Between Two Oceans : A Military History of Singapore From 1275 to 1971

Many books have been written about Singapore's much vaunted position as a crucial maritime centre along the East-West trading route, but one aspect of its history—the military perspective—has, for the most part, escaped serious scholarly attention. Between Two Oceans plugs this historical gap. Drawing on an impressive range of archaeological and historical sources gleaned from research and documents in Britain, India, Singapore, United States and Australia, the book traces the geo-strategic development of Singapore from its first settlement in the thirteenth century through the turbulent phases of the Early Modern period to the dramatic military episodes of the twentieth century. In presenting a balanced view of this momentous story, the authors have sought to dispel many of the myths about Singapore's military history that have grown up in the past and are now assumed to be factually correct. Between Two Oceans breaks new ground in revealing the difference between fact and fiction in Singapore's fascinating military past. This updated edition contains new findings which have come to light since the publication of the last edition, giving an unprecedented breadth and depth of perspective to this historical account. Title Copyright Contents List of Maps and Illustrations Prologue Acknowledgment Notes on the Authors Chapter I: Geography and Traditional Warfare in Pre-British Southeast Asia: The Place of Singapore The Nature of Early Southeast Asian Warfare The Srivijayan Era, A.D. 100–1000 A New Phase: The Rise of Malayu-Jambi, 1025–1075 The Classical Singapore Phase, 1275–1400 The Melaka Phase, 1400–1511 The Johore–Riau Phase, 1511–1780 The Dutch-Bugis Phase, 1700–1819 Chapter II: Why the British Came to Singapore Crossroads of Empire: The Sea Route to China 1819 and Early Growing Pains Chapter III: From Fieldworks to Fort Canning, 1823–1866 Creating a Defended Port Threats, Forts and the Basis of Defence A First-class Field Fortification Chapter IV: Britannia Rules the Waves? Singapore and Imperial Defence, 1867–1891 Defending a Crown Colony Russians, Guns, Money, and Bureaucrats Chapter V: The Weakest Go to the Wall: From Money to Mutiny, 1892–1918 Paying for Defence: The Paper War The Great War and Singapore: Cruisers, Volunteers and Mutineers Chapter VI: A Keystone of Imperial Defence or a Millstone Around Britain’s Neck? Singapore 1919–1941 The Genesis of the “Singapore Strategy,” 1918–1929 Developments on the International Stage, 1929–1937 The Acid Test for the “Singapore Strategy” Chapter VII Too Little, Too Late: Preparing for War, 1941–1942 Strike South Disjointed Defence Chapter VIII: Bitter Harvest: The Defence and Fall of Singapore The Fall of Malaya The Naked Island The Fall of Singapore Chapter IX: Living under the Rising Sun: Singapore and the Japanese Occupation, 1942–1945 Coming to Terms with the Occupation: The View of the Local Singaporeans Life as a Prisoner of the Japanese Life as a Civilian Internee The Japanese Administration’s Role during the Occupation Singapore’s Military Significance Chapter X: Old Wine in a New Bottle: Singapore and British Defence Policy, 1945–1962 Return to Singapore British Defence Policy and the Role of Singapore The Growth and Use of the Base and its Impact on Singapore Chapter XI: End of Empire: From Union to Withdrawal From Union to Confrontation Withdrawal: End of an Era Appendices 1 Notes on the Forts of Nineteenth-century Singapore 2 Wartime Preparations to Defend Singapore Island 3 Controversies surrounding the Surrender of Singapore, February 1942 4 War Crimes Trials in Singapore, 1946–-1948 Glossary List of Abbreviations Notes to the Text Bibliography Index