The Defence and Fall of Singapore 1940–1942 By Brian P. Farrell

‘Why do we need another book on this?’ asks Brian F rrell at the beginning of The Defence and Fall of Singapore 1940-1942. In the light of the extensive literature and the publication of three additional works on the subjec t, it is a pertinent question. By 1998 no less than 168 books had appeared in English on t e fall and occupation of Singapore. It is improbable that the official enquiry, which C hurchill promised but never instigated, would have stemmed this flow of publications, but, in its absence, the reasons for the loss of the so-called impregnable fortress became subjec t to special pleading and enveloped in myth, mystery and misinformation. While participan ts justified their actions or criticised those of others, until official papers were release d historians tended to focus on the interwar years during which the naval base was deve loped as a major component of imperial defence. When, however, British government files for 1941-42 were opened in 1993, the Malayan campaign came under renewed scrut iny.