WAR CABINET

OPERATIONS IN MALAYA AND SINGAPORE

_________________________

Note by the Secretary

By direction of the Prime Minister, the attached Report by General Wavell on Operations in Malaya and Singapore is circulated for information to Members of the War Cabinet.

E.E. Bridges.

Secretary of the War Cabinet

Great George Street, S.W.1

September 8, 1942

MALAYA AND SINGAPORE

REPORT DRAWN UP BY MAJOR H.P.THOMAS O.B.E., I.A.

This report is intended to give a general outline of the conditions under which the campaign was conducted, to clear up certain misconceptions, throw light on obscurities and so discourage ill-founded and superficial judgments on men and events.

The narrative is the result of the study of a number of written reports and recent interviews with over fifty officers, civil servants and private individuals of all classes and races, all of whom were present in malaya at the time. They include some with an unrivalled knowledge of the country and its people.

In the absence of official documents and the impossibilty of studying at leisure such papers as are available, no claim is made for meticulous accuracy in regard to such detail as is included; nor indeed is it likely that an exact and detailed account will ever be available owing to the destruction of official records prior to capitulation.

New Delhi, May 30, 1942.

 Introduction

 Outline of Operations on the Mainland

 General Considerations Affecting the Campaign

• Assesment of the Enemy
• Lack of Air Support
• propaganda
• Utilisation of Man Power
• Civilian Morale
• Fifth Column Activities
• Civil and Military Co-operation and Co-ordination

 Military Considerations

• Physical condition
• Morale
• Japanese Tactics
• Training
• Information

 Defences of Singapore Island

 Events on Singapore Island, 31st January - 15th February, 1942

 Conclusions

 Appendix A - Comments on Major-General Gordon Bennett´s report

 Appendix B - Criticisms

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