippon Army."
A
TWILIGHT
third bore a drawing of an obese British
planter lolling under a fiery sun. Yet another showed a glutton-
ous British
officer
tucking into steak and chips while his starving
Indian troops looked on with drooling
became
never collected cigarette cards in their
On
lips.
lives.
the other hand, adults were busy collecting something
quite different
— a few surreptitious
bottles of precious liquor
hide before the governor's edict that
to
stroyed
came
into force.
The
odd bottle nursing his bad arm
the right to save the
— soldier — hid several
Watt
still
behind
his
stocks
must be
de-
many
civilians felt they
"for an emergency." after the swipe
had
Willie
by a drunken
bottles of Scotch in the thick coarse lallang
bungalow;
Tim Hudson
godown, and two more
On
all
big stocks had already gone down
the drains, but, understandably,
his
"Leaflet collecting"
hundreds of Chinese children who had
a passion with
at
put a couple of bottles
in
home.
the last "wet" night in Singapore before sales of drinks
were banned, more than a few
— particularly
at the Cricket
civilians
had
their share of drink
Club, for Buckeridge was not alone
in feeling, "Just
imagine the Cricket Club without being able
get a stengah.
had
I
to
go and mourn
at the funeral."
The
to
club
had a stock of 150 cases of whiskey, to say nothing of other liquor, and members flocked to drink as much as possible. All but two of the club stewards had left, and for once the moderate measure that normally comprised the Singapore stengah was forgotten.
Perspiring Chinese boys filled everyone's glass with
anything up to four fingers of whiskey before adding of Fraser
and Neave's
who
soda.
The
a splash
only thing lacking was water
As Buckeridge noted. "Though nobody could have had the remotest idea how payment was to be exacted, members still had to go through th€ for those
preferred a whiskey ayer.
rigmarole of signing chits for each drink."
THE ASSAULT
l8j
Despite the finality of the occasion, despite the desperation of
few
these last days,
if
any of the so-called "whiskey-swilling
planters" got drunk — perhaps because they knew that
scores of
wounded were being temporarily housed in a wing of the club after a hospital
with 100 patients had been trapped during a
hasty Allied withdrawal.
bled back to Singapore
only to find there was nurses, orderlies atre across the
After dark
its
ambulances had rum-
under the very noses of the Japanese
nowhere
were housed
for the
wounded
Patients,
to go.
in the club until the Victoria
way was turned
—
into a hospital of two
The-
hundred
beds.
As the rate of
wounded
— both
military
and
civilian
creased daily, every available building was turned into a shift hospital.
post.
Even
Chairs, pews,
St.
Andrew's Cathedral became a
was turned into an operating theater.
moved
in-
make-
first-aid
hymnbooks, hassocks were hurriedly cleared
from the nave to make room for stretchers and beds. try
—
The
ves-
Nurses and doctors
in with bottles of antiseptic, rolls of bandages, splinters
and drugs. By nightfall,
The Reverend
Bennitt was recording in
down from the east end of the famous building and see rows of wounded men lying on the floor, orderlies and doctors doing their rounds among them his diary, "It
was a strange sight
to look
with pinpricks of lighted cigarettes showing in the dark corners."
About
half the casualties
were
was even one Japanese soldier
British, half Australian; there
among them.
Hundreds
of
wounded men received their first treatment in the cathedral. Doctors and nurses worked round the clock, and when the taps dried up, volunteers carried pails from the nearest broken water
mains.
And
round the corner in the beautiful green first rough crosses were being placed to mark
soon,
churchyard, the
the graves of those
who had
The devotion and courage
died.
of the Asian nurses at
all
the hospi-
tals
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
184
was magnificent. They never
7
Freddy Bloom saw a young Chinese nurse
ing,
down
kneel
and
as the
General
wounded
soldier, shield his
screaming
shells fell
around, cover the man's ears with
Some
duty" would have been almost comic
Boys
close.
at the
shell-
beside a
her hands to blot out the sound.
the
During heavy
faltered.
who had
first-class
body with
instances of "devotion to
if
tragedy had not been so
served meals to the tuans in
European male ward
sorb the fact that three or four despite the shelling, they
still
hers,
— found
men now insisted
it
Ward Four —
impossible to ab-
shared one room. Yet,
on serving the
meals of bully beef on trays complete with tray
cloths,
scratch
and
cruets
carefully set out, with the silverwork shining.
Every hospital had
its
quota of direct
though nothing
hits
matched the terror raid on the Tyersall Indian Hospital, a hutted
camp with
attap roofs northwest of the city. Shortly after
lunch a wave of Japanese
medium bombers
though the buildings were clearly marked with red hastily built
camp was
the brigades arrived, the worst sight
I
it
a firetrap,
dry
it,
even
crosses.
The
attacked
as tinder,
and long before
was one sheet of searing flame.
ever saw," said Buckeridge.
"Every building
was an inferno — and you couldn't get from one
to another."
Stretcher patients were roasted to death in their beds.
who could walk attempted
to escape
"It wai
Those
but often could not
force
way through flames up to thirty feet high. Buckeridge remembers how "half a dozen men screaming with pain suddenly their
rushed out into the open. They were in flames from head feet." as
The
smell of burning flesh
they worked.
The
other noise — even
now
made
to
scores of helpers vomit
screams of the trapped overshadowed ever) the staccato rattle of machine-gun
fire.
Eof
Japanese fighters swooped low over the furnace, machine-
gunning the rescuers and those wounded who had been got out and laid on the grass away from the huts. Many who had man-
THE ASSAULT
185
aged miraculously to escape were killed in cold blood as they lay
moved. Over two hundred patients died.
there waiting to be It
was about
the story. the time,
woman
doctor enters
Dr. Cicely Williams, unmarried, was forty-seven at
and
in a hospital
sense of
time that a remarkable
this
outbreak of war had been quietly working
at the
up-country. Tall, good-looking, with an infectious
humor
masked an iron determination, she had Singapore and asked "for a job of work."
that
made her way to Somewhat to her astonishment, she was asked if she could take charge of a group of children, some of them air raid victims, others orphans. She had only sporadic help. She had little in the way of equipment and now suddenly "out of the blue I found myself mother of 120 children." She managed to house the ill-assorted babies in the Tan Tock Seng Hospital on the outskirts of the city, where doctors visited her during the day "when possible" which was not often. With the aid of the few nurses and amahs she had managed to round up, together with one or two volunteers, Cicely Williams housed, fed, washed
—
—
her suddenly-acquired family of
"scrounged" milk
had
to
and other baby
tots.
A
foods,
born organizer, she
and
at times she
even
help with the cooking. But not only was she "mother" to
120 children
— she had a full-time job
as doctor to
them, for
her charges not only included babies orphaned in raids, crying for their
mothers, but
many
others
who were
either
ill
w ith T
tropical diseases or in a state of shock.
Alone
at night,
Cicely Williams coped as best she could,
Sometimes even she had to on the night when she heard the clangan ambulance bell at the hospital entrance, and ran out the ambulance disappeared down the drive. Shells were
helped only by Asian volunteers. leave the children
ing of just as
—
bursting everywhere
as
— but
whimpering bundle. At
there,
first
on the front
steps,
was a tiny
she thought the driver had bolted
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
l86
because of the shelling, but look told her the
it
when
had diphtheria
she took the baby inside, one
— and she had 120 children
same building. She could not keep the child
Seng for an
instant.
There was only one thing
to
at
in
Tan Tock
be done
—
get
the baby to the Middleton infectious diseases hospital in Pegu
But
Road.
that
was half a mile away, and the only car had
broken down, while the phone had long since ceased tion.
to func-
Apart from a few Asian helpers, she was on her own.
Carrying the baby, Cicely Williams
walked the half mile
to the
set off in the shelling
and
Middleton, handed the baby over,
and walked back — arriving of year-old babies threw
tahan!" ("I can't stand
just as the amah in charge of a ward up her hands and cried, "Ta boleh
it!")
the rest of the night in the
and
bolted.
Cicely Williams spent
ward with wounded children who
had the screaming horrors.
A
day or two after the beginning of the
assault, a startling
rumor passed among the civilian women of the nursing services both professional and volunteer working at the General
—
—
Hospital. It was nothing less than a report that
Australian military
sisters
all
and nurses were about
British
to
and
be evacu-
— leaving the nurses behind. The General had been rained with bombs and Since Freddy Bloom's wedding day — when she had survived a near the X-ray department — more bombs had landed on the ated
civilian
shells.
direct hit
hospital,
several
and she
had had some narrow escapes. Understandably, many women were in danger of becoming jittery. Yet the hundreds of civilian women of all races carried on courageously herself
—
some work
in the large hospitals, others at first-aid posts.
They had
to
At times there was such a shortage of water that doctors and nurses operating on raid casualties had to wash their hands and sterilize their instruments in soda water. in twelve-hour shifts.
Women
used to a dozen servants
nearest
corridor
—
if
it
were
now
not
gratefully slept in the
already
crowded
with
THE ASSAULT
187
wounded. Some volunteer nurses were weighed down by agonizing personal problems, particularly those
news
for
unteers.
who had had no
weeks of husbands fighting in the Local Defence VolYet in
the bloody history that was being written
all
(luring the siege, they
worked
and unremit-
quietly, efficiently
tingly,
drawing strength and courage from the trained profes-
sionals
who now
— so
it
was said
— were going
to pull out.
Dr. R. B. MacGregor, the energetic Director of Civilian Services, felt
ical
he had to scotch the rumor
were only a rumor
— without
government
sisters
and nurses and
as
indeed,
if,
morale of
delay, or the
would plummet, particularly
ians
—
Med-
his civil-
he had promised his
MAS volunteers
Gregor immediately sought out Shenton
Thomas it
civil
the same op-
Dr. Mac-
portunities for evacuation as military nursing sisters.
surance that the whispers were unfounded, and
it
for
some
happens
as-
that,
when virtually all written records were lost in the conwe do have a carefully compiled list of times and meet-
time
at a
fusion,
ings
between the chief figures in
this
drama, which was to have
such an unsavory climax.
On that
by and large
wanting the
MacGregor told Shenton Thomas there was no question of the civilian nurses' "The majority are willing to carry on under
Tuesday, February
to leave.
same conditions
10,
as the military sisters,"
he
said,
though ad-
MAS are showing signs of strain,"
mitting that "some of the
should be given a chance to go
if
they wished.
The
first
and and
most important point that needed clearing up, however, was the
movements of the army sisters. The Governor promised to make inquiries. That same evening he met General Percival, and asked him bluntly, "Is there future
any proposal to evacuate
Army
ished at the direct question. that
Sir
he "seemed surprised that
cival replied emphatically,
sisters?"
I
Percival looked aston-
Shenton Thomas remembered should ask." In any event, Per-
"No. None
at all."
A SINISTER
l88
TWILIGHT
This was the reply the Governor had expected, and
at seven-
morning he telephoned Dr. MacGregor that the were definitely staying. He had had the news di-
thirty the next
army
sisters
rectly
to
from
Percival.
Sir
Shenton suggested that the regular
and the MAS should be asked to volunteer remain, but added, "Those who don't volunteer should be
civil
nursing
staff
given the chance to leave without the stigma of desertion." Dr. MacGregor
now called all
the civilian nurses together and must have been a dramatic meeting. Freddy Bloom remembers that the evening was suffocating as they all trooped into one of the lecture rooms. There was no raid on, but the evidence of war was all about them. Half the windows had been smashed, and outside they could see fires burning. Hot and sweating, the group of women waited for the doctor to
addressed them.
It
speak.
Dr. MacGregor told them there was no foundation for the ru-
mors
that
army
the
sisters
would
leave
— they
had been
scotched by Percival himself. Yet he did not minimize the dangers that lay ahead.
Though
every
work, he could not force them to
woman was stay,
but he did ask them
volunteer. Reassured by the news, every
ernment
sister
and every volunteer
doing invaluable
European
in the
MAS
to
civilian gov-
decided to
re-
main.
—
profesMacGregor then turned to the Asian nurses sional and volunteers and asked how they felt about staying, for their case was rather different; many of them could have
Dr.
—
returned to their kampongs.
From
the back of the group a voice piped up,
going to do,
"What
are you
sir?"
Slightly flabbergasted,
MacGregor
—
stay, of
in a chorus,
"Then
retorted,
"Why
course!"
Almost simultaneously every voice joined
we
stay too!"
THE ASSAULT
189
them knew that within a matter of days every sinexcept one who regle military sister and nurse in Singapore would have been quietly evacuated, that without fused to go a word they would have left their wounded behind, to be tended Not one
of
—
—
by a totally inadequate
band
of civilian sisters helped only by a
staff
of semi-trained volunteers.
The
exception was a remarkable young Scotswoman, Eliza-
beth Petrie,
who had
joined
up
in Singapore,
had served with
down the peninsula. She flatly refused to leave the wounded. The other army sisters had not of course, "deserted." The army had Indian units on the Siamese border, and fought her way
posted
them
to the civil
to other areas,
but they had done so without a word
government, and despite Percival's categorical assur-
ance that such a step was far from his mind. Shenton
remembered someone coming up terly,
"The
to
Thomas
him and exclaiming
ideals of Florence Nightingale
bit-
have been scrapped
in favour of safety first." *
This extraordinary action would have been easier stand had
it
been decided
to serve elsewhere.
result of a
under-
to get these battle-trained sisters
But, in
chance remark
when, fuming
to
fact,
—
as
away
the decision was an error, the
Shenton Thomas discovered
what he considered a betrayal of his civilians, he demanded an explanation from an embarrassed Percival. The order had been given by an officer without reference to higher authority after Percival had made a casual remark that at
—
—
"The
number of sisters." Presumably the officer had taken this to mean that they ought to go. In any event, the officer had made the decision Australians seem to have an unduly large
himself
— and the entire
been ordered to go. *
elected
One can
British as well as Australians,
had
sympathize with Shenton Thomas'
civilian nurses and MAS women were interned, though only four women were interned; three were the wives of high-ranking soldiers who to remain. The fourth was Elizabeth Petrie.
Over 200
service
staff,
and
bitterness,
the
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
190
army
he made to Percival: "Apparently
at the retort
places the welfare of
its sisters
before the care of the
wounded."
The army
sisters
were not the only ones
to
be evacuated in
circumstances amounting almost to secrecy. Another extraordi-
now took place, and again without the one man who should have been told being informed this time Briga-
nary evacuation
—
dier Simson.
For
now
was the senior European
it
officials
of the all-impor-
Harbour Board who quietly left the island. we have seen, was a self-contained unit, run on autocratic lines by officials who brooked no interference. Its record during the campaign had not been particularly noteworthy, though its staff had not been found wanting in bravery. But it had "decided not to erect shelters along its extent of some miles of great wharves; and the decision has been criticised." * The lack of shelters had resulted in the frequent refusal by coolies to unload vital war materials from the convoys. And nottant Singapore
The Harbour
Board, as
withstanding the
fact that the
get for bombing, the
harbor area was a legitimate
Board had
tar-
foolishly allowed vast stocks of
food (including 12,000 tons of flour) to be stored in some of
its
Much of it had gone up in flames men managed to start transferring
sixty-four cavernous godowns.
before Brigadier Simson's
stocks to safer areas "after considerable pressure
on the Gover-
nor and the Chairman."
Shenton Thomas had barely ended
his conversation with
Gregor on Wednesday morning when Japanese bombers a savage attack
and guarantees
fought.
own *
The
From The
Civil
started
areas.
of compensation for
which Simson had
bombed out Shenton Thomas
Brigadier had by this time been
house, and
-
There had been a good turndoubtless attracted by the new, improved pay
on the dock
out of coolies, rates
Mai
—
at the
suggestion of
Defence of Malaya.
of his
— was
THE ASSAULT living at
Government House, and
it
1Q1
was there that he was called
urgently to the telephone.
The dock
was an
caller
and
area,
—
Simson
left
for the
have to report
I
Harbour Board
the island."
The
thought there must be some mistake.
at first
Governor had
said, "Sir,
Europeans working
that all the senior
have gone
charge of parties working in the
officer in
an agitated voice he
in
down
laid
in unequivocal terms that
no Euro-
peans could leave the island without permission.
"We've managed
to get a
"but there's nobody "I'll
get
on
labour force here," the
them what
left to tell
to Rodgers, the
officer
added,
to do."
chairman," Simson suggested on
the phone.
The officer gave a short laugh. "He's gone like Then he added something that Simson found even more difficult to believe. "The story down here, sir, is that the "Rodgers!"
the rest, sir."
Governor gave them permission to go." In fact the
Harbour Board
officials
—
like the
army
had not "done a bunk." Shenton Thomas had previously ceived a cable from Whitehall saying that
be held, senior Harbour Board
were trained ever,
men who would
was quite unaware of
sibility of
staff
if
—
sisters
re-
Singapore could not
should be evacuated.
They
be needed in India. Simson, how-
this,
even though he had the respon-
finding labor for the docks.
The Governor's
study was at the far end of the house, and
was there that Simson asked Shenton uated the Harbour Board.
Thomas
Thomas why he had
it
evac-
explained the telegram he
had received. "Well, you might at least have let me know," said an aggrieved Simson. "The coolies at the docks are probably being killed at
this
very moment."
The Governor had events, the matter
the grace to apologize.
"had slipped
All that Simson could
do was
his
In the stress of
mind."
to arrange for the Engineers
and
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
ig2
Works Department to destroy the valuable machinand equipment which the Harbour Board Europeans like
the Public ery
the navy at the base
Now
much
that
of this heavily
Tim Hudson and
protection of
and
— had "forgotten"
to
Harbour Board had ceased
that the
rate unit,
—
very
afternoon
bombed
ARP
his
fifty-four
deny
to the
enemy.
to function as a sepa-
came under the team at Tiong Bahru, area
twin-engined
bombers
launched one of the heaviest raids of the campaign.
was an oppressive afternoon.
It
The
blue skies of the morn-
ing had turned into slate-gray clouds which looked as though they would burst with heat or rain. Nothing stirred in the bare, breathless schoolrooms
headquarters
the schools
all
which had been turned into Hudson's
— looking somehow empty and unused now had been
closed.
that
Normally, the Chinese wardens
would have been full of their own particular brand of boisterous fun. Sometimes they played football in the schoolyard. But not today. Today it was too stifling. Every "roster "on
call"
bed" used by the night wardens was
men, and study,
At
ARP on
filled
with snoring, sleeping
Tim Hudson himself had dozed off in
slumped
the headmaster's
in a rattan chair.
precisely eleven minutes past two, the direct
him
into wakefulness. Raiders were
Hudson sounded
the klaxon, but even as he ran
headquarters shrilled
their way.
phone from
out into the schoolyard the planes were overhead, flying "with the sort of uninterrupted precision
I
used to see
at
an
air
show."
They appeared almost motionless. "Get ready
to
move. They're over the docks," yelled Hudson,
knowing from experience what to expect. The wardens ran for their assorted vehicles, lined up with bonnets pointing to the school gates. Behind them was an ancient lorry which Hudson
THE ASSAULT
193
had transformed into a mobile canteen with
a tea urn.
This was
under the charge of a young Chinese with an unruly fringe of black hair and the unlikely nickname of
Wee-Wee, who had
become the mascot of Tiong Bahru. As they all prepared to move, with Hudson leading the way in his Hillman, Tim could actually see the planes
bomb
drop their
mo-
loads at the same
was like looking at a film," he remembered. "The bombs seemed to float down so slowly I couldn't believe was real." As usual, the Japanese bomb aimers had waited for
ment.
"It
sticks of it
had then dropped
the leading pilot to give his signal. All
bombs
same time, and
at the
it
seems that the peculiar sunless
pewter color of the afternoon sky provided just the right
up the bombs, for hundreds Hudson had done.
ing to show clearly as
All this
had happened
their
in a second.
them
of people saw
The bombs had
light-
as
not even
reached the ground before the cars were racing for the docks. Shattering explosions rocked the cars on their way, then the air-
turned
craft
lazily in a semicircle
created.
One
plosions
and
air.
Another
stock of
bombs
above the inferno they had
hit a fuel
sheets of flame shooting hit a
godown
filled
dump,
triggering off ex-
hundreds of
with rubber.
A
feet into the
third set
some
As Hudson and his men reached Keppel Harbour a twisting column of acrid smoke darkened the gray sky like an umbrella. In the outer roads a few hundred yards stocks of sugar
off
shore
—
on
fire.
—
a Chinese
junk was blazing
furiously,
and Hudson
make out figures jumping over the side, into water daubed with patches of blazing oil. Before Hudson could do anything, three of his Chinese wardens, jabbering and pointing, could
were running to a sampan by the edge of the docks. gesticulating figure chased them. of
Wee-Wee's black fringe
boy was actually grinning.
as
Hudson
he darted
He
just
past.
A
fourth
caught a glimpse
The Chinese
tea
caught the others up, jumped in
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
194
and they set off frantically for the burning junk and the black dots bobbing in the water around it. the big sampan,
Hudson could not
stay.
dump
Flames from the fuel
were
roaring across Keppel Road, west of the railway station, and
were already licking the flimsy shophouses around Kampong
Bahru Road behind. Here, hundreds of Chinese families had
home
refused to leave the ramshackle rooms they called
story buildings so flimsy, so jerry-built, they looked as
—
four-
though a
wind would blow them down. Out of every window brightly colored washing hung on poles. Children crawled in the gutters, oblivious to the black smoke curling around them. puff of
Stoic old ladies squatted
by their front doors,
One
ant of the disaster a few hundred yards away. started a late, interrupted lunch. circle, their
though ignor-
as
family had
re-
Squatting on their hams in a
chopsticks dipped rhythmically into a bowl of rice
flavored, perhaps, with a
few morsels of
fish.
To
them, and to
around them, the bombs had missed. The raid was over and they were alive. Nothing else mattered. those
Hudson's
first
thought had been to get everyone out of the
but then he vaguely heard a
street in case the fire spread, bell clanging
ning,
It's
ear,
"Don't worry about the houses
the sawmill behind." Buckeridge's
unwinding
their hoses.
lot'll
Here
"One spark from go up like a bomb."
lay the real danger.
the oil
in
and the
the city.
grown by the so
they'll
men were
dump and
mills provided
This particular
up
logs
mill —
like
so saw-
was a major Chinese
one of the gravest
fire
most others
hazard*
— had
up which logs were floated, fire hoses down to the shallow,
side of a tidal creek
Buckeridge was running his
be
run-
the whole
This was one of twenty or
mill areas in Singapore, for sawing industry,
—
"Clear out the sawmill," yelled
Buckeridge.
damn
fire
behind him, and the next moment Buckeridge was
shouting in his all right.
—
THE ASSAULT dirty water. acre,
The
other side of the mill, which covered about an
backed up against Chinese houses.
and
stocks of petrol
drums and
195
oil
The
scantlings.
In another were
to drive the saws.
In another was a
of paint.
In one corner were
flick
small mountain
of shavings
of a cigarette lighter could have
turned them into a roaring furnace.
As Hudson forced his way inside the untidy yard, past stacks of newly sawn planks, he saw to his dismay that this mill was a timber box factory, and that fifty or so men were quietly workwhine of saws, the noise of men sweeping up shavings, hammering planks into boxes, shouting for tins of paint all ing to the
—
this despite
the fact that, apart from the narrow, shallow creek of
water, the mill
Hudson out,
but
was
yelled to it
hemmed
one of
his
in by inflammable approaches.
Chinese wardens to get the workers
seemed impossible
to
make them understand. With
an almost supercilious arrogance they appeared to be saying,
"You may be
scared,
but we're not." Like the people of the
them
adjacent street, they felt the raid had passed
was
what
the fuss about?
all
Not
by, so
a
man
spoke a word of English, and
ing and arguing,
den was
it
helpless.
scattering,
had been
was obvious to Hudson that the Chinese war-
But then something happened
running secretly
they stood shout-
as
for their lives.
dreading
It
was
a
them Hudson
that sent
sound that
— the low whine of a
shell,
rapidly
reaching a crescendo.
The
shell scored a direct hit
on the paint shop. As
Tim
threw
himself behind a shed at the other end of the yard, the ramshackle building burst into fragments smothered in flames. after another, the
of anti-aircraft son.
It
drums
pom-pom
One
of paint exploded with a noise like that fire.
Something
was the decapitated body of a
soft
man
and wet
hit
— half a body,
— which had been tossed across the open space.
Hudreally
A SINISTER
196
Hudson's only thought was
TWILIGHT
to get rid of the
drums of petrol at and heat, he
the other side of the yard. Half dazed by the blast
groped
his
way
across the yard.
"Our only chance "We've got
to try
and
is
to get
them
float the stuff
Buckeridge appeared.
into the creek," he shouted.
away."
He had
brought one
trailer
pump
round a back way, and already had a hose drawing water from the creek. His men were playing it on the huge pile of shavings. Another trailer rattled up as Hudson and his men started to roll the fuel drums toward the water. More shells followed, but now they screamed over into the docks. rolled the
drums
into the creek.
One by
one, the wardens
Three Chinese wardens waded
and started pushing them into deeper water. As Buckeridge tried to prevent the fire spreading he let the paint shop burn itself out other trailer pumps were dealing with big fires on the docks. Meanwhile Hudson's men were piling up the dead in one corner and trying to make the score or so wounded men as comfortable as possible. Hudson had sent a messenger back to Tiong Bahru to phone for three ambulances. Finally one arrived. Two had set off all that could be spared but one had broken down on the way. The ambulance men loaded up the most seriously wounded and drove off with clanging bells. Tim could do nothing about the dead, except leave them piled up in a corner. The wounded presented a much more pressing problem. "I'd better take as many as I can to the General," Hudson said to his number two, and managed to squeeze three Chinese ar« penters with bloody head wounds into the Hillman. Just as they were about to set off, Japanese raiders appeared again, but, as Buckeridge noted in his diary that night, "They flew right over. in
—
—
—
—
(
Obviously they didn't see me."
Tearing up Cantonment Road with
his
groaning passengers,
THE ASSAULT Hudson branched
Outram Road and
the corner of
at
left
1Q7
reached the General Hospital in a few minutes, where, as ordercarried the
lies
had
raid
those
wounded inside, he lit his first cigarette since the He remembered afterward how wonderful
started.
first
few puffs were
— until suddenly he saw something so
horrifying that the cigarette dropped from his mouth.
choly procession of first,
Tim
men
its
way toward him. At
hardly noticed them, but then he saw they were order-
They moved toward
carrying corpses.
lies
was wending
A melan-
a place where the
once beautiful gardens and lawns had been torn apart to
way
for
two vast
at least a
one forty
pits,
hundred
feet long, the other stretching for
yards.
Tim moved
Impelled by a morbid fascination, closest pit.
It
make
was half
filled
with bodies, neatly laid out in
tightly packed rows. "It reminded
me
As he stood
gigantic tin of sardines."
toward the
much
of nothing so there, rooted
as a
and with a
handkerchief over his nose to shut out the overwhelming stench, half a
dozen more Chinese orderlies came down the steps of the
more
hospital carrying
bodies. Carefully they laid the
bodies at one end of the
them quickly with
mumbled an
bury them
that a nurse
apology.
"Don't apologize
the Asians at the other,
—
I
at opposite
was standing beside him and
In an American accent she replied,
understand."
Then
she added,
He
saw
a
blood,
and
at first
her more
above a uniform covered with
he did not recognize her. But then neither
him
—
until suddenly, because of the
Tim cried, "It's Freddy "Freddy B loom please!"
spoke,
at
good-looking woman, almost dropping with
fatigue, a grimy, dirt-streaked face
did she recognize
"They
ends for religious reasons."
Something in the voice made Hudson look closely.
and covered
a sprinkling of lime.
Hudson was aware he
pit,
European
Retz, isn't it?"
way she
1
"Of was
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
98 course.
heard a rumor that you'd got married.
I
When
it?"
Freddy looked
"Last Friday."
Tim's
at
gray, lined face, the
shoulders bent with weariness., his uniform also smeared with blood, and she said. "I heard you on the radio. Fine."
"Too late,"
said
Tim tiredly.
"Marjorie get away
"As
far as I
all
right?"
know. How's
Tim remembers
it
that, despite the
"a sort of chuckle" and told pecially as she'd
had
a
now
that
it
so short by I
with you?"
him
surroundings, Freddy gave
that she couldn't complain
es-
bath that morning. Water was becoming
was practically impossible
did get one this morning.
A
Chinese nurse told
to bathe, "but
me
that she'd
prepared a tub of hot water for cleaning bloodstained uniforms.
She
let
me
staved in
have
all
a
day.
dip
first.
The
Was
Boy!
it
good!
—
I
only thing was." she added,
could have "it
was
my
job to wash the unifonns."
Tim Hudson pital grounds.
was etched in later
always
remembered
that brief scene in the hos-
For some reason he could never understand, his
memory
like a
dream
that recurs, so that
he would sometimes relive the whole scene
earth of the once beautiful grounds,
bodies into the huge
pit,
feet.
words she spoke that tugged always
"It's a
long time since we
Hudson's brain was
men
the stench, the pretty
nurse barely able to keep on her last
the
last
And at his
it
much
— the scarred
more young American piling
perhaps
it
was the
memory.
met," said Freddv.
so fuddled with weariness that he hadn't
the faintest idea what she meant.
"Don't you remember?" she jogged his memory.
morning drinks at the Seaview." Of course. The last dav before tables at the Seaview, the
it
had all
women
started
"Sunday
— the crowded
in shorts singing "There'll
THE ASSAULT Always Be an England." hide his emotion,
Tim
It
was another
K)<)
another
age,
said good-bye almost gruffly,
life.
To
and strode
away.
When
one analyzes these
first
gloomy picture that emerges
few days of desperate fighting, the
one of almost
is
Everything that could go wrong went wrong
no bad luck about
it.
WavelTs
confusion.
— and
there was
Fuddled errors of judgment, panic
treats against orders, the
plan, even
total
unaccountable leaking of a top-secret
final visit to the island
a military debacle rarely
re-
if
—
all
contributed to
ever equaled in British military his-
tory. It
no
was
now
a simple battle for survival.
overall plan; consequently the
vers
There appeared
during these two days degenerated into a
which each
be
series of decisions
commander hardly seemed know; what anyone else was doing. Though the in
to
crumbling defensive maneu-
local
to
care
(or
fighting was
— and the defenders greatly outnumbered the attackers — coherent being carried out over a comparatively small area
at first
all
plans
(if
ever they truly existed) seemed to have vanished into
the powder-laden hot air or the gles
deep
recesses of the
rubber jun-
and swamp. Time and again apparently unaccountable de-
cisions
were taken.
The
Japanese would be unable to advance
— until for no apparent reason Allied opposition melted away. moment the hundred rounds per man
Japanese were
burying their ammunition in
pits.
At one bizarre
— while
From
down
to their last
the British defenders were
the start of their invasion, Japanese troops had been ad-
vancing toward Tengah Airfield which had to be held, so both Percival
and Gordon Bennett agreed
launch a counterattack in force.
It
that the only chance was to
was planned
— yet
for sev-
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
200 eral reasons,
some obscure,
The
never took place.
it
attack was
commanding an Australian brigade, but when Gordon Bennett managed to get through to him on the field telephone and inquired how the attack was to have been led by Brigadier Taylor,
progressing, Taylor, according to the astonished Bennett, 're-
plied that just as the advance was to commence, the
enemy
at-
tacked in strength and that his line had fallen back behind the
[Tengah] aerodrome. This meant that the aerodrome was in
enemy hands." In found
fresh bread
fact the retreat
was
so swift that the Japanese
and soup on the dining
tables.
Bennett could
hardly believe the news, and nobody has ever explained
Taylor should have abandoned the cant that
when Bennett spoke
airfield,
though
later to Taylor,
that "he seemed confused." Percival was also had a small command reserve, to say nothing
guarding the unattacked northeast shores. loath to throw
them
into the
it is signifi-
Bennett noted
to blame, for
Yet Percival was
Western Area because he was
launch a counter-attack
puts .
.
.
it,
"The
he
of two divisions
convinced the Japanese might attack in the northeast, so
The War Against Japan
why
still
that, as
fleeting opportunity to
and confine the enemy
to
the
north-west corner of the Island was lost."
Despite the
were
still
loss of
Tengah
Airfield,
in the northwest of the island,
however, the Japanese
and there was
still
one
hope of pinning them there and preventing them pushing in toward the city. It was necessary to defend a partly reconnoitered and prepared stretch of country between Tengah and Singapore.
Two or three miles long,
it
was euphemistically called the
Jurong Line, and consisted of undulating jungle and swamp country linking the headwaters of two broad rivers, the Jurong and the Kranji, the former flowing due south, the latter due north.
(The Jurong
spilled into the sea
on the southern shores
of the island, the Kranji flowed into the Straits of Johore a mile
THE ASSAULT The two
201
and the country between them did in fact slice the island in two from north to south, and if this natural line could be held, the Japanese would be con-
west of the causeway.)
rivers
tained in the western sector of the island.
There were enough troops
defend the Jurong Line against
to
a frontal attack — but there was one sTave danger.
What would
mouth
of the Kranji
happen
if
the Japanese landed between the
and the causeway? They would obviously be able
turn the
to
Jurong Line. This was precisely what the Japanese planned to do. and once a^ain thev oblis:mo;lv °:ave the British clear notice of their intention, for while the battle was rasing crah in
around Ten-
the west. Japanese artillery started a massive barrage
the mile-Ions: strip of coastline between the
mouth
and the point where the causeway reached the
Here was an exact copybook replica fore the
first
The
Japanese landings.
of
of the Kranji
island.
what had occurred be-
Australian positions were
dive-bombed and pounded mercilessly. At one
stage of the bar-
were landing every ten minutes.
sixty-seven Japanese shells
Yet aeain Percival refused to commit troops to threatened
area.,
even though,
on
as
this
newlv
The War Against Japan
points
out.
"The onlv way
line
defended by a skeleton garrison with a high proportion of
.
.
.
was
to leave the north-eastern coast-
machine-guns, and to withdraw the 18th Division. risk
.
.
The
was not great; the threat of a landing on the north-eastern
sector
No first
.
had receded." such
'"risk"
was taken, and when evening came, and the
Guards were being ferried
units of the Japanese Imperial
across the Straits near the causeway,
we
find Percival
a plan for the defense of Singapore City.
It
drawing up
seems that by
now
he feared the worst, and had decided
that, if the inevitable
happen, troops should
perimeter that would
fall
back
clude Kalians: Airfield near the
to a
citv.
and two
did in-
of the three island
A SINISTER
202
TWILIGHT
During the evening he called in two of his three senior commanders (Gordon Bennett could not leave his headquarters) and explained his plans to them verbally, enjoin-
reservoirs.
ing them to the night,
Percival
strictest secrecy.
After they had
members
of his
'
issued the plan in writing as a
personal instruction" for the three staff.
about mid-
left
'secret
commanders and a few
Secrecy was absolutely essential.
and
senior
Morale
was bad enough anyway, and there was no point in depressing
and alarming
officers in the battle areas.
The wisdom
on secrecy became appar-
of Percival's insistence
ent almost before his clerk had finished typing the plan, for sud-
denly
— and most unexpectedly — morale
given a rousing, exciting
tempting
to
fillip.
The
headquarters was
at
crack Japanese guards
at-
land near the causeway were being thrown back
into the water.
At
first
Percival could hardly believe
Brigadier Maxwell,
way
area
his
Gordon Bennett had
men must
were doing
fight
it
out.
— magnificently.
— partly
because
the Australians in the cause-
had already requested permission
further inland.
him
commanding
it
And
to
withdraw
curtly refused,
now,
this
is
just
As the minutes ticked
to a line
and
told
what they
by, Percival
waited impatiently for news via Gordon Bennett. After half an
came
— good news.
Even though the Japanese landing barges carried mortars which they fired at speed, throwing up a screen of spray from a creeping barrage, the Australians were forcing most of them back, while those Japanese who did manage to gain a foothold on the muddy bank found themselves Lu hour
it
-
ing a stubborn, determined defense quite out of character with
what they had been led to believe. Nothing they could do would dislodge the Australians, who were duo; in five hundred yards from the shoreline.
The few Japanese who
tried to rush
swamp and undergrowth were raked with machine-gun At times the ranges were down to ten yards. the
fire.
THE ASSAULT As the night wore on, the news got even
203
and
better,
in the
morning news was rushed to Percival that the Japanese had apparently given up the attempt to land. It was true. As we now know, the commander of the landing troops early hours of the
had sent a signal
to
General Yamashita in the Sultan of Johore's
palace, asking for permission to call the attack off
and endeavor
to land elsewhere the following evening.
Yamashita was undecided.
which was only gence
officers to
He
decided to wait until dawn
few hours away
a
wake him with
And when
area at that time.
— and instructed
a fresh report
the report came, everything
nese had been unable to dent was
astonishment, he was told
shita's
away."
How
this tragic reversal
The
The
Maxwell ordered
no longer there and, to Yamathat "all resistance had melted
had come about
at a
his troops to retire,
moment of we know is
and
he had been given permission to withdraw.
later that
had
stubborn,
line the Japa-
heroic defense has never been fully explained. All that Brigadier
his intelli-
from the causeway
suddenly, unaccountably, inexplicably changed. heroic resistance of the night had vanished.
—
insisted
Gordon
Bennett insisted with equal vehemence that Maxwell had never
been given such permission. Whatever happened, by dawn on
had been abandoned and the road
the 10th the causeway area
to
Singapore lay open. If this disaster
were not enough, another now followed hard
— and
was never explained. For somebody
on
its
in
Gordon Bennett's Western Area
heels
been identified "secret
this, too.
— issued
and personal" plan
Moreover,
it
was issued
tain circumstances.
manders
When
culprit has never
for the last-ditch defense of the city.
as a military
From
in the field acted
initiative.
— the
to subordinate commanders Percival 's
that
order to be obeyed in cer-
moment on
the 10th, the com-
on the instructions
— and
their
own
Brigadier Taylor (who had already "seemed
confused" to Gordon Bennett; received the order
"its
limited
He
nature escaped him."
meaning
as
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
204
new
the
him
and
that he
He
positions.
for his actions" *
read
his
did
men so.
through
it
should retreat immediately
Bennett
but by then
be wondered
late.
The
last pre-
had vanished, and nor
is
The War Against Japan com-
for as
at,
it
to
later "tersely reproved
was too
it
tense at any coherent plan of defense this to
— and interpreted
mented,
To
these
weary and distracted
officers,
sorely in
need
of rein-
forcements and encouragement to fight on despite their culties, the receipt of
mission that the higher hopeless.
The
diffi-
such an order was tantamount to an ad-
command
regarded the situation
as
psychological effect of this order had a consider-
able bearing on their actions during the 10th.
on that day shows
A study
of events
throughout it Western Area its subordinate formations. Thus, despite the fact that the enemy during the day had done nothing more than probe defences with his advance troops, the Jurong Line was abandoned clearly that
failed to co-ordinate the actions of .
.
.
.
On
.
.
day Wavell flew in
this critical
where the fronts were shrinking.
to visit the island.
He
Every-
was horrified to hear
that
had been abandoned and immediately, over the Percivai, ordered a counterattack which was a disaster,
the Jurong Line
head of
resulting in even tail
more confusion "and
in the destruction in de-
of the forces involved."
WavelTs unfortunate decision
to
launch a counterattack was
possibly inspired by an extraordinary telegram from Churchill
which had reached him
just before
he had flown out of Java.
Churchill "no longer nursed illusions about the protracted fense of Singapore.
The
only question was
doubt the Prime Minister was worried by the defeat •
x
long.'
effect
an ignoble
would have on American public opinion, and was
The Japanese Thrust
de-
how
1
dcter-
THE ASSAULT mined
205
that the "fortress" should fight for as long as
possible, for in his cable to
humanly
Wavell, he said:
way we view the situation in was reported to Cabinet by the C.I.G.S. [Chief of Imperial General Staff] that Percival has over 100,000 men, of I
think you ought to realise the
Singapore.
It
whom
33,000 are British and 17,000 Australian. It is doubtful whether the Japanese have as many in the whole Malay Peninsula ... In these circumstances the defenders must greatly outnumber Japanese forces who have crossed the straits, and in a well-contested battle they should destroy them. There must
be no thought of saving the troops or sparing the population. The battle must be fought to the bitter end at at this stage
all costs.
history.
troops.
Army
is
The 18th Division has a chance to make its name in Commanders and senior officers should die with their The honour of the British Empire and of the British at stake.
I
on you
rely
to
show no mercy
to
weakness
in anv form. With the Russians fighting as they are and the Americans so stubborn at Luzon, the whole reputation of our country and our race is involved. It is expected that every unit will be brought into close contact with the enemy and fight it
out.
However eloquent and
w as hardly the sort of signal to send to a hard-pressed commander, for it took no account of the fact that control of the air and the sea had long since been lost, nor that the Japanese had about two hundred tanks and Britain had none; nor that the bulk of the vast body of inspiring, this
T
Empire troops was inexperienced, badly trained, yet pitted against veteran fighters
blooded
in the
war against China. Even
worse was the absurd comparison with the fighting between the
Americans and the Japanese in Luzon. Japanese troops in the Philippines (they Singapore after the fortress.
fall)
There were no crack were sent there from
and Corregidor was
in fact a
genuine
A SINISTER
206
TWILIGHT down this injudicious Dav dated February 10,
Wavell, however, did nothing to tone cable; instead he issued an
Order
of the
which he made use of every argument put forward by and indeed almost the same words. It bore an ex-
in
Churchill
—
traordinary similarity to the original:
It is certain that
our troops on Singapore Island heavily out-
number any Japanese who have
crossed the Straits.
We
must
destroy them.
Our whole
fighting reputation
the British Empire.
is
at stake
The Americans have
and the honour
of
held out in the Bataan
Peninsula against far heavier odds; the Russians are turning
back the picked strength of the Germans; the Chinese, with almost a complete lack of modern equipment., have held back the Japanese for four and a half years. It will be disgraceful if we yield our boasted Fortress of Singapore to inferior enemy forces. There must be no thought of sparing the troops or civilian population, and no mercy must be shown to weakness in any shape or form. Commanders and senior officers must lead their troops and if necessary die with them. There must be no question or thought of surrender. Every unit must fight it out to the end and in close contact with the enemy. Please see that the above is brought to the notice of all Senior Officers and by them to the troops. I look to you and to your men to fight to the end to prove that the fighting spirit that won our Empire still exists to enable us to defend
it.
This might have been or
it
all
very well for local consumption
—
could have been had Percival's secret retreat plan not been
leaked
— but
mischievous papers.
wTong
if
it
had one unfortunate repercussion. For
these
inspiring words appeared in several British news-
Naturally they gave the people of Britain an utterly picture of superior Allied forces
who
have the courage to defend the "boasted
did not apparently
fortress of
Singap
THE ASSAULT against inferior
enemy
WavelTs
tion to
of
some troops
see
.
.
he made no bones about the not good, and none
Everything
.
Nor did the words bear any for when he started drafting
forces.
real feelings,
ply to Churchill, is
207
is
is
as
high
fact that as I
and optimistic outlook, but
efforts
have been entirely successful up to date."
be WavelTs
to
a re-
"Morale
should like to
being done to produce a more offensive
spirit
This was
rela-
cannot pretend that these
I
last visit to
and during the Gordon Bennett near
the island,
day he drove with General Percival to see
Timah village. The Australian headquarters was heavily bombed at the time and as Percival put it, there was the "unediBukit
fving spectacle of three General officers going to tables or
ground under
any other cover that was available." They were in
lucky not to be killed, for one Japanese
on Bennett's own
office.
It failed to
That evening Wavell called
how
was appalled to discover insist that
she should
fly
bomb
scored a direct hit
explode.
to see Sir
ill
fact
Shenton Thomas, and
Lady Thomas was. He
tried to
out of Singapore with him, but Lady
Thomas would not hear of it.
He had one flying boat at
and
RAF
airfield
last
decision to
make
before returning to Java by
midnight. Wavell ordered
all
serviceable aircraft
personnel to the Dutch East Indies. Kallang, the
on the island in Allied hands, was "so pitted with
craters that
it
For days the
was no longer usable."
RAF
pilots
had fought
brilliantly against over-
whelming odds, even though the few remaining been pinned
last
bomb
down
to Kallang, the boggy,
swampy
aircraft
had
airfield
near
Even
this had been kept open only by teams working round the clock on the 750-yard-long landing strip. The British
the city.
losses
had been
severe.
Out
of "the
meagre reinforcements" of
A SINISTER
208 fifty-one
TWILIGHT
Hurricanes which had arrived in crates in mid-January,
only twenty-six remained serviceable by the end of the month,
and even these had rapidly dwindled. By now only eight Hurricanes and six ancient Buffalos were left to carry on the fight. This token force attempted to prevent the Japanese from divebombing troops and broke up enemy attacks on shipping. On their last full day's flying over Singapore Island
any
real
ground control — they shot down
six
— and without
Japanese bombers
and damaged fourteen more.
Among the
last to fly
out his Hurricane was Flight-Lieutenant
Arthur Donahue, the American with the RAF. Together with the other
officers,
he had been billeted in the Seaview Hotel,
had
where
civilian guests
pagne
for every Japanese aircraft shot
arrived for
Donahue and
clinging on
in
a standing offer of a bottle of
When
the order
his colleagues to leave, the old civilians
Seaview
the
down.
cham-
— the
''useless
mouths" which
Churchill had in vain asked to be evacuated weeks previously
could not believe
"No
it.
matter
how bad
noted, "as long as they could see the
was hope." Donahue
RAF
—
the news,"
Donahue
they
felt there
flying,
left an indelible picture of his last sight of
Singapore as he flew away:
My
final memory of Singapore, as it appeared to me looking back for the last time, is of a bright green little country, restexing on the edge of the bluest sea I'd ever seen, lovely cept where the dark tragic mantle of smoke ran across its middle and beyond, covering and darkening the city on the seashore. The city itself, with huge leaping red fires in its north and south parts, appeared to rest on the floor of a vast cavern formed by the sinister curtains of black smoke which rose from beyond .
and towered over cloak of doom.* *
Donahue won
it,
.
prophetically, like a great over-hanging
the D.F.C. in the Malayan campaign and wrote an excellent
count of his experiences in Last Flight from Singapore. war.
.
He was
ac-
killed later in the
THE ASSAULT
200,
While Flight-Lieutenant Donahue and
RAF
were
flying
Hammonds were
bewildered George
They,
too,
though gone
had
preparing to leave by
lunchtime on February
Cathay
to
a
sea.
been ordered out by the military,
in effect
as late as
to the
his colleagues in the
Jimmy Glover and
out to Java, a stunned
make
when Glover had
11,
sure the distribution of the Tribune
was proceeding smoothly, he had not had the faintest idea that this
would be
his last
the last issue of the
He had seemed
day on the
island,
newspaper that was
since defeat
for,
Timah Road, and have them
the veterinary surgeon in Bukit
He
could not bear the thought of them being
At the
treated by the Japanese.
vet's
had been there with
his
two cocker
ill-
he had joined a queue of
Europeans, each with their unsuspecting dogs. spaniels.
Tim Hudson
Many men had
"Despising myself thoroughly," Glover remem-
tears.
bered, "I
now
he had decided to take his two dogs to Forbes,
certain,
been in
would be
this
his life.
spent a wretched morning
put down.
nor that
handed them over
and watched them
to the attendant
led away. I have hated myself for this act ever since."
was in
It
made
his
frame of mind that he reached the Cathay and
this
way
Captain Steele, senior Press
"Have you got
The first person he saw was Officer, who asked him abruptly,
to the press office.
a suitcase packed?" Glover told
him
it
was in
his
car.
"Good," said Glover's
Steele.
"You're leaving tonight
immediate reaction was
to
blurt
if
you're lucky."
out,
"But what
about tomorrow 's paper?" "There'll be
and
Hammonds
no tomorrow's paper," retorted are leaving with
all
Steele.
"You
the other press correspon-
dents."
At
this
moment Hammonds was making
Dulverton with the ing
if
last
his final trip
from
few copies of the Tribune and wonder-
he would ever reach the center of the
city, for as
he drove
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
210
gingerly toward Orchard Road, "it was like no-man's-land."
Trees were slumped awkwardly across the road, attap huts
burned as
in a
nearby kampong,
shells burst
around
his Chevrolet
he reached a roadblock manned by a handful of British
diers,
including one
tall
holding an automatic
Tribune and passed
blond boy stripped
rifle.
to the waist
George gave him a
free
sol-
and
copy of the
As the young waved him through he cried cheerfully, "Better not come back the Japs are coming this way. They must have seen that sign!" He jerked his gun in the direction of an enormous street hoarding. It bore the words, Join the army and see his tin of cigarettes round.
soldier
—
the world.
Somehow Hammonds reached Captain
Steele.
As they waited
the Cathay, to find Glover and
for the other correspondents to
be rounded up, Leslie Hoffman rushed in to say good-bye.
Hammonds
tried to persuade
with that engaging grin of
him
to
come
his, just said,
along, but Leslie,
"Don't worry about
me —
I'll become part of the scenery." That night Glover and Hammonds carried their suitcases aboard an ancient coastal steamer which had been elevated to the status of "naval sloop." There they waited until darkness had fallen when Hammonds walked aft and took his last look at the city ringed with fires. Then, as the improvised man-o'-wai slid stealthily away and turned her prow to the south, Hammonds found a corner on the cluttered, oily deck and tried to
blot out everything in sleep.
Another party was
Rob
Scott
and
his
also leaving that night
staff,
the Japanese "wanted"
for
he knew that
lists,
and
in
all
— none other than
of
any event,
them would be on there was no point
open a Ministry of Information office any longer, Scott had always planned to remain with a reduced staff right to the end. Indeed "I had not anticipated that this last group would in keeping
THE ASSAULT *et
But now he rounded up his team of men, together with the skeleton staff of the Malaya Broad-
away
ten
211
casting
the
Singapore
if
Company,
MBC
had
of
fell."
which Scott was
a governor.
He
at first refused to go.
was
still
Eric Davis of
broadcasting
with improvised emergency equipment, even though one tion
was under continual
Drder
him
to leave,
and
In the end, Scott had to
shellfire.
late
on the
1
sta-
ith they all set off to
board
H.M.S. Giang Bee, an ancient 1200-ton Chinese-owned coaster which had been requisitioned by the navy, and which carried a
gun and depth charges. Here they ran into a problem: the captain would take only twenty-five on board, and refused point-blank to include the two women on the MBC >taff. The Giang Bee was offensively armed, he said, and thus to the Japanese would be a warship. Scott and his staff of ten men were taken on board, together with the MBC engineers. The rest of the MBC staff including Eric Davis and the two Pour-inch
—
*irls
— were
taken to another
vessel.
(Davis was never heard
3f again.)
For some extraordinary reason the navy Malays
who formed
now
ordered
all
the
the backbone of the crew to be sent ashore,
leaving the ship without stokers, deckhands, stewards, signalers dt radio operators,
lowed by another,
and
when
this
unaccountable order was soon
fol-
the British Naval Shipping Control or-
dered the Giang Bee back into Singapore's inner harbor, and instructed the captain to take
on two hundred old men, women
and children. In vain he pointed out that he had only four boats, each
designed to carry thirty-two passengers.
crew consisted of a handful of gers
RNVR
life-
His only
and those passenwho had volunteered. He did not have enough food and
water.
All his pleas
ping Control. their part.
It
was
officers
were curtly overruled by the Naval Shipto
prove a disastrous error of judgment on
A SINISTER
212
TWILIGHT The MBC Chu Yu-Min
Later that night the Giang Bee slid out of harbor. engineers became radio operators. Scott's servant
— who had been with him thirteen years China — became cook "and produced meal out of whatever he in all parts of
for
a
And
could lay hands on." fourteen stone, so
I
Scott himself? "Well,
volunteered
I
weighed over
doing the midnight
as a stoker,
to four a.m. watch."
The
following morning, Singapore awoke to find a
newspaper on the
had been leaving the Straits Times his publicity
—
— as
new kind
of
During the evening as Hammonds Shenton Thomas had decided to take over a government printing office. A member of
streets.
department was appointed acting
editor,
and
be-
tween them they rounded up an assorted batch of Singhalese linotype operators, Chinese printers, Asian sub-editors and one
The
reporter.
and
camped managed
in the
staff
shelling, they
to
office.
Despite the
bomn
produce 7000 copies of
a sin
Times on the morning of the 12th. All the Tamil newspaper sellers had vanished but the Governoi sheet edition of the Straits
arranged for dispatch riders to deliver bundles to
all
ART
the
posts.
The six
paper was quarto
news
size,
and the
first
issue contained onlj
items, with the "lead" story consisting of the latest
<>m-
<
munique — eight unadorned paragraphs with no comment. color,
no
interpretation.
It was,
studded with
as usual,
n<>
the
meaningless phrases Singaporeans had come to know so well -
"enemy pressure slackened during stabilise
our position
situation."
Of
.
.
.
the night
Elsewhere there
.
is
.
.
It i>
hope
no change
in the
the other five stories, one noted a modest
contribution to the Malaya
War Fund and
1
two had nothing
whatsoever to do with the war in Malaya. As Kenneth
Attiwill
TH1 ASSAULT
213
commented, "To look at these news-sheets now is to wonder whether the courage and enterprise of the staff were worth
dryl)
u."
On
determined to try
to
it
make one
last
effort
—
out of a job
persuade his old father
to
He had heard that several boats planned to Dutch last Indies on Friday the 13th. Leslie felt
and escape.
leave tor the that
— now
same day Leslie Hoffman
this
his father
would only
go,
he too might be able to reach
Australia and rejoin his wife.
The
congestion in the center of the city was
now
so wide-
spread that he found the utmost difficulty in getting through
it.
Manx Asians had "given the city up," producing a new and brightening problem. Roads and squares in the heart of Singapore, already crowded with military vehicles, now began to be lammed with long streams of Chinese and Indian civilians who were heading for the east of the island
— anywhere,
was away trom the advancing Japanese. in the small seat of his sports car,
of the
women
To all
Hoffman, crouched
the pathetic vividness
carried everything they pos-
— beds, followed carrying food —
on their backs, staggering under immense loads
bedding, bits of furniture. usually sacks of rice
One
possessions.
shaw.
had
it
newsreels of the French fleeing before the Germans.
first
Wrinkled old men and sessed
it
so long as
An
mother
Women
— and every child was loaded with precious
lucky family had found an abandoned rick-
old wizened
woman
— she might
— had been put between
hind her a
man
the shafts to pull the load.
carried a bed on his ban
rice tied together.
Half
a
have been a grand-
k.
a
woman two
Be-
sacks of
do/en children straggled along, with
and pans or dishes dangling on their backs. Where they were making for didn't seem to matter or that was Hoffman's pots
—
impression.
enough.
A
The Japanese were on kind of
dumb
instinct
the
island
— that
was
compelled them to get out of
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
214
the city; probably they felt they stood a better chance of survival
kampongs. As Hoffman approached the big open space by the Cricket Club padang he had to slow down for a family which had managed to find an empty coffin. They had loaded it up and were in the village
now
carrying
Once
handles.
now
— irreverent
it
the pride
— by
pallbearers
and joy
trees, lighting
poles torn down,
skeletons of burned-out cars
brass
— smashed windows,
bore the stark evidence of recent raids
uprooted
heavy
its
of Singapore, the civic center
and
and on every
side the
Behind the
Victoria
lorries.
Theatre was a huge column of smoke. As Hoffman moved inch by inch tow ard the edge of the T
electricity pylons still
drunken traffic
bungalow in the Serangoon 7
the city
fight,
angles.
took Hoffman nearly an hour, driving along the roads
choked with military
At
he was halted by three
which had been almost uprooted. They were
standing, but at
It
city,
off
and comparatively
eighty,
and
refugees, to reach his father's
area,
which was well
to the east
<»l
quiet.
Hoffman's father was
but his obstinacy seemed
ceeding year. Since the day
to
when
a
grand old
man and
full of
have increased w ith each 7
Leslie
in vain to persuade his father to leave, he
and
had
his wife
suc-
dried
had never brought up
the subject, for though his reason had insisted that Singapore
w as doomed, perhaps in his heart he had mon w ith so many others) the vague hope T
T
entertained (in
occur to disprove his forebodings. Now, however,
Now
(
that a miracle would it
was
differ-
no hope. As Hoffman walked into the big airy living room w here he had spent his childhood and his father hunched by the veranda in a long chair, he d< mined that this time there would be no nonsense. He would ent.
7
there could be 7
make him go In
fact,
— whether
Leslie
his father liked the idea or not.
Hoffman
failed completely.
He
found
hi* old
ASSAULT
I
215
more obdurate, more difficult than ever. This was his This was his house, and he was going to sit it out. It made
father city.
no difference that Leslie quoted Churchill's demand that "usemouths" should be evacuated. His lather hardly seemed to hear
when
Leslie painted lurid
against
especially
men
when
dly bothered to reply
the prospect of starving
word
pictures of Japanese atroci-
with Chinese blood in them. asked him
his son
under the new masters
if
He
he relished
Malaya who
of
would be completely indifferent to the welfare of old and "usemen. Thev must have argued
for over
an hour
— though
•oilman wryly remembered, "the arguments were rather onesided, for
I
did
all
the talking: and
my
lather just kept
on shak-
head."
his
Eventually the old
and
himself,
jer beer.
man
ordered some pale Chinese tea for
Leslie searehed the refrigerator for a bottle of cold It
was, he
remembered,
beautiful
a
afternoon.
Apart from the growl of distant gunfire, the war seemed
moment with
compound, blossoms. Only the smell
curiously remote as thev Looked over the
luxuriant creepers and exotic
its
ordite in the air, instead
brpught Hoffman back to
Then,
after his father
ther,
had put down
it
just
and
was a long speech.
By now island
—
as
I
special smell,
said
cup
of eggshell
something which Leslie t«>
come. For his
fa-
"What does
a
ol suffering?
All this will pass over.
another storm. m\ boy,
hospital just because
own
his small
never forget in the days and nights
matter in the world's historv It's
arc's
reality.
china, he turned to his son :
at that
m
t
of misery
I'm not going to run off to
my feet wet."
Friday the 13th approached
had been irretrievably
lew- years
lost,
and
it
— the battle
was only
for the
a question ol
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
2l6
time. Japanese tanks thundering
down
the Bukit
Timah Road
and then the village, together with vast military stores of food and petrol. Hand to hand fighting had flared up in places whose very names were evocative of "the good old days" on the racecourse, across the greens and had captured the
strategic hill
—
fairways of the Singapore Golf Club, at the Dairy Farm. Gen-
who had been operating from an advanced headquarters in Sime Road near the Golf Club, had been awakened at dawn by Japanese machine-gun fire barely a mile distant. He made his way to the famous Bukit Timah Road and drove along eral Percival,
it
as far as
he dared, to find in the early morning that "this great
road, usually so full of
was almost deserted. Japanese
were floating about, unopposed except
craft fire,
traffic,
looking for targets.
One
wide road in a lone motor
man added
a rare cry
to
car."
Then
our
naked driving up
this strange,
air-
anti-aircraft that
complicated
from the
heart, a cry that echoed the
feel-
now
trapped inside a perimeter
that
ings of a million civilians
had shrunk
felt terribly
for
two and a half miles. "Why,
I
asked myself, does
Britain, our improvident Britain, with all her great resources,
allow her sons to fight without any air support?"*
Yet Percival knew that he could not surrender, despite the fact that
General Yamashita had sent him a courteous "airmail"
invitation to
Command
do
so,
dropping a note addressed "to the High
of the British
Army" from
a Japanese aircraft.
read:
Your Excellency, High Command
Nippon Army based on the have the honour of presenting this note to Your Excellency advising you to surrender the whole force in Malaya. My sincere respect is due to your army which true to the traI,
the
spirit of
* Percival,
of the
Japanese chivalry,
The War
in
Malaya.
It
THE ASSAULT ditiona] spirit of Great Britain,
is
217
bravely defending Singapore
which now stands isolated and unaided. Many fierce and gallant fights have been fought by your gallant men and officers, to the honour of British warriorship. But the developments of the genera] Avar .situation has already sealed the fate of Singapore,
and the continuation of futile resistance would only serve to inflict direct harm and injuries to thousands of non-combatants living in the city, throwing them into further miseries and horrors of Avar, but also would not add anything to the honour of your army. I expect that Your Excellency accepting
up
this
my
advice will give
meaningless and desperate resistance and promptly order
the entire front to cease hostilities
and
will despatch at the
same
time your parliamentaire according to the procedure shown at the
end of
neglect
this note.
my
If
on the contrary, Your Excellency should
advice and the present resistance be continued,
I
shall be obliged, though reluctantly from humanitarian con-
siderations to order
my army
make
to
annihilating attacks on
Singapore.
In closing this note of advice, to
I
pay again
(signed) 1.
my
sincere respects
Your Excellency.
The
Tomoyuki Yamashita
Parliamentaire should proceed to the Bukit
Timah
Road. 2.
The
Parliamentaire should bear a large white flag and the
Union
Jack.
Whatever Percival might have felt he was faced with Churchill's firm dictum that "there must be no thought of sparing the troops or the civil population." to Wavell,
He
cabled Yamashita's message
adding with unconscious irony, "Have no means of
dropping message, so do not propose
would
On far.
of course in
the 12th
to
make
reply,
which
any case be negative."
Government House received
though Shenton
Thomas
still
its
worst shelling so
refused to evacuate the build-
A SINISTER
2l8
ing despite one direct
"House at
shelled.
hit,
TWILIGHT
which he described in
Several boys
[i.e.
back of house killed by direct
boy were lying exposed
to view.
all.
No
with yellow dust and unrecognisable.
went under house
including
hit,
Ghurkas, and an amah. Twelve in
his diary,
house servants] underneath
My
my
boy and
boy, three a
bedroom
sign of hurt, but covered
Ah
Ling,
my
head
boy,
more but reported none. Later we heard that others were missing, so I went down with Simson and found four or five including an amah and two Ghurkas in one passage. All like statues, sitting or kneeling, and no marks." By sundown Allied forces had withdrawn to a line roughly similar to that outlined in Percival's secret plan, but no one for a moment was optimistic enough to believe it could be held for to look for
long.
Mr. V. G. Bowden, Australian government representative
in
Singapore, had to cable Canberra that "a group of Australians and others" had boarded a vessel without authority and sailed for Java. The city was crowded with sullen, armed deserters "in greater numbers" (according to The War Against Japan) "than
could be controlled by the Military Police."
Now,
at last,
morale was beginning
to crack.
9 Black Friday
Friday, February 13 It
was a beautiful morning, of a kind which only the tropics can
produce, and then only occasionally.
The
light
was not yet
—
his when Tim Hudson awoke in the headmaster's study "bedroom" at Tiong Bahru, where he was by now spending
harsh
—
He pulled on his khaki slacks quickly, and walked into the common room where the indefatigable Wee- Wee, grinning below his mop of unruly black hair, was pouring out ugly-
most nights.
colored, stewed tea to several wardens
corned beef
slices
"on
and some bread stood
call."
A
plate of
in the
middle of the
Tim
pointed out in
table. Breakfast.
The
tea
forceful,
was undrinkable
—
a fact
which
unmistakable language to Wee-Wee. "I make fresh tea
for you, tuan," issue of the
he bustled away, and
Tim
picked
up
the second
government's single-sheet newspaper, several copies
of which
had been delivered to main headline read "Japanese
ARP Suffer
posts for distribution.
Huge
The
Casualties in Singa-
pore" but the story below, which contained only
five
paragraphs
and Australian newspapers, told him nothXor did the other items. One dealt with a meeting between Xehru and Chiang Kai-shek, another with an American plan to raise an air force of two million men. It all seemed so remote, as though the newspaper had been edited thousands of
culled from British ing.
A SINISTER
220
TWILIGHT
miles away by people completely uninterested in this island a
few degrees north of the equator. There was nothing in the way of inspiration,
ing for the
one excepted
if
a
new
slogan mysteriously appear-
time below the masthead and consisting of a
first
phrase from a broadcast by the Governor, ''Singapore Must Stand;
SHALL
it
who had
And underneath
Stand."
lost all sense of
time
sense of foreboding, the date:
Hudson was never
that,
Hudson
— suddenly noted, with
it
—
a chilling
was Friday, the thirteenth.
cup of freshly brewed tea, for he newspaper back on the table when
to get his
had barely tossed the
useless
bombers overhead brought every warden to his feet and the room emptied in a mad scramble. Ironically, Hudson the drone of
probably owed his still
life to
the fact that, having slept
As the other wardens made
in his slippers.
late,
off in
he was
the direc-
Hudson ran back to his bedroom moment a stick of bombs straddled
tion of the "operations room," for his shoes
— and
at that
the school.
Tim Hudson sitting
never knew what hit him.
on the edge of
his
One moment he was
hard camp bed, the next, he was wak-
ing up, as though from a nightmare, spluttering and choking in
He
Dimly he registered camp bed had been blown half through the open window. He had a vague impression of men hammering on the door, shouting in Chinese as they tried to break it down, the smoke-filled room.
was on the
floor.
the fact that the
to force their
seemed
way
in.
Gingerly he
o-ot
to his feet.
No
bones
to have been broken, though there was an egg-sized
lump on
The pounding continued, for the door had become jammed when a desk had been blown across the room. Hudson managed to tug it away and the door colthe back of his head.
lapsed.
"We
thought you'd been killed," gasped one of the Chines
they stumbled
in.
BLACK FRIDAY
— what's happened?" — and stopped
mind me
''Never
221
Tim.
cried
dazed, he stumbled outside swift seconds, half the school
had been pulped into a
ble over which the dust
hung
still
and roof supports stuck out in the yard
pile of rub-
morning mist. Girders angles. Three of the six cars
like a
at crazy
had been twisted into
scrap.
Bodies lay everywhere
the grotesque, uncomfortable attitudes of death.
in
Still
In a few
aghast.
"It
was
nothing compared with some of the other incidents," wrote
Hudson
later,
differently.
"but the
Until the
fact that
every incident with a cold, time.
knew what
I
Seven
friends."
With
was ours made
it
felt
men had been
like
killed
a sick feeling in his stomach,
head down, over the counter of
his
when
The phone was control.
it
Tim
yet
— almost
to get
so, telling
the General Hospital, barely half a mile away.
to decide
down
post into the College of tired doctor took
Your
lot
first
him
it
was decided
the
to
thing
to
move Tim's
Medicine in the hospital grounds.
can take that corner
little left to
A
into the assembly hall and, pointing, said,
—
at least
it's
move from Tiong Bahru was completed
very
up
Tiong Bahru. The second
got a phone."
was better than nothing, and with the help of a couple of the
to
where the post should now operate.
After hurried consultations,
'
to
The
on
one of the
Chinese to take charge of the wounded, he decided to race
was
as
tea.
was imperative
it
Wee-Wee.
found him slumped,
mobile canteen
Tim's car was undamaged,
was to get the ambulances
quite
they lost their
— including
though he had fallen asleep while making the
ARP
see
of
the others
dead —
me
Tiong Bahru, I had sized up professional eye. Now, for the first
bombing
swiftly.
It
lorries,
There was
be carted away after the ambulances had taken
wounded, and the bodies had been piled up in a corner
to
await the burial squad. All except one body, for almost on an impulse,
Tim went
over to the wreck of the mobile canteen of
222
which they had
all
A SINISTER
TWILIGHT
been
and
so proud,
lifted
up
the slack body of
Wee-Wee. There were others among the wardens who had been closer to Tim, others he had respected and liked more, but in a curious way Wee-Wee, with his grin and tousled hair, had become a sort of mascot to the post. Tim managed to get him into the untidy interior of the Hillman and drove up to the General. There he carried the light body toward the burial pit. At least one man from Tiong Bahru would have a mourner at his funeral.
Tim Hudson
never forgot that
aware of something
behind
his back.
else that
on the
— though he was un-
was happening within
Freddy Bloom saw
picture which she, too, tailed to wait
moment
would never
it all
— a complete,
forget, for she
side of the "picture" as she stood in the
bearded
man
but
biblical
had been
de-
steps for Dr. Cicely William's 120 children
who had been evacuated and were now coming At one
sight,
to the hospital.
porch was the
against the burning skyline, holding the limp,
small body across his two arms in front of him, before he gently
lowered
it
into the pit.
And coming up
the drive toward her
was a straggling, winding procession of scores of children.
A few
could toddle. Others were being carried. Some were laughing.
Some had bandaged lowed
heads, or arms in slings. Stretcher cases
fol-
at the tail end.
The composite picture — of the beginning and the end of — was there and gone in an instant Freddy hurried forward
life
as
to help.
For Dr. Cicely Williams and her family of children the day had started in earnest at
dawn when
the shelling around
Seng Hospital had become so intense that agine
why we were not
hit
—
bits of
"I simply
Tan Tock cannot im-
metal seemed to be flying
BLACKFRIDAY
22 ^
about everywhere." She had picked up the babies in armfuls
and put them under beds with three or four mattresses, and tried to snatch a few minutes' sleep under her bed. She seemed to
have barely closed her eyes, however,
with the news that the hospital had
to
when
she was awakened
be evacuated
—
in twelve
way to pick up her charges. The Bishop of Singapore arrived with some MAS volunteers to help, and between them they loaded the ambulances minutes. Ambulances were already on their
with the children tive,
—
sick,
wounded, orphaned, mentally
defec-
even some in plaster frames.
In ten ambulances they set off to cross the six miles of cratered roads that separated
Tan Tock Seng from
the General Hospital.
Cicely Williams drove ahead to find out where she
— and discovered that she had been Department — or rather the of the Depart-
to put the children
the Dental
would have allotted
floor
w as floor and that was that." A woman of infinite managed to persuade three amahs to help her clean out while Freddy Bloom waited at the hospital entrance to tell
ment. "There
r
resource, she it
the convoy of babies
which direction
to take across the spreading
grounds.
By the time the babies arrived the floor of the Dental Department was at least clean, and Cicely Williams had managed to persuade the hospital to provide a few mattresses. There was, however, a much more pressing problem. She had no food, and many of the children were already whimpering with hunger. Cicely Williams had to go "on the scrounge." Food was valueless unless she could cook it, and she had no utensils.
So she started with a
visit to
the surgical stores, where
managed to borrow a couple of large saucepans. Then she made a "determined onslaught" on the man in charge of the hospital storeroom, who was horrified to learn that 120 more mouths needed feeding small mouths, moreover, which she
—
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
224
needed tins of
special food.
Grudgingly he gave her a bag of
milk and loaves of bread, a few packets of prunes
He
some beef bones.
also let her
charcoal for the small
made
these locally
Now hoped
rice,
— and
have two coalpots and a bag
of embers used
when cooking
of
with
pots.
at least she
to set
fire
some
had
food, fuel
up her kitchen on
and
utensils.
At
first
she had
the veranda of the Dental De-
partment, but one glance showed her this would be impossible
because of flying shrapnel. In the end she started cooking rice in
when it came to Though there was no
the coalpots in one of the dental rooms. And,
heating the milk, she had a stroke of luck. gas stove, the gas supply was section,
And
with
its
still
on
in the dental mechanic's
array of false teeth that had never been
fitted.
there were a couple of bunsen burners. Just the thing for
heating milk.
Somehow
Cicely Williams lived through this awful day, often
without help. Three of the wounded babies died.
Many were
They were
— Chinese,
still
shell-shocked.
a motley assortment
with faces that looked prematurely crinkled, Indian babies with
and even a couple of European orphans, It made no difference to Cicely Williams, even though she lacked all modern sanitary arrangements. There were no such things as nappies. But when the children were fed and quieter, she raided the storerooms again and found pools of eyes, Malays,
never to be identified.
a supply of mackintosh sheets.
That helped. Then
the day, Cicely Williams, the "mother"
who had
for
most of
never had any
children of her own, was busy cleaning, washing, feeding and
doctoring the strange, polyglot family she had inherited. Cicely Williams was not alone in facing almost superhuman difficulties.
Across the grounds, in the hospital proper, each of
the four major operating theaters had two operating tables in
use twenty-four hours a day,
manned by
surgeons like Professor
BLACK FRIDAY J.
R.
Monro, who worked
2
in relays, four
2^
hours in the theater,
Water was so short that Monro remembers "a water tarried from a supply outside the theatre had to
eight resting.
basin of
serve for washing the hands for several operations."
the
day — the
unlucky 13th
— when
a shell
This was
exploded on the
Ramsey was performing a delicate brain operation on a wounded Chinese. Half the roof seemed to cave in. The doctor and nurses w ere covered with plaster. Pieces of cement hit the doctor on the head, another knocked out a nurse. Calmly Dr. Ramsey went on roof of one of the operating rooms where Dr. Xeil
r
with the operation
— and
though
face looking as
passively by his side,
it
just as calmly the theater sister, her
has been dusted with flour, stood im-
handing out the instruments until the two-
hour operation was over.
To Tim Hudson the 1
first
ARP
it
was "a
instruction he
hectic, brave, tragic day."
wardens must bury the dead
Almost
new headquarters was
received in his
as best
they can, anywhere,
phone functioned, sometimes it unaccountably went dead. More and more he and other divisional commanders had to rely on their Chinese dispatch riders, of
anyhow." Sometimes
whom Hudson Brave
bombing and It
wrote, "Still they
the answer,
of incidents.
who rode through
shelling as best they could, carrying
approaching
"Withdraw or
on
as best they
— please
give instructions"
and
disperse to your homes, whichever
best."
The whole burning
T
was a day of cryptic messages from outlying posts to
HQ — "Japanese you think
came w ith reports
these Chinese despatch riders
lads,
could."
his
flesh,
city
reeked with a
smoke and
recorded in his diary,
compound
cordite, as
when
"I
of decaying bodies,
General Gordon Bennett
made my way through
the
now
deserted streets of Singapore, streets that previously were a
seething mass of industrious humanity,
I
could smell the blast of
A SINISTER
226
bombs
TWILIGHT
There was devastation everywhere. The shops were shuttered and deserted." Yet there were moments of faith. When Leslie Hoffman went into St. Andrew's Cathedral, and walked along the nave still filled with wounded he came across a dozen soldiers in one corner behind the choir. They were on their knees praying, then rose and one man with a mouth organ started to play "Onward Christian Soldiers." The men joined in, and their voices must have carried out into the nave, for Hoffman could hear the aerial
in the air.
—
—
reedy voices of wounded
More than
war,
men trying to sing.
more than bombs and
shells,
more than
the
shadow of defeat, Friday the 13th left a legacy of bitterness which persists to this day, became of another extraordinary "se-
The manner in which naval technicians, then and senior Harbour Board officials had been evacuated had been bad enough. Now, however,
cret" evacuation.
army
the
sisters
stealthily
eighty-seven members of the Singapore Public Works Department (PWD) including their chief, Group-Captain Nunn, suddenly left the island. And Nunn had been expressly told by the Governor that he had to stick to his post. Nunn was a curious man, whose character, it would seem, left
something
to
be desired. In view of what later happened,
interesting to record that Shenton
(and
made
made
special visits to
Thomas
plainly
notes of) two occasions in February
it is
remembered
when Nunn
Government House to ask what he should became obvious that the island would have to capitulate. On the first occasion, the Governor reminded Nunn of a Standing Order forbidding any head of a civil government depart-
do
if it
ment told
to leave the island.
Nunn
firmly,
"If the worst
"your proper place
comes is
at
to the worst,"
he
your department;?
BLACK FRIDAY When Xunn
headquarters."
227
again raised the question, "it
made
me wonder," noted the Governor, "whether he was ready to pack up." The discussion was quite brief, for as the Governor added, "The subject was a most distasteful one and I should have preferred to look upon
Nunn, however, had
raised."
And
unless he did.
it
as
it
one that could not possibly be
a wife
who
flatly
realized that his only chance of saving her get
away
Now the
refused to leave
seems obvious that he had for some time
would be
for
him
to
too.
Brigadier Simson enters this tangled episode. Early on
morning
of Black Friday he received a
phone
call
asking
him
Canning at 9 a.m. for an important conference. By the time Simson arrived, the room was crowded with officers. Rear- Admiral Spooner, the naval C-in-C, was in the chair. Air to report at Fort
Vice-Marshal Pulford was present. Simson squeezed his way to a small chair
and
sat
down.
The meeting had been
called to plan an urgent evacuation
that very afternoon of about three thousand key
and
civilian
They were and
— who would be useful
to
to the
war
men
— military
effort elsewhere.
go on dozens of small boats that lay in the harbor,
after the various
branches of the forces had been given their
quotas, the admiral told Brigadier Simson that he was being
hundred places. The Admiral pointed out deliberately, "They are for younger technical men, who will continue the struggle from overseas." There was no time to be lost. Evacuees had to report with hand luggage Telok Ayer basin at four o'clock that afternoon. Before Simson left, Spooner warned him that, since this might
allotted three
be the
last official
and he
stressed again that this
men" — though three
evacuation, the strictest secrecy was necessary,
hundred
was for "key men" and "young
he did add that
in time, he could
if
Simson could not
make up
collect
his allotment
with
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
228
women and
But
children.
it
was made quite plain that
this
was
not to become a civilian evacuation of old and sick or even
women on compassionate grounds. It was a military plan to save which was doubtless why the conference had taken key men
—
place at military headquarters, under the presidency of an admiral.
The meeting broke up about phone messages sent
to
Nunn,
and Simson had number two) and
eleven-thirty,
Bisseker (his
the president of the Municipal Council, asking
him at
He
them
to
meet
the municipal offices at twelve-thirty.
had nearly an hour before the meeting, and though
still
no doubt
there was
Simson
felt
in his
mind
he should go and
curred, so he drove
up
to
that this was "a military show," tell
the Governor
Government House.
what had
oc-
Civilian evacua-
came under the Governor's wing, but this was a and Simson noted that "I remember no dissent," except that "the Governor suggested the Civilian Evacuation Committee should be represented." Simson readily agreed especially as, apart from anything else, he was already very tion normally
military exercise,
—
with half the phones down, he could find three hun-
doubtful
if,
dred key
men
in the few hours that remained.
son had reached the Municipal a
member
brook
of the Evacuation
later
made
offices,
up
S.
Committee, had arrived. Middle-
a detailed report of everything that happened.
— and the great concerned — Simson decided
In view of the time factor ing
Mr.
By the time SimM. Middlebrook,
the people
difficulty of
round-
to give fifty
passes to Bisseker, to be distributed to important businessmen.
He
gave 125 to the Evacuation Committee for Europeans and
Asians on their
list;
distributing them to had now come to a passes to
Nunn
he kept officials
stop.
for the
fifty for
on
He
himself, with the idea of
services like the railways
which
gave the remaining seventy-five
PWD
which totaled 105 men.
He
BLACK FRIDAY warned Nunn, however, must be
left to finish
that an
2 2()
adequate party of
PWD
officers
urgent demolitions under Mr. McConechy,
man
immense zeal and loyalty who was working night and cla\ with Simson on scorching the earth. and it was headed by Nunn soon had his list of names ready his own name, together with that of his wife. Simson immethe State Engineer,
and
a
of
—
Heads of departments had been specifically ordered to stick to their posts "until," in the words of the Governor, "the flag was hauled down." Nunn then made the ingendiatcly objected.
Group-Captain in the
ious excuse that as he held the rank of
R \F
Reserve, "I could be useful in aerodrome construction in
Simson didn't
Java."
pied with far too
about
a list of
ment, so he
As soon
when
to
spend
all
all,
occu-
afternoon arguing
names. That was the job of each head of depart-
left
as
but he was, after
like the idea,
many problems
Nunn
to act
according to his conscience.
he reached his
office
Nunn
started signing passes,
—
McConechy. Without a word and despite Simson's warning that McConechy must carry on Nunn wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it to the Scotsman. in strode
"What's this?" asked McConechy,
who
—
also kept a detailed
record of everything that happened that day.
"A ticket for you on a boat leaving this afternoon," replied Nunn. McConechy asked on whose authority it was issued and received the extraordinary (and quite untrue) assurance, "The ernor's." And when McConechy asked to see it, Nunn replied evasively, "It's a verbal instruction.'
McConechy asked how many
passes
replied that he had seventy-five. officers in
happen
1
Nunn
was signing.
Nunn
"But there are 105 engineer the department," cried McConechy. "What's going to
to the rest?"
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
230
Nunn at
hesitated then replied,
which McConechy
replied, "I don't
and a brother-in-law
a son-in-law
them.
"It'll
be just too bad for them,'*
want your
ticket.
in Singapore.
I've got
Ill stand by
Good afternoon!"
By three-thirty, there was pandemonium at the docks, and when Middlebrook of the Evacuation Committee arrived to make sure his nominees many of them Chinese got away, he found "a milling mob round the gates with armed military police on guard." A young lieutenant sat on a table facing the gates, nursing a tommy gun across his knees. Several leading
—
—
Chinese and Europeans were trying to get through the there appeared to be
some trouble over the
passes.
gates,
but
Middlebrook
who he was and forced his way young lieutenant who showed him his orders. There was no mention of Simson's passes, and though Middlebrook tried to explain what had happened, the officer refused to
explained to the military police
through
to the
change them.
As they were arguing, a wave of Japanese aircraft flew over and dropped a stick of bombs, killing several people in the crowd. Men were shouting and yelling that they had passes and should be let through. Children and their mothers who had passed through the gates were sobbing because their husbands
who
could be seen waving their passes were being refused admit-
tance.
Whenever
the gates were opened, there was a concerted
surge toward them, and only with the utmost difficulty were the
them again. The psychological effect of having got a permit and then being refused permission to leave was too much for many of the desperate men. Some of them, Middlebrook noted, were crying and sobbing. Others tore the gates in vain, trying to force them open. Still others, waving police able to close
;it
their passes, screamed abuse at the police cally silent,
while the young
who
stood there
stoi-
lieutenant sat on the tabic with his
BLACK FRIDAY tommy
gun.
lieutenant
Finally,
jumped
when
23
fighting started to break out, the
off the table
and ordered the police
to fire a
crowd
few rounds over the heads of the crowd. This calmed the
— and by then word had reached Brigadier Simson that
a little
He
down
Telok Ayer, and soon "Simson passes" were recognized. Simson remained by the gates until the last passenger was aboard, carefully examining the passes. was not well.
all
Soon car
—
drove
after 5 p.m. the
Japanese planes struck again. Simson's
— was obliterated
than a hundred yards away
less
rect hit.
to
But the most
in a di-
young
tragic death of all occurred as a
couple with their baby in arms stood w aiting for their turn to r
pass
through the
gate.
Their passes were
in order.
As the
fighter-bombers swooped low over the crowd the wife was hit by
—
and killed instantly. Her dazed husband her and still clutching the baby was un-
a piece of shrapnel
standing next to
—
harmed. At his side lay the body of his wife. In front of him was of freedom. Buck Buckeon the wharf, saw it all, and wrote "Never have I seen a look of such agony on a man's face." Buckeridge watched as the husband, dazed and crying, hesi-
the ship that was the child's sole
hope
ridge,
who had been
tated.
A sailor yelled at him to come aboard. He looked back —
one
last
fighting a fire
glance at the body on the pavement
blinded with
tears,
— and
then,
took the only decision he could take for the
sake of the baby. Stumbling, he passed through the gate, leaving the mother's
unburied body on the wharf.
After that, the Japanese bombers
6:30 p.m. the
last
for the last time.
—
the docks alone
and by
passenger was on board and the gates were shut
That night an armada
ranging from naval sloops launches
left
sailed south
(of
a
for Java.
board. So was Group-Captain
kind)
of forty-four ships to
—
outboard motor
Admiral Spooner was on
Nunn. So was Air Vice-Marshal
Pulford, whose last words to Percival, as he said good-bye,
had
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER been, "I suppose you and
knows we've done our
There was another
I
will
best with
— though
be blamed for
this,
but God
what we've been given."
less
spectacular
— evacuation
that
Government House which by now had of an enormous white ghost villa. Its empty corridors and
evening, this time from the air
— the only word, describe the splendid but tentious rooms — echoed with the crump of bombs, the swish
salons
shells
really, to
and the bark
pre-
of guns surrounding the building.
of
By now
the shelling was so severe that people hardly dared to climb the
handsome
staircase to the first floor.
with the city had been cut.
been killed or had
fled,
Many
The
last
telephone link
of the servants
had
either
and though the Governor had been
de-
termined that the Japanese should not drive him from his home,
now had no alternative but to go. The few remaining servants hurriedly packed one suitcase for Lady Thomas who was still ill in bed. Because of the shelling,
he
Sir
Shenton refused to allow any servants
clothes,
ADC
to
go upstairs to get
but insisted on going himself to pack a
his
His
suitcase.
ran to the deserted kitchens and quickly shoveled any
There was not much meat and fish and processed cheese but they would be useful later on. At half-past six an ambulance left with Lady Thomas while the Governor remained behind for a few minutes longer. Only his ADC avis tinned food he could find into a
—a
few
—
with him lawns,
carry-all.
tins of biscuits, milk,
as
now
he stood for the
last
time on the spacious green
pitted with craters, in front of the palace that was
once the symbol of his prestige and power and rious fashion, the symbol, too, of Whitehall's
yet, in
some
outmoded
<
a(
u-
pre-
occupation with impressing "the natives" rather than taking
adequate measures
to
defend them. Then, with a
sigh, the
Gov-
BLACK FRIDAY ernor stepped into his
down
cai
and drove
winding road
the long,
-';; ;;
for the last
time in his
For the
ornate gates.
to the
time the sentry presented arms as Sir Shenton set off for his
home
— the Singapore Club
Bor
— one
to
luxury of
made ready
be shared by the Governor and Lady Thomas,
the other lor his small ful
last
new
Fullerton Building.
in
Here, two of the members' bedrooms had been
him
life
remaining
staff.
shower room
a small
They enjoyed
— doubtful
the doubt-
because the tap
only worked intermittently, and already most of the water had
be carried from a standpipe in the
to
Governor had ito salad,
ate
dinner
his first ''club"
washed down with
tea
That evening the bully beef and tinned
street.
—
and tinned milk
perched on the edge of his bed. Lady
— which he
Thomas was
too
to
ill
take food.
Nearly a hundred VIP's were now crowding into the few bedrooms usually reserved for up-country members. Some had
broughc their
own camp
beds.
one man now held four or
who took
his
Rooms normally occupied by
meals in his room
— everyone had
what scratch meals were available Their
plight,
wounded on
r
"The
queue up
to
for
in the makeshift cafeteria.
was nothing compared with the
the low er floor which
shift hospital.
wrote.
however,
—
Apart from the Governor
five.
had been turned into a make-
conditions were appalling," the Governor
"Civilian doctors and sisters and
MAS w orkers r
will bear
me
out [that] there w as practically no nursing
for
hours with their wounds unattended." Using the standpipe
r
in the street,
two
MAS
girls
made
staff
"a canteen"
and men
lay
and between the wounded.
them kept
a supply of tea goir
Amidst
the tragedy and bitterness of Black Friday, there was
all
one moment of extraordinai
\
rid
iei
night for
io-comedy. At almost the same
A SINISTER
234 time
as the
quarters,
Governor was
Tim Hudson
event of his
life.
settling in at his
it
was so wildly improbable that had
Hudson was day.
blue
I
later to recall,
First I
was
damn
it
would have been ridiculed the truth. Yet it did happen, and as
fiction,
an implausible travesty of
my
new, temporary head-
was experiencing the single most bizarre
Indeed
been included in a work of as
TWILIGHT
it
"Friday the thirteenth certainly was nearly killed
— and then out of the
was offered a fortune."
Dusk had just fallen when Hudson, after a meal of sardines and baked beans and a stiff brandy (from the "medical supplies") set off
from the General Hospital in
his
Hillman
for
Dunlop's godown. This was a nightly chore, for early on in the
bombing he had arranged for the European on duty during the day to leave him a report each evening so that he could keep track of what was happening when he couldn't get in during the day.
Keppel Road, by the docks, was by now an appalling jumble of potholes, craters, twisted wires
bombed-out Tribune the deserted street.
offices,
The
and smashed
trees.
Passing the
he drew up outside his godown in
coolies
had gone, and he knew the
office
would be empty. As he looked round, he noticed a large American car drawn up by the side of the road about a hundred yards away but his mind hardly registered the fact (until later) for the streets of Singapore were littered with abandoned vehicles. With the aid of his torch he entered, closed the big sliding godown door behind him, and once in his blacked-out office, switched on the light and sat down. The report was on his desk. There had been no shipments.
—
Hudson noted tons,
that stocks of rubber totaled just over a thousand
He remembers
thinking "the Japs are going to get the
But there was nothing he could do about it. There were one or two minor points to be noted in the report. The coolie lot."
BLACK FRIDAY labor force had fallen
And
a raid.
that
off.
was about
One
235
of the clerks
had been
he had got
as far as
killed in
when he was
sud-
denly startled by violent banging on the big door of the godown.
His
first
instinctive thought
— but that of course
What would anybody do with
Was Laughable.
The
was burglars
a thousand tons of
equipment and furniture? Nothing had any value any more. If there were thieves abroad they would be making for those godowns containing food food that would always fetch a price on the black market. The banging was rerubber?
office
—
peated. it
Picking up his torch ("I was quite unafraid,
I
thought
must be somebody who wanted help") he crossed the godown,
passed his rubber air raid shelter,
and cautiously
slid the
door
open an inch or two. Outside stood four Chinese. As he shone the torch briefly he could see they were well dressed and two of them carried bulging briefcases. Before he could speak, one said in the polite, un-
dulating tones of his race, "Please do not be afraid, Mr. Hudson.
May we come
and
talk to
you?"
Hudson opened
Mystified, ther,
in
the big sliding door a
little fur-
and one by one the four men squeezed into the big and followed him into his office. One offered him
cavern, rette.
Another courteously held out a match. For the
airless
a ciga-
first
time
Hudson was able to take a good look at the mysterious quartet. They seemed to be all right. In fact they looked like four prosperous Chinese businessmen, neatly dressed in European white suits,
with collars and
"Forgive
us,
spokesman, and added, "Please fingers.
ties.
Mr. Hudson," said one who was obviously the as Tim started to speak, he held up his hand and
— may we show you something?"
The two men
clicked his
with briefcases stepped up to the desk,
stood in front of Hudson, and of nods they
He
opened the
when
briefcases
the leader gave the slightest
and tipped out the contents.
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
236
Suddenly, the whole of Hudson's flat-topped desk seemed to
be covered with a small mountain of money
now beginning
bundles in rubber bands. "I was
Hudson remembered, but There are
can be yours
if
to get
of
mad,"
before he could speak, the leading
Chinese said smoothly, "You thieves.
— hundreds
Mr. Hudson, we are not
see,
on your
half a million dollars
They
desk.
you wish."
Angrily — seemed be joke in the worst possible — Hudson asked them who the they were, and what for this
a
to
hell
taste
sort of a trick
was
this,
and why the
come
devil did they
in at this
time of night?
Their gesture might have been
theatrical,
the spokesman
hoped that in this way they could esgood faith. Their names didn't matter. The object was very simple. They wanted to buy his rubber
apologized, but they had tablish their
of their visit
—
for half a million dollars.
"But you must be crazy
Hudson, "Does exactly
his eyes it
o-osrsrlinQ;
—
it's
not
my
at the fortune
rubber
on
to sell," cried
his desk.
matter any more?" asked the spokesman.
how much rubber
The war would
there was
— down
be over in a matter of days and Hudson,
pointed out, had no means of getting rid of his rubber. all
He knew
to the last pound.
It
as
would
go to the hated Japanese. But they had a boat provisioned
leave for Java,
and
if
Hudson only gave
get the rubber away, instead of leaving
"and you, Mr. Hudson, could pocket half
he
to
the order, they could it
for the
Japanese
—
a million."
moment Hudson was sorely tempted. He would hardly human had his reactions been otherwise. For he knew that there wasn't another cargo ship left in the harbor. He knew he could never get the rubber away. He knew the Japfl would take the lot. The trouble was the rubber wasn't his. For a
have been
—
It
didn't even belong to Dunlops.
Weeks ago
the government
BLACK FRIDAY
L>
,
7
had asked him to help in centralizing stocks of rubber saved from various plantations up-country.
whom
it
'I don't
belonged and think
vet. the
The
about
I'd like to
We
I
I
later.
"The whole
The
All
— and
during
tension
that's all there
this day,
when
one point w here T
was
three thousand yards
I
I
meant
with the
saw them
to
much was happening, an extreme Canning. The British perimeter, and
for twenty-eight miles,
Timah Road, was
from Orchard Road.
rection, however, that the
enemv launched
armor on Friday. This was reserved
It
less
was not in
than
this di-
the full weight of
its
for the coastal area to the
by the fishing village of Pasir Panjang, wmich was
being stubbornly defended by the lent attacks
and then
men
to it."
crossed Bukit
it
impossible.'
so
prevailed at Fort
west, a ridoe
it's
a bit of course, so thev realised
which was clearly defined, stretched at
afraid
big fellow gave a nod. the two
briefcases started shovelling the notes in,
the door
into an anticlimax.
but thev had been so polite that
it,
accommodate you, but I'm
said.
money
business had a
with some formality, 'I'm sorry, gentlemen.
said,
had already talked
what
to
it.*'
couldn't do
I
unconsciously
know
Japs would surely grab the lot
moments degenerated almost
final
decided
"I
didn't really
ever thought seriously of keeping the
I
myself Hudson wrote 1
Hast) taste
He
ist
Malay Brigade against
vio-
by the Japanese Chrysanthemum Division. Behind
the ridge lay the Alexandra
District containing
the island's
ammunition dump and a big military hospital. For two days the Mala) Bi made had held out until it was
largest
most
obliterated.''
A
regular, locally raised unit
mostlv by Malay-speakiim British
dying illustration of the
folly of
officers,
it
"al-
commanded
was a living and
not having raised more such
A SINISTER
238
local forces before the
homeland,
their
"showed what
for,
esprit
war as
TWILIGHT
which men could defend what was Percival noted, the Malay Brigade in
de corps and discipline can achieve. Garri-
sons of posts held their
ground and many of them were wiped
out almost to a man."
—
Here was direct fighting a battle that could be joined against an enemy which could be seen and the Malay Brigade
—
fought as hard as any in the campaign. In other parts of the
however, Allied troops were becoming more and more
now
line,
jittery,
it had become a war and Australians who had rarely been able to snatch more than an occasional hour of sleep in the racket of screaming shells and crumping bombs. And even if they had slept, it had never
for
of nerves against the dog-tired Brit-
ish
been a
real rest.
In the thick, luxuriant jungle outside their
perimeter, the Japanese waited hidden and unmolested.
To
the Allied soldiers whose morale was crumbling, the spec-
ter of certain defeat
was linked with a strange sense of
tion, a deep-seated feeling that
frustra-
by rights they ought to have been
winning, not losing. As they lay in the coarse lallang round the
Dairy Farm or crouched in the sandy bunkers of the golf course, often in the same sweat-soaked clothes they had all
worn
for weeks,
they could feel was that this could never have happened
the brass-hats in their armchairs back
down.
It
home
hadn't
let
them
was a deep, bitter feeling that contributed much
lowering morale, and
even more
it
was hard for them
to
if
to
understand — and
— that
in Russia
and
North Africa events of such magnitude were being enacted
thai
difficult for officers to
the siege of Singapore could never in the
momentous
history
explain
become more than
now being
written.
a footnote
The one
thing
they did know, however, was that the fight was as good as lost
—
and inevitably morale sagged still more. Officers as well as men "had developed a withdrawal complex" and were already thinking of plans to escape.
The number
of desertions increased.
So
BLACK FRIDAY
12
\()
did the ugly scenes on the docks where in some cases armed de-
women
serters tried to force
By lunchtime on Friday val called a
off
escape launches.
the position was so grave that Perci-
conference at Fort Canning for two o'clock. All the
commanders, together with principal staff offiwere ordered to attend. Gloomily they discussed future op-
area divisional cers,
erations, particularly the possibilities of staging a counterattack.
All the generals
were against
One
it.
after
another they empha-
on their troops of continuous day and night opwith no hope of relief." They had to take into account
sized "the effect
erations
the plight of the civilians
Bennett remembered that
which was by now hopeless. Gordon "it
was unanimously considered that
new enemy attacks would succeed and that sooner or later the enemy would reach the streets of the city." He noted that "it was decided to send a message to General Wavell urging him to agree to immediate capitulation."
memory was
In fact Bennett's
at fault, for
although Bennett
had advocated immediate capitulation, Percival that
it
was possible to
fight
on
still
for a little while longer.
when
however, realized that there "must come a stage interests of the troops
and the
civil
shed will serve no useful purpose."
ask that he
when
When
possible
to
be used
moment arrived.
inflict
maximum damage on enemy
by house-to-house fighting
if
"Your action in tying down enemy and have
had
to Wavell.
suggest an immediate capitulation, he did
Wavell 's reply was brief and uncompromising. continue to
in the
the conference
might be given wider discretionary powers
the right
he,
population further blood-
ended he cabled a candid appraisal of the situation
Though he did not
believed
Even
vital influence in
"You must
for as long as
necessary,"
he cabled.
inflicting casualties
may
other theatres. Fully appreciate your
sit-
uation but continued action essential."
Gordon Bennett had fought hard
at the conference for
an
A SINISTER
240
TWILIGHT
immediate surrender, and possibly uted
to
his lack of success contrib-
an extraordinary action which he
commanding
back.
officer's
now
Without reference
took behind to
anybody
his
the
aggressive red-haired Australian cabled his prime minister in
Canberra that "In the event of other formations falling back and allowing the enemy to enter the city behind us" it was his "intention to surrender to avoid further needless loss of
This decision was, of course, contrary fight on,
life."
to Percival's orders to
which was perhaps why Bennett did not take the
trou-
ble to inform Percival.
Gordon Bennett was
also "giving close consideration" to an-
other significant and private matter
—
a plan to escape, for he
had no intention of languishing in a Japanese prison camp. It was not a sudden impulse, brought about by the emotional stress of heavy fighting. fact
The
he had discussed
it
idea
had been long
in his
mind, and
in
with the Sultan of Johore before crossing
the causeway. Bennett's forces had been stationed in Johore and it
seems that the Australian general had got on famously with
the colorful Sultan.
Possibly he was impressed with the
and ceremony, the Oriental trappings
pomp
of a life he could hardly
have envisaged before. In any event, the Sultan entertained him lavishly,
heaped
gifts
upon
the Australian (which he certainly
did not refuse) and almost on their Sultan invited ask the ruler
him
if
to dinner,
last
evening together the
when Bennett was emboldened
to
he could perhaps provide a boat in the event of
his escape.
This plan he had of course kept friends.
to himself
and
a few close
Now, however, that dinner party and conversation
must have seemed a world away in time, and the original vague idea had to be crystallized into something approaching action. He had now only a matter of hours, not days, if he wanted to get away.
He
set
about getting a boat.
He
did not, however,
ai
-
BLACK FRIDAY
8
quaint his prime minister (or Percival) with this news bly because he
must have known
that in
1
possi-
no circumstances would
approval have been given for a general to leave the his
—
\
men under
command.
The
fact that
Gordon Bennett kept
his escape plans secret has
an intriguing significance because another Australian, Mr. Bowden, the civil
government representative
in Malaya, did ask for
permission to escape, and even though he was a civilian of
two he met with a firm refusal.
Bowden,
a typical
fifty-
no non-
had produced a stream of invaluable reports
sense Australian,
enabling the Australian prime minister to face Churchill with the authority of local knowledge,
but the government denied
his
request because, amongst other reasons, the effect "on morale
The
could be bad."
dered whether reassure
him
it
Australian government must have won-
had been too hard on Bowden
in a second cable promising
comes, you and your
matic immunities.
.
staff .
him
for
full diplo-
Through Protecting Power we
.
tried to
that "if worst
on receiving
are to insist
it
shall in-
on you and your staff being included in any evacuation scheme agreed on with the Japanese government."
sist
The Malay Brigade had been Pasir
Panjang ridge, but
defense
— the
first
through into the for the
desperately trying to hold the vital
at last
—
after
wave of the Japanese troops was pushing and making straight Alexandra Area
—
vital
Alexandra Hospital.
The advance enemy
troops were sighted behind the hospital,
which was crammed with wounded, After a hurried conference ternative but to surrender. at the
an heroic and stubborn
it
just
before two o'clock.
was decided that there was no
al-
As the Japanese reached the grounds
back of the building, a young lieutenant called Weston
A SINISTER
242
TWILIGHT
was deputed to go from the reception room to the back entrance.
He
carried a white
flag,
and stood
there, unsuspecting
and unflinching, as the first few Japanese reached the porch. Without a second's hesitation the soldiers charged in and bayoneted him repeatedly. As Weston lay dying, more and more
One
troops surged in over him.
made
for the operating
In the corridor outside the main theater, pa-
theater block. tients
party
were being prepared
by the noise of
stretchers, puzzled
As they lay there on fighting and screams they
for operations.
could not comprehend, several Japanese faces appeared at the
windows above them. Some scrambled through. Others barged in through the corridor door.
All the Royal
Army
Medical
Corps personnel put up their hands, and Captain Smiley, who
was in charge, stepped forward and pointed to the Red Cross
on their arms. With a flick of his gun, the leading Japanese motioned the handful of British to move along into one corner of the corridor. As the unarmed men obediently did so the Japanese, for no apparent reason, set upon them with bayobrassards
nets.
The
first
man
to
go down was Lieutenant Rogers,
who was
bayoneted twice through the throat and died immediately. Captain Parkinson, standing next to him, was also killed, together
with two orderlies. Awaiting an operation the table
— was Corporal
Bill
Holden
of the
he could do anything, he too was bayoneted anese
now lunged
deflect the first
at
Captain Smiley.
bayonet thrust and
— and actually
on
2nd Loyals. Before to death.
Two
Jap-
Somehow he managed
to
the blade hit his cigarette
wounding his left arm. When the second Japanese wounded him in the groin, he fell over and owed his life to the fact that he feigned death as the Japanese ran
case in his left breast pocket,
from the corridor.
While all
this
was happening, other Japanese troops were forcing
the patients to get out of the wards.
Two men who could
not
BLACK FRID.W move were bayoneted. In tients
— together with
many
could barely hobble and
Herding them
RAMG
personnel
—
hundred
collapsed. It
into groups of four or
them together with
their
five,
pa-
were paraded
All the patients were desperately
the grounds.
in
the broiling heat, two
few
a
243
made no
Some
ill.
difference.
the Japanese roped
hands behind their backs. They were
then marched to the old servants' quarters behind the hospital
—
ranging in
a building consisting of several small rooms,
size
from 9 feet by 9 to 10 by 12. Between fifty and seventy patients were jammed into each room. Wedged together, it was impossible for
them
to sit
down and
it
took several minutes for some
patients to get their arms above their heads and make a little more room in this modern version of the Black Hole of Calcutta. There they were left for the night. Water was promised but none arrived though those nearest the open windows
—
could watch the Japanese soldiers sitting
From time
ing tinned fruit.
erable pressure of bodies
eased in a fearful party out
screams
from
it
away.
down on
the grass, eat-
time during the night the intol-
wedged
manner when
and lead
— then
to
tightly against each other
the Japanese
would take
was
a small
Those left would return wiping blood
behind could hear
a Japanese soldier
his bayonet.
Only three men escaped when
a shell scored a
doors and windows.
direct hit
on the building, blowing
Though
killed several of the patients, the confusion did give
a
it
handful of
and though
men
five
their only chance.
off
Eight
were gunned down, three
were the only survivors of
this
made
men
a dash for
got away.
it,
They
night of horror.
In Europe, the speed of the Japanese thrust was being studied
with jubilation
—
at
Berchtesgaden in Germany. As
allies,
the
Germans and Japanese might have been uneasy bedfellows, but
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
244
Hitler had been watching every
because
it
had succeeded
in
move
drawing
of the off
war
in Asia, merely
such substantial forces
from Europe, and he had ordered Admiral Raeder, head of
German Navy,
In his report to
East.
man
admiral
the
on the ''prospects" in the Far the Fuehrer on Friday the 13th, the Ger-
to prepare a report
made an
elated assessment of the future, saying,
Rangoon, Singapore and, most likely, also Port Darwin will be in Japanese hands within a few weeks. Only weak resistance is expected on Sumatra, while Java will be able to hold out longer. Japan plans to protect this front in the Indian Ocean by capturing the key position of Ceylon, and she also plans to gain control of the sea in that area by means of superior naval forces. Fifteen Japanese submarines are at the
Bay
moment
operating in the
and in the straits on both sides of Sumatra and Java. With Rangoon, Sumatra, and Java gone, the last oil wells between Bahrein and the American continent will be lost. Oil supplies for Australia and New Zealand will have to come from either the Persian Gulf or from America. Once Japanese battleships, aircraft carriers, submarines, and the Japanese naval air force are based on Ceylon, of Bengal, in the waters off Ceylon,
Britain will be forced to resort to heavily-escorted convoys
if
and the Only Alexandria, Durban, and Simonstown will be
she desires to maintain communications with India
Near
East.
available as repair bases for large British naval vessels in that
part of the world.*
As Hitler was reading
Downing
Street,
this,
Churchill, across the water in
was reading a very different assessment of the
problems of the vast
area. It
Wavell who reported
to his
had arrived
in a
gloomy cable from
prime minister that
The unexpectedly rapid advance of enemy on Singapore and approach of an escorted enemy convoy towards southern Sumatra necessitate review of our plans lor the defense of the Netherlands East Indies, in which southern Sumatra plays a .
*
.
.
Fuehrer Conferences on Naval
Affairs.
BLACK most
important
was clear
yet he
now
1)
1
A Y
2
With more time
part.
But ground not
could be built up.
It
FR
yet
.
.
to Churchill that the
strong
.
.
.
.
end was approaching,
was loath to give up the struggle. Ever since he had made
Burma
the decision not to divert the 18th Division to sion
;,
defense
prepared
lull)
|
made much
against his will
and
tralians
— Churchill
Wavell
to delay the capitulation.
had exerted
—a
deci-
partly to mollify the Aus-
the pressure possible on
all
He had
realized that Singa-
pore could not resist indefinitely. There was no longer any possibility of
holding out until naval relief arrived.
now
tion of time, but until
only chance for,
...
It
was a ques-
Churchill had believed that "the
of gaining time,
which was
all
we could hope
was to give imperative orders to fight in desperation to the
end."
Churchill had
fears entertained in
may be
strongly that, despite
felt
Whitehall, "It
the doubts at the
the spot should have instructions
summit
is
all
the doubts
and
always right that whatever
war direction the general on
of
no knowledge
of
them and should
receive
w hich are simple and plain." r
Now, however, the Prime Minister received
a second cable
from Wavell warning Churchill that the Japanese were close to the city, that the Allied troops a counterattack, to
and
were incapable of launching
that he feared resistance was "not likely
be very prolonged."
Wavell had not asked the Prime Minister for powers to capitulate. it
Indeed, he told
him
that he
had ordered Percival
to fight
out house by house. Nonetheless the implication of the mes-
sage was clear sion
and Churchill now had
whether or not
insisted
on fighting
to
for
to
make
the ultimate deci-
continue the struggle, knowing that
much
longer, he
would have
if
he
to bear the
responsibility for thousands of civilian deaths. It
was possible to argue
that, in
terms of power politics and
A SINISTER
246 global
war
TWILIGHT
strategy, the sufferings of
Singapore would be negligible
if
prolonged resistance
in
they contributed to a great
surge in the British fighting "image" comparable to that
in-
American defenders in the Philippines. Though the terrain and the conditions were vastly different, Churchill must have been sorely tempted, but he cast the temptation aside, for he "was sure it would be wrong to enforce needless slaughter, and without hope of victory to inflict the horrors of street fighting" on the civilians. He asked General Brooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, to come and see him in Downing Street, and told him "where I stood." Brooke agreed, and Churchill prepared to send a cable to Wavell, telling him, "You are of course sole judge of the moment when no further result can be gained at Singapore, and should instruct Percival spired by the heroic
accordingly."
That cable marked
the end of Churchill's dreams and hopes
— hopes that by a heroic defense against inevitable
defeat, Singa-
pore would rank in military history with Warsaw; that instead of handing over intact this glittering symbol of Britain's Colonial power, the ashes of certain defeat
would provide
history
with a matchless epic of unyielding British courage that would
echo round the world.
10 The Dying
Saturday February
To all who now
City
— Sunday February 75
/_/
remained, Saturday and Sunday became blurred
into
one long, agonizing
and
ate,
even slept a
Men and women worked rare exceptions, none who
spell of time.
little,
but. with
two days could distinguish one from the
lived through these
next in the hazy outlines of their personal nightmares. As they struggled
on
like
automatons,
and every one of their ears to blot in the
senses.
total II a
war viciously attacked each
woman
held her hands to her
out the sound of shells or bombs, her eyes
mangled
flesh of the
wounded.
But worst of
sense of shame, for in the once-beautiful city
from burning
filth
physically,
sounds
like
him
—
I
I
nipped down
didn't
MAS women
mounting throb
the
want
was the in
a
(
to talk to
orridoT
deep wound.
"It
saw an old friend
in
in a
—
I I
didn't
want
to
anybody." Freddy Bloom
who, because of long friendships
had stuck together,
all
— now clothed
— the sense of humiliation was hurting
wrote Hudson, "but when
silly,"
the hospital,
oil
took
she covered her eyes,
If
the smell of corpses assailed her nostrils.
still
now tended
to
in
meet
felt
it,
happier times
avoid each other
when
off
duty.
In the streets
and squares, thousands
dered about aimlessly.
Tommy,
Some were
of dejected soldiers
bitter,
like
wan-
the brick-red
stripped to the waist outside Fullcrton Building,
who
A SINISTER
248
TWILIGHT
was haranguing a crowd of troops,
way
we're fighting for a
most of the
"It's
of life that's finished, anyway."
But
leaderless, listless troops were, like the civilians, con-
what had hap-
scious of a vague feeling of shame, not only at
pened, but at their dirt and squalor. heat
—
time to surrender
demanded two
In a country where the
or three clean shirts a day soldiers were
still
wearing stinking clothes they had not changed for days. Some
washed
— and
did their laundry
— by
the side of busy roads
where the water gushed from broken mains. Others made
for
the Singapore River or the small creeks leading to the Chinese
timber yards.
The
water was
filthy
— but
it
didn't matter,
it
was wet. For water, even more than bravery, had become the most ical factor in
holding out since the
captured McRitchie, the
Now
last
moment when
station called
crit-
enemy had
remaining reservoir on the
the only water to reach the city
pumping
the
came from one
island.
solitary
Woodleigh, within 800 yards of the Jap-
unnamed civilian engineer and his wife heroically kept the pumps working while the bullets flew around them. Who they were, nobody seems to know. The few water engineers of that time who are still alive are uncertain anese front line.
Here, an
because the handful of engineers was constantly being rushed
from one key post
to another. Brigadier
Simson managed
to tel-
Woodleigh urging him to carry on, but noted in his report, "I regret I have no record of his name." already thinking There seems little doubt that the Japanese in terms of occupation problems refrained from bombing ephone the engineer
at
—
—
Woodleigh, for the engineer and
his wife
were allowed
to con-
pumping after
the Japanese had overrun the station. By now, the water problem was simple: two-thirds of the
tinue
"Woodleigh supply" was running
to
waste.
Due
to
broken
mains, water had already failed in the higher parts of the
city.
THE DYING CITY
249
Most of the Asian staff had vanished, and though Percival had given Simson a party of Royal Engineers to help with repairs, the obstacles were insuperable. And now, inevitably, the water shortage brought
its
concomitant of
Many
bombed buildings drinking contaminated water. More and more
ot bodies in the reservoirs.
were carelessly people
There were reports
disease.
— children
particularly
Asians in
— were
in danger of typhoid.
Just before ten o'clock on Saturday, Brigadier Simson re-
ported to Percival that the failure of the water supply seemed
imminent, and Percival immediately drove round to the municipal offices for a
gineer.
conference with Simson and the Municipal En-
appeared that with luck the supply might
It
forty-eight hours,
last for
but the mains were more likely to run dry in
half that time.
"While there's water," announced Percival grimly, "we fight on."
Then he
left to tell
the
Governor
at the
Singapore Club of
his decision.
Though
every corner of the club had by
now been
filled
with
managed room where Percival and the Governor could talk privately. Shenton Thomas was haunted by one dread the danger of an epidemic. He told Percival so frankly, and when the two leaders had parted, Shenton Thomas felt he was duty bound to find a small luggage
VIP's, the harassed secretary
—
to
acquaint the Colonial
General Officer
now
office
Commanding
closely invested.
There
with his
fears.
He
cabled them:
me that Singapore City now one million people within
informs
are
radius of three miles. Water-supplies very badly
damaged and
more than twenty-four hours. Many dead lying and burial impossible. We are faced with total deprivation of water, which must result in pestilence. I have felt unlikely to last
in the streets
that
it is
my
manding.
duty to bring
this to notice of
General Officer Com-
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
25O
Percival was also sending off a signal
ing
him
had
to
Wavell in
Java, ask-
wider discretionary powers to capitulate.
for
Wavell
again,
—
to reply,
— not
"In
Once having yet received Churchill's cable
—
places
all
where
troops they must go on fighting.
sufficiency of water exists for
Your
gallant stand
is
sen
purpose and must be continued to limit of endurance."
To
and the million civilians, the Japanese must have seemed all-powerful, and yet unknown to the defenders there was an element of bluff in the enemy attacks on the outskirts of the city, for the Japanese had nearly exhausted their ammunition. As Colonel Tsuji, their Chief of Operations, later admitted, they were down to a hundred rounds for each field gun, "and less for our heavy guns. The divisional Chief of Staff came reluctantly to the conclusion that it was a sheer the weary troops
.
.
.
.
.
.
impossibility to proceed with [the attack]
.
.
troops were
.
hausted by the violent bombardment of the enemy. Arms legs
were
flying
through the
air
where." * With supreme irony,
it
and heads
scattered every-
was not only the
the Empire, but the soldiers of the
ex-
and
soldiers
Emperor who had
ol
but
all
reached Wavell's "limit of endurance."
On ning
the other hand, though Japanese
short, there
were bombs
and
British up-country),
from
it
to spare
ammunition was
run-
(some captured from
seemed that the
city
was never
the free
At least five hundred civilians were and by now the raging fires had become the city's greatest problem after water, for here, too, water was at a premium. killed
raids.
on
Satur-
day,
Central Fire Station had been hit several times and the water
supply was so limited that on Saturday Buckerid^c had
his firH
bath for three days, washing his uniforms in the water afterward
and keeping
The
fires
it
for the next bath.
seemed
to follow a particular pattern.
Buckeridge described a big one in Old Road from *
Singapore:
The Japanese
Version.
In his di.uv his
own
sp*
Tin
DYING
technical viewpoint.
cializedj
rubber,
shellac'
all
and 50ya beam.
bomb
Buildings collapsed b\
jobs.
n
251
had spread over
It
>wns on the Singapore River, like
ci
filled
"It
was typical OJ air raid
explosions, cargo well in-
upper door contents piled on ground doors
volved,
This
bonfire sixteen feet high.''
lire
manager brought him
it.
bucket
a
Another time, when
his head.
Buckeridge's
make
ol
when
just
a
the fac-
water to sluice over
icy
row of shophouscs had been
a
men had
to
was near the Singapore ice
works, and Buckeridge was gasping with the heat tory
or six
five
with combustibles
extinguished the blaze
set
when
an old Chinese lady emerged from an untouched shop with half
me
en cups of tea on a tin tray. "She thanked for sa\ ing her
home."
There were other moments >nal
opportunity to grin,
one occasion
jumped out
been told
fire,
relief
— even the
only at the futility of
if
it all.
oc-
On
drove up in a military truck,
a British sergeant
on the shoulder, and
to destroy this lorry.
Mind
if I
drive
it
mate?"
"Good God!" ire
welcome
of the cab, tapped Buckeridge
veiled, "I've
into your
of
very politely
cried Buckeridge.
"I'm trying to put
this
out!"
—
"Okay, mate no offense," replied the sergeant cheerfully, and drove the lorry fifty yards down the road before setting fire to
it
himself.
Xo
historian has ever
come
<
lose to
recording the details of
great fires of those final di\s in Singapore.
ords
— apart from personal
in the confusion. t
The
every street of the
Almost
ones like Buckeridge's g
Barnes started
up
lost
in every part,
The) ranged from one
city.
all rec-
— were
in the car
park in Collyer Quay, in which hundreds of abandoned vehi-
in a
were burned out
godown
Xew
filled
aftei
a
Japanese incendiary attack, to one
with cases
of
firecrackers (popular
Year; which exploded and jumped
in
all
on Chi-
directions.
A SINISTER
252
Not
TWILIGHT
until nearly the end, however,
new and menacing kind which culminated bloody great
(in
conflagration — the
fire
a
"river fires"
Buckeridge's colorful language) "in
where no
fire
of
was Singapore faced with
could possibly be." This was
a
the
fire of Pulo Saigon Bridge which crossed the Singapore River, and the sight was so extraordinary and unbelievable that scores
of people rushed to the river bank,
and stood gaping
at a sight
never to be forgotten. For the bridge was constructed entirely
and it was ablaze from end to end. had started in a bizarre fashion. A huge patch of from a bombed vessel at the mouth of the river had
of steel girders,
The
fire
blazing
oil
floated upriver with the turn of the tide.
kind of enemy,
As the
this floating, blazing
burning pool
thick, black,
the incoming tide of the city, the oil
"It
was a sneak-thief
scum," wrote Buckeridge.
— forced along
relentlessly by
— reached the crowded sampans
in the heart
and the flames twisted and writhed between
junks, lighters, sampans packed so closely a child could have
scrambled across them. Scores were
set alight,
and tongues
of
on the banks. Finally the blazing pool reached the steel "trellis work" of the Pulo Saigon Bri< one of the oldest in Singapore. At least it did not seem possible
flames even reached buildings
that this ancient, Meccano-like structure could be set on
A
fire.
Nor would
it
attempt to
bomb the bridge resulted in a near miss — but
blast burst
an
have been but for an unlucky chance.
oil
oil
below.
ti it-
pipe running along the side of the bridge, and
immediately a stream of ing
Japanese
The
oil
was spurting down
to
meet the
blaz-
flames leaped toward each other at incredi
and long before the bridge stopcock could be turned off, the asphalt roadway on the Pulo Saigon Bridge and the lai ironwork was blazing. Only when the tide started to go out did ble speed,
J
the oil patch below the bridge begin drifting downriver, and the red-hot, twisted girders of the bridge start to cool p.m., the strangest fire in
Singapore had burned
off.
By
itself out,
10
and
thf
l) \
\
CITY
c;
253
return to Central Eor a supper of cold
Buckeridgc was able
to
ham,
"and
biscuits, coffee
i
a
quiet whiskey salvaged from de-
lta >yed stock."
Inevitably,
the
and bomb-damaged buildings created
fires
more and more opportunities Eor the looting which was now belling to assume dangerous proportions. When Buckeridge was tailed to
a fire in a
aged to keep the I
(
fire
godown
Eood
in
Havelock Road,
under control and saved the
"I
godown
man-
— but
The) arrived in hordes. Some, in unashamedly loaded them up swiftly and drove off. Others
couldn't stop the looters." ars,
came trundling "the
The
naked
In a few minutes
shell."
behind '"white" Singapore, where the public markets,
normally selling left
a
worst Looting, however, occurred in the teeming sections
of the city
or
carts or pulling rickshaws.
godown was
meat, fruit and eggs, had either been hit
fish,
unattended, and where
now gangs
of
men w ere r
systemati-
and shops until it looked as though locusts had passed by, leaving them naked and empty. Next the octets turned to the big warehouses, smashing doors and barri-
cally stripping the stalls
1
caded windows in search of clothing, merchandise
from bicycles to radios and cameras
which until
now had
barrier of a plate-glass
Even Jack Bennitt pore) admitted to a
The
— treasures
— anything
beyond price
only been admired longingly behind the
window. (to say
little
nothing of the Bishop of Singa-
"looting"
—
o\ a sort.
According
to
Rev's diary, "I went with the Bishop to scrounge a wheel
his car."
For the Bishop had
body could find the time
a
puncture in his car and no-
to repair
Bennitt, however, had
it.
abandoned car similar to the Bishop's, near Yoch Eng aid post. They found it and pin< bed the wheel. Things were quiet at Y<>< h Eng, so the Bishop and The Rev
seen an
decided to
visit
the village
the east coast road.
ol
Siglap a mile or so further along
Bennitt had
made
a
good friend of the
vil-
A SINISTER
254
TWILIGHT
and was certain he could get some fresh bread there. It did not seem to have occurred to either of them that Siglap was outside the perimeter and therefore theoretically occupied by the Japanese. Yet when the Bishop and Bennitt reached the village they found all the small Chinese shops open. Outside one, a man was having his hair cut, and 'everything was completely peaceful and quiet." Having penetrated enemy terrilage baker
'
tory,
one can understand Reverend Bennitt's rather pained
action,
"When we
got back, people
would not
believe
re-
we had
been there."
And
yet everything
standable
— even
was
so confused that anything was under-
Tommy
stupidity.
Kitching,
vious day had been ordered to destroy
all his
who on
maps
the pre-
of the island,
received an urgent phone call from Fort Canning.
Command now
maps of Singapore he very maps he had been warned
urgently wanted
could lay his hands on
— the
Malaya
all
the
must be destroyed. Kitching noted the following
conversation
in his diary:
"But damn
it all,
man, they gave
me
orders yesterday to
de-
stroy every single copy!"
"Yes, but
now they think they might want them."
"Well,
haven't got any
I
— haven't
you any
at Fort Can-
ning?"
"No, they're
all
destroyed too."
Kitching had turned his
office
into a
shelter ready to withstand a prolonged
enough tinned food
to last
supply of kerosene.
He had
bomb and shell-proof siege. He had bought
two months, an
oil stove
also filled kerosene tins
and
good
and bottld
with a reserve supply of twenty gallons of water for the
who slept and ate in his offices. People now slept anywhere they could.
a
five col-
leagues
Cicely Williams.
hausted by her brood of children, had not slept for three
and had
to get
away
to rest
\(
nights,
and recover her energy. Leaving
the
Till
DYING
c
l
|
Y
255
children in charge of her Asian nurses, ihe sank gratefully onto
camp bed where
she had the besl night's sleep of the war, find-
that "the noise of shells m
positively pleasant as
ls
Outiam Road
Surprisingly, there
they were
unwilling
Jail.
were few
A
suicides.
on the Japanese death to get
heard from
But then, her bedroom was
the relative security of thi< k walls." a cell in
a
few Chinese
who knew
and had been unable
list
away, quietlj took then
Among
Lives.
ropeans there was only one recorded case
of a
(or
the Eu-
suicide pact
—
be-
who had Nobody really ever with girl. to the bottom of their story, though it was known that Johns, who had been evacuated from up-country, had become hopelessly infatuated, had resigned all his lubs, and had set up house tween
a
young English planter
fallen in love
called
Colin Johns
Chinese
a beautiful
*
with the It
girl in a flat in a
converted old mansion in Nassim Hill.
was obvious, too, that she was desperately in love with him >ne
who had caught
the 00
together had been able to see
I
th.it lor
glimpse of them dancing
themselves. She obviously
tme from a good family and one rumor had refused to let her marry Johns.
Another
wife conveniently tucked away in the very simple reason that
On
this
Saturday
— or
and agreed
No
nobody bothered
that her father
Johns had a
one knew
— for
to find out.
perhaps dining the night of Friday-
trday — the couple appai entl} ble
it
said that
ngland.
I
—
to die togethei
and gassing themselves with
1
ealized the
b) sealing
up
end was
inevita-
their garage
door
There they w ere overed when their amah arrived earlier than expected and forced open the garage Petrified at what she had discovered, she ran down Nassim Hill Tanglin Circus, wailing, 'Tuan and mem both By the time the ambulance reached the garage, Johns was their car fumes.
1
r
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
256 dead.
The
rushed
to the
girl
seemed
to
show
Reverend Bennitt was not only
known
and was
a faint sign of life
General.
figure,
man
he was a
a highly respected
and
well-
without an enemv in the world.
The Rev and admired the sterling work he had done, particularly among the Chinese at Yoch Eng. But now, in the Raffles Place area.. Tim Hudson found his conduct intriguing, to say the least of it. Eor The Rev worn Everybody
in Singapore liked
come out with
into a shop,
and
a tiny purchase, go into another,
buy an equally small, mvsterious packet. Einallv, after happened half a dozen times. Hudson, who knew him
had
this
slightly,
could contain his curiosity no longer, and asked him point-blank
what he was buying. ''Buying?*' asked
The
''Oh! These:
Rev.
Razor blades, mv
dear fellow.*' In
fact.
The
Rev, like thousands of others, was already think-
ing ahead to the grim davs of internment, and he had one pet
aversion
— growing
ing
of "'letting vourself go.*'
in,*'
a beard.
ting scarce, he was going
time —
in
all,
enough
would, he
It
be a sign of
So. since razor blades
from shop
to give
felt,
him
to
"giv-
were
shop buying a few
a shave every other
get-
at a
day for
several years.
There was not only precedented rush
one
cliffe.
a
There was an unStamford Road, where Rad-
run on razor
to the dentist's.
of the dentists,
had
blades.
his consulting
rooms, was
be
constantly shelled, but even that did not deter the queue of people
who
least
I
felt,
didn't
like
Tim Hudson,
want toothache
the fear of toothache
able-bodied
men more
that "if
I
as well." In
had become
a
had
to
be interned,
some undehmv
minor
obsession, won--
than the prospect of the d\senter\ or
beri that was to kill hundreds.
.it
beri-
THE DYING CITY There was Raffles Place.
a rush.
When Tun
were empty, and the bleak,
Hi;
unwelcome look
knew
going out oi
had the
so well
Despite
sale.
isu ess
bbled tor the tew books that were
oesegir] took the money, and apologized because she had run out oi wrap-
while a smiling, lining
counted
g c,
ping paper.
When
the mar.
tomer, he beckoned
kept a few back
him
volume of Somerset Maugham Most shopkeepers refused mom
When
chemists, the
"I've
Tim
of books you'd like,
Hudson managed
old cus-
and whispered,
to the inside office
a
customers.
who was an
ludson,
_
— pick any couple
harge of course.*'
and
there halt die shelves
I
he
2
I
the heat, a milling thr> left,
the booksellers in
ih,
I
—
Shakespeare
to find a
short stories. their old
and trusted
Freddv Bloom went into Mavnard's the
manager
on thrusting upon her three paste and a box of soap tablets, and
insisted
toothbrushes, three tubes of
had used daily
then, unconsciouslv relap>m£ into the words he for twentv vears. asked brightlv.
all,
Mrs. Bloom?"
bothered about buying tinned food.
Cairiouslv. few people
Perhaps instinctivelv thev
felt as
And
be a bloody long stay."
"Will that be
I
Buckeridge did,
"It's
going
to
innot have seemed worth-
while buying a '"luxury" that would have lasted only a few days.
On
the other hand, there was a run on one luxury
Even the most philosophical were di^maved facing
up
to the rigors of
them over the first En matter." Hudson remembers, but
must." Others invested pipes.
stocks
to
dwindle
^hop"
d.
cigarettes
a lair
became
ind a dozen
in
supplies to individuals, though n
a
"Booze somehow
Overnight, pipe cleaners vanished too.
began
cigarettes.
at the prospect of
internment without cigarettes or
pipe to tide didn't
—
a
new
As the tobacco
shopkeepers tried to limit va
successfully.
In the
Gian Singh, the big food store in Battery three Europeans had to be taken to hospital after a freeat
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
258 for-all
those
when one man demanded ten cartons of cigarettes and queueing up behind shouted, "Share 'em out!" The man head of the queue
at the
ately the others fell
scrum.
The
underfoot.
manager
Immedi-
tried to grab the cigarettes.
on him with the
tigerish ferocity of a
rugby
counter was wecked, precious stocks were trampled
Nobody knew who was
tried to get the police
fighting
whom. The
— but there were no
the end, he left the scrum to fight
itself out,
tearful
police.
In
while in the adjoin-
ing departments of the big store, assistants and customers tried to ignore the unedifying spectacle of white
men
fighting like
animals.
Without doubt those in the most pitiful plight were the mothers with young children. For weeks now the pathetic groups of women, mostly young, living out of one suitcase, with their children tugging at their soiled dresses, had been a daily spectacle in Singapore. Some had obstinately (and stupidly) refused to leave without their husbands, taking heart from the spurious military communiques. Others, who were penniless, had not realized in time that the government was ready to stake their passage money. Now this unhappy band faced one common problem. Not for them the mad rush to buy cigarettes or toothbrushes or books.
Now
that internment was all but a reality, only
tered: the welfare of the children.
the sun, baby foods
special foods
body
to
these
had now become dire
they could
— were
whom
all
necessities.
— and would — have go withBut the children — often deprived of milk and
The mothers knew out themselves.
—
one thing mat-
Clothes, shoes, hats against
different.
to
And
yet there
was no
official
they could turn for help, not even a charitable-
organization with a "treasure chest" able to dole out the hand-
me-downs of other, luckier children who had left. Then, in the last hours, something very close to
a miracle hap-
THE DYING CITY
How
pened.
torn
roads,
known, but the
fires
came
buildings, it
did,
— how
—
smashed telephones
and while the
shells
bypassed shelled
it
will
never
be
whizzed overhead and
raged round the corner, Raffles Place unaccountably be-
filled
in their
word got round
the
2jC)
with excited, laughing children suddenly decked out
"Sunday
best."
was an astonishing
It
pirouetted as they showed off spotless, cool
sight.
little
Boys proudly displayed trim shorts and white
Little girls
white dresses.
There
shirts.
were floppy hats and shining new sandals for everyone. In addi-
— or mother — carried parcel containing — everything from underpants or panties duplicate spare pair of Even the mothers — their impressed clothes — seemed throw back shoulders with each child
tion,
a
a
its
outfit
to a
shoes.
still
old,
their
to
new
in
a
surge of pride and thankfulness.
"I'm not sentimental," said
them
— as excited as
if it
thinking there must be a
Tim
Hudson, "but when
was Christmas day
—
God somewhere who
I
saw
I
couldn't help
looks after kid-
dies."
For the "miracle" had been performed by Robinson's in Raffles Place,
whose manager, Mr. L. C. Hutchings, had,
eternal credit, decided that every
European mother now facing
internment could come to the' store and get two free each of her children. said
cost?
outfits for
"Let's talk about that later,"
Mr. Hutchings.*
Around officers,
*
The
to his
this
time Brigadier Simson heard that one of his
Major George Coode, was planning
Though most
to escape
if
staff
the city
—
Asians would not be interned, the offer did apply to those such Asian wives of Britishers who would go into internment. Most Asian mothers, however, did not face the same problems as the European women who had often been evacuated from up-country and did not have any friends in Singaas the
pore.
—
A SINISTER
260
The Major
capitulated. fine sailor
— had
TWILIGHT
— who happened
managed
to acquire
to be an extremely and provision a motor
launch, but Simson had been so occupied with his denial
schemes that he and Coode had hardly seen each other for
The Major had
eral days.
sev-
asked Percival for permission to
es-
and Percival had agreed, on the understanding that if the British had to capitulate, any escape would be during the vital period between the arrangements and the time the capitulation came into force. There was bound to be a few hours' delay and Percival was sure the Japanese would insist on a promise that no attempts to escape would be permitted. Percival would have to honor this pledge while his troops were still at large. cape,
By chance Simson ran
into Coode,
Simson immediately asked, "Can
who
told
him
of his plans.
book a seat?" "Why, of course," replied Coode. So Simson also asked I
Perci-
He
val for permission to escape in the event of surrender.
wanted, he told the General, "to carry on the
made no
objection
that
Percival
— apart from the same understandable con-
had imposed on Coode. Simson thanked him, and
ditions he
from
fight."
moment
until the following evening did not give the
matter another thought. After
all,
there was
still
plenty of work
to be done.
Another man was suddenly offered the opportunity to escape none other than Mr. Bowden, the Australian government
—
representative,
who had been
refused permission to leave the
land. General Percival felt that vilian of fifty-two
— he should
— perhaps because he was a
go.
Though
he had been an
valuable link between the island and his government, the
is-
ci-
in-
War
Council no longer functioned, and civilian administration was grinding to a
halt.
Bowden was
offered a place
on the Osprey,
launch designed to seat ten people, which was due to leave
on Saturday likable
man
night.
—
Bowden
at first
— an extremely honest
a
late
as well as
demurred, but when he was told categori-
THE DYING CITY
26
was 'Very close," he made up
cally that capitulation
his
together with his two assistants. But, he insisted, he
go,
mind
to
must
let
government know. This was none too easy, for by now there was only one way to get a wireless message out of the island. All bis
communications had been reduced
to a single, small handset op-
erated within a few feet of the edge of the lapping fringe of the
harbor where the cable actually entered the dirty water. Some-
how Bowden's
We
pleted.
known.''
message was tapped out: "Our work com-
last
from another place
will telegraph
Then
Bowden and
at 6:30 p.m.
at present un-
the others
met by the
launch.
The
"small party" had swollen to thirty-eight. As they tried
was barred by deserting troops seek-
to get aboard, their passage
Some were armed with hand
ing to escape. carried fire
tommy
The
guns.
on the launch unless
body was
hit,
and
Others
uglier elements threatened to
out, rifle shots
in mid-harbor,
open
were taken aboard, and
they, too,
moved
deed, as the Osprey
grenades.
were
fired at her.
in-
No-
and under cover of dark, the
party transferred to a 40-foot diesel-engined vessel called the
Mary Rose. Behind them, black smoke from the naval base canopied the sky.
In the heart of the
blazing furiously.
A
shellac
Pulau
that "even the
Back
Bukum had
Shenton
Thomas was
night in the Club. therefore
we
Across the water, the
been deliberately
ocean seemed to be on
in the privacy of his
a soap factory was
godown and timber sheds spurted
flames hundreds of feet into the air. reserves in
city,
bedroom
at the
set alight, so
Singapore Club, Sir
writing his daily diary,
Percival told
oil
fire."
me
"Much
position
quieter
no worse and
will carry on."
Sunday morning dawned without a breath of nett
still
remembered
it
as "a hopeless
dawn
of
Gordon Bendespair. There is no air.
A SINISTER
262
TWILIGHT
hope or help on the horizon. The steamy heat on the dying city which All over the
tropical sun is
sending
is
writhing in
its
people, as though sensing that the
city,
of destiny was at hand, joined in
the General Hospital, Freddy
its
agony."
moment
Sunday morning prayer. In
Bloom and
the other nurses gath-
ered in a bleak anteroom for a brief service. In the cathedral,
which was
still filled
many pews
The Rev had put back
with wounded,
Every one was
as possible in the choir.
filled,
as
and
every inch of space was crowded with standing worshipers.
Those who could not get
compound. They could not hear the service but, as if impelled by some primitive instinct, they stayed there, silent and devout, until it was over and those inside
inside stood in the green
filed out.
General Percival was also at church form, attending
communion
at Fort
— in
freshly starched uni-
Canning. But he at
least
thing — that
knew one at long last the "wider discretion" he had demanded had been granted, for in the early hours of the morning he had received a cable from Wavell, reading: So long
as
you are
enemy and your must
fight on.
importance
in a position to inflict losses
and damage to so, you
troops are physically capable of doing
Time gained and damage
at this juncture.
When
to
you are
enemy
are of vital
fully satisfied that
this is no longer possible I give you discretion to cease resistance. Inform me of intentions. Whatever happens I thank you and all your troops for gallant efforts of last few days.
Now,
the decision was
up
calling a conference of all civilian
— Dickie
and he lost no time in senior commanders, together wth one to Percival,
Dickinson, the Inspector-General of Police
who had been phoned
at his office at 8 a.m.
and
told to present
himself at Fort Canning at nine-thirty. Percival had not invited
Shenton Thomas to the conference, but the ever-loyal Dickinson, a firm believer in protocol,
had no intention of going
to
THE DYING CITY
263
Canning without the Governor's permission. He managed get through to Shenton Thomas at the club, and the Gover-
Fort to
nor immediately
said,
"Of course you must
go."
(In fact, Dick-
inson had quite rightly been invited instead of the Governor
because "I was in effect one of Percival's since the police
Commanding
had come under the army, and
this
Officers
was a purely
military conference.")
Simson of course was present, together with the three senior
commanders and an
RAF
officer.
Grimly they made
bomb-proof room under Fort Canning
to a small
their
way
Percival
Hill.
and Dickinson remembers that the solemn occasion was marked by "a considerable amount of spit and polish." No aides were present as each commander gave his the head of the table
sat at
own gloomy
recital of the
crumbling defense. Simson repeated
an earlv morning warning that the water situation had worsened
and then Percival announced briefly Wavell had granted him the power to capitulate. From then on, the discussion on any possible counterattack was purely academic and pointless, for everyone present knew there was alsince the previous evening, that
most no water, that army food reserves were only few days, and that the only petrol
left
vehicles.
The
when,
Gordon Bennett recorded
sadly
as
conference lasted barely twenty minutes, ending
we decided
As soon
sufficient for a
was in the tanks of the
as the
in his diary, "Silently
and
to surrender."
meeting had broken up, Percival sent
Fraser, the acting Colonial Secretary
Jones),
and Brigadier Xewbiggin,
Officer,
and told them
meet the Japanese and
for
(who had replaced his
Hugh
Stanley-
Chief Administrative
Timah Road to truce for 4 p.m. when
to drive up the Bukit try
and arrange
a
terms of capitulation could be discussed. his final military orders
codes, documents, secret
— for
That done, he
the destruction of
equipment and guns. •
all
issued
ciphers,
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
264
Hush
Fraser had been a highly popular, cheerful Federal Secre-
tary up-country before taking over the
and he did not the enemy.
mantle of Stanley
Jones,
relish the "distasteful task" of going out to meet
He
only undertook
it
because Sir Shenton Thomas
was adamant that in no circumstances would he parley with
the
Japanese.
This was the
meeting with the enemy, and
first
ment which should have been marked with journey and the meeting
Had
film.
episode, It will
had a car
at
gravity.
times resembled a
it
was a mo-
Instead,, the
Marx
Brothers
documented account of the not Fraser written a lone, O'
would be difficult to believe what actually happened. be remembered that in his "airmail" letter,. Yamashita
it
told Percival that,
if
he wished to surrender, he was to send
with a Union Jack and a white
along the Bukit
Timah Road. At
Newbiggin, carrying
Commission,
with an interpreter.
A to
in
could proceed
an open
Hieh
car, together
second car followed in case of accidents. be
at the
Japanese headquarters by noon.
but were hopelessly wide of the mark, for hours, instead of half an hour, to
Right from the
it
a letter addressed to the Japanese
from Fort Canning
set off
Thev had reckoned
flag as far as
exactly 11:30 a.m. Fraser and
start
make
it
took them over two
contact with the enemy.
everything seemed to go wrong
—
ironi-
moment when lives would be saved. They had planned to drive to N ton Circus, a roundabout where they would turn up the Bukit cally
on
a mission
whose main object was
to speed the
Timah Road, but had to turn back twice because craters made the roads impassable. Somehow they reached Newton
had Cir-
way alone back roads and alleys. There second car and set off slowly along Dunearn
cus after winding their
thev dismissed the
Road.
Halfway toward the Japanese headquarters, their car cross the bridge over the canal into Bukit Timah Road. Their
THE DYING CITY was
fairly clear until
i»(>-,
they reached a point where
major east-west highway, crossed Bukit
Adam
Road,
Timah Road. Here
a
they
found the entire area heavily defended by a barbed wire barrier.
The
three Britishers scrambled out with the intention of re-
moving enough of the obstacle Ji^t in
time they discovered
There was nothing
for
it
to allow their car to get through.
"it
but
was
stiff"
with anti-tank mines.
to recross the canal into
— where to their chagrin they were held up
Road
of a revolver by a British patrol.
Dunearn
at the point
Laboriously they explained
that they
were not defecting to the Japanese. But not until the
officer in
charge was called did anybody realize
The
officer
then warned them that the wide
they would have
to cross,
who
Adam
Road, which
was heavily mined, and
impossible to drive a car across, even
if
they were.
it
would be
they could get the barrier
down.
Now they had no alternative They unfurled
foot.
but to leave the car and
their flags
and
started walking
set off
on
— "picking
our way carefully, very carefully, through the mined area." All this
time
enemy planes were bombing and machine-gunning
and "the whine of came almost monotonous." British front line
With
the sweat pouring off
strode along
— until
matics at the ready,
Through
tion.
their
finally, a
shells passing
them
in the
the
overhead be-
midday
sun, they
party of Japanese troops, auto-
emerged cautiously from a rubber plantainterpreter, Fraser and Newbiggin pointed
out the significance of the white flag they carried.
Here, at the
long road, with its orchids growing on the canal bank and the somber rubber trees behind, was a rare moment of his-
side of the
came face to face with the the war in Malaya was as good as
tory as the sweat-stained Britishers first
Japanese to realize that
over.
ously
The
British officers
might have been forgiven
for nerv-
wondering what their reception would be from the Japa-
A SINISTER
266 nese. to
It
TWILIGHT
could have been anything
being gunned
down
— anything from jubilation
in savage retribution.
The one
reaction
they could not possibly have expected was what in fact did happen. Excitedly the Japanese crowded
pushing
litely
do was
and
to take pictures.
round the three men, pothem for a group
arranging
The war might
photograph. to
them,
not have existed. All they wanted
All the Japanese seemed to be
fes-
tooned with cameras slung round their necks. They begged the Britishers to line
make
up
— they
squeezed them a
little
closer to
a better photographic composition, they turned
they faced the sun until they
— and
had shot the
flatly
last
dazed Britishers wondered
if
them
refused to send for their
Only
spool of film. their senses
had
rived quickly from Japanese headquarters.
officer
then, as the
them, did the
left
Japanese soldiers deign to send for two senior
so
who arwas now two
officers
It
o'clock.
In his letter Percival suggested that a cease-fire should be
dered on both sides
commanders
To ous.
at four o'clock, giving the
or-
two opposing
the opportunity to discuss terms of capitulation.
Yamashita, however, the idea of "discussion" was preposter-
He would
have nothing to do with such a proposal.
He
would not order a cease-fire, he said, until Percival had "signed on the dotted line." And he would treat with nobody but Percival in person. Meanwhile, the shelling would go on. Yamashita had drafted a letter for the two envoys to carry to Percival. It set out in general terms the Japanese conditions Eoi
a cease-fire, at the
and
a
demand
that Percival should present himseli
Japanese headquarters in the Ford factory
that evening.
Yamashita guaranteed him
at
Bukit Timafa
a safe conduct,
volunteered to send a car to await him near the mined ban
Adam
and
ii
Road.
This was
all
Fraser and Newbiggin could achieve, though
THE DYING CITY their eventful afternoon fact that
was by no means ended. Despite the
they -were retracing the very same steps they had taken
barely an
hour or two previously, the Japanese now unaccounta-
bly insisted
on blindfolding them
for the trip
back
Adam
to
Since they were properly led, this absurd procedure
Road.
might have seemed more childish than the journey was terrifying, for
it
irritating.
But
instead,
coincided with a time
when
gunners were laying down a heavy barrage over
British area,
267
and the
shells
whined uncomfortably
close to the
this
men who
were temporarily blinded. Eventually they reached
one more
adventure lay
Timah and
Adam Road and
their car,
and only
ahead of them. At the junction of Bukit
Stevens Road, a British sergeant who, as Fraser
noted, "had quite obviously not destroyed his private stock of
liquor" fired a revolver at the British party, missing miracle.
Then he ordered
his platoon to
car.
a
The
must have had second
sergeant was itching to fire again, but thoughts, though the danger
them by
surround the
remained acute until two
officers
arrived and, "at the point of their revolvers, persuaded the ser-
geant of his error." Tired,
dispirited,
drenched with sweat,
the
little
party
reached Fort Canning just before 4 p.m.
It
more than
most humiliating mo-
ment
half an
hour
to prepare for the
gave Percival
little
of his military career.
Together with three trace the
staff officers,
General Percival
set off to re-
journey taken by Fraser and Newbiggin. At the ap-
proaches to the village of Bukit Timah, they got out of their car,
unfurled the Union Jack and the white
enemy tional
flag,
escort to the Japanese headquarters
Ford Motor
factory.
and marched under
— the
bleak, func-
Perhaps understandably, British
rec-
A SINISTER
268
TWILIGHT
ords have been reticent about this meeting, though Japanese
documents and verbatim reports give a detailed picture of what happened, together with photographs of the two generals face to fact at last
—
Percival, thin, tired
and
dispirited;
Yamashita
like
on
the
a heavy, thickset bulldog, with his clenched right table ready to
pound
it
as
fist
he emphasized a point.
Yamashita arrived several minutes
late
— and from
any hopes which Percival might have entertained
set
conciliatory terms vanished.
''Pale,
the out-
for getting
and with bloodshot
eyes,"
Yamashita announced, "The Japanese army will consider nothing but unconditional surrender at
dumbly
Percival listened
10 p.m.
Nippon
"But can't
I
as
time." (8:30 p.m. Singapore time.)
can't guarantee it," blurted out Percival.
submit our
final
"We
just
reply before midnight."
Yamashita raised his voice and thumped the
table.
"Are our
We
terms acceptable or not? Things have to be done quickly. are ready to resume firing."
As Percival of
him
a
list
hesitated,
one of Yamashita's aides pushed in
front
of questions in English. Percival looked at the
first
army surrender unconditionally?" cried, "Please, wait until tomorrow morning
one: "Does the British
Again Percival
for the final answer."
And
retorted, "In that case
we
row morning.
Is
again Yamashita, leaning forward,
will continue the attack until tomor-
that all right, or
do you consent immediately
to
unconditional surrender?"
With "bowed head and consent.
The
in a faint voice," Percival gave his
surrender would take place at eight-thirty that
night.
Yamashita briskly picked up val that the British troops
cept for a thousand
He
his pile of papers
and
told
Pen
should be immediately disarmed
who would maintain
(
i-
\-
order during the night
agreed that, in order to prevent incidents, Japanese troops
would be forbidden
to enter the city until the following
morn-
THE DYING CITY
!>()()
"But," he warned Percival, "if there
ing.
these terms, a full-scale attack
commence." Percival had one
Army
protect the
last
on Singapore
request to make.
women and
any violation of
is
immediately
will
"Will the Imperial
children and the British
civil-
ians?*'
"Please rest assured," replied Yamashita in a tone, "I shall positively
Then, pushing a "Please
sign
Back
slip
this."
across the table, he
Percival
concilitory
it."
signed — and
ramrod, turned on his heel.
straight as a
February
guarantee
more
It
urged Percival, then,
standing
was 6:10 p.m. on
15.
at Fort
Canning, Percival drafted his
final signal to
Wa-
"Owing to losses from enemy action, water, petrol, food and ammunition practically finished. Unable therefore to continue the fight any longer. All ranks have done their best and \ ell:
grateful for your help." It
was the
last
message out of Singapore.
Meanwhile, Brigadier Simson had been making his rations to escape.
given
him
final
prepa-
Secure in the knowledge that Percival had
permission, the Brigadier drove for what he thought
would be the
last
tour of the
city.
"I
saw that
all
my
scorched
—
would be completed by 6 p.m." Coode in whose boat he was going had warned the Brigadier that he planned to sail soon after seven p.m., and when Simson was satisfied that he could do no more, he drove to Fort Canning to say
earth responsibilities
—
good-bye to Percival. Percival was sitting at his desk looking utterly dejected.
He
hardly seemed to realize that Simson had entered the room, that the Brigadier was holding out his
One
will
never
know what
hand
to say good-bye.
passed through Percival's
mind
at
A SINISTER
270 that
TWILIGHT
moment. Was he envious because Simson had been
about defenses? straight"?
Was he
so depressed that
In any event, he looked
up
he could not
right
''think
at the Brigadier and, to
him
Simson's astonishment, refused point-blank to permit
to
leave.
moment Simson was
For a
he blurted out, "But
And, what's more,
it's
sir,
Then
too flabbergasted to reply.
you've already given
me
permission.
the duty of every soldier to escape
he
if
can." Percival did not agree.
"Officers,"
he
insisted,
"should
stay
after their units." It did not seem to make any differwhen Simson pointed out that he had no units. He had been attached to the staff. "And anyway," added Simson, "for and the last six weeks I've only been Chief Engineer in name
and look ence
—
Director-General of Civil Defence, I've no
as
prevent
"I'm
on
his
ties of
any
sort to
me from going." sorry,
desk —
Simson," Percival abruptly turned to the papers as
though
to indicate that
he did not wish
to dis-
Without another word Simson walked the room, drove straight to Major Coode and told him to
cuss the subject further.
out of
cancel his place.
Around
Then he
the same time,
started to prepare for internment.
Gordon Bennett
such niceties as obtaining permission for the docks.
— unhampered
— was preparing
Originally his escape party had
grown
three had fallen out, including a Captain Curlewis,
by
to leave
to six, but
"who
ex-
pressed doubts about the propriety of leaving the men." Gor-
don Bennett had no such doubts. Instead he entertained a feeling "that I must at all costs return to Australia and tell our people the story of our conflict with the Japanese." Bennett's escape has been a source of controversy for twentyfive years,
and
to escape,
one might wonder what
since
it is
accepted that part of a soldier's all
dim
ifl
the fuss has been about,
THE DYING CITY and why nett's
(as
army
we
shall see later) the escape
career.
The answer
27
did in
Eact
ruin Ben-
not only in the devious man-
lies
ner in which he concocted his plans without informing Percival,
but also in the fact that
when he did
he
go,
thousands of
left
Australians behind, and practically his last order to strict
injunction not to escape. For on this
them was
last night,
a
while he
was itching to be gone, other Australians were also discussing the chances of escape. After talks with his senior
came
to the
Bennett
conclusion that "to allow any large-scale unorgan-
ized attempts to escape ter.''
officers,
would
result in confusion
and slaugh-
This was an incredible decision considering that Bennett
was almost on his way.
Bennett
now
issued an order that
all
Australian units were to remain at their posts until eight-thirty the following morning. great bitterness)
A
copy of the order (which aroused
was preserved during captivity and included
the unequivocal sentence, "All precautions
sure that the spirit of the cease-fire action."
Having drafted the
troops to be issued with
handed over command
must be taken
to en-
not destroyed by foolish
is
order, Bennett arranged for all
new
clothing and two days' rations,
to his artillery
commander
— and
set off
for the docks.
At 8:30 citv.
p.m.,
an uncanny, eerie silence
Almost from one moment
ing, the
fell
across the
to the next, the din
bombing, the bark of guns
burning
— the
shell-
— which had been a part of
everyone's lives, was abruptly stilled. It was the silence of death.
Only one kind of
and falling provide a grim re-
local noise, the crackling flames
timbers of uncontrolled
fires,
remained
to
minder that war does not end with the breeching of the guns.
To
many, the news of the
cease-fire
shock. Dr. Cicely Williams, having
came
had a good
as
an astonishing
night's rest in the
A SINISTER
272 local jail,
had returned
TWILIGHT
to her children in the
Dental Depart-
ment, and was snatching an hour's sleep on the floor when
a
doctor poked his head round the door and cried, ''There's an armistice!"
"Wh\?*' asked Cicely Williams. "Who's given in?"
"We have," said the doctor abruptly. Tim Hudson was awakened by the silence. He had off
on the
floor of the
dropped
Medical College and suddenly,
for no
apparent reason, found himself wide-awake in the dark,
sur-
rounded by recumbent, snoring men. Something "was uncanny and at first I couldn't understand what it was." He lit a cigarette
and
for
some moments
lay there, puzzled, unconsciously
waiting for the shriek of a shell or the
crump
none came he jumped up and ran out
of a
bomb. When
across the lawns to the
hospital proper.
"What's happened?" he
yelled,
grabbing the
first
man
he saw.
"Haven't you heard? We've surrendered!"
"Are you sure?"
"Of course." And then the man added good-humoredly, "No need to shout, old man." For the first time Hudson realized that for days he had been shouting, as though talking to deaf men, in order to be heard above the unending pandemonium. Hudson made his way toward the central ward. Every nook and cranny was overflowing with wounded, and as he picked his way carefully between the stretchers, he came to the junction of two long corridors stretching away. A pretty young nurse in a
Tim
knew
though more than once she had helped
to re-
soiled, blood-stained
her only by
sight,
ceive patients he "Isn't
As
it
Tim
uniform was weeping
had brought
awful?" she
quietly.
in.
said.
tried to console her, she looked up,
wiped her
tears,
forced a smile, and then without warning, asked quietly. "Will
THE DYING CITY ,ive
me
Wc
a kiss?
know
don't
what's going to hap-
pen now."
Tim remembered
that "the idea gave
me
an awful shock.
What an awful thine to kiss a nurse in uniform.'' He hesitated said. *Do you think I should, with you in uniform?'' He d her gently. He never did discover who she was, and he
and
never saw her again.
At
first
umnists.
The Rev believed the truce was the work of fifth colHe had spent a busy day, starting with a communion
managing nonetheless to play a rubber of bridge after lunch/ and now he could not believe the "uncanny quiet." Finally someone told him it was official and, as he noted in his diarv, "I wandered around a bit." He had an objective in mind, for he "had a wash at the Adelphi Hotel, one of the few es where there is still some water." The citv was still ringed with flames and the very last entrv in his war diarv in which he had kept a meticulous daily note of the weather/ ended with the sen
ice
'but
dry remark. "Weather fine for
Buck Buckeridge
fires."
also 'celebrated"
with a wash
— or rather,
a
bath at the Central Fire Station, in the same dirtv water he had
used to wash his uniform.
was
it.
We'd
single
as
wearv
as
I
had.
that
'"So.
The gang
of
men
was. but I'm sure that everv
one was willing and eager to carrv on the struggle. But
there was
no
struggle.
It
shared a dreadful secret. didn't
that night, he wrote.
Or someone
given up.
round the table was
And
know what
We
was over. Dreadful
i
r .
the hell had gone wr> >na
talked as though at secret, no.
We
were
damn
we
We sure
sn't us."
Some people never knew
When
McAlister's closed
—
it>
until later that the
doors
— and
war was over.
the Observer Corps
had been disbanded Willie Watt had decided to move out from his Singapore headquarters to his house, "San Remo,"
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
274
on the coast near Changi. Though had no Japanese troops yet penetrated this area, Watt was several miles outside the British perimeter, and was going to find it eight miles east of Singapore
extremely
difficult to
surrender
when he
tried to.
In one of the Asian wards at the General, the beautiful Chinese lover of Colin Johns, the planter
who had committed
had regained consciousness and was
cide,
off the
danger
suilist.
Over and over she kept wailing in Chinese, "Let me die, let me die." As so often happens, while so many people who had wanted to live were dying, the doctors had been able to save the one person who had only wanted to die. That night the Bishop of Singapore, the Right Reverend John Leonard Wilson, held a service in the cathedral. The stone floor of the nave was still crowded with rows of wounded, some on camp beds, others lying on blankets, but the pews still remained in the choir, and hundreds of men and women
—
many
of
them Asians
sang "Praise,
my soul,
— crowded
While the Bishop
the
King
inside as the congregation
of Heaven."
offered
up
prayers
for
morrow,
the
"Dickie" Dickinson was standing on the balcony of his police station in
had
New
Bridge Road with his chief
just returned
from a
assistant.
Governor
visit to the
Dickinson
— "a miserable
The shame of it was the worst." The city was dark except for the fires. The two men hardly talked. Dickinson was wondering how Bunny, his wife, was coping at the Blood Transfusion. The street below seemed fairly crowded with people meeting.
suddenly free to walk about without noticed, for his
remembers,
were over
mind was on
that, despite the
—
it
avenge
other things.
shame
of
but Dickinson hardly
He
it all,
was thinking, he
at least the
dan
was the end of blood and death and bombs.
Then, unaccountably, ity of the
fear,
it
happened. From the dark anonym-
crowd below, someone
— perhaps with an old
— celebrated the end of the war by tossing
s<
a Mills
01
bomb
THE DYING CITY
275
up onto the ten-foot-wide balcony. It landed at the feet of the two men. Dickinson remembers his number two "hurling himself in
front of me," but
it
was too
late.
The
full force of the
bomb caught Dickinson, one fragment going through his jaw. He had a vague recollection of falling but that was all, as
—
blackness engulfed "the gentle policeman."
In his Japanese version of the fall of Singapore, Colonel Tsuji
makes the fascinating point that he found among the conquered British
"an expression of resignation such
as
and though
losers in fierce sporting contests"
shown by the
is
it is
doubtful
if
a
Japanese could penetrate and analyze the thoughts of the defeated British,
a curious fact that
it is
on
this last
night of "free-
dom" — the unreal interval of suspended time between war and — feelings of apprehension seem have been abPerhaps the dismaying shock of defeat — or some the — had anesthetized thoughts of temporary feeling of
captivity
to
all
for
sent.
relief
all
the perils that lay ahead, so that cate (especially that since the treat the
many
when reading between
war had been
diaries
and papers
indi-
the lines) a naive belief
honorably, the victors would
lost
vanquished in an equally honorable fashion.
George Wade, a
member of
MAS — and in civilian life
the
expert on controlling Singapore's voracious white ants
an
— noted
in his diary, "That night we had a steak and kidney pie, Christmas pudding and strawberries and cream, all out of a tin for our
Surrender Dinner." Leslie Hoffman in his father's
troops
who
pressed
black Scottie
him
to
house
dog
— was surrounded by British stocks of tinned food — and
Serangoon
a on him vast Whisky which one of the soldiers asked almost as though he would be returning
called
look after
soon to collect
at
— secure for the moment
—
it.
Everyone was busy preparing their "internment kits"
— some
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
276
bulky and unwieldy, since many people innocently assumed in a climate as hot
and humid
would obviously have
to provide transport.
Changi," Freddy heard one
walking the nine miles.
me
transport
heads of
— or leave
many people
Japanese would have
as Singapore's,
MAS woman
their
minds
Nor did
it
the Japanese
"If they put us in
say briskly, "I'm not
And if I refuse to walk, they'll have to me free." It never seemed to enter the
that
if
as little
they started getting "cheeky,
compunction
swatting an irritating bluebottle. the rape of
that
In the
Hong Kong, which had been earlier in the year,
enter the heads of
in killing first
them
5
'
the
as in
flush of "peace"
imprinted starkly on
seems to have been forgotten.
many men and women
that correct
behavior on their part would not necessarily be a passport to correct treatment by their jailers.
Tim Hudson
was not of
this school of
thought.
small bag, soberly prepared for the worst, above
He
packed
all
thankful
a
once again that Marjorie had got away. His only real concern
was that he had promised Marjorie that
do
all
he could to
he found
it
if
the city
help Mei Ling — but now on
fell
he would
his last night
impossible to get through to Stevens Road.
It
was
army refused to let him pass, but he would have liked to give her all the Malay money still in his pocket. He would have no use for it, anyway. Tim remembers that as the night wore on he felt "fed up and anxious to do something." There was no ARP post left. Everyone had gone to make some new start in life. The Chinese who had worked so courageously had vanished, probably to their kampongs. And above all, Tim wanted a bath. He had spent and in order to most of the day helping to bury the dead place the bodies close to each other, he had had to stand in the pits where "the yielding feeling of the lower bodies was appalling." He felt he wanted to throw away every stitch of clothing, not his
fault, for the
—
THE DYING CITY luxuriate under a shower,
and come out
277
new man, divorced
a
from the reek of death.
On
an impulse he
set off in the Hill
man from
the General
Hospital for the Central Fire Station on the off chance of findIkickeridge. petrol.
It
Halfway there
his car stuttered to a stop, out of
was symptomatic of those
final
hours that
Tim
got out
with his small suitcase, banged the door behind him, and set
off
walking without ever again sparing a thought for the sturdy
lit-
tle car.
He
arrived at Central just as Buckeridge was
"Come
leaving.
somewhere "All
that
on," he said to
might
"Might be able you
fix
"I'm going
mysteriously.
interest you."
want," replied Tim,
I
Tim
on the point of
"is a
to fix that,"
bath."
Buckeridge grinned.
"But can
me up with a drink?"
Hudson suddenly remembered
the two bottles of whiskey
hidden in Dunlop's godown. "Well,
I
might be able
to,"
and
he explained what he had in mind.
Buckeridge off for
still
had plenty
Keppel Road.
street lamps,
few
lights
two old friends
were appearing now
set
— not
but friendly square patches shining here and there
out of buildings.
bombed
A
of petrol so the
streets
They had
to
make
several detours
but Dunlop's godown was
Buck waited outside
in the car while
Tim
still
ran
in,
round
standing, and
and found
his
two bottles of whiskey.
As he came out, a small figure emerged from the surrounding shadows.
It
was a woman, carrying a parcel wrapped in brown
paper.
"Mei
Tim. Mei Ling
Lins:!" cried
Hesitatingly,
— who
had somehow never seemed
verv interested in her job or her employers she had been waiting since six o'clock.
— told Hudson that
She had
felt
sure the
A SINISTER
278
tuan would come to his ridge pooled
all
accepted the
money
office
sooner or
the dollars they politely,
"What's that?" asked
TWILIGHT later.
Tim and
had and gave them
BuckeShe
to her.
then held out the paper parcel.
Tim Hudson.
"The man's dhobi," answered Mei Ling and opened up
— two
parcel drill
spotless shirts,
And on
trousers, socks, a lightweight jacket.
clean-smelling pile was a photo of Marjorie which
taken from Tim's desk. nearly cried,"
"Come
"It
top of the
Mei Ling had
was one of the few times
Hudson admitted
on." said Buckeridge
for a nice cold bath before
the
two freshly starched pairs of khaki
I
damn
later.
—
gruffly for
you ruin those
him.
"I'll
take you
clothes."
There was nothing they could do for Mei Ling except drop Her family lived somewhere along the east coast, and she was confident she would make her way there unharmed.
her in the middle of town.
"I don't suppose a
bloodv
asked,
thins;
more
I'll
war
ever see her again,"
Tim
Then he turned
is."
to
"What
cheerfully, "What's this about a bath?"
Almost gleefully Buckeridge explained. treasures
sighed.
Buckeridge and
Lucy had
left
behind
entrance used by the senior
Among
few
the
was a small key to the private
staff at
Robinson's. Almost the
last
folds
Lucy had given him was to go to Robinson's "if the citv up" in case he needed anything to take into internment.
And
only a couple of days previously, one of Robinson's
advice
men
had casually passed on the information that as soon as the water supply had been threatened, ail the bathtubs on sale in Robinjust son's plumbing department had been filled to the brim
—
in case.
They parked people
— and
the car behind Raffles Place
— now
filled
with
Buckeridge led the way through the courtyard
where he had helped
to
smash up the hundreds of bottles
of
THE DYING CITY
8^g
They had barely entered the vast, deserted department when a cheerful woman's voice hailed them, "Who's there?
whiskey. store
Come on up!" The stairs to
—
the upper floor were set at the back of the store
handsome, wide
a
pers could go
ing — and
cause
up one
staircase that split left
side
and down the
other.
light
was shin-
instinctively they took the left staircase, simply be-
"Why!
recognize the beard.
Don't be alarmed
It's
Lucy's husband," she cried. "I
more upstairs — though we don't want cup of
In
A
so shop-
was marked "Up." At the top stood Mrs. Hutchings,
it
wife of the manager.
nice
and right
the
—
there's half a
How
a crowd.
dozen
about a
tea?"
furniture department,
glowed brightly.
A
dozen or so
a
couple of electric bulbs
men
sat
lounging in the deep
armchairs and sofas that nobody would ever buy now.
Busily
Mrs. Hutchings bustled from one to another with a big teapot.
Almost
guiltily
— because
Hudson opened whiskey.
He
some
all,
and produced
his suitcase
against the law his
—
two bottles of
was about to take a swig before passing the bottles
round when Mrs. Hutchings get
was, after
it
said in shocked tones,
"Oh And
no!
I'll
and soda from the restaurant!" this rewoman called for volunteers who accompanied her to basement restaurant, returning with plates and glasses, while glasses
markable the
two
men
struggled
up
the stairs laden with cartons of tinned
meat and pineapple. Then, before they started supper, every
man
raised his stengah
Tim a
and the
toast
was "Absent Friends."
got his bath. In fact he had two, for he had the choice of
dozen tubs
filled
with water.
In the ladies' hairdressing de-
partment he found some soap, then lay in the
first
bath, scrub-
bing himself until the water was black, after which he w ashed T
the rest of the dirt off in a second bath. ladies' hairdressing,
found some
toilet
Then he
returned to the
water and rubbed himself
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
280
Only when he was finally satisfied that he was clean did he put on the freshly laundered clothes Mei Ling had brought all
over.
him.
Like the others in Robinson's,
Tim Hudson
spent his
last
night of freedom in the luxury of the most expensive and comfortable beds that Singapore
had
to offer, taking his choice
dozens lined up in the furniture department.
most before
his
was asleep
al-
head touched the pillow.
Down by
the docks,
looked
though
as
He
from
Gordon Bennett was would
his plan to escape
in trouble,
get
him no
and
it
further
than the edge of the harbor. Various accounts of his bid for
freedom (including party of planters
his
own) have told how he "gave a
who had
bent on escaping.
a
joined the volunteers and were also
In truth,
Gordon Bennett's escape
lift" to
it
was the volunteers who made
and by a remarkable coincidence they were led by Lance/ Bombardier M. C. Hay none other than the husband of Marjorie Hay, who gave us such a vivid description of the dismissal of Stanley Jones. Hay had possible,
—
thrown up
his
important job
as Inspector of
Mines
to join the
way from Kuala Lumpur to the island. On this last night, with a bunch of friends, he had received permission to escape, and they had set off for the docks. Hay happened to be a brilliant linguist, who spoke amongst other languages Hindustani and Chinese and like Marjorie, volunteers,
and had fought
his
—
his wife,
he kept an excellent, detailed diary.
Deciding
to
go on
foot,
the grimy, tired
men made
their
way through the city to the docks "waving lighted cigarettes about to show we were not Japs." They were repeatedly challenged by sentries, but as most of them were Indians Hay was able to answer in Hindustani. Eventually they reached a land-
THE DYING CITY
281
where "we met Genera] Gordon Bennett and two other Australian officers. I'hev had found a sampan, but could not find the oars, and appeared to have no idea of how to row bag stage
a."
mien
Ik
Hay
told
thai he
planned
make
to
on
Cor Malacca,
the wesl coast of Malaya, in the hopes of finding a large boat.
(Since Malacca was near fohore, Bennett was possibly
on help from the Sultan.)
1
how ever,
lav.
banking
had
said firmly that he
wen anchored in the outer roads, and one and make straight tor Sumatra. It was obvi-
heard that some junks
planned
to find
and
ously a far better plan than Bennett's,
it
did not take the
Australians long to agree that the two parties should join forces.
Hay
—
a
man
of infinite resource
ing oars for the sampan. 1
As
it
— quickly found the miss-
was not big enough for them
lay agreed to take along the Australians, leaving his
all,
own com-
moment. He wanted to find a boat them into the harbor to search for the
rades on the dockside for the <
ipable of taking
all
of
He soon found one — a twakow with better oars, lying offshore. Then he started to return to pick up his friends. At
junks.
this point,
once.
I
"the General said he wanted to start out to sea at
pointed out that the object of coming to find a larger
boat was so the parties should proceed together, and that
not propose to leave
my
friends."
offered to give the General the
Slightly
twakow and
disgusted,
find another
did
I
Hay
one
for
whereupon the General's ADC — obviously realizing the value of keeping Hay — hurriedly they should
his party,
said
all stick
together.
Eventually they did find three junks.
which had
a
kong (master) "was flatly
refused to
the sort of
They boarded one
Chinese crew on board, only to find that the
man
sail
to
down
just settling
to a
until the following
be put
oil.
1
tai-
pipe of opium" and
morning. Hay was not
or years, he
had been used
to
dealing with recalcitrant Chinese in the tin mines. Without a
A SINISTER
282
TWILIGHT
moment's hesitation he jerked the skipper's pipe out of the man's mouth and "confiscated" his opium, telling him in forceful,
fluent Chinese that there
would be no smoking
until the
junk was under way. Then — having established authority and knowing Gordon Bennett Chinese — Hay suggested his
his
to
that he should give the taikong a present, at lian
handed over
a
hundred
Ten minutes later
which the Austra-
dollars.
the old junk slipped her moorings and they
were heading south.
Barely a mile away from the escaping junk
only by the brief stretch of Battery inson's
— the hundred or
— and
separated
Road from Hudson
in Rob-
so leading civilians of Singapore were
freedom before the Japamade their triumphal entry into the city on the fol-
also preparing for their last night of
nese troops
lowing morning.
Some
culate.
The
first
vague rumors were beginning
said all civilians
would be lined up on the
to cir-
Cricket
Club padang. Others that "senior officers will be allowed to remain at large we'll be needed to run the city for the Japs."
—
The
Governor's wife was responding to treatment for her
entery, but she was
still
too
weak
to leave her bed.
Sir
dys-
Shenton
Thomas, however, left their small room after a makeshift supper, and late that night stood with Hugh Fraser looking out of Fullerton Building at the light of a watery moon dancing on the sea, the pale gold mingling with the scarlet of the flames down by the docks. The Governor had
just
heard that Dickie Dickin-
son had had a major operation, but had not recovered conscious-
would be touch and go whether he lived. For hall an hour the two men stood there, alone and busy with their ness.
It
thoughts.
The
days of war
time was almost midnight.
— was
it
After just seventy
really only seventy days since the
first Jap.'.-
THI
D\
ncse air raid on Singap
N
1
C.
CITY
the city was quiet. Fraser recalled
afterward that the) hardl) exchanged
him and —not
Governor mined
to
ing
in a
aloud — said
2S;^
von
e that
a
word, except
really speaking,
It's
their country
the
but think-
echoed everything he most
sionately believed in, "It doesn't matter about us.
ple I'm sorry for.
when
It's
pas-
the peo-
— and somehow we've
let
them down." It
war to
was the end of the siege in
Malaya. But for
come.
ol
many
Singapore.
It
was the end of the
thousands, the real killing was yet
PART THREE After
11
The Road
to
Changi
Monday, February i6-Monday} March 9 11
dawn on Monday, the first Japanese troops entered With an irony hard to match, almost the first step the
after
the city.
victors took
was
to ask the British officials in
key posts to carry
For now the Japanese unexpectedly faced overwhelming administrative problems. They had advanced 650
on
as usual.
miles from Singora in Siam to the harbor in Singapore in sev-
enty days sult they
— a remarkable average had
of nine miles a day.
so overstretched themselves that not
sanguine Japanese
staff officers
re-
even the most
had been prepared
The Japanese High Command had
As a
for victory so
would take a hundred days to reach and storm Singapore. They had expected the "fortress" to fight to the last man. Instead, their forces had taken the city with a month to spare a city now crowded with a population ol a million civilians, and over eighty thousand hungry troops. Japanese civil government offi-
soon.
estimated
it
—
cers
— their
were
at the
plans for running Singapore
moment
of capitulation
still
enjoying
unfinished
life in
—
Bangkok,
over a thousand miles to the north.
There was only one thing to the British to help.
engineers, health
to be done.
The Japanese appealed
British firemen, doctors, nurses, water
and sanitary workers were asked
to
their posts until their Japanese counterparts arrived.
remain
at
Fires were
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
288 still
burning,
to waste.
wounded were
And
still
dying, water was
still
the only people in a position to restore
running
some sem-
blance of order were the conquered British.
The
city
was in a
When Tim Hudson
fantastic state.
walked
out of Robinson's into Raffles Place, after his night's sleep in the furniture department, he found
crowded with hundreds
it
of
and Indian soldiers, squatting quietly on the pavements, smoking as they philosophically awaited their future. One group of noisy Australians was dominated by the figure of a soldier wearing a top hat. As though unable to realize the significance of what had happened,* many soldiers were laughing and joking especially those whose shirts bulged with tins of looted cigarettes. Round the corner in narrow Battery British, Australian
—
Road, Hudson could not walk along the path, for by half a dozen kneeling
was barred
game of solo, and "the kitty." Above them, the
soldiers, intent
with a huge pile of loose cash in
it
on
a
—
met Tim's eyes a couple of white sheets hanging from an upstairs window. Already small Japanese flags were fluttering from scores of shops, almost as though they had been furtively hidden for weeks for just such an occasion. Some first
signs of defeat
Indian soldiers boasted Japanese
on
their tunics. Others
had
flags
hurriedly sewn or pinned
tied strips of white cloth
round
their
helmets.
On
Collyer
Quay Tim came
across the extraordinary sight of
an Indian soldier in an abandoned car discarding his uniform for a suit of civilian white drill.
boarded up, and in the main was
to
had been hardly a Chinese or Malay
All the Asian shops
streets
be seen. Even Change Alley was
scavenging coolies.
The
silent except for a
few
area was like a ghost town in which a
* Empire military casualties for the entire campaign totaled 138,708, of whom more than 130,000 troops became prisoners of war. Japanese battle casualties
totaled 9,824.
THE ROAD TO CHANGI million men, their houses
women and
and shops
—
289
children hid behind the shutters of a
curious contrast to the tens of thou-
sands of soldiers aimlessly thronging the streets.
Soon Hudson caught short,
his first
glimpse of the conquerors
tough sentries at most corners and bridges, "lugging
with bayonets that were bigger than they were."
more Japanese city,
recklessly
staff cars
dodging
started to screech
rifles
More and
and blare through the
fallen cables, potholes or corpses.
thousand Britishers, armed with
—
A
staves, patrolled the
center of
the city trying to prevent looting or disorder; for the
most part
the Japanese sentries
River Valley Road,
seemed uninterested
Hudson came
in their activities. In
across a free-for-all
between
and Indian troops wrangling over the contents of three abandoned army trucks. Half a dozen Japanese sentries idly watched without making any attempt to stop the fight. British
On
the other hand, Japanese officers
forcibly illustrating that they
had no compunction in
were the masters,
as Brigadier
Simson discovered when, for no apparent reason, he was taken for a
two-hour ride round the city sitting in the back seat of a car
between two young Japanese
It
officers.
gave
him "an
early
demonstration of Japanese mediaeval culture," for as they ap-
proached the docks, Simson saw about cruelly trussed
fifteen coolies, their
arms
behind their backs with barbed wire. They had
been caught in the act of looting. Eight were Chinese, who, the horrified brigadier watched, were
cutioner
with
a
pushed forward.
An
as
exe-
two-handed Samurai sword appeared and
promptly beheaded them Indians and Malays
in front of the
— were
crowd.
The
others
—
released with a caution, for they
were part of the new Co-Prosperity Sphere, while the Chinese were sworn enemies.
Even though the Japanese ers
—
ruthlessly
for they reserved a special
beheaded Chinese
loot-
vengeance for the Chinese
—
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
290
many Japanese and friendly terms.
seemed
British soldiers
Men who would later
be on almost
to
be brutally beaten merely
manners now replied as equals to those Japanese who spoke to them in English. Colonel Tsuji
for
some technical
was so astonished
damaged
offense of
at the
that he asked a
number young
of vital installations
British officer,
"Why
un-
still
didn't you
destroy Singapore?" Spiritedly, the officer retorted, "Because will return again!"
Unperturbed, Tsuji
you believe Britain
beaten in this war?"
is
ninety-nine times," replied the
officer,
persisted,
we
"But don't
"We may be defeated
"but in the
final
round,
we'll win."
Amongst
the other ranks, a similar tolerance sometimes pre-
One
vailed.
British platoon
was loading
before setting off for prisoner-of-war
when
its
camp
luggage on a truck in
Changi barracks,
a Japanese soldier beckoned the sergeant to follow
him
into a nearby house. Neither could speak the other's language,
but with excited signs the Japanese pointed to an old upright piano in the abandoned house, urging the British soldiers take
it
along.
Though
They did
— and
the Japanese
it
survived three and a half years.
had announced on the radio
that those
would not be immediately Hudson had no delusions that he would fall into this
in "essential occupations"
Some, however, were not the Governor —
hopefully the
if
still
Tommy
room
interned, category.
Kitching sought out
at the club
— and asked him
he could stay out. Sir Shenton thanked him for
work he had put
nese ask
sure.
in his
me why
in,
but told him, "Kitching
the Chief Surveyor
is
after
—
if
The two men
which Kiching returned
all
the Japa-
essential, I'd find
hard to say why." Kitching didn't argue.
hands and parted,
to
it
very
shook
to Fullerton
Building, where his Chinese clerk, waiting to say good-bye,
asked
him
for a personal souvenir. Kitching gave
ring,
and
"after expressing his sorrow
parted immensely pleased with
it."
him a serviette and sympathy, he de-
THE ROAD TO As
befits a
C
HAN G
2()1
I
surveyor Kitching was an extremely methodical
man, and he had long since prepared what he considered the bare essentials tor his "internment kit."
Now
to
be
he made a
note in his diary of every item as he packed his small suitcase.
makes
a fascinating
— and highly
practical
—
It
list:
Iodine, Dettol, Andrew's Liver Salts, Elastoplast, toilet soap, 2 prs. shorts, 3
mv
shirts, 2 prs. stockings, 1
pr. flannels, 2
1
pr. shoes, a sheet,
handkerchieves,
2
sweat
shaving tackle, pencil, paper, hair brush, comb, aspirin,
rags,
vitamin
pills, plate,
serviette
A
sweat
dark blue blazer,
(as
mug,
knife, fork, spoon, towel, 2 face towels,
dish cloth), Asepso soap, scissors, electric torch.
couple of floors below, in his bedroom, the Governor was
receiving another visitor officer
who
told
—
this
time a Japanese intelligence
Shenton Thomas that
all civilians
should assem-
Club padang the following morning. This, visit. As Sir Shenton listened coldly, the Japanese said he had been instructed to ask the Governor one specific question: How had Britain and the ble at the Cricket
however, was not the only object of his
United
States divided their spheres of influence in the Pacific?
Though obviously he knew that he tion.
had not the
slightest intention of divuloinor the informa-
you,
sir," said
the Japanese in a matter-of-
"We're bound
to get the
information sooner or
"It's a pity for
fact voice.
the answer, Sir Shenton retorted
later,
anyway."
While most
of Singapore uneasily awaited a fate of
which they
could not be certain, the General Hospital was in a turmoil.
On
Monday, the Japanese announced that every single one of the thousands of patients had to be evacuated within twenty-four hours. They wanted the hospital for their own wounded by Tuesday afternoon. Over a thousand civilian patients who
A SINISTER
2g2
TWILIGHT
could walk had to leave for their homes almost immediately.
More than seven hundred
civilians
were
hastily sent in convoys
of ambulances to the Singapore Asylum,
from which mental
pa-
had already been evacuated to an island in the harbor. The military, numbering about 1300, were sent either to the tients
Singapore Club in Fullerton Building, the Cricket Club or the
By Tuesday morning every single Chinese boy and amah had vanished. Freddy Bloom remembers that it was impossible to cook any lunch, though she did find a case of sardines and some bread which the nurses and patients shared. Freddy at least had one stroke of
Victoria Memorial Hall.
It
was chaos.
Normally she might have expected
luck.
with the
civilians,
but Philip Bloom,
to
go to the asylum
major in the
as a
RAMC,
was able to arrange for her to accompany him to the Singapore
Club to tend wounded troops rather than civilians. At least they would be together until the last moment. There were others who longed desperately to be together for the few hours of liberty that remained, including two members of an unusual eral.
stair
It
group gathered in the matron's
included a young, good-looking lieutenant called Ala-
MacKenzie
of the
had been an executive cial
the Gen-
office at
Malay Regiment, who before the war
in the Singapore branch of the
Union Assurance Company, and by
Commer-
his side, a pretty volun-
teer nurse called Sybil Osborn, dressed in hospital white spat-
tered with blood, her dark square, for she
had come
brown
straight
hair covered in a white
from an operating
theater.
Facing them stood the
frail
figure
White
And
there, in the matron's office, he
finally
of the cathedral.
came
to the
of
Archdeacon Graham-
magic words, "I now pronounce you man and
wife." Sybil and Alastair had been engaged war had divided their lives. Now that
for it
some
was
all
time, but the over, he had
THE ROAD TO CHANGI wanted
married in the brief
to get
had taken him two hours
He had had no
hospital.
ment
Sybil
remembered
had kept in her pocket. the
Archdeacon wrote
Within
time to buy a ring, but at the
a
keepsake
He
slipped
— too big on her
it
for her
It
last
finger, after
by the matron) on a
had
mo-
— that she
from memory, the marriage
out,
a few minutes, Alastair
He managed
iment.
spell of liberty still left.
to find Sybil in the confusion of the
cate (which was witnessed
paper.
2() J
which certifi-
slip of hospital
left to
rejoin his reg-
more moments with Sybil and a half years before they
to snatch a few
before internment, but
it
was three
saw each other again.
Life in the General Hospital had been hard, but it was nothing compared with the primitive conditions that awaited Freddy
Bloom and
ten other
MAS women when
they reached Fullerton
Building.
The
large
main club room, with
crowded with rows of wounded stretchers,
some on
its
long bar at one
side,
was
— hundreds of them, some on
some on the floor. Freddy and the the bar and offered a glass of lime juice.
beds,
others were steered to
As she stood there sipping
it,
looking round the incongruous
surroundings, the sober walls of the lofty room, the pretentious
marble
pillars,
the plain
reflecting that this
the club that
mahogany
was probably the
women had
bar, first
she could not help
time in the history of
penetrated this male holy of holies.
Going on duty, Freddy found that every corridor, every room, was overflowing with wounded. Feeling helpless in
antethese
new, unfamiliar surroundings, she stood talking to a soldier
when
a doctor bustled
up
and, seeing her nurse's uniform, said
briskly,
"Prepare the patient for an operation. Give him a quar-
ter of a
grain of morphia and dress his arm." Before Freddy had
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
294
time to reply, the doctor had hurried on. given an injection in her a start by dressing the
more than
he asked with a light
the
for
it
He
a boy.
grin.
life,
arm
but
at least she felt she
could make
who seemed
of the soldier,
was, however, very cheerful.
to
be
"Got
little
a fag?"
Freddy pulled out a pack. "You'll have
me," he apologized, and
"arm" she had
Freddy had never
to dress
as she knelt
to
down, she saw
was nothing more than a bloodied
stump. "Just a minute," gasped Freddy before rushing into a corner
and vomiting.
That was Freddy's introduction lasted
two weeks
— two
women had
trained
water up
to a
nightmare world which
weeks in which a handful of semi-
do everything
to
flights of stairs,
— hauling
emptying lavatories by hand, giving most of the cooking. At
injections, improvising bandages, plus
night the only illumination in the big
electric clock.
The
— apart from being purled — came
room
occasional in-and-out glow of a cigarette
from the lighted
buckets of
the
nights were filled with cries
The water shortage heightened her as much as the sight of pain, for often
of "Sister" or "Water!"
sense of despair almost
there was not
more than
a single
cup
to share
amongst a score
of
The best she could hope to do was to pass the cup from man to man so that each one could at least wet his swollen cracked lips. More than one man went mad. Some tried
groaning men.
hour
after
tion that
When
it
hour
to get
out of bed, motivated by a wild hallucina-
was their duty
the patients
to escape
and
fight again.
had been quietened, Freddy had
to take
her turn at cooking. Luckily there was plenty of food, though
was
all
tinned, but the kitchen was
on the fourth
floor
and
it
the
only water was on the ground floor until an engineer found an ancient petrol engine and was able to the building where
it
pump
water to the top of
was mixed with tinned porridge and soup,
the mainstays of the patients' diets.
THE ROAD TO CHANG
much
Inevitably in makeshift surroundings,
MAS women now
training of the
world
that
had no rules of
MAS
the
with
strict
impersonality.
that
jobs
like
They
Because they were volunto regard each patient
had, for instance, been warned
body washing had
They had
to
be done "with discre-
Now
been warned about "nakedness."
also
Katherine de Moubray, the volunteer
passed unnoticed. wife of a high
to a rigid set of rules in a
own.
had been carefully trained
teers,
tion."
its
of the careful
frequently had to be forgotten
Nobody could adhere
or ignored.
2Q5
I
government
official,
recorded
how
it
MAS
she went to
help two orderlies washing blood-stained uniforms, "and had a
good two minutes conversation with one of them, scrubbing clothes
on the
floor,
before
I
even noticed the second
man
was
naked."
Some
of the orderlies kept a predatory eye
last-minute affairs, as Katherine de the darkness her.
one
man
open
for possible
Moubray discovered when
in
suddenly took her in his arms and kissed
Katherine got rid of him without any trouble
ing out gently that they
— by point-
w ere almost standing on a row r
of
corpses sewn in blankets.
Dr. Cicely Williams
and her family
of children were also facing
more and more difficulties. Abruptly she had been told to evacuate them from the Dental Department to a maternity block behind the hospital. Somehow she and a few volunteers carried the babies to their
new
quarters, after
discovered there was no water. She herself the tal
set
about carrying water
two hundred yards from the General until hospi-
authorities
Then
now
which Cicely Williams
w ere able r
to
send over a water
the next morning, "just as
straight," Cicely
I
cart.
was beginning to get things
Williams was ordered to move again
—
this
time to the Singapore Asylum. As she noted despairingly in her
A SINISTER
296 diary,
TWILIGHT
"This shifting about from place to place
that people get in war-time,
and
is
one of
is
its
a sort of disease
worst horrors."
Dreading the move that lay ahead, Cicely Williams knew she and her helpers could not carry
on much
Her
longer.
that
health
was rapidly giving out. She had started a bout of dysentery, and
due
to the
walking and lack of washing in the tropical heat, "my
feet
were only kept together with
Haunted by charges
if
the fear of
elastoplast."
what would happen
to her tiny
she were taken to hospital, Cicely Williams hit on
— one
would
a
some of her babies a sporting chance in life. She began to give them away. It had started by chance, when Cicely Williams found herself facing more and more distraught parents who had arrived to see their wounded children, only to discover they had died. To weeping mothers she could not even give any records of what had happened, for all papers had been lost in one of the moves. Nor brilliant idea
that
at least give
could she hope to find the bodies in the mass grave to console
one
hysterical
mother than
for
pits.
More
any other reason Cicely
Williams suggested that she should take another baby in place her own.
The
Williams tried
it
on
of
was accepted with such alacrity that Cicely
offer
again.
Soon delighted parents had told
neighbors, and a stream of Chinese
who had heard
their
that the white
doctor "was giving away children for nothing" arrived at the hos-
many ways it was a heartbreaking business, for Cicely Williams could not know any details of the prospective parents, pital.
In
and had
judgment and instinct. Yet "I felt that almost any sort of home might be better than the treatment we were producing.'' She gave ten away that morning.
On
to trust her
the floor below Cicely Williams in the asylum, a
arrived from the General Hospital
— Dickie
VIP
Dickinson,
had
who
THE ROAD TO CHANG] was so badly injured that he remained
He woke up
days.
to find himself
a
coma
still
For the
first
Two
three
His major operation had
on the danger
would be three months before he was well enough ferred to Changi.
for
with hundreds of civilian
patients on the floor of the asylum.
been successful, though he was
in
2()7
things had helped to pull
and
list
to
be
it
trans-
him through.
three or four days Bunny, his wife, was able to stay
with him, before she was taken off to the women's camp.
And
though the Japanese had warned the British to leave every item of medical
equipment and drugs behind when evacuating the Bunny had managed to slip a Dunlopillo
General Hospital,
more
mattress into his ambulance; it,
and then stuffed
lay her
it
w ith T
all
— she had
the drugs
secretly deflated
and medicines she could
hands on.
By ten o'clock on Tuesday morning, 2000 men, together with 300
women and
children,
w ere r
lined
up
in the blazing sun
on
Club padang. The men were at one end, the women and children at the other. It was one of the hottest days of the year. Not even the sea, which almost lapped its edge, could prothe Cricket
vide a breeze to temper the stifling heat that beat lessly
on
this beautiful sports
down
relent-
ground, w ith the blue water on T
one wide and the municipal buildings, flanked by flame
trees,
on
the other.
This w as the T
Buckeridge and tial"
and
first
batch of internees
women
at liberty
like
— and
it
—
for
some men
Freddy Bloom were
still
like
"essen-
was a heartrending scene.
Men
stood miserably by their pathetic bundles of salvaged luggage.
The women
—
their frocks already
limp with sweat
— were not
allowed to talk to the men, but tried desperately to hold back their tears as they
made
sure the children, playing cheerfully,
a sinister
298
twilight
kept on their hats against the sun.
prams in which
Some women had brought
A few dogs scampered
to carry their belongings.
about, unable to realize their mistresses
would soon be
'
them. Inevitably a few of the 'heartier" business to try to cheer little
they could do.
up
The
women made
leaving it
their
the despondent ones, but there was
confusion reminded one
woman
of
on a Bank Holiday, with mothers losing children, mislaying packages and occasionally fainting. And around the padang, framed in the flame trees, a crowd of Asians squatted, silent and sympathetic. If the Japanese had hoped for scenes which would humiliate the whites, they were disap-
a railway terminal
pointed.
In a knot slightly apart from the other
government
officials
who had walked
from the Singapore Club.
Sir
men
across
stood the senior
Anderson Bridge
Shenton Thomas was dressed
newly pressed clean white ducks. Already he had come in tact
with the enemy.
head high, for he people,
Now on
felt (as
and he wanted
in
con-
the padang, the Governor held his
he said
to take his
later)
that he was with his
punishment
they did, with-
as
out fear or favor. Already, however, he was to be singled out
as
"a special case to be humiliated," for though the Japanese per-
mitted several senior
camp, they
spe-
Governor should walk the whole
dis-
officials to
cifically insisted that the
drive to the
first
tance.
Everybody had been told
officially to
bring clothes for ten
would be provided. After a wait of two houn a Japanese officer climbed on a w ooden box and addressed the assembly. The Japanese would observe international law and
days but that food
r
protect all internees, he promised them. for a point
Hotel
at
the
civilians
were
to
— which he didn't specify — near the many had spent Katong — the ornate building where
make
last
The
Seavievj
so
day of peace.
They would remain there
for a
few day!
THE ROAD TO CIIANGI
2Q0
The Japanese would provide transport children, women and and for baggage. The men would for walk. And then he dropped a bombshell. "Everybody," he announced, "must provide their own food." This was disastrous. The official order had categorically said
before going to Changi.
food would be provided. Some, like
Tim
Hudson, had put
or two of food in their suitcases or rucksacks.
Tommy
Kitching,
made
Others, like
a quick dash to the Cricket
ion and found "a very dry
a tin
Club
pavil-
two" and some water for
biscuit or
the march.
Since
thought
ment
nobody seemed
now
to
be moving
He had
struck Kitching.
drive
officials
off.
He
drive out to the Seaview?
had
also It
padang, another
off the
a car
noticed some govern-
and
Why
petrol.
not
was twelve-forty-five and already
they had spent nearly three hours in the hot sun. So Kitching
and four colleagues just walked not restrained coast road.
padang
— observed, but
— got into Kitching's car and drove out along the
Occasionally they were stopped by Japanese sentries
"who seemed
to
be more bewildered than us," before arriving
a big block of flats near the
must be their It
off the
first
Seaview Hotel. This, they
felt sure,
internment camp.
was a forlorn hope. Before long a Japanese
that, for the
at
time being, the
houses a few hundred yards
women would
down
officer
announced
live in a
the road, while the
group of
men were
given the option of either staying in the local police station or in
another group of four old houses. All houses, for their large It
compound
was nightfall before the
last
who
could made for the
at least led to a strip of beach.
of the long procession of civil-
had been a grim march, with Sir Shenton bravely leading the straggling column through the heat of the day. One of his closest friends, who had
ians finally arrived at this, their
been allowed to use his
first
stop.
car, deliberately
It
drove behind the
col-
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
300
umn
Governor needed help, but he never
in case the
faltered;
he had been sustained, he said afterward, by the sympathy Asians lining the route
of the
— weeping women or men who rushed
out with a handful of biscuits or a bottle of water.
Now The
had
the civilians
their
and
taste of filth
first
squalor.
houses had been stripped of every item of furniture. They
were scrofulous. The mosquitoes never seemed
though Kitching managed sleep by
to snatch
to stop biting,
an hour or two of
wrapping himself completely in a sheet and covering
his face with a handkerchief.
was that
His
(As the tong, the
—
so
would
I."
thought
last
as
he drifted
For
it
was Shrove Tuesday.
on the stone
first
civilians tried to sleep
first
troops were arriving at the military barracks
floors at Ka-
Changi, where they would be housed separately from the
who would go
else
and
Changi
to
miles in one day, in a diers
off
England) "would have liked
his son Brian (safely in
pancakes today
ians,
fitful
column
colonels, each
he could manage to
During the
Jail.
They had marched
led by generals, four
man humping
files
at
civil-
the nine of briga-
his kit bag and anything
carry.)
days at Katong, the Japanese showed no signs
first
of the bestiality that was later to
smear forever their honorable
code of Bushido. True, there was not enough food, and the condition of the children was already pitiful, but
was due more
and the
several
camp
at
to
it
seems that
this
maladministration than to deliberate cruel
men were Katong
if
t
v.
surprisingly given permission to leave
they could produce a sufficiently valid
reason.
Hugh
Bryson, clerk to the courts (amongst other jobs), per-
suaded a Japanese sentry
to let a small
group borrow a
lorry and
up anything that would be during internment. Bryson reached his home in Mount
drive to their houses to pick
ant, only to find
it
had been stripped of every item except
useful Pleas-
a fevf
THE ROAD TO CHANCI which had been swept into
old photographs
went
the next-door bungalow.
to
He
touched.
took what
assortment of
ladies'
women's camp on
his
lie fell
So he
a corner.
There, nothing had been
would be
useful, including an
which he handed over
clothes
way
KOI
the
to
back.
Christopher Dawson, the Secretary of Defence, was also
lowed out on a foraging expedition. stic
his
ker for his car and
wav back
to
warned
camp, where
everything he had collected. that this
would be
He
was given a special
to report to the
Japanese
a
Daw sou,
Tanglin Club on
would examine prompted by a feeling officer
a long, long internment, gathered together
the books he could find
The
lit
on one word
One key.
word on the
when
He knew
title
page
to take along P. G.
other item was of course banned from Katong
But even so one bottle went into camp
— for most
Dawson permission The Code of the Woosters.
refused
flatly
house's
Hugh Bryson remembers
Care-
in a suspicious title.
he examined the book over and over again.
implications of that secret service !
Japanese
scrutinized each book, finding nothing contra-
band, until his eye fully
—
the
— and Wode-
— whis-
well, in a fashion
standing by the
camp
gate
a straggler arrived clutching a bottle of Scotch. It was full.
all
from the houses of friends and toward
evening presented himself at the Tanglin Club. officer carefully
al-
Sternly the Japanese
warned the man
that
on no
al-
ac-
"Okay!" cried the man cheerfully, it in. and pulling out the cork, put the bottle to his lips and drained it count could he bring
to the last
drop before staggering into camp.
Across the dead calm seas south of the island a ships
flotilla
— Singapore's "Dunkirk" — struggled vainly
of small
to reach the
sanctuary of Sumatra or any of the hundreds of islands sitting
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
302
astride the equator.
Sampans, rowing boats, junks, yachts from
the Singapore Yacht
Club with
feeble, puttering
the
idly flapping sails, launches with
outboard motors, tourist launches ("Round
Harbour $5") and the occasional ancient gunboat carried men and women. To a Dutch reconnais-
over three thousand sance pilot
who saw
the scene far below, the stream of slowly
moving boats amidst the tiny islets on the unrippled sea "looked just like models on a sheet of glass." Every strata of humanity crouched in the vessels. There were generals, an admiral, an air marshal. There were hundreds of woman and children. There were deserters who had slipped away secretly under cover of dark. "Some of the larger boats also carried deserters who had forced their way on board at the point of the pistol."*
nearly
were sailing under
fifty vessels
evacuation schemes, not a soul aboard them had formed
official
any
Though
real plans.
Every
man
— from general
to deserter
— was
bound by only one compelling human instinct: to put as many miles as possible between them and the nightmare through which they had somehow managed to live thus far. At
first all
had seemed
to
be going well. Unseen currents of
now on
them slowly
in
a southwesterly direction toward Sumatra; the bigger vessels
(a
the northeast monsoon,
the wane, guided
comparative term) were routed for Java via the Banka strip of
water separating the east
Island.
With each hour
that passed, with each mile of
that receded astern, fears
began
For not one of them had the
Strait, a
coast of Sumatra from Banka
to dwindle,
flat
water
hopes began to
faintest inkling that
Ozawa of the Japanese Navy was already lying in wait
rise.
Admiral for
them
with two eight-inch cruisers, a carrier and three destroyers.
Tokyo pore. *
radio had cried, "There will be no Dunkirk at Singa-
The
British are not going to be allowed to get
The War Against Japan
away with
THE ROAD TO CHANGI All ships leaving will be destroyed."
time.
this
it
Ozawa was
<•;
there to
make
Admiral
certain the threat was not an idle
boast.
The
almost before they had
Dutch
know another
people in the boats did not
in
Ozawa
Singapore, with a warning that
set in
his warships across the
from
fleet
frantically tapping out messages to the last re-
maining wireless had spread
fact:
the blazing harbor of Singapore, the
Sumatra had learned the whereabouts of Ozawa's
and had been
aircraft
left
dreadful
his carrier
approaches to the Strait while
were scouring the waters
Naturally the messages had been in code, but
to the north.
— irony of ironies
— the man with the codebook had been evacuated, and he had The
taken the only codebook with him.
messages were received,
but nobody could unravel the jargon of the ciphers.
Ozawa launched ers
and
aircraft,
his first attack at
which blew the
out of the water.
Out
defenseless,
official
cruisers, destroy-
overcrowded
vessels
which had
sailed
of the forty- four ships
under Admiral Spooner's forty
dawn with
evacuation on Black Friday,
were sunk by bombs or gunfire. Scores of other
including an evacuation
flotilla that
had
left
vessels,
on the Thursday,
suffered a similar fate.
Those who escaped were ^nrecked on the small desert islands that dot the archipelago. Some starved to death, some died of thirst, some of tropical diseases. The small launch carrying Admiral Spooner, Air Vice-Marshal Pulford officers
and men was beached on
and
a small party of
a small malarial island barely
twenty miles from Banka. For two months they suffered agonizing privations.
Eighteen died, including the Admiral and the
Air-Marshal before the remnants managed to cross to Sumatra in a native boat
Xo
and surrender.
one has ever been able
of boats
and
lives that
were
to assess accurately the
lost, for
number
the simple reason that scores
A SINISTER
304
TWILIGHT
of deserters or private parties of civilians left unofficially, with-
out any record having been kept. certain.
If
Yet one thing seems
fairly
only the fleeing vessels had been able to make some
form of contact or understanding with the Japanese, many,
many
lives
would have been
saved, as the story of the
Giang Bee
shows.
This was the
vessel
on which Rob Scott had
sailed,
and
pro-
it
vides a typical example not only of the awful fate which over-
took
many
vessels,
but of the frustrations and errors caused by
and we have to thank Scott for a detailed official report of exactly what occurred. Though damaged by repeated air attacks, the Giang Bee managed to survive until she was 170 miles south of Singapore, when Japanese warships appeared on the horizon. The captain ordered the white ensign to be lowered and told all the women to show themselves on deck. As two destroyers came toward them at high speed, the Japanese signaled the Giang Bee in incomprehensible Morse code, and the Giang Bee tried in vain to signal that she wished to surrenthe language barrier,
der.
Finally the Japanese appeared to understand that the
Giang Bee wanted them to send a party on board, for a launch took off from one destroyer. It was within 150 yards of the Giang Bee when an RAF bomber from Sumatra suddenly appeared and started circling overhead. the plane flew
destroyers, of their
Japanese opened
inc.
—
and enemy launch was recalled only opportunity of making contact with
off,
British lost their
The
the
which two remained about half a mile away
the
the
with
guns trained on the Giang Bee.
Now
followed a period of eerie, uneasy waiting.
the destroyers sink them?
What were
Why
didn't
they waiting for? Nolwxh
knew. Nobody could find out. As the hot day cooled
off,
the red sunset turned to dusk with tropical swiftness, the
and
J
nese destroyers trained their searchlights on the Giang Bee. And
THE ROAD TO CHANG yet
—
nothing happened. Finally, around seven-thirty the
still
captain decided to order
He
boats. 'It
was
about
children to take to the at
any moment.
heart-rending business," Scott remembers.
into each boat.
soon
the lifeboats astern as
searched for their children family alone
"In the
by the gleam of enemy searchlights, we packed
lit
fifty
— "but
all
A
heavy sea and a strong tide swept
as they cast off."
Distracted mothers
— there were eleven
we could do was pack
lower the boat and
sible,
women and
all
was convinced his ship would be sunk
a
darkness,
>,()-
I
in
one Eurasian
in as
let it go, regardless of
many
as pos-
missing children
and friends."
damage now came
Earlier air-raid
7
to light.
The
ropes sup-
porting one lifeboat parted as she was being lowered, spilling her passengers into the darkness.
lowered, but she
we could hear
astern
foundering."
were
a party
make
When
nearest destroyer
and
Somehow Scott,
To
splinters
and
to
"as she drifted
the passengers crying out that they were the last lifeboat had been cast final
off,
there
despairing
w ith the enemy, the captain decided that row the ship's 13-foot harbor dinghy to the
contact
should try to
children
second lifeboat was successfully
about a hundred on board and in a
still
effort to
A
had been holed by
T
and ask the Japanese
make
it
to help the
women and
clear that he wished to surrender.
the dinghy was lowered into the heavy seas,
and Rob
together with three others, set off for the destroyers. their
amazement, the Japanese destroyers refused
anything to do with the tiny, unarmed cockleshell. hours, in heavy seas, in frantic
but vain
lit
up by Japanese
searchlights,
efforts to reach a destroyer."
In a
to
have
For two
"we rowed bizarre and
game of ocean "tag," played in the dark, the British boat would almost reach a destroyer, which would then adroitly move just out of range. Time after time the tiny dinghy was incredible
within a few yards of the enemy, but "it was hopeless for a small,
A SINISTER
306
unseaworthy dinghy in heavy
which did not wish
They were
to
TWILIGHT
seas to try
and catch a
be caught."
trying when, about 10:30 p.m.
still
destroyer
what they had
expected happened. Without warning one of the destroyers
all
fired six
rounds
Giang Bee. She glowed red from stem
at the
and sank in a few minutes. The Japanese dimmed searchlights, and the destroyers quickly made off.
stern
To they
Rob
this day,
first
Scott
is
later that a
convinced that the Japanese, when her.
why not have done it on sight?" he asked. "I learnt number of other ships caught in that area were op
dered ... to surrender.
enemy gained
a ship.
I
This involved no
think that
stand the Japanese signals this
About 200
to do.
their
intercepted the Giang Bee, did not intend to sink
''Otherwise,
to
lives
is
if
loss of life.
we had been
The
able to under-
what they probably wanted
us
might have been saved."
In the darkness, Scott's dinghy managed to pick
up
a few
sur-
vivors and, after five days, the exhausted party reached a fishing
on the coast of Sumatra, where at first Scott was hidden and looked after, but later denounced, when it was discovered that his name was on a "wanted" blacklist. He was finally
village
shipped back to Singapore. For
war was just about
Rob
Scott the worst part of his
to begin.
While Scott had been trying to catch the Japanese destroyers and offer to surrender, other strange fates were overtaking some of the characters
became the
whom we have come
to
know, and one,
central figure in a true saga that
would tax the in Nunn, head of
ination of any fiction writer. Group-Captain
Public
Works Department
at least,
the
had, in the words of the Governm.
"thoroughly blotted his copy book" by leaving with his wife on
Kuala when he knew perfectly well that he was under orders remain at his post. When the Kuala was sunk, Nunn, Ins
the to
wife,
and some
of the
PWD officials who had left with him, were
THE ROAD TO marooned on Ponipor., island.
those
to
_
who
i in the
la
He had of cours*
:i.
Kuala
his partv orl the
had enough
be:'
to eat until
from Sumatra.
R bin-
went
c
s
help
a
s
to the
bottom,
in the
form of
parties
had
and now when the unexpected prompdy commandeered the onh
engine for himself, his
RAF
for
Xunn
queue of
the
many
of
the SS
Gene
to
arrived,
its
with an auxiliary rallies, leai
i
whom
into Japai
fell
reached Sumatra, bluffed his way
Colombo on
Among
ind his
personnel,
escapers.
rea
ghly confidential docu-
carrj
W'avell.*
hands.
trie:
la
ments from the Governor which he had to hand over
hind kev
j
establish
announcement that he was
he
the
g
but heals
b
to get a tan
Other small
Nunn had
Pompong. but
w
Niinn.
.ere
\
son Crusoe fashion he managed
natives
v
1
sir.
have shown considerable resourceful]
they
NCI
C H A
and on Februarv
to the :th his
i
wife
Rooseboome.
his fellow passenger-
Lieutenant
ifficer,
!
The lonsr vovas^e across the Indian Ocean and when the Rooseboome was a bare thirty-six
G. G. Gibson.
uneventful,
including Nunn. ol
hours out of Colombo, the pass course,
met
a safe port. a
impending
in the saloon to celebrate their Spirits
were high when,
Japanese submarine surfaced.
at ten
She
minutes
fii
•
to
arrival in
midnig
one torp.
which hit the old Dutch steamer amidships. Three of the four lifeboats
were smashed. The Rooseboome b
minutes, but
Xunn's
last
action
w
ib
ink in four
hold of
his wife
and
push her through an opening in the torn side of the sinking
* There was of course no truth in this. quiry on the evacuation of Nunn and
The Governor
PWD
.
ors,
which remain today in
his private
officials,
pap
later held
with legal
an
official
affidavits
in-
from the
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
308 vessel.
He had no
time to escape himself and went
down
with
the ship.*
Not
all
who
tried to escape died,
for the privilege.
an adventurous
after
though some who lived paid
General Gordon Bennett reached Sumatra
bourne, Australia.
trip,
and almost immediately
There he
called
Chief of the Australian General
flew to Mel-
on General Sturdee,
Staff,
where "to
my
Bennett remembered, "my reception was cold and other
member
of the Military
Board called in
cape was ill-advised, or words to that say
much.
He
effect.
I
dismay,"
hostile.
No
me. After
to see
few minutes' formal conversation, Sturdee told
the
me
that
my
was too shocked
then went on with his work, leaving
me
a
es-
to
to stand
aside in his room." f
One other important Australian managed to reach land. Henry Bowden, the Australian government representative who had at first
been refused permission
to escape,
was plowing through the
* The story does not end here. Mrs. Nunn, clutching a piece of wreckage, survived the night, and when dawn broke the few who had scrambled into the only remaining lifeboat found there were 135 survivors, most of them in the sea. Eighty
managed
to get into the lifeboat.
to see
The
rest
clung to the
sides.
Hoping
for the
from Colombo, they waited for a passing ship them. None appeared. Even worse, the boat, with its human beings cling-
best, for they
were not very
far
ing to the gunwales, started drifting remorselesslv eastward. For twenty-six dayi no ship appeared. Day after day under the tropical sun, more survivors died of thirst or sunstroke. Mrs. Nunn lasted some days but finally according to a signed statement by Gibson in Sir Shenton Thomas' papers "she died in the lifeboat where, before her death, her conduct was beyond praise. I personally put her body over the side. She said that Nunn himself had sacrificed his life to get her off the sinking ship." By the time the lifeboat beached itself on a a Chinese remote island sixty miles west of Sumatra, only four were left alive girl, two Malays, and Gibson, of whom Gibson was the only one to survive Japanese torture after capture. f After the war, General Percival wrote to the Australian Army Board about Bennett's conduct, and a judicial inquiry was held into his escape. The finding was that Gordon Bennett should have remained with his troops "until surrendei was complete" but that his escape was "inspired by high patriotism and bv the belief that he was acting in Australia's best interests." He was never a^.nn
— —
—
asked to serve in the field, and retired from the army. tack in 1962, aged sixty-five.
He
died of a heart
at
THE ROAD TO CHANG1 Banka
Strait in the
Mary Rose when
;',(><)
a searchlight from a Japa-
There was
nese patrol boat suddenly stabbed the darkness.
nothing to do but surrender, and the captain seems to have ized the urgency of eed, for
making
real-
the Japanese understand that they
though they had no white Bag
to hoist,
one of the
and waved them. The Japanese understood, and the men were taken to Banka Island where, as party took off his underpants
their
baggage was being examined, Bowden complained to a
guard and brusquely demanded
to see a
Japanese
he could furnish proof of his diplomatic den, a tough Australian
who
officer so that
Possibly
status.
Bow-
did not pull his punches, was not
quite as tactful as the situation demanded, for though he was
punched and threatened with the bayonet, and when he showed no signs of meek obedience, was taken out by two guards. "Squaring his shoulders he was led from the hall. About half an hour later two shots elderly
and white-haired, he was
.
.
first
.
were heard, and the guards returned cleaning their
They had taken him outside, made him shot him at the edge of it.
All this, of course,
bomb-scarred ians
city,
was unknown
dig his
own
in Singapore.
rifles."
grave,
Back
and
in the
the bewildered troops and the stunned civil-
were preparing in their different ways for the grim years
that lay ahead.
Now,
as before, the
men and women went
war caused inequities: Some
into internment, others were
still left
in
comparative freedom to help the Japanese to get the city on
its
feet again.
Typical of these was Bui k Bin keridge,
who had fought throughout least painful transition
painless, for as
who
of
all
the civilians
the siege, experienced perhaps the
from wax
to "peace."
Buck wrote, "One could
It
was not wholly
never, never forget the
A SINISTER
310
TWILIGHT
But while thousands
feeling of humiliation."
now
of civilians
suddenly found themselves with endless idle hours in which think, Buckeridge was
working from dawn
On
tensive fire damage.
asked
him
the very
(In fact,
a colossal task.
it
was to be
ridge was interned at Changi.) His the dock
fires,
for at least
ex-
day the Japanese had
first
to help in putting the city
to dusk, trying to
which had suffered
restore order, particularly in those parts
to
back on
its feet,
and
it
was
months before Buckeproblem was to control
six
first
twenty godowns were either blazing or
on fire. A Blue Funnel liner was burning alongside the Empire Dock. On the shore opposite was the wrecked skeleton of a crashed Hurricane. Here and there in the adjoining streets were corpses and also, Buck smoldering. Mountains of coal were
still
—
noticed, several dead cows that
Farm
herd.
dozen
fires still
tion.
One
ment
must have belonged
to the Dairy
A
"It gave the place a curiously Indian look."
licked goods carriages in Singapore Railway Sta-
platform was strewn with abandoned army equip-
— everything from
official
papers to a searchlight.
Buckeridge had been told to tour the few godowns that had not been bombed, to make certain they contained nothing
Some were
flammable.
of crude rubber. pected, but
filled
with tinned food, others were bales
These were the
when he
in-
sort of items
he had half
ex-
forced open the sliding doors of one partic-
ular godown, Buckeridge (who was not unfamiliar with colorful
language) exploded into a string of oaths. For there, in front of his eyes,
ARP
was the one item of equipment for which he and the
chiefs
had begged time and
again, only to be told repeat-
edly that none existed in Singapore
— neatly
new
there since before the war
helmets.
started.
They must have been
"While every
for helmets, little lot."
someone
civilian in Singapore
in authority
stacked rows
of
had been begging
had forgotten
all
about
this
THE LiukiK "an
found lish,
tion.'"
take
Buckeridge,
for
charge of the
R O A
fire
T
I)
NCI
follow
was well travelled, broad-minded
During the
him on
gl
military
Lieutenant Nakani,
a
nice
exceptionally
A
11
Japanese
the
brigade was
C
whim Buck
lull of
excellent
considera-
lew days, Nakani asked Buckeridge to
first
Most of the shops were were deserted, and to Buckeridge it was
a tour of the city.
dosed, the streets
in
officer
who spoke and
1
still
like
some unreal dream, sitting by the side of this intelligent, courte-
who seemed genuinely
ous man. for
concerned, almost apologetic
He remembers
winning the war.
that as their car
swung
round from Xassim Road into the wre< ked, smashed-up Orchard Road, Nakani almost as though to make polite conver-
—
—
new acquaintance turned to Buckeridge and "What did you feel like when you heard we'd sunk the of Wales and the Repulse?" For a moment Buckeridge
sation with a
asked,
Prince
could think of nothing in the way of a reply, until he blurted "Naturally," agreed the Japanese
out the single word, "Sad!"
with genuine sympathy.
Buckeridge had a particular talent situation in to
*
stick
which he found himself,
making the best of any and had made up his mind for
out with a grin," but once his determination faltered,
it
and he could actually
feel
cheeks.
He and Nakani
Road on
their
the blush of
shame flooding
"guided tour." At the corner they had
nothing could enter the
his
were driving toward the East Coast
big,
broad road, which was
to stop, lor
filled
with
a
of men. some carrying suitcases, others humping rucksacks or with p All Is under each arm. were marching east. They weie the civilians many of them tired, straggling
column
—
his friends
— on their wa\
Tim Hudson, was in his
fire
to
(
hangi
Jail.
He
caught sight of
straight-bac keel, beard jutting out.
brigade uniform, and "I
sitting there in a big,
felt like a fifth
Buckeridge columnist,
comfortable car with a Japanese
officer.
I
A SINISTER
312
tried to smile cheerily at
My
face
TWILIGHT
them but
I
had nothing
do
to
it
with.
was out of commission." Lieutenant Nakani, seeing
his
obvious anguish, gave a rapid order in Japanese to the driver,
who backed the car swiftly away from the corner. "I am sorry," murmured Nakani, with even more consideration
very
than
usual.
Not
all
occasions
the Japanese were as considerate, particularly
when Buckeridge was endeavoring
to
on
the
buy communal
food supplies, for like other civilians in essential services, he
went out twice a week it
to
buy what he could
seemed a simple operation
— but now
bread and vegetables had by
in bulk.
In theory
in fact, all fresh meat,
fish,
Occasionally
disappeared.
Buckeridge would find a Chinese shop with a slender stock of tinned goods, but as he was completing his purchases, a Japanese sentry
would
inevitably appear
ing to the British."
and
arrest the
Chinese
his written slip of authority in
Japanese
—
the other hand, while the
fires still
still
little
He
remaining.
ipal Veterinary Surgeon,
who
for the time being
and "who appropriated certain
offered to
buy him a piece
across his old
of beef.
— the Munichad not been
pieces daily for exami-
nation purposes." But perhaps the best meal of
one of Buckeridge's firemen ran
quiet looting"
also received the
occasional leg of pork from an unexpected source
interned,
When
all
arrived after
Malay
driver,
on
who
the joint arrived, "it
turned out to be a refrigerated chunk of cowmeat, but serole with tinned carrots.
soldiers.
burned by the docks,
Buckeridge had ample opportunities for "a
from the stocks of food
— and
selling to the British
was a heinous offense in the eyes of ordinary Japanese
On
''for sell-
Despite Buckeridge's protestations
in a
ca*
Simpsons in the Strand had nothing
it."
While people
like
Buckeridge were
still
technically at liberty
because the Japanese needed their help, Willie Watt of McAlis-
THE ROAD TO CHANG! tor's
was finding
it
313
absolutely impossible to drive the eight miles
from San Remo, near Changi, into Singapore purpose of surrendering.
On Tuesday
lor the express
morning,
as
soon as the
announced that all civilians must parade on the padang, Watt and three friends who had been sharing his house set radio had
off for
Singapore.
try posts
Bridge.
English
guage.
They were allowed
past several Japanese sen-
along the East Coast Road until they reached Kallang
Here the Japanese
— who did not understand a word of
— were obdurate.
They could not
Watt
tried to explain that he
Using sign
lan-
to surrender,
but
pass.
wanted
the Japanese, wielding bayonets, "demonstrated in
no uncertain
manner
last."
would be our
that our further approach
was nothing to do but return to San
from their whiskey hidden
what
their next step should be.
there was
no "next step"
Remo and
in the lallang,
pour out drinks
while they discussed
Incredible though
two weeks,
for
There
for
it
may
seem,
though the small
make contact with the enemy refused to do anything about their plight. And soon it did become a plight, for though they had enough money, and Watt had had the Eoresight to hide in the lallang a party of Britishers did from time to time
Japanese, the
Old Rarity whiskey
plentiful supply of his favorite
(for
which
McAlister's fortuitously held the agency for Malaya) they had
very
little in
the
way
Some Japanese
of food.
tried to be helpful,
and went away with vague promises that never materialized. Others were aggressive like the oifn er who hit Watt across the
—
forehead with the scabbard feet.
Another
radio
—
seemed
oi
officer arrived
at least
his
sword, knocking
Leading
Watt assumed he
to consist entirely of the
a
him
off his
party searching for
a
was, lor his limited English
words "Buzz, buzz!" Through
an interpreter he warned Watt and the others to remain just where they were without moving until the house had been thoroughly searched. Watt couldn't have been more delighted, for
A SINISTER
314
TWILIGHT
he was standing three inches from the back cushions of an old cane sofa under which the radio had been hidden.
One man
for him. Leslie father's
at liberty
still
house
wondered what the future would hold
Hoffman was
at
quietly keeping out of sight in his
knew that somewhere the and him the anti-Japanese articles on
Serangoon, but he
Japanese must have a
file
he had written. There was nothing he could do wait.
at this stage
but
On
the
His powerful new radio was working splendidly.
morning after capitulation he had listened in to Churchill's somber broadcast which had been relayed to the world. "I speak to you all under the shadow of a far-reaching military defeat," Churchill had said. "It is a British and Imperial defeat. Singapore has fallen. All the Malay peninsula has been over-run." At least, thought Hoffman, straining to catch every word from the whispering radio, Churchill had offered no lame excuses. Indeed he had cried, "This is one of those moments when [The British Nation] can draw from the heart of misfortune the vital impulse of victory."
As
yet Hoffman's plans for helping in that victory
vaguely defined.
were only
He had the radio. He could, he hoped, keep in He would have to find a way of passing
touch with the world. that information
on
to those interned in Changi.
and doctors at the Singapore Club had realdays of freedom were limited. Most of the civilian
All along, the nurses ized their
nurses at the mental hospital had been swept into internment
within the
first
week, and
now
the Japanese gave notice that
Fullerton Building had to be cleared by the end of the month.
The
next morning the doctors and nurses started the heart-
breaking evacuation of desperately
ill
patients to the military
prison at Changi. All extension splint cases were given a shot of
morphia before being loaded up into the ambulances, but even
THE ROAD TO CHANGI
315
more than half would survive the rigors of the journey. Sick with the inhumanity of being forced to move them, Katherine de Moubray felt "as the most optimistic doctors admitted that not
so,
though iron bands were compressing ical
my chest,
it
was sheer phys-
pain."
On
the last day, Freddy
went on
Bloom and
the other
a "scrounging" expedition in the
MAS women
bedrooms of the
Sin-
gapore Club, which were cluttered with suitcases and steamer trunks, left by
evacuated.
they had
members and
Now
the
their wives
MAS women
— not only
had
who had been
hurriedly
their pick of everything
and blouses, but linen, towels and anything they could carry. Freddy Bloom "hated the idea of opening somebody else's suitcases" but she behind
left
dresses, shorts
consoled herself with the thought that clothes, the
ished her selection
with an to
air of
when
for
when you
handsome fur coat
up
to her
the
women
a doctor rushed
knowing, "I've been told
be repatriated. Take
warm
she didn't take the
if
Japanese most certainly would. She had almost
my
tip,
all
and
fin-
said,
are going
Freddy, and grab something
get to England."
On an
impulse she seized a
it
until she did arrive
— and doggedly kept
in England, nearly four years later.
On
the final day at Fullerton Building,
had gone, the nurses and doctors had a
— their itive
last
when
the last patients
special "farewell
lunch"
square meal for over three years. Despite the prim-
nature of the "hospital," the suffering had welded doctors,
women
volunteers,
ambulance
drivers, orderlies, into a
warm-
hearted community, more closely knit than they could ever have
been in the antiseptic atmosphere of a
real hospital.
The ambu-
lance drivers had gone out "on the scrounge" to return with a
chunks and
— from
some mysterious source they refused to reveal more than enough beer to go round. It was a sad, but wonderful lunch, and after it was over and the time came for good-byes, Freddy turned to Philip, her husband
case of pineapple
—
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
316
from the heart, "You know dardespite everything, I've never been so happy as I have
of three weeks, ling
—
and
said, right
been here."
There were no opportunities were leaving in one
moved
off
for long farewells.
set of lorries, the
immediately. Almost at the
object, expertly thrown, hurtled
—a
Almost
doctors
last
moment,
toward Freddy.
It
a large soft
was a
fare-
from Philip, "the most precious thing he could give
well gift
me"
The
nurses in another, and they
mattress.
at the
same time
as
Freddy, clutching her mattress, was
watching Philip's lorry take him away to internment, Willie
Watt was ing his
standing, a
own
tommy gun
digging into his back, watch-
grave being dug. For two weeks he and his friends
had been living
"off the land."
They had
trying to surrender, for each time they
virtually given
up
had made contact with
another Japanese patrol, nobody had seemed interested in helping them
—
until suddenly, a
new
patrol arrived at the bunga-
low which was "obviously not so friendly."
The
four Britishers
were marched for a couple of miles along the East Coast Road a big Japanese
camp near
Siglap.
to
"Several officers were ap-
proached," Watt remembers, "but would have nothing to do
with us until eventually
we
struck one
who appeared
to
know
the answer."
The hill.
four
Out
men were marched
of the
to
an open space on the
side of a
crowd of Chinese and Indians which had
inevi-
tably appeared, the Japanese soldiers plucked half a dozen at
random, gave them spades, and ordered them
four graves for the Britishers.
gun was
in charge,
An
to start digging
Anglo-Indian with a
and Watt remembers
men
that his entire
tommy
Malayan
vocabulary seemed to consist of "Lekas! Lekas!" ("Hurry up!
Hurry up!") In
the broiling heat of noon, the gravedii^n^
THE ROAD TO CHANGI reached a depth of four
Watt's friend muttered under his
feet.
breath, "I don't like the look of this!"
regarded
as
"a.
317
— a remark which Watt
mild understatement of the situation as
He remembers
that, despite the
only prayed that
we would have
hot sun, "I a clean
I
saw
it."
quite cold.
felt
I
and quick despatch and
not get knocked about in the process."
The Britishers were surrounded by Japanese with and tommy guns. The officer in charge held "a sword big as himself" and
it
was painfully obvious
to
Watt
bayonets nearly as
that he was
about to be beheaded. As the minutes ticked by, the gravediggers hurled out the last of the earth at the
and looked up expectantly
Anglo-Indian guard and the Japanese
And
then suddenly
Japanese
officer burst
— in
an unbelievable
To
Watt never had the
—a
senior
As the arguing was
faintest idea
day he does not know.
this
finale
through the guards. Furiously he shouted
to the officer in charge of executions.
Japanese,
officer.
all
in
what had happened.
He remembers
that at
first
he
wondered whether perhaps the senior Japanese was only angry because of the large crowd of witnesses. But then it began to dawn on Watt that the execution officer was looking crestfallen and he was being roundly abused. The first wild hope of a re-
make Watt's heart beat quickly. With an agonizing slowness the minutes ticked away in violent argument. Then Watt knew that for the moment, anyway he was saved. Abruptly, the execution officer turned on prieve began to
—
—
and the senior officer, with polite gestures, ordered the four Britishers to march away from the graves. In the Japanese camp, they were presented with passes to return to San Remo, his heel,
together with a firm promise that arrangements
would be made
men
"celebrated our
shortly for
them
to
be interned.
escape with half a bottle of
The
four
Old Rarity whiskey recovered from
thelallang."
The
officer
who had
for
some mysterious reason
so dramati-
A SINISTER
318
TWILIGHT
cally intervened to save their lives
was
as
good
as his
Within a week, they were given passes to enter Changi deed, they were even allowed to drive to the
jail in
word.
Jail.
In-
Watt's car.
Only one thing had changed since the awful moment a few days previously when Willie Watt had stood waiting to be beheaded.
His
fine
head of thick
fair hair
had turned snow white.
—
—
the men were the beginning of March About this time moved from their temporary quarters near the Seaview Hotel into Changi Jail. A week later, the second great march of the women and children covered the seven miles on foot from their temporary camp in Katong to Changi, where they were to be lodged separately. By now, the numbers of women and children had swollen to four hundred with latecomers including Dr. Cicely Williams, who had been forced through dysentery to give up her family of children. She had given away as many as possible, and had left the few who remained with a Chinese nurse and
—
two amahs. The Bishop of Singapore, who was not being
had promised
terned,
Only the
them.
and ten pregnant women were allowed had to walk in a procession that straggled
old, infirm
transport.
The
for miles.
Some
filled
to look after
rest
of the
women pushed
dressed in whatever clothes they
head.
old prams or rickshaws
with pots and pans, towels, even newspapers.
woman
in-
near Freddy
Bloom wore
Freddy recorded
how
had been able
All were
to salvage.
A
a lampshade to protect her
she was dressed for comfort
khaki trousers, a long-sleeved white evening blouse
—
in
(as a protec-
tion against mosquitoes) her nurse's veil tied like a turban, and a big, black umbrella.
The march
took almost a day, with rests each mile or
so,
often
THE ROAD TO CHANGI in the shade of village half
Leaves of
rubber
trees,
319
or close to a Malay
kampong
hidden by waving coconut palms or the deep green
papaya
trees.
Sometimes the
villagers shyly
with offerings of fruit. Others offered bottles of water thirsty It
women did not dare
was four o'clock reached
gates, the
its
as the
bedraggled procession, carrying its
collective shoulders for the
from the prison
moment, as though to brace its march-in. At the head of the proces-
for a
sion was one of the civilian matrons. She was tiny feet tall
its
perambulators and rickshaws,
destination. Fifty yards or so
column stopped
emerged
which the
to drink.
hand luggage and pushing finally
or
— about
five
— but she was a human dynamo of immense courage.
"Come on now," Someone
she cried, "let's sing our
way
in."
started the "Seaview tune" and, as they reached the
—
as hundred tired, cracked voices though given new strength and impetus for this one moment were singing the tune so many of them had sung on that last sunny Sunday of peace. With the tiny matron leading the way, the women marched through the prison gates singing "There'll Always Be an England." They must have sung lustily, for the sound of their voices penetrated to husbands, lovers, lifetime friends on the other side of the high wall that divided Changi Jail in two. A great burst of cheering from the other side of the wall drowned the noise of the gates being closed, and then the sound of men's voices, deeper, gruffer, more resonant, joined theirs in the tune that belonged to them all, a tune that was a way of life put to words and music:
prison walls, nearly four
"There'll always be an England,
And England
will be free"
—
12 The Years of Agony
For three and a half years thousands of men, ful of children
a hand-
were interned on the island of Singapore. None
of the civilians
had the remotest chance
freedom from a speck in the ocean
—
women and
And though
as Devil's Island.
of
making
as escape-proof
it
was hope and
a dash for
— and
as evil
faith that sus-
it was hard even to have any hope in those months when it seemed that nothing on land, in the skies and on the oceans could arrest the all-victorious Japanese. "We
tained the majority, first
never really
was damned
lost
hope,"
difficult
Tim Hudson remembered
when you
later,
"but
it
tried to analyse the reasons for
hoping." Life was wretched. Malnutrition caused
many
deaths. So did
the peculiar Japanese indifference to illness, so that (for example) chronic diabetics
to issue the insulin
died simply because the Japanese refused
which existed
in Singapore.
the added privations advanced old age.
White,
who had
press of Asia at
The
frail
Others died
as
Graham of the Em-
Mrs.
introduced the half-naked survivors
Freddy Bloom's wedding "reception," quietly
faded away because she did not have any hidden reserves of
stamina to sustain her. disease
Tommy
Kitching died of a malignant
which he had probably contracted before internment. Thomas who was afforded no privileges of any sort
Yet Lady
—
THEYEARSOFAGONY
— managed
32
from which
to survive despite the severe dysentery
she had been suffering.
In the soldiers' tinct
from the
camp
at the
civilians in
Changi military barracks
Changi
Jail) the
trek to the Siamese railway of death soon began.
stayed in Changi, for those
who were
(as dis-
long and terrible
The
sent to the
lucky ones
work camps
died in the thousands. Yet both soldiers and civilians managed to
keep their sense of humor
anese.
When
— and
occasionally, so did the Jap-
Captain H. L. Greener, an education
interrogated by Lieutenant Yamaguchi,
hearted conversation (of which Greener
was
officer,
the following light-
made
a note
immedi-
ately afterward) took place.
Yamaguchi:
Is it wise,
do you think,
only one eye [Wavell] to watch over
all
to
appoint a
man
Greener: India can be fixed firmly with the glass eye. the other he will watch the Japanese.
with
India?
With
(Japanese laughter)
Yamaguchi: Are the Australians not worried that there are so many Americans in Australia, making advances to their women while they are away at war? Greener: They do not seem to worry. You see, we have great confidence in our women. (Laughter) Y: It is said that they are marrying many of your girls. There will be perhaps none left when you get back. Is that not bad? G: Oh no. Those Americans will stay in Australia and we wish to increase our population. Y: And who will your young men marry? G: We shall send for some girls from America. It is only fair.
(Laughter)
We
Americans in India have better condiand they are stuck up. G: People are often stuck up when they have more money. Y: But will not such jealousy impair your war effort? G: In the last war there was much jealousy. American and Y:
are told the
tions than the British,
British troops used to fight in the estaminets in France. Yet
won
the
war
together.
we
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
g22 Y: lied
I cannot believe there is affinity of Nations sufficient to win the war.
spirit
between the Al-
G: Do you believe that there is much affinity of spirit between the Germans and the Italians? (Loud and prolonged mirth) *
Everybody made the best of a bad morale, but in a practical manner.
job, not only to bolster
Gardens started sprouting.
and concerts were produced. A school was started for the children in the civilian camp. Cicely Williams had never Plays
worked so hard doctoring the sick. Freddy Bloom became editor of the woman's camp paper, while beyond the wall that separated men from women, clandestine shortwave radio sets went into operation, giving the
happening in the
camp
rest of the
lously contrived out of bits
camp with
a daily bulletin of
The
world.
and
radios were miracu-
pieces often
smuggled into the
the help of the Chinese in Singapore
magnificently to the aid of the internees.
what was
Many
who
rallied
of these Chinese
were discovered and tortured. Scores paid for their loyalty with their lives. Yet there always
seemed
to
be another
help, ready to step into the shoes of the
man
eager to
one who had mysteri-
ously disappeared.
camp was not difficult if one many Europeans were at lib-
Contact between the city and the
had nerve and courage. At first, erty. But even when men like Buckeridge were interned after six months (to join Tim Hudson in a cell with flaking walls
bearing the roughly painted sign "Hudson's Bay") the Japanese
needed
to
send small but regular parties of Europeans into Sin-
gapore for a variety of reasons, and though they always went
under guard, sometimes the guards could be bribed, while others were so lazy it was easy to deceive them.
One man who had *
Quoted
in
to
make frequent
The Japanese Thrust
trips to the city
was Nor-
THE YEARS OF AGONY man
Coulson, a
PWD
leave with the ill-fated
323
who had flatly refused to The water system at Changi
water engineer
Nunn
party.
was constantly in need of repairs and replacements
— no doubt
helped by a
only expert,
little
sabotage
— and Coulson,
as the
was detailed to buy the spare parts in Singapore. Before long he
was in touch with the Chinese underground, and
betweens
— through go-
— with Leslie Hoffman, who was daily operating the
shortwave radio he had concealed from the Japanese.
In the
hope that the news would seep into Changi, the British in India were broadcasting hours of morale-boosting personal items from wives, relatives fully
a
down
wrote
man
and friends of those in camp. Hoffman the simple, poignant messages
in prison the
to act
how
to
telling
to know The problem now
one item of news he most wanted
— that the wife he had evacuated was arose of
— many
faith-
safe.
smuggle the news into camp, and Hoffman had
with the utmost discretion, for almost immediately after
and beaten up by the Kempetei (the Japanese equivalent of the Gestapo); and though he had been released after some weeks, he was still under sus-
capitulation he had been interrogated
picion.
However, he and Coulson contrived an ingenious plan.
Hoffman wrote
the notes
on
These were then de-
rice paper.
livered to a Chinese plumber,
and each time Coulson
visited
Singapore he was able to hide the precious messages in the pipes
and at
Changi. is)
he bought from the plumber for the ancient pumps
joints
Changi. In It
all,
Hoffman
was then a simple matter (comparatively simple, that
to relay the messages
(So efficient
sent several thousand messages into
from the men's
was the camp smuggling
that,
women's camp. though Freddy Bloom
to the
was only allowed to see Philip once for a few minutes in three
and a half
years, they
kept in touch with smuggled messages, and
even managed to exchange Christmas
For
some,
the
black
deeds
gifts.)
of
the
Kempetei
started
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
324
While most
early.
best they could,
pore in
civilians
Rob
were
Scott was taken
handcuffs and kept
down
settling
camp
in
from Sumatra
as
to Singa-
and
in solitary confinement for eight
months in a cell with no light. Each day he was taken to the Kempetei headquarters in the old YMCA building for cross-examination. At first the sessions lasted fourteen hours a a half
day, but as Scott laconically noted, "later the interpreter got
The
tired."
Japanese demanded to
know
— everything from the name of — wildly of Shakespeare's
details list
the most incredible
grandfather to a
Scott's
plays
this last
irrelevant topic be-
cause the Japanese had discovered a slip of paper on which Scott
had written the quotation, "Seeking the bubble reputation even mouth," and seized upon it as a code. During months the Japanese used bluster, threats "even beer on some occasions" but no actual physical violence. And in the cannon's
—
these
—
then in February 1943, "I was suddenly released to the comparative paradise of
The
ordinary internment."
indefatigable Scott was not idle for long.
playing a leading role in the secret
committee of creasing
five
number
of hidden shortwave receivers.
—
known to many did not know
worked with astonishing
The
this
day
— known
a large force of
in-
identities
the
names
efficiency for
of their colleagues.
many months
—
until
the fatal day of October 10, 1943.
On
a
and of the camp operators, scouts, only a few, and even inside the
messengers were
It
organization
which coordinated the operation of the
of the committee of control
organization
camp news
Soon he was
in Singapore as the
"Double Tenth"
—
Kempetei and Japanese troops without warning
raided the camp. Scott remembers that "I had the dubious hon-
our of being the
first
to
be arrested." Every inch of the camp
was searched and inevitably the Japanese discovered several discreet diaries of fatal,
war news and camp
but then, in the
cell of
activities.
one of the key men
in-
These were not in the
commit-
THE YEARS OF AGONY tee
— a man who had operated BBC
covered notes of a
At
first
news
a radio set
bulletin.
325
— the Japanese
The man was
arrested.
he feigned ignorance, but after weeks of torture he
vealed the
names
and Hoffman.
It
of his colleagues
— including
was a disaster of the
first
Scott,
dis-
re-
Coulson
magnitude
to the
two women — Freddy — Bloom and Cicely Williams were rounded up, together with
camp, for about
a similar
fifty
internees, including
number of Asians
Some were
in Singapore.
released after a few days of questions; others were
incarcerated for
more than
a year,
and
in this terrible period,
many men died in the Kempetei cells, of disease after torture. One was tortured to death. One man committed suicide rather than face the prospect of more torture. A man in Scott's cell cut his
tongue out in front of Scott so that he could never betray his
colleagues.
Many who suffered diabolical torture were innocent One man was arrested, never once questioned,
of any "crime."
and kept
for five
months
until he died of dysentery
As the torture proceeded, the waves
neglect.
to the entire
concerts,
camp. Rations were
plays,
lectures,
school
cut,
and medical
of suffering spread
even for children. Games,
lessons
were forbidden for
months.
Soon
Double Tenth, the Kempetei swooped on the on stilts in Serangoon where Leslie Hoffman was living. As luck would have it, Leslie was not listening in that night and he had concealed the radio so well that the Japanese were never able to find it. Nonetheless he had been betrayed, and the after the
old house
Kempetei were convinced the was brutally tortured spy"
— but
as
with
set existed.
For months Hoffman
— he was accused of being "a Rob Scott
Scott, all the sadistic tortures the
could invent never broke him.
Despite months
Kempetei
in the cages,
often starved for days at a time, beaten daily for weeks at a time,
he never divulged the
name
of
one single accomplice.
Freddy Bloom and Cicely Williams spent several months in
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
326
one tiny cage which they shared with several men. They had no beds.
— in
Indeed, the sole item of "furniture" consisted of a full
toilet
men and
the guard who watched them They had no protection against The only way to get any water for drinking
view of the
unceasingly through the
bars.
and mosquitoes. or washing was to flush the
lice
grilled, refused sleep,
Night
lavatory.
after night they
were
Norman Day after day the man who had camp was flogged with such severity For several weeks
denied food.
Coulson shared their cage.
smuggled the news into that, in Freddy's
words, "his back and legs were as raw as liver in
a butcher's shop." After each beating, his
when
the guards threw
limp body back into the cage, Freddy and Cicely cleaned
mangled
flesh
secreted,
dipping
his
with the aid of one small handkerchief they had into the lavatory water to
it
make some
sort of
a cold compress.
Coulson must have been a
man
of extraordinary courage, for
Freddy remembers that one morning, just
as
he was about
to
be
taken out for grilling, he said to her with a grin, "You don't look
your usual cheery
self this
morning!" Freddy told him not
worry
— but she had suddenly got a raging toothache.
later,
when
a bleeding Coulson was
and the women clenched
fist
tried to
wash
his
dumped back one
in the cage,
had kept
it
tightly
tablet of aspirin
a Japanese had given him, but instead of crunching intolerable pain, Coulson
Hours
wounds, he held out a
to Freddy. It contained
to
it
which
to ease his
for Freddy's toothache.
The most vicious torture of all, however, appears to have been reserved for Rob Scott, and his punishment included one week in which he was never allowed to sleep, lie down or relax, and during which he was on half rations for the given no food for the rest of the time. tioned, he
who could
had
first
When
four days, and
not being ques-
to squat, Japanese fashion, in front of the sentry,
see at a glance everything inside the cage.
During
questions he was usually forced to kneel on a rack, sometim'
THE YEARS OF AGONY tied
arm fully extended. Japaunder him and jumped on the feet until the open wounds exposed the ligaments He was flogged repeatedly. He would be called out
by a wrist
soles of his
and bones.
at
night"
window, with
to a
doubled
nese sentries
about
of his cell
327
p.m.
1 1
his
his legs
— "my interrogator preferred working
— put on a rack
for a couple of hours in silence, then
up
questioned for twenty minutes and beaten
would be
for
an hour. At
and by two-thirty in the morning, Scott would be sent back to his cell. Then would come the worst torture of all. Tottering with fatigue and pain, he would be called last it
over,
out again only half an hour later
—
to
go through the entire
procedure once more. At the end of "one hectic session" he was told
he had been sentenced to death and compelled to write a
farewell letter to his wife.
sentence
and
left
"I
me unmoved,
was then in such a
state that the
even when he announced the date
and brought in the sword with which I was to be beheaded, making me run my finger along the blade to test its place,
keenness. In a
way
I
welcomed the
and regretted the meant that the ex-
prospect,
reprieve twenty-four hours later, because
it
amination would be continued."
Some died ser,
— including Coulson and Hugh Fra-
the acting Colonial Secretary,
Timah fact
after torture
to
make
the
first
remains that though
driven out to Bukit
arrangements for surrender. Yet the
Rob
Scott
had been singled out
Kempetei were never able
arch-criminal, the
body.
spirit or his
who had
It
to
as the
break either his
was not only a question of bravery; a
man
— an understanding of the way the Japanese — mind worked lucid brain, was one of and Rob with needed reasoning
Scott,
the few to
men
keep on
the
his
able to analyze afterward just
and indeed how he had been able the physical and mental battle that
living,
Kempetei
in
how he had been
able
to outwit
lasted for
over twelve months. Scott realized immediately that
behind the Double Tenth
ar-
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
328 rests lay a
camp harbored
Japanese suspicion that the civilian
a
big spy, sabotage and counter-propaganda organization in radio
Early on this absurd suspicion became
contact with India.
most a certainty in their minds, and because of Scott nal."
was
cast in the role of
They
He
background,
master spy. "I was the super crimi-
From time
to time they even
was, said the Kempetei,
"more dangerous
firmly believed this.
flattered Scott.
his
al-
name "was known
than a division of the British army." His
to
every schoolboy in Japan." Scott,
however,
ened them, in
knew
the mentality of the Kempetei.
his brilliant
unpublished report,
Red
lots,
lik-
to "spoilt boys of
They had
"the school-
mind teems with images
of fighter pi-
fourteen, headstrong, selfish, brutal." boy's imagination. As his
He
Indians round the corner, spies, hidden treasures, so
the Kempetei seemed to live in a world of
everyone and everything was suspect,
melodrama where
foreigners were spies,
all
and the wilder the story the more fascinatingly probable it became." Nothing was too outragous. At one time Scott was accused of running a secret radio station in a tomb in a Chinese cemetery during the very time he was locked up in
confinement miles from the trait
which was
spot.
And
"Like children they are
to prove invaluable.
insensitive to criticism," so that in the
had
Scott, despite his suffering,
avoid traps
was
to
— he found one sure
flattered,
he would
of being "the
insist that
man who had
wary
battle of wits that
after night — a
followed day after day, night
solitary
he discovered another
battle in
be constantly on the
line of defense.
which
alert to
Whenever
he
he was unworthy of the honor
turned the people of South East
Asia against the Japanese." Inevitably he would then be asked
who was
responsible.
him
if
the interrogations then took
1
— Scott the Kempetei were trap — he always had one further of defense: The Japa-
dangerous turn for
And
if
setting a
felt
line
THEYEARSOFAGONY nese themselves, he
he made
this
would
say,
were
to blame.
<}2()
Time and
again
it
never
point — which, of course, was true — and
failed to infuriate
them. As he wryly noted
"Anti-Japa-
later,
nese criticism of this type was most useful in distracting
when questions began sults for
me were
resort. It
The immediate
to get embarrassing.
usually painful, so
I
used
them re-
this device as a last
never failed to work."
As the months dragged on,
Scott, despite his suffering,
able to realize that his tormentors were getting less of their ground.
Many
and
less
was sure
internees had been tortured into giving
They would say anything to avoid torture, and as Scott puts it, "The Japanese had collected too much evidence and did not know what was true and what was false. I began to sense a lack of certainty and assurance, however much
conflicting stories.
they blustered and shouted. time; could
I
It
became, in
my mind,
a race with
by denials convince them that they were
after a
mare's nest, or at any rate so discredit the evidence collected as to
shake their faith in
it
before
I
collapsed?
I
won, but only by a
short head."
With
typical modesty, Scott in his report glossed over the ter-
rible suffering tight
he endured. But
it is
a fact that by keeping a
hold on his reason. Scott was able to beat the Kempetei,
even though after months of torture and neglect he was ing from bacillary dysentery, edema, scabies ailments.
And
in the
suffer-
and many minor
end the Kempetei gave up. They sent him
back to the civilian camp, convinced he was about to die. Scott,
who
had weighed fourteen stone six pounds, had shrunk to seven stone ten pounds, and even with all the care the British doctors in camp could lavish on him, it was months at the capitulation
before he could walk. In camp, however, he was at least able to get
some extra food
out by the Japanese.
to
supplement the miserable rations doled
A flourishing black market had
sprung up,
A SINISTER
330
TWILIGHT
and internees could buy goods on credit, signing chits to be paid butter cost at the end of the war. The prices were fantastic $430 a pound, jam $280 (Malay) a jar, while a tin of powdered and is conmilk cost $700. Scott signed the chits cheerfully
—
—
vinced to
this
day that without that extra nourishment he would
have died.
Slowly the years of agony rolled on until
men and women who
could hardly remember anything other than the
phere of the camp, suddenly began to scent — the scent of
On
went.
victory, of liberation.
the secret radios
atmos-
new and heady
V-E day came and
— now operating again — news
tered through of the massive cific,
sniff a
stifling
American naval
fil-
victories in the Pa-
be followed by the details of Hiroshima, so that almost
to
before the prisoners realized what was happening, Cicely Williams,
was
on one of her occasional medical
visits to the
men's cam}),
startled to see a cheerful British soldier pat his Japanese
guard on the back, whereupon the guard offered him a bar
of
chocolate.
Were
the rumors of Japanese surrender true, asked Cicely
Williams, whereupon the
Tommy
gave a reply that only a
sol-
dier could give. ''Don't worry, lady," he grinned.
"The Emperor's
signing on
the dotted line next week."
One more
scene of internment must be recorded.
Two
men,
round the perimeter of thin and gangling, the other of more
ath-
One
wafl
talking earnestly, walked slowly
camp.
One was tall, One was
letic build.
Percival, the other
a general, the other a brigadier.
was Ivan Simson. Despite their
the
differcne tt
THE YEARS OF AGONY during the
Avar,
33
despite that dramatic midnight meeting, despite
even Perceval's last-minute refusal to give Simson the opportunity to escape, a strange
up between
kind of friendship seems
the two men.
after all, a loyal soldier to
And val,
Perhaps
whom
it
to
have grown
was because Simson was,
army meant more than
the
life.
was during one of these long walks together that Perci-
it
though unburdening himself of
as
a secret
he could no
longer keep to himself, finally admitted to Simson that he had
been wrong in refusing
"He was
to build
the only one of
opinion to expiate his
first
"That goes
Rob
to greet
who had
admit that
a very long
5,
The Times
Scott was Ian Morrison of
secret of his
At
last
later,
way
admiration for
Scott, ill
one of the
1945,
arrived with the advance troops.
could sense that his old friend was
a
to
his
add-
in
my
error."
freedom came on September
rassed.
men T
ing with characteristic charity,
no
the defenses of the island.
on defences had been wrong," w rote Simson
decision
When
up
the senior
all
first
of
men
London
Morrison had made
but in a curious way Scott at ease.
He seemed embarHe had written
Morrison blurted out the truth.
book about the
fall
of Singapore
obituary notice" of Scott.
and
it
For Morrison
contained "a sort of
(in
common
with the
Foreign Office) had for years assumed he had perished on the
GiangBee. Scott I'll
managed
a grin
and
write your obit for you!"
To
others, release
came
said to Morrison, "Don't
in different ways,
ing was so typical of Chinese loyalty
* Scott did.
When
—
but perhaps noth-
— and Chinese memory —
Morrison was killed in the Korean War, Scott happened to The Times and wrote Morrison's obituary
be in London, and went straight to notice.
worry
*
A SINISTER
gg2
TWILIGHT
moment when Tim Hudson
as the
stepped from internment to
freedom.
Hudson had kept
—
though he had lost a good health and he walked sturdily to the camp gates
in fairly
—
great deal of weight
— a breath of
moment of his life And he had barely moved outside
to savor the greatest air.
fresh, free
before a small figure
clutching a parcel elbowed her way out of the dense waiting and she looked as though crowd. She looked a little older she, too, had suffered but it was Mei Ling, carrying, just as she had done the night before Tim went into camp, a parcel of freshly laundered clothes. "They were still warm with the
—
—
beautiful smell of a hot iron,"
Rob
Scott was involved in
lowed
liberation,
Tim remembers.
one
last
macabre incident that
when Lieutenant-Colonel Sumida,
chief of the
Kempetei, was tried in Singapore. Scott was called to give dence, which "I gave reluctantly because
war crimes
In fact Scott
trials."
ate as ever
— went out of
ble for so
much
torture
—
I
fol-
evi-
did not hold with
and
as impartial
dispassion-
way to show that the man responsihad only been behaving in "his own his
Japanese way." Sumida was, however, sentenced to be hanged,
whereupon he of
sent Scott a message "thanking
me
for the fairness
my evidence." Rob
Scott
now did an extraordinary thing, which own inimitable way. "I thought that
scribed in his
is
best de-
the least
I
could do, to close that chapter, was to go out and see him hanged.
Which
I
did
began to pour with
— rather
rain,
closer than
it
and the only covered, sheltered spot I mounted it with the exc(
in
the prison yard was the scaffold, so tioner,
whilst
and stood it
to
one
meant
as
side,
I
to,
u
an inch or so from the trap door,
was sprung with Sumida on •
it."
THE YEARS OF AGONY
333
Considering the years of rigorous confinement and torture,
how many of those who lived through that time are One would have thought that the starvation fit.
astonishing still
it is
extremely
sapping
diet, the
effect
on morale, would have lopped But
years off the later years of their lives.
no difference. found
it
If
any needed time
normal
difficult to start
it
a few
seems to have made
to adjust themselves,
if
any
they solved their
lives again,
problems successfully in various ways. Brigadier Ivan Simson,
and
the Japanese for three to rid his
his secret report
from
a half years, decided that the best
way
system of the nightmare would be to expand the report
into a longer work. (in fact it
and
who had hidden
It
was not written so
was never published)
to erase painful
memories.
took
for publication
himself and his friends
as for
It
much
him many
Today
years.
Brigadier Simson, in his seventies, lives in an old rambling
house of oak beams at Witney, the market town in Oxfordshire
famous for
its
blankets.
An
old walled garden, with pear trees
flattened against the dull bricks, gives
Simson's back
is
not as straight
as it
Percival in Flagstaff House, but he
and though is
his hair
is
now
him
Perhaps
privacy.
was the night he bearded
still
has an alert, quick mind,
white, his mustache
is still
an indefatigable correspondent, he drives a
car,
trim.
and
He
in the
summer of 1967 blithely set off on a motor tour of Austria. The imperturbable Dickie Dickinson, who had been so
horri-
Duff Cooper's unseemly conduct, is another who has grown gracefully into old age. Still handsome with a faint trace of spit and polish subtly transferred to his well-cut suits Dickinson, in his seventies, lives a few yards from the River Thames at Maidenhead, twenty-seven miles from London. He fied at
—
bears
no
trace of the
balcony watching the the
summer
Canada.
grenade that hit him first
moments
of 1967, to Italy
as
of peace.
—
he stood on the
He
too set off in
and Greece, followed by a
visit to
A SINISTER
334
TWILIGHT
Because of the tortures which he endured,
have been expected to
Rob
might
Scott
require an exceptionally and long period
of readjustment; indeed, there were
some who doubted
if
he
would ever be able to resume his brilliant career in the Foreign Service. But his courage and energy brought him back to a healthy and active life. For some months he lay in a hospital in India, little more than a bag of bones. But he soon began to fret wanting above all to get his so much for some work to do
—
impressions on paper while they were
still
fresh in his
him
that he persuaded the Foreign Office to send
When
she arrived, Scott firmly grabbed the typewriter
the
young lady
his
own
typing;
his
herself.
He
—
a typist.
and
told
preferred to do
and it two brilone on the sinking of the Giang Bee, the other that summed up so well the conflicts between was in hospital that he wrote his
— torture —
liant reports
on
go away and enjoy
to
mind
the different races.
After his
had a predictably meteoric rise in the becoming Minister at the British Embassy in
illness, Scott
Foreign Service,
Washington, followed by
spells of
General in South East Asia,
duty
as British
Commandant
Commissioner-
of the Imperial De-
fence College, and finally Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence until he retired in 1963 tive term, for
he
still
serves
— retired being
a compara-
on countless committees. He
ceived a knighthood, and a string of letters after his name. Sir
Robert
lives in
house
set
Leslie
had transformed into
a delightful split-level
also
had a remarkable
moved from
the
rise in his profession.
Tribune
to the Straits
and he recently received the Malayan equivalent of Rob knighthood. Today he enjoys the is
in
amidst the rolling countryside he loves so much.
Hoffman
After the war, he
and
Now
an old disused railway station near Peebles
Scotland, which he
re-
now
title
of
Times, Scott's
Dato Leslie Hoffman, Times group.
editor-in-chief of the influential Straits
THE YEARS OF AGONY Others took up
less
Jimmy
guessed that
predictable careers.
who had
Glover,
335
Who
would have
so often crossed swords
with authority and government, would eventually work for the British
pore,
government
Jimmy was
in
London? After
from Singa-
his escape
reunited with Julienne in India where he
worked on propaganda until Singapore was liberated. When he returned to the city where he had made his career, he found it difficult to settle
moved
to
down, and
after
some
years he
and Julienne
England.
Tim and
Marjorie Hudson are two others
who have had
a full
life. Though he had not been tortured, Tim was when he arrived back in England on one of the first evacuation ships. Marjorie was waiting to greet him at the docks, and she whisked him away to a small village in Devonshire. And there she kept him for a year until he was fit again
and rewarding in
poor shape
—
from Dunlops that they badly needed
despite pleas in Singapore.
him
Tim would
have gone
was
see the letters until she
baby
and
so while they
A
girl called Bridget.
— only Marjorie never
satisfied
Tim and
there was something else. children,
his services
he was well. Besides,
Marjorie had never had any
were in Devonshire they adopted
Tim worked
when he
until 1954,
returned to England. Both he and Marjorie
felt that it
Bridget had a brother or
it
sister,
even though
would ever have any children
They now took an
whom
they
did not seem that
extraordinary, courageous step.
it.
It
was time
of their own.
offered, in exceptional circumstances,
contracted to take
a
year or so later the three Hudsons
returned to Singapore where
they
let
an unborn
They were They
child.
turned out to be another
little girl
named Melanie. And within a month after welto the Hudson household, Marjorie became
coming Melanie pregnant for the the
first
time in fourteen years of marriage. Before
end of the year Heather arrived, and today the Hudsons are
A SINISTER
336
TWILIGHT
one of the happiest, closely knit families it is possible to imagine. They live near Ashford in Kent, in a house facing the rolling countryside, with apple blossom in the spring,
and
fields of
tawny corn in the autumn; and where Marjorie Hudson all things,
become one
has, of
of Britain's leading breeders of Siamese
cats.
Dr. Cicely Williams,
who
so bravely cared for the children of
become famous. At the age of seventy-three she lives an active life that would be the envy of many women half her age. Though she is based in London, she still roams the world, mostly on lecture tours. In June 1967, she flew to Atlantic City to be awarded the Joseph Goldberger medal for her original work on nutrition. It was the first time in history that the award made by the American Medical Association in conjunction with the Nutrition Foundation had ever been made to a foreigner. A few months later, Cicely Williams had a farewell dinner with Philip and Freddy Bloom, then set off on a year's world tour, lecturing and advising in places as far apart as Australia and Jamaica. Oddly enough, while Cicely Williams, an Englishwoman, received an American award, Freddy Bloom, the American who shared her Kempetei cage, received a British award from the Queen the OBE (Order of the British Empire) for her untiring efforts over twenty-five years to help deaf and handicapped children. Her marriage to Philip Bloom has never looked back and today they have two fine grown-up children and live in London, near Philip's consulting rooms in Harley Street. Singapore, has since
—
—
—
Though
Philip was not the sort of
readjust himself to civilian in captivity
life,
the
man who needed
war
the pioneers in Britain in a field of
time
to
Malaya and the years
becoming one of medicine which had previBefore the war Philip had
were directly responsible
ously received only scant attention.
in
for his
THE YEARS OF AGONY been a gynecologist, but
much opportunity
—
as
Freddy puts
it
337
— "He didn't have
to practice his profession in
camp." Philip
had, however, always been attracted by the problems of sexual
maladjustment, and his interest in ing captivity.
As soon
this field
was heightened durhe became a
as possible after the war,
now
reached
1967, the
Blooms
consultant on sexual and marital problems, and has the peak of his profession.
On
February
6,
held a party to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of that
wedding ceremony in Fullerton Building during an air raid. Freddy was still wearing the sapphire ring Philip had bought from a street trader on the way to the registrar's office.
strange
Some have alive, Sir
died, of course.
Though Lady Thomas
Shenton Thomas, who fought
vindicate the slurs cast
on "whiskey-swilling
1962, aged eighty-three. Duff Cooper, to
to the
a broken
planters," died in
at sea in 1954, a
man
in 1966.
the events of Singapore speak for themselves,
twinge of sympathy for the general
his life to
few
General Percival was
days before his sixty-fourth birthday.
when he died
still
who became Ambassador
France and later Lord Norwich, died
seventy-nine
end of
is
And
though
one cannot help
who was expected
a
to fight to
man without any air or sea power. And some could not bear to leave their beloved Singapore. Willie Watt, who watched his own grave being dug, is now in the last
his seventies,
Alister
and
and retired in 1965
after forty-three years
Co., the last twelve years as chairman.
ately addicted to racing.
The
walls of his
flat
are lined with photographs of his winners
ample lallang
him
stocks of
Old
Rarity, the
He
with Mc-
is
— and he
still
Singapore
(he, too,
George
worked
and then joined the
Straits
keeps
brand of whiskey he hid in the
during the crazy days when the Japanese refused
to surrender.
passion-
in Rochalie Drive
Hammonds in India
till
to allow
has not only stayed in
Singapore was liberated
Times) but has taken up Singapor-
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
338
ean nationality.
He looks upon
that the only right thing to
home and
the city as his real
do was
become
to
felt
a citizen of the city
and country he had chosen. Two more will never leave Singapore Buck and Lucy Buckeridge. Buck is in his sixties, Lucy ten years younger, and when Buck retired from the fire brigade in 1957 he and Lucy took a trip round the world for the express purpose of choosing
—
They never found
the ideal country in which to retire.
a coun-
try they liked better than Malaya, so they returned, and will stay
Lucy Buckeridge, who had helped so many penniless evacuees with cash loans, left Robinson's when Buck retired, but in i960 the firm's chief accountant died suddenly, and Robinson's begged her to help out for three months until they could find a replacement. Lucy said she would and has remained at Robinson's ever since. in Singapore for the rest of their lives.
—
It
was the sameness of Singapore that had
when
internees
three
and a half
found
years.
been
very
Somehow they had vaguely expected the own imprint on the great city and
left their
have changed
it
astonished the
they were freed from their prison camps after
Japanese to have port, to
first
much
as
it
visually
they had
and
left
physically.
it,
Instead they
and though there have
vast changes in Asia since those far-off days twenty-six years
— changes involving the independence of Malaya and gapore — there in a curious, haunting way a sameness ago
Sin-
is still
about the of 1941
city to
and
Perhaps
remind the wanderer returned
1942. it
is
the weather
— the
pitiless
of the
grim days
sun or the pelting
rains of the
monsoon thrashing
against the rattan blinds.
perhaps
because Singapore
an island
it is
is
Or
port, so that as one's
ship steams in toward Keppel Harbour, past the hot, shimmer-
THE YEARS OF AGONY ing, outlying islands, one's first sight
whelming sensation
is
339
always was: an over-
as it
of green after days at sea, the lines of waving
palms, the unchanging apparatus of dockland, the same pewter-
colored petrol tanks. Fullerton Building Collyer Quay, and Battery Road, linking still
as
narrow
as ever,
and Gian Singh, the nearby food
is
now
city,
it
with Raffles Place,
facials,
store
is
has disappeared,
where Europeans
tins of cigarettes just before the capitulation,
But the shape of the streets in the center of the the squares, the sports grounds of those days are totally still
dominates Raffles Place. Kelly and
Walsh, where
Tim Hudson
was given two books to take into
camp, has been replaced by an airline booking the narrow bustling
ists
landmark on
a bank.
unchanged. Robinson's
it
a
though Maynard's the chemists, where
Mrs. Jackson used to superintend the
brawled for a few
is still
Change Alley
is still
office,
but behind
thronged with tour-
in search of bargains or sailors in search of girls.
But
it is
in
Chinatown
that
one experiences the greatest sense
yellow Fords, and
— larger now than the old air-conditioned too — and drives through
Chinatown with
families squatting over their rice bowls be-
of sameness,
and
if
its
one takes a
taxi
up near the Pulo Saigon Bridge, still looking like an outsized Meccano model, and unchanged since the day when its steel girders were neath the
flags of
washing, one will eventually land
blazing from end to end.
Below
it
the Singapore River
is still
covered with a patchwork quilt of sampans. Raucous voices cry
and food hawkers make their daily rounds. Agile, skinny Chinese leap from one floating family to another, past women cooking rice and fish in the same kind of their wares as the waterboats
coalpots that Cicely Williams used to save the lives of the chil-
dren she later gave away.
And
stink of the river, an odor
no old Singaporean can ever
recognize, permeates the air.
above
all,
the sweet
and sour fail to
TWILIGHT
A SINISTER
340 It gives
one an almost uncomfortable feeling of never having
been away, even
after all these years,
and the sensation
persists as
one drives back toward "white" Singapore, for though this is now an Asian country, nothing seems to have changed physi-
— the municipal buildings, the Supreme functions did under Court, the Memorial Theatre —
cally.
The
civic center
as it
still
previous masters.
The
cathedral,
surrounded by
much
as a stone or a
has not been changed by so
its
greensward,
new
flower bed
when Reverend Bennitt hurriedly cleared the nave to make room for the wounded. Raffles Hotel is still there, though its barnlike lounge, where Leslie Hoffman served steaks during a raid, is now enclosed and air-conditioned. The Central since the days
Fire Station in Hill Street still
the old balcony
still
looks the same
— and there
where Hudson and Buckeridge
a stengah as they watched the rockets to the north
sat
is
drinking
announce the
Japanese landings on the island. In South Bridge Road, the bal-
cony where Dickie Dickinson was hit by a grenade
And
along Bukit
Timah Road, down which
thundered in their
last
advance, orchids
is
unchanged.
the Japanese tanks
still
blossom on the
banks of the canal. With independence there are new schools,
enormous housing
projects,
new
buildings, so that the city has
spread, of course, but even so, the outskirts
ing mixture of city and jungle; with one cars,
lows
still
hold a fascinat-
moment
the roar of
the next the croak of bullfrogs; in the old-fashioned bunga-
Tamils diligently scythe the coarse
glimpses of attap huts, bright green banana leaves of papaya,
produce a nostalgia that
is
and the
lallang, trees,
the heavier
almost overpower-
ing.
In Stevens Road, where live,
Tim and
Marjorie Hudson used to
hardly a house has changed, and their bungalow
is
just as
bank of lawn leading down from the veranda the garden and the hedge of hibiscus still screening the gai
was, with the
it
to
THE YEARS OF AGONY where
Tim
used to keep his sturdy
Road, where
Tim dug
had been buried by few more bars, a
a
new magnificent
at the
corner of Cuppage
after
tall
Marjorie
buildings, a
but otherwise
hotel,
Orchard Road of yesterday, with the still
hands
more
boasts a few
Orchard
Hillman.
little
frantically with his
bomb
341
fruit
the
it is
and vegetable market
Road near
the splendid white
building of the Cold Storage where Julienne Glover was caught in the gas
bomb scare.
One might have thought
that with independence, at least
Government House would have gone,
whom
it
if
only to appease those to
was a symbol of centuries of Colonial government. But
no, Singapore has a rare tolerance (and for that matter a rare
and today nothing has changed
sense of gratitude)
The hundred
to the eye.
acres of green grass are as immaculately kept as
on
when Shenton Thomas paced the lawns after Percival had told him of the first Japanese landings. But no one lives any longer in the white elephant of Government House, and the vast dining room where Lady Thomas sheltered under the table is denuded of furniture. One corner of the ramthat fateful evening
bling, ornate building
is
used for government
offices,
and
an-
other wing has been refurbished to offer hospitality to important guests.
As the ans
still
day's
work
ends, as the heat begins to wane, Singapore-
foregather on the broad balcony of the Cricket
Club on
facing the padang for an evening stengah. Here, with the sea the one side to
and a
line of flame trees
stumble into an old friend
as
on the
other,
one
is
certain
one watches Asians and Europe-
ans happily playing tennis or football together in this club
where once only "whites" were allowed. last
bizarre thought
comes
to
end
And
it is
then that a
this tale of blunders, of ifs
and
buts, of the greatest debacle in the history of British arms, in
which thousands of men and
women
of
all
races
and creeds died
A SINISTER TWILIGHT
342
in the mythical fortress its
which no one would, or could, help in
death throes. It is
the trite observation that out of
all evil
some good can
come; that the Asians, whose country Singapore ironically to thank the Japanese in
some measure,
now
is,
for
was the
it
have
Japanese victories in battle that destroyed forever the legend of
and so set in motion a train of events throughout Asia which led to eventual independence. And though it is true that the Allies returned to liberate the countries, it was never quite the same again. The awe, the mystique surrounding the tuan bazar had gone forever, and in Sinapore it was only a question of time before the frenetic, humid, the white man's supremacy,
opulent port that
known way
as
to the
is
unlike any other in the world, ceased to be
Europe's gateway to the East, but rather as Asia's gate-
West.
Bibliography
Bibliography
An
asterisk
also has
marks those from which quotations have been used. If a book been published in the United States, that edition is noted.
BOOKS CONSULTED Abend, Hallett. Ramparts of the Pacific. London, John Lane Bodley Head, 1942; New York, Doubleday, 1942. Allbury, A. G. Bamboo and Bushido. London, Robert Hale, 1955. Attiwill, K. TJie Singapore Story. London, Frederick Muller, 1959; Philadelphia, Saunders, 1959. Bennett, H. Gordon. Why Singapore Fell. Bombay, Thacker, 1945. Bhargava, K. D., and Sastri, K. N. V. Indian Armed Forces in the Second World War S. E. Asia 1941-42. Combined Inter-Services, Historical Section, India, i960.
Braddon, Russell. The Naked Island. London, T. Werner Laurie, 1952; New York, Doubleday, 1953. Broad, Lewis. The War That Churchill Waged. London, Hutchinson, i960.
Buggy, Hugh. Pacific Victory. London, Robertson and Mullens, 1967. Bulcock, Roy. Of Death But Once. Melbourne, F. W. Cheshire, 1947. Chapman, F. Spencer. The Jungle Is Neutral. London, Chatto and Windus, 1949; New York, Norton, 1949. Churchill, Winston S. The Second World War, 6 vols. Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1948-53; London, Cassell, 1948-54. Clarke, Blake. Pearl Harbour. London, The Bodley Head, 1942. Cooper, Duff. Old Men Forget. London, Rupert Hart-Davis, 1953;
New
York, Dutton, 1954. Crew, F. A. The Army Medical Services, Vol. II. London, H.M.S.O., 1957. Donahue, A. G. Last Flight From Singapore. London, Macmillan, 1944; New York, Macmillan, 1943.
Ehrman, John. Grand
London, H.M.S.O., 1956. Concise History of World War
Strategy, Vols. II, V, VI.
Esposito, Brigadier-General Vincent J. London, Pall Mall Press, 1964.
A
II.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
346
Gallagher, O. D. Retreat in the East. London, George G. Harrap, 1942.
Gilmour, O.
W.
Singapore
to
Freedom.
,
Burrows, 1943.
Glover, E. M. In Seventy Days. London, Frederick Muller, 1946. Graves, Philip. Record of the War, The Tenth Quarter. London, Hutchinson, 1942. Grenfell, Captain Russell.
Main
Fleet to Singapore.
Faber, 1951; New York, Macmillan, 1952. Harrison, Kenneth. The Brave Japanese. London,
London, Faber and
Angus and Robertson,
1967.
Hough, Richard. The Hunting
of Force.
London, William Collins Sons,
1963; New York, Macmillan, 1963. Kase, Toshikazu. The Eclipse of the Rising Sun.
London, Jonathan Cape,
1951; New Haven, Yale University Press, 1950. Kerr, George F. Business in Great Waters. London, Faber
Kirby, Major-General
S.
and Faber,
Woodburn. The War Against Japan,
Vol.
I,
1951.
The
Loss of Singapore. London, H.M.S.O., 1957. Lockhart, Bruce. The Marines Were There. London, Putnam, 1950; New York, British Center, 1950. McCarthy, Dudley. Australia in the War 1939-45, S. W. Pacific Area (Army).
Melbourne, Australia War Memorial, 1959. MacKenzie, Compton. Eastern Epic. London, Chatto and Windus, 1951. MacMillan, Norman. The R.A.F. in the World War. London, George G. Harrap, 1950. Maxwell, Sir George. The Civil Defense of Malaya. London, Hutchinson, 1944-
Morrison, Ian. Malayan Postscript. London, Faber and Faber, 1942. Mountbatten, Vice-Admiral Earl. Report to the Combined Chiefs of Staff. London, H.M.S.O., 1957. Odgers, George. Australia in the War 1939-45, War Against Japan (Air).
Melbourne, Australia
War
Memorial, 1957.
Onn, Chin Kee. Malaya Upside Down. Singapore, Jitts and Co., 1946. Owen, Frank. The Fall of Singapore. London, Michael Joseph, i960. Percival, Lieutenant-General A. E. The War In Malaya. London, Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1949. Playfair, Giles. Singapore
Goes Off the Air. London, Jarrolds, 1944; New York, Button, 1943. Richards, Denis, and Saunders, Hilary St. George. The Fight Avails. London, H.M.S.O., 1952. Rivett, Rohan. Behind Bamboo. London, Angus and Robertson, 1950. Roberts, Denis Russell. Spotlight on Singapore. London, Anthony Gibbs
and
Phillips, 1965.
Rose, Angus.
Who
Roskill, Captain
The Navy
at
S.
Dies Fighting. London, Jonathan Cape, 1944. W. The War At Sea, Vol. II. London, H.M.S.O., 1956.
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347
Sleeman, Colin, and Silkin, S. C. The Double Tenth Trial. London, William Hodge, 1951; Philadelphia, Saunders, 1948. Stewart. Brigadier I. MCA. History of the Second Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. London, Thomas Nelson, 1947. Slim, Sir William. Defeat into Victory. London, Cassell, 1956. Strabolgij Lord. Singapore and After. London, Hutchinson, 1942. Tsuji, Masanobu. Singapore The Japanese Version. London, Constable,
—
i960.
Walker, Allan
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Australia in the
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War
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Wavell, General Sir Archibald. ABDA Command. London, H.M.S.O., 1948. Speaking Generally. London, Macmillan, 1946. Wigmore, Lionel. Australia in the War, the Japanese Thrust. London, Angus and Robertson, 1958. Winant, John G. A Letter from Grosvenor Square. London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1947.
DOCUMENTS CONSULTED Brooke-Popham, Air Chief-Marshal Sir Robert. Official Dispatch (London Gazette, 1/22/48). Fuehrer Conference on Naval Affairs (Berlin, 1942). Lavton, Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey, Official Dispatch (London Gazette, '
2/26/46).
Maltby, Air Vice-Marshal Sir Paul. Official Dispatch (London Gazette, 2/26/48). Percival,
Lieutenant-General A. E. Official Dispatch (London
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Gazette,
Index
Index
ABDA
(American,
Australian)
British,
Command,
Dutch,
Arabs,
10,
See
Argyll
and Sutherland Highlanders,
83, 85.
also Allied forces
J
Adam
Road, 265, 266, 267 Adelphi Hotel, 273
Lit,
Asians, 10, 25, 51, 52-53, 170, 172, 325; nurses, 183-184, 188; flee city,
213-214.
houseboy, 86, 98 See also Butterworth;
Johore, Kallang; Kota Bahru, Sel-
Tengah
Ma-
167,
212-213
Australia,
7, 8, 77, 95, 108-109, 189, 218, 213, 244, 245, 270-271, 281
Australian forces, 29, 60, 126, 130,
Air Raid Precautions 28-29, 38, 74, 81, 276; during
See also Chinese;
Tamils Attiwill, Kenneth, lays;
Airfields, 76.
etar;
25
Armenians, 10
Admiralty, 33, 136 Agency House, Cluny, 114, 158 Ah Ling, houseboy, 2 1
Ah
178
(ARP),
101,
104,
21,
156,
dock bombing, 192-
Tiong Bahru headquarters, bombed, 219-222 193;
Alexandra Hospital,
39,
237,
241-
132,
162-167, 181, 200, 205, 238,
271; Air Force, 29; 8th Division, 60,
131;
22nd Brigade,
167;
and
defense of Jurong Line, 201-203; headquarters, 207; withdrawal to Java, 218
Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS), 41, 74,
243 Alexandria, 244
77, 100, 101, 159
Alhambra Theatre (cinema),
102,
146 Allied forces, 89, 164, 166, 183, 199, 206, 238, 245, 342
Amber Mansions,
40, 41,
104,
112,
Bali, 4, 127
Banka
116, 148
Americans, in Singapore, 24, 43, 95 Anderson Bridge, 298
Anson Road,
Bagan, 59 Bahrein, 244
21, 42, 59,
149
Strait
and
Island,
302-303,
3°9
Bataan Peninsula, 206 Battery Road, 7, 21, 24,
91, 147,
339
INDEX
352 Batu Pahat, 89 Beach Road, Asiatic quarter, 144 Bengal, Bay
Beng Swee
of,
Bloom, Freddy cont'd: 99, 101,
ing" expedition, 315; internment, 318, 322, 323, 325-326; current life, 336-337 Bloom, Dr. Philip,
244
Place, 98
Bennett, H. Gordon, 60, 126, 131,
14,
39,
47,
95,
118, 292, 315-316; marriage, 150-
on
154; internment, 316, 323; current
evacuation of naval base, 137; on
336-337 Botanic Gardens, 125 Bowden, V. G., Australian govern-
133-134,
labor
199-200,
shortage,
202,
142;
207;
and with-
drawal of Australian troops, 203-
bombed
life,
city,
ment
225-226; on possibility of capitu-
cape,
on
204;
deserted,
lation, 239-240; escape plan,
240-
241, 270-271, 280-282; surrender
decision, 261-263; reaches tra,
Suma-
120,
260-261;
surrender,
Canon A.
J.,
145-146,
121,
x,
16,
256,
21-22, re-
340;
fuses to leave Singapore, 180-181;
on Cathedral
309 British Empire, 19-20, 205, 206 British forces, Singapore, 10, 33, 60-
as hospital, 183;
on
ter-service quarrels, 35-36, 37, 61;
and Brooke-Popham, with
civilians, 58-59;
fiasco,
37; relations
and
bicycle
93-94; 18th Division, 109,
looting, 253-254; reaction to cease-
112,
fire,
245; strength, 130, 163, 205;
273 Bennitt, Mrs. A.
J., 56, 120
rale
Berchtesgaden, 243
218,
Beri-beri, 256
tion,
Bisseker, F. D., 80-81, 228
Black market,
86,
British
British
!7>
91,
142,
24,
146,
168,
dilemma,
186;
154, 316, 320;
to duty,
222,
and evacuation
117-118; during air
95,
102,
197-198,
184;
marriage,
during
132, 150, 201, 205,
siege,
of
lack
238;
162-163;
143,
mo207,
147,
deterrent
casualties,
High Command,
ac-
288n
High
see
British
Naval Shipping Control, 211
Alanbrooke), 246 x,
39, 47, 57, 76-77, 90,
223, 257, 262, 297;
131,
Brooke, General Alan F. (Viscount
Blood Transfusion, 47, 118, 274 Bloom, Freddy (Elfrieda) Retz,
H*
119,
Command,
329-330
Blackout, 21, 26, 29, 39-40, 75 Blenheim (bomber), 34n
raids,
es-
308-
61, 74, 89, 121, 126, 181, 238; in-
308
Bennitt,
representative, 218, 241;
150-
on Asians' devotion and evacuation of
and city's humiliation, and evacuation of General 247; nurses, 188;
Hospital, 292, 293-295; "scroung-
Brooke-Popham, 3 2 > 34. 37'
Sir Robert,
Bryson, Hugh,
ix,
Buckeridge, B. C.
300-301 J.
(Buck), x, 41-
42, 76, 77, 90, 99-100,
161,
168,
11-12,
45-46, 5°> 6 4
194-195,
196.
144,
157-
231, 297,
340; on liquor ban, 176-177, 182; on Tyersall Hospital bombing, 184-185; on city's fires, 250-253; on preparations for internment, 257; and cease-fire, 273, 277-279;
INDEX Buckeridge, B. C.
J.
cont'd:
transition to "peace," 309-312; in-
ternment, 310, 322; current
338 Buckeridge, Lucy, 120,
life,
99-100,
x, 76, 90,
evacuated from Singa-
278;
pore, 159-160; current
life,
Timah
(village), 128, 167, 168,
7-8, 209, 216,
Burma,
in,
3, 4, 5,
108
of,
10,
173-174;
43;
air raid
bomb
101;
177-179,
219;
339
11,
14,
26, 53, 63, 101, 110, 169; 74,
22,
5,
30;
99,
73,
142,
postwar sameness
system, 90;
105, 108, 109
21, 24,
and
civil
terminate chit
101;
and engineering works,
assist in
demolition, 175,
from city, 213; special Japanese vengeance toward, 289-
Burmese, 10 Butterworth,
lack of shelters in,
defense,
237, 263-265, 266, 267, 327, 340
26,
206
China Seas, 6 Chinatown, Singapore,
Chinese,
Timah Road,
Burma Road,
31, 165, 205,
damage
207, 212, 267
Bukit
Chiang Kai-shek, 219 China, 110, 115; war with Japan,
casualties in,
338
Buffalo (plane), 29, 34, 38, 208
Bukit
353
178; flight
RAF
airfield, 51
290; aid to internees, 322-323
Chit system, 90, 182
Cambodia Point, Indochina, 11, Cameron Highlands, 8, 59, 176
12
Churchill,
Lady Clementine,
22
Churchill, Sir Winston, 24, 47, 111,
word
of attack, 22-
Canberra, Australia, 218, 240
241; receives
Cantonment Road, 196
23;
Capitol Cinema, 127
and Duff Cooper, 44, 46, 64 on importance of fortress 50, 128; and Wavell, 83, 204-206 207, 217, 250; and civilian evacu ation, 95, 103, 208, 215; on de 33;
Catalina (flying boat), 34n
Cathay Building, 155' l6 9>
i
:o,
19,
dispatches ships to Far East
79,
82, 84;
135,
149,
209
Cathay Cinema, 102 Censorship, 139-141, 155-156 Central Fire Station, 161, 250, 273,
fensibility of fortress, 105-106;
277. 340 Ceylon, 137, 244
confidence from
fense plan, 107-109;
de
and vote of
Commons,
112
and scorched earth policy, 171172, 173; dictum on holding for
Chamberlain, Neville, 10
Change
204-206, 207, 217, 244-246
Alley, 147, 288, 339 Changi, 131, 274; internment camp (Changi Jail), 276, 290, 297, 299-
announces fall of Singapore, 314 Chu Yu-Min, servant, 212
military
Civil defense, 51, 56, 64-72, 74, 79,
communiKempetei raid on,
82; blackout, 21, 26, 29, 39-40, 75;
300,
310-311,
314,
318;
barracks, 321; prisoner
cations in, 323;
324-325 Chatsworth Road,
39, 153
Chequers, 22-23, 103
tress,
trenches,
29-30, 41,
57-58,
155;
helmets, 41-42, 76, 93, 310; and morale, 67, 84; shelter policy, 155157, 190
INDEX
354 Civil Defense of
Malaya (Maxwell),
Curtin, John, Australian prime min-
igon
ister, 109, 240,
241
Civilian Evacuation Committee, 228,
230 Cluny, 114, 117, 158, 159 Clyde Terrace Market, 99
da
Silva's (jewelers), 150-151 Dairy Farm, 216, 238, 310 Datch, 59
Coconut Grove, nightclub, 75 Cold Storage, 6-7, 56, 91, 97,
103,
Davis, Eric, 155, 211
Davis, L.
141-142, 179,341
Newsom, x
College of Medicine. 221, 272
Dawson, C. W.,
Collyer Quay, 21, 39, 118, 147, 159,
Demolition,
Intelligence Bureau, 37,
Communications, 163, 164, 166; among Changi prisoners, 323 Coode, Major George, 259-260, 269-
3,
42-43,
190, 191, 234;
57-58,
101,
74,
pay controversy,
58,
111
Cooper, Sir Alfred Duff (Lord Norwich), 43-45, 53-54, 74, 79-80, 81,
and War Council, 45-46, 61-64, 68-72; and Wavell, 83-85; returns home, 84-86; death (1954), 82, 174;
99,
104,
defense
during
wounded, 274-275,
receives
22,
life,
282, 296-
333
Dickinson, Bunny, 118, 274, 297 Dinsley, Donald,
x
Docks, 58, 76, 98, 118-119, 148, 175, 190-191; bomb damage, 142, 192, 230-231; control of
fires
on, 310,
312
Donahue, Flight-Lieutenant Arthur, 146, 208, 209
11,
Dunearn Road,
42, 46, 48, 91,
148,
45, 62, 68, 81,
264-
265
Dunlop Rubber Purchasing Com-
24, 30,
pany, 95, 100, 142, 234-237, 277
157,
182,
preparations,
75;
Durban, 244 Dutch air reinforcements, 50 Dutch East Indies, see Netherlands
8,
17,
125,
142,
21,
147;
damage, 214;
wounded,
292; internees
siege,
ix,
161, 168, 170, 209
Coulson, Norman, 322-323, 325, 326; death of, 327
341;
263;
Dulverton,
Co-Prosperity Sphere, 289 Corregidor, 205
6,
(Dicky),
Duchess of Bedford, 121
337 Cooper, Lady Diana, 82
Cricket Club,
earth
2gn, 47, 62-63, 64, 72, 82, 100, 118; and surrender decision, 262-
297, 340; current
270 Coolies,
Scorched
de Moubray, Katherine, 295, 315 Dickinson, A. H.
141-142
46,
301
policy
288, 339; fires in, 251
Combined
x,
see
leave from, 297-298
East Indies
Dysentery, 256
Cuppage Road, 179, 341 Curlewis, Captain, 270 Currency, 103-104, 177
East Coast Road, 311, 313
INDEX Eastern Smelting Company, 80
Empire Dock, 119, 310 Empress of Asia, 150, 152, 158, 320 Empress of Japan, 113, 120, 121 Evacuation, European, 56, 59, 62, 75-76, 86-87, 92, 258; from Penan g> 52, 53= fr o m Singapore, 94112-121,
coastline,
miners,
Fullerton Building, 21, 47, 150, 151, 2 33» 2 47> 339'
wounded
transferred
292-295;
patients
evacuated
to,
from, 314, 315
of up-country tin
103;
on
157;
Roussel,
Felix
of nurses,
157-161;
>
northern
of
208;
Hugh, 86-87, 9 8 282-283; and truce negotiations, 263-267; death from torture, 327 Fraser and Neave, 147, 182
Fraser,
Economist, The, quoted, 88-89
95,
355
186-190;
of
Harbour Board, 190-192; of PubWorks members, 226-232; of Government House, 232-233; of
lic
General Hospital, 291-293; losses in official schemes for, 302-306; of patients to Changi, 314-315
General Hospital,
95,
150,
154, 168, 186, 221, 223, 277,
296-
297;
first
47,
39,
wounded
arrive
196-197; evacuation
General Post
of,
at,
57,
291-295
Office, 151
George Town, 51-52 Germany, 8, 206, 243-244 Giang Bee, H.M.S., 211-212, 304306, 331; Scott's report of sinking of,
334
Gian Singh, food
Felix Roussel (Free French vessel), 158, 159-161
Glover, Jimmy,
Fifth column, 92-93, 145, 273
190;
127,
by Har-
orphans, 223-224; at internment
camp, 298-299, 300. See also Rationing Office, 118
Forbes, Dr. veterinarian, 209
Ford Motor
factory,
at,
Japanese head-
>
first
on confusion of communiques, 60; and Jones's dismissal, 88; and liquor ban, 176; ordered to leave, 209-210; after
V-E day, 335 Glover, Julienne,
11,
12,
17, 21, 97,
18,
13,
21,
37,
84,
179, 227, 237, 239, 254, 262;
surrender decided France, 56; collapse
evacuated, 158, 159, 170;
149;
is
after
V-E day, 335
Golf Club,
75,
216
Goodwood Park
267
Fort Canning, 141,
21,
148, 341; refuses evacuation, 118,
Food Production
quarters
17,
reactions, 48, 170; 103,
evacuated
for
14,
91.97' 10 3> ll8
149, 159, 161, 168, 171;
148,
179, 263, 294, 312; stored
bour Board,
11-12,
22, 41, 42, 43, 51,
Fiji Islands,
43 Flagstaff House, 65 Food, 9, 56, 86, 90-91,
store, 257-258, 339 Gibson, G. G., 307, 3o8n Gilmore, Mr., 57
at,
of,
262-263
36
Gort,
Field
Hotel, 102
Marshal
(John
S.
S.
Prendergast), viscount, 68n
Government House, 61,
70, 80, 86,
7,
18-19,
20,
191, 341; air raid
1
INDEX
35^
Government House cont'd: damage to, 97, 217; "business-asusual" attitude
evacuation
at,
144-145, 181;
232-233 Graham- White, Archdeacon, of,
97, 152,
Hay, Marjorie, x, 86-87, 280 Health authorities, 58 Heath, General
Sir Lewis, 59, 65
Henry, Jim, 47,
153, 154
High Command,
292-293 Graham- White, Mrs.,
death
97, 152;
Hoffman,
Leslie,
325;
323,
Hammonds, Barbara, 33, 56, 77 Hammonds, Frank, 115 Hammonds, George, x, 15, 16,
life,
17,
22, 24, 25, 37-38, 40, 46, 55, 90,
112,
161,
157,
169-
reactions to siege, 31-36,
48; describes Jones, 62; "business-
as-usual" attitude, 77-78, 146, 179— 180;
and private police
during
air
raids,
force, 91;
102;
99,
and
civilian evacuation, 113-114, 120-
121;
on evacuation
134-^35,
1
of naval base,
37~ 39>
on
"siege," 139;
word
and
1
lack of shelters,
156; and liquor ban, 176-177; ordered to leave, 209-210; present life,
47-48,
275;
213-215; obreaction
144;
and Changi,
tortured,
325;
to
314,
present
334
Holden, Corporal Bill, 242 Holland Park, 1 Hong Kong, 27-28, 127, 176, 276 Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, 55, 116
Hopkins, Dan, 40 Hopkins, Harry, 23 Hore-Belisha, Leslie, 68n
House of Commons, Hudson, Marjorie, 141-142,
148,
112 x,
154,
95-97,
117, re-
340-341;
fuses evacuation, 112-113, 118;
is
evacuated, 158-159, 197, 275; after
V-E day, 335-336 Hudson, Tim, x, 95-97,
100-102,
104, 112-113, 118, 143, 146, 148—
337~33 8
Hammonds, Karen,
15,
47> 5^, 77-78, 102, 148;
33,
40-41,
and
evac-
uation dilemma, 94-95, 112, 113117, 120
Happy World
210,
113,
looting,
cease-fire,
104,
31-32,
168-169, 170, 171, 340; stay-or-go decision, serves
first
x,
77-78, 99, 102, 117, 120, 146, 148,
Grenades, 148 Guard, Harold, 140-141
171;
British, 27-28, 167
Hiroshima, 330 Hitler, Adolf, 244
of, 320 Great World (dancehall), 55 Greener, Captain H. L., 321
93-94,
94, 98, 120,
(dancehall), 55
Harbour Board,
21, 175,
190-192
Harriman, Averell, 23 Havelock Road, 253; Market, 99 Hay, M. C., x, 86, 280-282
149,
157-161, 176, 182, 209, 339, his uncensored broad-
340-341;
dock during 154-157; bombings, 192-199; headquarters bombed, 219-222, 225-226; and cast,
Chinese offer 237;
notes
on
to
city's
buy rubber, 234humiliation,
preparations
for
217;
intern-
ment, 256-258; and news of cease-
INDEX Tim
Hudson.
Japan cont'd:
cont'd:
and
272-273, 275-280;
fire,
311,
first
288-290;
signs of defeat in city,
internment, 299,
357
322;
320,
V-E day, 335-
released, 332; after
ish evaluation of strength of,
war with China, strategy
206;
Hudsons
34n
(planes),
26, 31, 165, 205,
27-28,
of,
49-50;
toward,
policy
British
336
25-
31-32, 36, 38, 60-61, 66-67;
28,
32;
air
strength, 50, 74, 95, 130, 149, 163,
December penetration, 59-
Hurricane, British fighter, 38, 130,
170;
146, 208, 310 Hutchings, L. C, 259 Hutchings, Mrs. L. C, 279
60; troop strength, 130, 133, 165; artillery, 141, 163-164; spearhead
bombing
165-168;
attack,
of
docks, 192-193; surrender of, ru-
India, 43,
60,
radio contacts
244;
with, 323, 328 6,
Indians,
10,
5,
244 53, 63,
110,
169;
3rd Corps, 59; troops, 59, 89, 130, 138; 11th division, 131; assist in demolition, 175;
in,
29
Intelligence, see
Combined
i8gn,
180,
287;
297-301,
by,
Changi
strength,
242-243,
perpe-
325-3 2 9
Kempetei); ammunition enter
250;
288n;
casualties,
Singapore, raid
on
Changi, 324-325 Java,
Java
Marshal
W.
Ed-
mund, 68n Ismay, General Sir Hastings, 106
36
302
4, 50, 244,
Jitra,
Sea, 307
60
Johns, Colin, 255, 274 Johore, 34, 60, 65, 67, 70, 71, 90, 141, 240; Sultan of, 20, 71, 165, 203, 240, 281; Japanese advance, 75, 89-91,
82-84; Jackson, Lily, 147, 339
Japan,
130;
atrocities
^5>
Javanese, 10
Ipoh, 59 Field
1
33>
(see also
of patients, 314-316; torture, 325-
Ironside,
2
shortage,
320, 330-331; inequities in, 309;
Italy,
S°>
Intelli-
International law, 298
329. See also
(18th) Division, 130, 161,
5th division,
trated
gence Bureau
264, 287
Thrust,
themum 237; 1
Indomitable, British carrier, 33
Command,
The, Australian official war history, i2gn, i37n Japanese troops, 205, 268-269; Imperial Guards, 130, 201; Chrysan-
213
flee city,
Indochina, Japanese airfields
Internment,
Japanese High Japanese
Indian Ocean, 4,
mored, 330 Japanese, in Singapore, 22, 147
9,
10,
12,
33,
Harbor
of,
53,
91,
126;
attack, 23; Brit-
105-106,
107,
Japanese airbases in, 142, 163; Japanese gun emplacements 110;
attacks Malaya, 21-22, 24-25, 2627; Pearl
lack of defenses,
103;
battle
in,
144
Johore Bahru, 103
INDEX
358 Johore
105-
Straits, 4, 9, 25, 66, 83,
106, 126-128, 130, 162, 200, 201
Jones, Stanley, 61-62, 63, 70-71, 80, 82, 263-264, 280; dismissal of,
86-
Jurong
Line,
ment
of,
shortage
142;
for
civilian air raid shelters, 157.
See
138;
137,
200-203;
abandon-
From Singapore (Dona-
hue), 2o8n
Leasor, James, ix-x
204
Jurong River,
of,
also Coolies
Last Flight
98-99
88,
Labor cont'd:
Liquor, ban
200
131,
of, 176, 182,
301
Local Defence Volunteers, 187 Looting, 144, 253, 289
Kallang
Luzon, 205
Airfield, 22, 27, 201, 207
Kallang Bridge, 313 Kampong Bahru Road, 194 Katong, 298, 300, 318 Kedah, 20 Kelantan, 20, 59 Kelly
and Walsh
McAlister's (import firm), 143, 273
McConechy, F. M. G., 229-230 MacGregor, Dr. R. B., 187-188, 190
(booksellers),
7,
147, 180, 257, 339
91,
Kempetei, Japanese equivalent to
MacKenzie, Alastair, 292-293 Macpherson Road, 79 McRitchie reservoir, 248
Gestapo, 323-324; raid on Changi,
Main Wharf,
324-325; and torture of prisoners,
Malacca,
325-329 Kenny, Irene, 149, 171 Keppel Harbour, 3, 159, 193, 338 Keppel Road, 100, 194, 234, 277 Kitching, Brian, 300 Kitching,
103-104,
T.
C.
143,
290-291, 299; death, 320
Kota Bahru, in
18,
27,
of,
Kuala Lumpur,
306-307 280
111;
ended,
naval
composition
first
of,
independ-
postwar
ence, 338
l 55>
54>
J
57> 173; staff
116,
evacuated,
211, 212
Tribune,
31,
46,
George
47,
11-12, 169,
Town
13,
170,
edition,
advertisements
103; bombed, 149 Malaya War Fund, 212 Malayan Civil Service,
base,
of,
10;
20;
of,
51-52; battle
in,
126;
of,
Malaya Broadcasting Company,
234;
49, 59
at
55-56; economic
Unfederated States
bizarre
Labor, 58, 67, 71, 74, 77, 120, 191; pools organized, 81; conscription
demanded,
36;
3,
Federated States
19-20;
22,
20, 117,
Kuantan (township),
in,
Malaya
49
Kranji River, 200-201
Kuala, sinking
10, 27, 50,
effort
1
25-26, 28, 29;
20,
enemy hands,
119 281
terror raid
(Tommy), x, 88, 151, 300; on con-
fusion in orders, 254; "internment kit,"
Malaya,
19,
72, 82;
businessmen, 80-81; and
88-89
Malay Peninsula,
25,
50
in,
21,
209, 51;
102-
and
services,
INDEX Malays,
4, 6, 10, 21, 53, 63, 110, 169,
178, 211; troops, 130; 1st Brigade,
-^7-238, 241
359
Morrison, Ian, 178,
331;
129,
146,
139,
tion, 138
Malcolm Road, 100
Moscow,
Malta, 127, 155 Maltby, Air Vice-Marshal Paul
Mount Pleasant, 100, 300 Muar River, battle of, 89, 90 Munich agreements, 8, 10
C,
28
Manpower Bureau, 94 Marsha, Chinese amah, Maiy Rose,
39, 154 diesel-engined vessel,
261,309 see Medical Auxiliary Service
16,
127
Municipal Council, 228 Municipal Veterinary Surgeon, 312
MAS,
Nakani, Lieutenant, 311-312
Masefield, Jack, 59 Maxwell, Brigadier, Australian com-
Narkunda
mander, 202, 203 Maynard's the chemist,
42,
7,
147,
Medical Auxiliary Service 95,
188,
187,
223,
(MAS),
233,
247,
293» 295
Mediterranean Sea, 36 Mei Ling, amah, 148, 158-159, 276, 277-278, 280, 332 Memorial Theatre, 340 Mersing, 89
Middlebrook,
S.
diseases) hos-
Mimatsu, Mr.,
10,
207 Newbiggin, Brigadier, 263-267 New Bridge Road, 22, 274
Monro, J. K., 225 Monsoons, 14, 25,
48, 49, 92,
157, 173, 181, 202;
117,
128,
131,
and naval base word
evacuation, 136; and use of 139; of troops,
143,
L.,
226—
232 passim, 306-307, 323; death of,
308 L.,
307-308, 3o8n
119,
125
Morale, 52, 67, 84,
102
Africa, 16, 55, 238
Nunn, Mrs. R.
closed, 210
218, 238;
Circus, 264
New World (dancehall), New Zealand, 43, 244
Nunn, Group-Captain R.
22
Ministry of Economic Warfare, 43 Ministry of Information, 43, 140;
322
38, 48, 128, 261;
Nehru, Jawaharlal, 219 Netherlands East Indies, 109, 213, 244; RAF aircraft withdrawn to,
North
pital, 186
207,
95
Negri Sembilan, 20
Newton
M., 228, 230
Middleton (infectious
"siege,"
(ship),
Nassim Hill, 255 Nassim Road, 311 Naval base, 35, 37,
evacuated, 134-139
257' 339
39,
169,
on naval base evacua-
147,
of internees, 320,
Observer Corps, 143; disbanded, 273 Orchard Road, 6, 21, 24, 95-96, 142, 143,
180,
210,
237,
311,
bombed, 179 Osborn,
Sybil, 292-293 Osprey, launch, 260-261
Outram Road,
197; Jail, 255
341;
INDEX
3 6°
Owler, Stewart, 175
Persian Gulf, 244
Ozawa, Admiral, 302-303
Petrie, Elizabeth, 189
Philippine Islands, 205, 246 Phillips,
P and O,
112,
114-115, 116,
113,
Admiral
Pompong
Sir
Port Arthur, battle
119, 120, 149, 158, 159, 160
Tom, 48-49
Island, 307 of,
25
Pahang, 20
Port Darwin, 244 Port Dickson, 59
Parkinson, Captain, 242
Pownall, General Henry, 64
Pasir Panjang, 237, 241
Pretty,
Page, SirEarle, 109
Paterson, Mr., 5?
Eric,
bank
destroys
104;
notes, 177
Patterson, Jim, 153 Pavilion Cinema, 127
Prince of Wales, HMS, 9, 32, 33, 53; sinking of, 47, 48-49, 311
Pearl Harbor, 23, 24, 27-28
Prisoners of war, 288n, 290. See also
Pegu Road, 186
Internment
Penang,
19, 51-53, 172; evacuation of Europeans from, 52; Japanese
Province Wellesley,
occupation
Public
of,
60-61, 181
Perak, 20, 59 168,
172,
241,
18,
13,
262,
249,
3o8n, 341; and morale, 52, 67, 84, 128, 131; and defense preparations, 64-67, 72, 83, 108-110,
127-
128, 132; described, 129; troops of
his
command,
Works Department,
evacuation,
Pulau Bukum, 261 Pulau Ubin, island, 132 Pulford, Air Vice-Marshal C.
death, 303
and naval scorched
evacuation of nurses,
Raffles, Sir
147;
137;
lack of deter-
188,
187,
189-190; and defense of Jurong
Line, 201; defense plan for
city,
201-203; secret retreat plan, 206207;
on
and
capitulation,
lack of air support, 216; 239,
245,
provisions for
staff
250, es-
cape, 259-260, 269-270, 271; ceasefire
H.,
Pulo Saigon Bridge, 252-253, 339
rent action, 162-164, 167-168; and
267-269;
W.
20, 28, 227, 231-232; evacuation,
Radcliffe, Dr., dentist, 256 Raeder, Admiral Erich, 244 RAF, see Royal Air Force
earth policy,
175-176,
130; defense strat-
egy, 130-134, 199-200;
base
59
192; evacuated, 226-232
Percival, General A. E., x, 20, 82,
19,
Public services, 172-173
suggestion, 266, 267;
intern-
ment, 330-331; death (1966), 337 Perlis, 20
Thomas
Stamford, 8-9,
90 Raffles College, 92 Raffles Hotel,
6,
10, 40, 47, 56,
77-
78, 98, 340; defense preparations,
75;
during
Raffles Place,
siege, 147 7,
22, 24, 39, 75,
*79> 278,
147,
339 Railway, on Singapore Island, 3-4
Ramsey, Dr. Neil, 225 Rangoon, 108, 244
INDEX Rationing, 56, 73, 127
Red
Sawmills, 194-195
Cross, 145
Repulse, of, 47,
HMS,
53; sinking
9, 32, 33,
48-49, 311
Scott, Sir Robert, ix,
River Valley Road, 93, 289 Robinson's (department store),
7,
278-280,
259,
339;
defense
76;
increased sales
siege, 147;
and liquor ban,
preparations,
Board, 191 Rogers, Lieutenant, 241
Rooseboome, Roosevelt,
0-2
SS,
Bee, 304-305;
concept, 36-37; after
and George
50,
130;
51;
losses,
207-208;
D.,
9,
34;
25,
28;
defense attack,
first
Town
raid,
forces
with-
nese hands, 307
da Y> 33 1 "332; present
Corps,
14, 95,
208,
298-299;
ment
site,
and scorched earth
policy, 173
Russia, 55, 110, 205, 206, 238; Czar-
12,
13,
15, 56,
Siam,
318
3, 7, 11, 25,
42
Siglap (village), 253-254; Japanese
camp
316
at,
Simonstown, 244 Simson, Brigadier Ivan,
ix,
5,
16,
169-170; as first-aid post, 183
Michael's Road, 148
San Remo, 313, 317
161,
12-13,
132-133; and de-
88,
fense works, 65-67, 108, 129, 157;
defense post, 69-70, 71, 72,
and Duff Cooper, 81and coolie pay controversy, 111; and scorched earth policy, 171-177; and evacuation of Harbour Board, 190-191; and PWD evacuation, 227-231; and water 79-81, 83;
82;
render
St.
198,
Shells, 195-196, 201
shortage,
25
Andrew's Cathedral,
334
temporary intern-
escape provi-
248-249;
sions, 259-260, 269-270;
St.
V-E
Serangoon, 148, 214, 275, 313
civil
Roval Australian Air Force, 29 Royal Engineers, 132-133, 191, 249 Rubber, 3, 36, 58, 63, 74; in enemy 61;
life,
Searchlights, 165-166
60, 68, 74,
242, 243, 292
hands,
324-
Shark (plane), 34n
drawn, 208; personnel in Japa-
Army Medical
internment,
325; tortured, 326-329; after
Seletar airfield, 29
307-308 Franklin
President
operational aircraft,
city,
aboard the Giang
212;
11,
Selangor, 20
23.83 Royal Air Force (RAF),
ist,
1
Seaview Hotel,
177
Rodgers, Mr., chairman of Harbour
Royal
2
140-141, 149,
ordered to leave
178;
171,
21, 22, 39-40, 57, 91-92, 142, 146,
during
171-178, 229, 269; Japanese
incredulity at failure of, 290
Reuters, 12
79'
Sawyers, Churchill's valet, 23 Scorched earth policy, 52, 61, 137, 145,
Retz, Freddy, see Bloom, Freddy
J
361
decision,
atrocities,
Singapore
life,
(city),
and
sur-
witnesses
internment, 330-
289;
331; present
263;
333
19,
27,
168,
225-
226, 244; described, 3-8; defense
2
INDEX
362 Singapore
Singapore Island cont'd:
cont'd:
(city)
preparations, 9-11, 29-30, 33-34*
of..
36, 57, 65, 82-84; air raids, 21-22,
126;
109;
causeway breached, 125-
geography,
population, de-
28-29, 65, 73-74, 7 6 7 8 87, 95100, 113, 114, 118, 120-121, 250;
scribed, 128; defense strategy, 130-
General Headquarters,
total
>
>
"business-as-usual"
55~5 6
4*>
180;
>
effect
24, 37, 50;
40-
attitude,
75-/8,
79,
179-
104,
of disaster in, 48-54,
90-92; under martial law, 92—93; civilian evacuation, 94-95, 112121; Churchill's order for defense
107-108; lack of leadership
of,
110-111, 126,
162;
145,
134,
daily
139;
in,
begun,
siege
bombing,
141-142; shelter policy, reversed,
156-157; for,
plan
Percival's defense
Japanese landing, confusion,
postwar independence,
215-216;
838 Singapore 142, 194,
Railway Station,
Singapore River,
humiliation
in,
247-248;
fire
haz-
ards, 250-253; reactions to ceasefire in,
271-275; Japanese version
of
275; siege ended, 282-283;
fall,
Japanese entry, 287-291; escape attempts, 300-309; postwar sameness of, 338-342
John
Singora, Siam. 27-28, 287
of,
see
Wilson,
Singapore Asylum, 292, 295; nurses at, 314 Singapore Club.. 142, 233, 249, 298;
receives wounded, 292-295 Singapore Flying Club, 34
137,
71,
119;
227,
J.,
136-
231; official evacuation
ships, 303
Stamford Road, 41 Steele,
Captain, senior Press Officer,
Stevens Road, 158, 161, 267, 275, 340
off
the Air
Budget, 72
Straits Settlement, 19
Straits
Times,
22, 70, 118,
156, 334;
on country's false security, 77; as a government printing office, 2 Sturdee, General Vernon A. H., 308 1
(Giles
Suicide, 255; at Changi, 325
i55n
Singapore Island.
340
Spooner, Rear Admiral E.
Straits
Playfair),
157,
Spice Islands, 4
L.
Singapore Goes
252,
109-1 10
Bishop
Singapore,
251,
(Tsuji), 250 Singapore Yacht Club, 302
Smiley, Captain, 242
of
248,
4,
339 Singapore Telephone Company, 42 Singapore: The Japanese Version
South Bridge Road,
sense
57,
4,
310
262-263;
244-246,
161-168;
battle lost,
199;
201-204; surrender decision,
241,
70,
131;
25. 32-33, 34, 50,
British garrison,
10,
Sumatra, 244, 281, 301, 302-303, 305, 307
33, 131; naval defense, 35-36, 65,
Sumida, Lieutenant-Colonel, 332
128; defensibility questioned, 105-
Sunda Strait, 15a Supreme Court, building,
106; Churchill's plan for, 107-108, 128; Australian fear of evacuation
169,
340
5,
77, 99,
INDEX Swimming Club,
9,
14,
57, 75, 92,
Tamils,
3, 10, 21,
340
249; surrender decision, 262-263, 15,
39, 56,
264; internment, 298, 299; death
area, 74,
Thomas, Lady (Lucy Marguerita),
17,
301
O962), 337
Tanglin Road, residential
ix,
77.81
Tanjong Tanjong Tanjong Tanjong Tanks,
Malim, 59
320-321,337
Murai, 165 60-61, 130, 205 Hospital, 185-186,
222; evacuation ordered, 223
J.,
x
Taylor, Brigadier, Australian com-
mander, 200, 203 Telok, 59
232-233, ordeal,
and scorched earth policy, 173 Tiong Bahru, Chinatown, 100, 192, 193, 196; bombed, 219-222 Torture, 325-329 Trengganu, 20 Tsuji, Colonel Masanobu,
250, 275,
290
Telok Ayer
Tyersall Indian Hospital, 184-185
basin, 227, 231
airfield,
34,
199-200,
167,
Tyersall Road, 125
Typhus,
201
Thomas,
207,
Thorneycroft's (shipyard), 175 Times, The (London), 129, 169, 331 Tin, 3, 36, 58; in enemy hands, 61;
Rhu, 175
Tapah, 59 Tawney, John
181,
and internment
282, 341;
13, 38,
Tengah
144-145,
Buloh, 165
Tan Tock Seng
Sir
Shenton W.,
ix,
popularity
of,
249
134,
282-283, 290-291, 341; labor problems, 58; and evacuees, 261,
62;
75,
18-20,
28, 45-46, 53, 68, 69, 70-72,
63;
and
and Jones's and martial law, 92-93; inspects bomb damage, 98; civil
Times, 212; and shelling
of
46, 74, 77,
Tanglin Circus, 255 Tanglin Club, 8, 9,
Shenton W. cont'd:
Sir
Government House, 217-218; and Nunn, 226-227; and evacuation of Government House, 232an d water shortage, 2 33> 2 34'
Swordfish (plane), $4n
59,
Thomas, Straits
146
168,
363
United
States, 23, 24, 53, 244, 291;
and Wavell's appointment,
83,
84-85
defense, 79-81;
dismissal, 87-88;
"shoulder-to-shoulder" 110;
"business-as-usual"
broadcast, attitude,
V-E day, 330 Victoria Memorial Hall, wounded, 292
21; receives
icy,
and scorched earch pol171-174; and evacuation of nurses, 187-188, 189-190; and Harbour Board evacuation, 190-
Victoria Theatre, 183, 214 Volunteer Defence Corp, 149
191; Wavell's visit, 207; publishes
Wade, George, 275
144, 181;
INDEX
364
Wee- Wee, Chinese
Wakefield (troopship), 121
War
The,
Against Japan,
official
on civil on Australian troop reinforcements, 130; on evacuation of naval base, 137; on lack history, 3611, 38, 50, 129;
defense, 72n;
of artillery
in
fire
first
attack, 164;
on unimpiemented scorched earth policy, 174; on loss of opportunity to counter-attack, 200, 201; on abandonment of Jurong Line, 204; on numbers of deserters, 218
War
Council, 43, 44, 45, 46, 68-70,
140, 149; inter-service rivalry,
35-
and evacuation quesand coolie pay contro-
36, 37, 61; tion,
62;
versy, 111
Ward, Colonel, 38
War In Malaya, The War Office, 12 Water,
(Percival),
2i6n
127, 198, 225, 248-250, 263,
294; at Changi, 323, 326
Watt, Dr.
W. McGregor
(Willie), ix,
x, 143-144, 182; reaction to ceasefire,
273-274;
tries
on
108,
110,
217,
307,
321;
Island's defensibility, 105-107;
defense suggestions, 128-129, 1311
S2
>
1
33»
policy,
1
S4>
145;
an d scorched earth
final visit to Island,
199, 204-207;
and capitulation
cision,
245-246,
239,
Whitehall, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 45, 63,
64,
136,
137,
245; and and defense
232,
coolie labor, 58, 111;
costs, 67; and Duff Cooper, 85-86; and Jones's recall, 86-88; and Harbour Board evacuation, 191 Whitley Road, 100
Wildebeeste (plane), 34 Williams,
Dr.
Cicely,
x,
185-186,
222-224, 254-255, 330, 339; and news of cease-fire, 271-272; relin-
quishes children to natives, 295296; interned, 318, 322, 325-326; present life, 336 Wilson, John Leonard, Bishop of Singapore, 145, 180, 223, 253-254, 274, 318
Winant, John, 23 Woodleigh pumping
station,
248-
249
Yamaguchi, Lieutenant, 321 Yamashita, General Tomoyuki,
life,
337 Wavell, General Sir Archibald, 27n, 83-84,
Weston, Lieutenant, 242 West Point (troopship), 121
to surrender,
312-314; escapes execution, 316318; present
tea boy, 193-194,
219; death of, 221-222
250,
130;
command
site,
ceives British surrender, 216-217, 264,
YMCA
266-269
(Young Men's Christian As-
sociation), 143
Yoch Eng:
school, 22; aid post, 180,
253
de-
262-
263; receives surrender signal, 269
27,
165, 203; re-
Zero (Japanese plane),
38, 118
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