Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 23, 2009 11:19:11 GMT 12
Review:
LAST STAND IN SINGAPORE - The Story of 488 Squadron RNZAF
By Graham Clayton
I thought that I knew about No. 488 Squadron and its actions in Singapore. I have read about this squadron, the first ever RNZAF fighter squadron, over the years in various books, and I'd assumed that over time I'd built up some sort of understanding of what went on and what this squadron was all about.
However I have just read 'Last Stand in Singapore' by Graham Clayton (Random House, 2008, ISBN 978 1 86979 033 2) and my understanding, views and complete awareness of this squadron have all been enhanced dramatically. I am absolutely amazed by this story, before this I never really grasped the incredible hardships, the toil, the fear, the dedication, the willingness to fight despite lack of experience and lack of decent equipment - and dare I say it the very poor decision making and defensive planning by the British.
I had always respected the members of No. 488 Squadron for their efforts in the defence of Singapore, but my respect for those young men has now amplified enormously as I have gained a definite understanding of what they did.
Graham Clayton is the son of one of those men, Albert Lionel Mark Clayton, known as Bert, who was a Fitter IIA on the squadron. This book tell's Bert's story and also the story of all the other groundcrew members and the pilots, from the squadron's formation and somewhat adventurous posting to Singapore, and right through the arduous battle as Japan entered the war and enforced its onslaught upon the Malayan Peninsular, Singapore and then Java.
This is a day by day account of what occurred, based upon interviews with squadron members and others involved, the various diaries and writings by squadron members, official records and lots of research into the background of these battles. This must be without doubt the most comprehensive telling of the squadron's history.
However it's not written just a clinical 'official history' style publication. We get to know the characters of the squadron, they are real people rather than just statistics of an official-style telling. We get to enjoy the humorous moments and we are allowed to see the darker, fearful times in dramatic and realistic ways.
The more I have read about the fall of Singapore, and the more I have talked with veterans who were there at the time (and I have indeed talked with a few, none of which were actually on 488 Squadron though), the more I have realised that those three months of continous bombardment, of fateful decisions by higher commands, of losses upon losses, must have been a hell to endure.
The attack on Pearl Harbor has absolutely nothing on the Battle of Singapore, and pales in comparison in my opinion.
It is then very gratifying to read in this book of the heroism and dedication of the New Zealanders who carried on regardless while other squadrons were pulling out; who carried on not only keeping their own aircraft in the air but also those of other squadrons; who never shirked in their duty for one moment while around them massed units from Australia were deserting their posts and allowing the Japanese a free hand to over-run key points (something I'd never read before).
I had never realised too that the groundcrew of 488 were on the last large ship to leave Singapore before it fell, getting out by the skin of their teeth and regrouping with their aircrew in Java to fight again. I never realised any of them went on to fight in Java. I thought that was simply a step in their escape route.
The fall of Java is perhaps more shameful than Singapore. At least the British and Allies had fought to try to stem the Japanese tide in Singapore, but the way the Netherlands East Indies government and armed forces simply gave up and handed Java to the Japs is very difficult to believe as they had every chance of beating them off. Especially after the brave and valiant way the Dutch pilots had defended Singapore which wasn't even their territory.
There were many surpises in this book for me, and I learned a hell of a lot. I had no idea that the Vichy French had helped the Japs!
But for me it is the actual personal stories of the New Zealanders rather than the big picture of the battle that I find most fascinating. Their courage and determination is absolutely awe inspiring.
I am now finding it quite astounding how this story has never been fully told properly before, and that it has largely been brushed over by previous historians. I guess because it was something of a disgrace for the Empire to lose Singapore, regardless of the fact that not one of those brave kiwis disgraced themselves and they seem to have all put in a maximum effort where others were not. They also lost a number of members of their aircrew in the overwhelming odds, some of them becoming prisoners of the Japanese - and their fate is also covered in the book.
I want to add that this is a very nicely presented book, well laid out and easy to read. It has 284 pages within its soft covers, and illustrated with many unique photos, a lot of them from Bert Clayton's collection. He was a dedicated hobby photographer and thus was able to capture images all through the long months of the squadron's life in the Far East.
In the acknowledgements at the front Graham has written, "This book has been compiled by a very enthusiastic amateur," but in doing so he's recorded more than the professionals have managed to do so far about the heart and soul of this famous squadron. I am inspired to read more about the battle and about the squadron, and I am very pleased in the knowledge that Graham is also inspired enough to continue to write more, and he's now working on part two of the story of No. 488 (NZ) Squadron, the Night Fighter squadron in the UK and Europe. if you know of any members of that squadron still around please let me know and I'll pass on details to Graham to aid his research.
I highly recommend this book, I really do. I have found it difficult to put down, it's a gripping read. It is still available in shops and online so make sure you grab a copy now.
LAST STAND IN SINGAPORE - The Story of 488 Squadron RNZAF
By Graham Clayton
I thought that I knew about No. 488 Squadron and its actions in Singapore. I have read about this squadron, the first ever RNZAF fighter squadron, over the years in various books, and I'd assumed that over time I'd built up some sort of understanding of what went on and what this squadron was all about.
However I have just read 'Last Stand in Singapore' by Graham Clayton (Random House, 2008, ISBN 978 1 86979 033 2) and my understanding, views and complete awareness of this squadron have all been enhanced dramatically. I am absolutely amazed by this story, before this I never really grasped the incredible hardships, the toil, the fear, the dedication, the willingness to fight despite lack of experience and lack of decent equipment - and dare I say it the very poor decision making and defensive planning by the British.
I had always respected the members of No. 488 Squadron for their efforts in the defence of Singapore, but my respect for those young men has now amplified enormously as I have gained a definite understanding of what they did.
Graham Clayton is the son of one of those men, Albert Lionel Mark Clayton, known as Bert, who was a Fitter IIA on the squadron. This book tell's Bert's story and also the story of all the other groundcrew members and the pilots, from the squadron's formation and somewhat adventurous posting to Singapore, and right through the arduous battle as Japan entered the war and enforced its onslaught upon the Malayan Peninsular, Singapore and then Java.
This is a day by day account of what occurred, based upon interviews with squadron members and others involved, the various diaries and writings by squadron members, official records and lots of research into the background of these battles. This must be without doubt the most comprehensive telling of the squadron's history.
However it's not written just a clinical 'official history' style publication. We get to know the characters of the squadron, they are real people rather than just statistics of an official-style telling. We get to enjoy the humorous moments and we are allowed to see the darker, fearful times in dramatic and realistic ways.
The more I have read about the fall of Singapore, and the more I have talked with veterans who were there at the time (and I have indeed talked with a few, none of which were actually on 488 Squadron though), the more I have realised that those three months of continous bombardment, of fateful decisions by higher commands, of losses upon losses, must have been a hell to endure.
The attack on Pearl Harbor has absolutely nothing on the Battle of Singapore, and pales in comparison in my opinion.
It is then very gratifying to read in this book of the heroism and dedication of the New Zealanders who carried on regardless while other squadrons were pulling out; who carried on not only keeping their own aircraft in the air but also those of other squadrons; who never shirked in their duty for one moment while around them massed units from Australia were deserting their posts and allowing the Japanese a free hand to over-run key points (something I'd never read before).
I had never realised too that the groundcrew of 488 were on the last large ship to leave Singapore before it fell, getting out by the skin of their teeth and regrouping with their aircrew in Java to fight again. I never realised any of them went on to fight in Java. I thought that was simply a step in their escape route.
The fall of Java is perhaps more shameful than Singapore. At least the British and Allies had fought to try to stem the Japanese tide in Singapore, but the way the Netherlands East Indies government and armed forces simply gave up and handed Java to the Japs is very difficult to believe as they had every chance of beating them off. Especially after the brave and valiant way the Dutch pilots had defended Singapore which wasn't even their territory.
There were many surpises in this book for me, and I learned a hell of a lot. I had no idea that the Vichy French had helped the Japs!
But for me it is the actual personal stories of the New Zealanders rather than the big picture of the battle that I find most fascinating. Their courage and determination is absolutely awe inspiring.
I am now finding it quite astounding how this story has never been fully told properly before, and that it has largely been brushed over by previous historians. I guess because it was something of a disgrace for the Empire to lose Singapore, regardless of the fact that not one of those brave kiwis disgraced themselves and they seem to have all put in a maximum effort where others were not. They also lost a number of members of their aircrew in the overwhelming odds, some of them becoming prisoners of the Japanese - and their fate is also covered in the book.
I want to add that this is a very nicely presented book, well laid out and easy to read. It has 284 pages within its soft covers, and illustrated with many unique photos, a lot of them from Bert Clayton's collection. He was a dedicated hobby photographer and thus was able to capture images all through the long months of the squadron's life in the Far East.
In the acknowledgements at the front Graham has written, "This book has been compiled by a very enthusiastic amateur," but in doing so he's recorded more than the professionals have managed to do so far about the heart and soul of this famous squadron. I am inspired to read more about the battle and about the squadron, and I am very pleased in the knowledge that Graham is also inspired enough to continue to write more, and he's now working on part two of the story of No. 488 (NZ) Squadron, the Night Fighter squadron in the UK and Europe. if you know of any members of that squadron still around please let me know and I'll pass on details to Graham to aid his research.
I highly recommend this book, I really do. I have found it difficult to put down, it's a gripping read. It is still available in shops and online so make sure you grab a copy now.
