Churchill and the Lion City

Image Plates

68 Allen Packwood Plate 3.1 First Impressions: Churchill suggested the title “Shock at Singapore” for the first draft of the chapter in his memoirs, before being dissuaded. Churchill Comes to Terms with the Fall of Singapore? 69 Plate 3.2 Margin Notes: A defensive Churchill amended a first draft, to present a more defiant justification of his grand strategy regarding the Far East. 70 Allen Packwood Plate 3.3 Sight Unseen: Photo of the Istana lawn in Singapore, 1894, acquired by Lord Randolph and Lady Churchill, Winston Churchill’s parents. Churchill Comes to Terms with the Fall of Singapore? 71 Plate 3.4 The Exotic East: Photo of striking tropical tree at the Istana Lawn in Singapore, 1894, acquired by Lord Randolph and Lady Churchill. 72 Allen Packwood Plate 3.5 Imperial Defence: A newspaper column published by Churchill on 24 March 1934, stressing the importance of Singapore to British defence strategy. Churchill Comes to Terms with the Fall of Singapore? 73 Plate 3.6 Under Pressure: Briefing notes arising from the tough House of Commons discussion as enemy forces closed on Singapore, 27 January 1942. 74 Allen Packwood Plate 3.7 Family Feud: A Churchill memo regarding how to describe the fall of Singapore in his memoirs, urging his assistants to steer clear of Australian recriminations. Churchill Comes to Terms with the Fall of Singapore? 75 Plate 3.8 Pride and Prejudice: A telegram from Churchill to Wavell demanding fight to the death in Singapore to preserve imperial honour, 10 February 1942. Southeast Asia in late 1940. The British Empire is shaded dark brown; Netherlands East Indies: tan; French colonial territory: purple; Portuguese colonial territory: blue; USA: green; Japanese occupied territory: hatched red. Malaya: Topography and land use, 1941. Malaya: Location of British Empire forces, 8 December 1941. Singapore Island: British Empire defences. As part of the Japanese deception plan, a small party occupied Pulau Ubin on the night of 7/8 Feb. During the night of 7/8 Feb a reconnaissance party of 30 Japanese was killed near a small island just west of the Causeway. Two patrols from 22nd Aus Bde reconnoitred the coast between Sungei Malayu and Sungei Pendas and brought back information about large concentrations and much movement of Japanese in this area on the night of 7/8 Feb. Singapore Island: Situation at time of capitulation, 15 February 1942. ...