The fall of Singapore in February 1942 stands as one of the greatest military disasters in British imperial history. In this compelling account, General H. Gordon Bennett examines the dramatic campaign from the perspective of a commander who witnessed its collapse firsthand. Analysing the events that led to the surrender, he explores the factors behind the defeat, including shortcomings in leadership, inadequate preparation and equipment, insufficient training for jungle warfare, and the critical absence of air and naval support.

More than a narrative of military failure, the book offers a searching assessment of strategy, command, morale, and battlefield decision-making. Written by a key participant in the campaign, it remains an important contribution to the study of one of the Second World War’s most consequential defeats.

The moral strength of the fighting soldier and the spirit to stand up in the face of the enemy despite the threat to one’s life is what makes a soldier. This book discusses the tenets of such willpower and how to fight fear.