The Long Road to Changi

The Long Road to Changi PDF Author: Peter Ewer
Publisher: HarperCollins Australia
ISBN: 1743096100
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 413

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Book Description
How flawed planning, dysfunctional personalities and empirical arrogance took Australia down the long road to Changi. In the 1930s while war raged in Europe, Australians were assured by politicians that the country was safe as long as the Union Jack fluttered over 'Fortress Singapore'. the reality was so different: Britain, over-stretched and under threat, skimped on the forces it needed to hold the base. When Japanese forces began flexing their muscles in the Pacific, a hasty defence plan was put in place. Australian troops, aircrews and sailors were dispatched to Singapore as much for purposes of propaganda as anything else. the understanding was that bronzed Aussies would soon put the Japs in their place. But it was so much wishful thinking. While most books centre on the horrors of the death camps, historian Peter Ewer asks how we came to be in this mess in the first place. Why was an untested Australian military contingent expected to play a leading role in halting the cream of the Japanese army? Why did British commanders and politicians send them there - then blame them for the inevitable defeat? Could this disaster have been averted? Drawing on fresh archival research, Ewer uncovers a story of incompetent planning, powerful but flawed characters and national trauma which resonates to this day. Writing from the perspectives of foot soldiers and generals, politicians and socialites, he constructs a riveting picture of a war which was lost before it began.

The Long Road to Changi

The Long Road to Changi PDF Author: Peter Ewer
Publisher: HarperCollins Australia
ISBN: 1743096100
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 413

Get Book Here

Book Description
How flawed planning, dysfunctional personalities and empirical arrogance took Australia down the long road to Changi. In the 1930s while war raged in Europe, Australians were assured by politicians that the country was safe as long as the Union Jack fluttered over 'Fortress Singapore'. the reality was so different: Britain, over-stretched and under threat, skimped on the forces it needed to hold the base. When Japanese forces began flexing their muscles in the Pacific, a hasty defence plan was put in place. Australian troops, aircrews and sailors were dispatched to Singapore as much for purposes of propaganda as anything else. the understanding was that bronzed Aussies would soon put the Japs in their place. But it was so much wishful thinking. While most books centre on the horrors of the death camps, historian Peter Ewer asks how we came to be in this mess in the first place. Why was an untested Australian military contingent expected to play a leading role in halting the cream of the Japanese army? Why did British commanders and politicians send them there - then blame them for the inevitable defeat? Could this disaster have been averted? Drawing on fresh archival research, Ewer uncovers a story of incompetent planning, powerful but flawed characters and national trauma which resonates to this day. Writing from the perspectives of foot soldiers and generals, politicians and socialites, he constructs a riveting picture of a war which was lost before it began.

Singapore Street Names (4th edition): A Study of Toponymics

Singapore Street Names (4th edition): A Study of Toponymics PDF Author: Victor R. Savage
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish International Asia Pte Ltd
ISBN: 9815009230
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 1180

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Book Description
Place names tell us much about a country — its history, its landscape, its people, its aspirations, its self-image, The study of place names called toponymics unlocks the stories that are in every street name and landmark. In Singapore, the existence of various races, cultures and languages, as well as its history of colonization, immigration and nationalism has given rise to a complex history of place names. But how did these places get their names? This revised and expanded 4th edition of the book incorporates additional information, from archival research as well as interviews that have come to light since the last edition. Also included are many new entries that have presented themselves as Singapore’s built environment undergoes redevelopment. Expanded by over 100 pages.

Long Way Back to the River Kwai

Long Way Back to the River Kwai PDF Author: Loet Velmans
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing Inc.
ISBN: 161145185X
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 114

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Book Description
The astounding memoir of a World War II veteran who spent three and a half years in the slave labor camps made famous by The Bridge on the River Kwai.

The Changi Book

The Changi Book PDF Author: Lachlan Grant
Publisher: NewSouth
ISBN: 1742247377
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 352

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Book Description
The story of Changi, told by those who lived through it. In the tradition of The Anzac Book comes this fascinating collection of accounts of life in the notorious Changi prison camp. Changi is synonymous with suffering, hardship and the Australian prisoner-of-war experience in WWII. It is also a story of ingenuity, resourcefulness and survival. Containing essays, cartoons, paintings, and photographs created by prisoners of war, The Changi Book provides a unique view of the camp: life-saving medical innovation, machinery and tools created from spare parts and scrap, black-market dealings, sport and gambling, theatre productions, and the creation of a library and university. Seventy years after its planned publication, material for The Changi Book was rediscovered in the Australian War Memorial archives. It appears here for the first time along with insights from the Memorial’s experts. ‘A moving insiders’ account of life in Changi.’ —Peter FitzSimons ‘A fresh perspective on Changi: illuminating stories from the inside.’ —Les Carlyon

Seaports of the Far East

Seaports of the Far East PDF Author: Allister Macmillan
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : East Asia
Languages : en
Pages : 544

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Book Description


Southeast Asia Cruising Guide

Southeast Asia Cruising Guide PDF Author: Elaine Morgan
Publisher: Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson Ltd
ISBN: 1846238994
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
The only guide to Southeast Asia that covers the entire length and breadth of a region frequently visited by round-the-world sailors, many of whom leave Australia to head west. This 2008 edition concentrates on the most frequented routes and includes the most popular stops. There are hundreds of possible anchorages, the most popular of which are usefully summarised in tables. Introductory sections cover planning and the last part of the book deals with more general topics including advice on provisioning and the problems that are often faced by cruisers.Stephen Morgan and Elaine Davies first arrived in the region over 30 years ago. They work in Hong Kong- Stephen Davies as Director of the Hong Kong Maritime Museum and Elaine Morgan as a writer and editor.While this pilot is aimed at yachtsmen and indeed was surveyed from the Davies/Morgan yacht, it is just as relevant to the commercial or military mariner.The part of the world described in this work is one of the most interesting on our planet. Culturally, scenically, climatically and commercially- it has everything. This excellent book - now in its second edition, describes it all very enticingly.Set to the usual high standard of the Imray pilots that precede it, this one is spiced up by the wit and anecdotes the authors are so good at.

A Long Way from Home

A Long Way from Home PDF Author: Nigel Springthorpe
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1780881002
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 353

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Book Description
The year is 1955. A time when international travel is reserved for the privileged few, Andy Marshall, an 18 year old National Service conscript from Plymouth, finds himself posted to the other side of the world. Soon after his arrival at RAF Changi, Singapore, he is sent on detached duty to a staging post on a remote island in the South China Sea, close to the mainland of Borneo.His nine month tour of duty there is filled with a succession of bizarre experiences as he attempts to adjust to living and working with the 30-strong complement of Airmen, led by an eccentric Station Commander. Andy returns to Changi where his unusual exploits, both on and off duty, continue unabated. Throughout his service in the Far East, he is left to reflect on the wisdom of a last-minute marriage proposal prior to his departure from England.His two years of service for Queen and Country completed, he returns home to re-adjust to civilian life, only to discover the lengthy period of separation from his fiancée has had a profound effect on their relationship. Meanwhile, his thoughts are filled with memories of the his time overseas, particularly the camaraderie amongst his fellow men. A re-union of former colleagues takes place but with surprising consequences...A Long Way from Home is a work of fiction inspired by the author’s personal experiences. It paints a wickedly humorous and perceptive picture from an era when National Service was accepted almost without question. Given the continuing debate of the desirability of re-introducing some form of compulsory military service, this novel throws a light on how, over half a century ago, one young man coped a long way from home.

Changi, the Lost Years

Changi, the Lost Years PDF Author: T. P. M. Lewis
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Malaya
Languages : en
Pages : 344

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Book Description


Xianqui

Xianqui PDF Author: Raghu Srinivasan
Publisher: Hachette India
ISBN: 9389253675
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 351

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Book Description
Year: 2019. The world is falling apart. The temperamental President of the United States of America, facing a tough re-election and playing to populist voter sentiment, has imposed trade sanctions on a belligerent China. Meanwhile, Chinese citizens, reeling from a disastrous economic meltdown, have taken to the streets in revolt. Staring at the bleak prospect of being ousted from power after 60 years of iron rule in the wake of threats both external and internal, the leaders of the Communist Party in China initiate military action, drawing its rival superpowers Japan and the United States into a conflict that portends an all-out nuclear war. As nations across the globe switch to emergency mode, Japanese intelligence reveals that China’s aggression could have been fuelled by a singular circumstance: the development of a vaccine based on ancient tribal knowledge that could tilt military balance in its favour. But what is this secret weapon China possesses and how can it be stopped? The fate of the world now rests on the success of a quest undertaken by an eclectic team – a Japanese policewoman, an Indian ethnologist and a young Indian mountain guide, assisted in part by a devious Russian geologist – to unravel the only clue they have at hand, buried in a fable from a time long past, when the magic of the shamans guided the rulers of Tibet. Will they succeed? Or will the Chinese foil their attempts and trigger the ultimate, apocalyptic war?

Singapore Cinema

Singapore Cinema PDF Author: Kai Khiun Liew
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317407474
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 269

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Book Description
This book outlines and discusses the very wide range of cinema which is to be found in Singapore. Although Singapore cinema is a relatively small industry, and relatively new, it has nevertheless made an impact, and continues to develop in interesting ways. The book shows that although Singapore cinema is often seen as part of diasporic Chinese cinema, it is in fact much more than this, with strong connections to Malay cinema and the cinemas of other Southeast Asian nations. Moreover, the themes and subjects covered by Singapore cinema are very wide, ranging from conformity to the regime and Singapore’s national outlook, with undesirable subjects overlooked or erased, to the sympathetic depiction of minorities and an outlook which is at odds with the official outlook. The book will be useful to readers coming new to the subject and wanting a concise overview, while at the same time the book puts forward many new research findings and much new thinking.