Beyond the problem
of not having enough good supplies, the combined Royal troops were also a quite
divided lot. The Australians were close to home, yet their best soldiers had
been shipped overseas to fight the Nazis in North Africa. In fact, three out of
the four Australian Infantry Divisions were sent to Africa, leaving the fourth
best division back to defend Australia and the surrounding British territories.
Meanwhile, the British and Indians regiments were far from home with less at
stake, especially since they were in a constant state of
retreat. Only the Malayan soldiers fought for their homeland, but they were untrained until Percival arrived.
.
Also, an Australian Brigadier General by the name of Gordon
Bennett led the Australian troops while Percival led only the British, Indian,
and Malayan Brigades. He was considered a great strategist, but Bennett was a
hard-nosed warmonger who disapproved of Percival’s withdrawal towards
Singapore, even though this was the British battle plan from the start.
.
As
Yamashita and his troops swept through Malaya, British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill also disapproved of Percival and his supposed lack of leadership, “I
want to make it absolutely clear,” said Churchill, “I expect every inch of
ground to be defended…and no question of surrender to be entertained until
after protracted fighting in the ruins of Singapore City. The battle must be
fought to the bitter end at all costs. Commanders and senior officers must die
with their troops.”
.
After Churchill had berated Percival throughout December and
January, Percival resigned his post as Commander of Malayan Operations,
effectively handing it over to Bennett. Ironically, while Bennett fled back to
the safety of Australia, Percival remained in Singapore to fight the Yamashita
and the Japanese.
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