Letter: War of words

THE sinking of The Merchantman (Letters, 8 March), which carried the documents stating that Singapore was undefendable was the subject of a TV documentary some years ago. Those of us who were captured in Singapore viewed the programme with bewilderment. Particularly so, because our GOC had been blamed for, apparently, being unable to defend the undefendable.

It was an irony that the General, as a Staff Officer, had predicted in his recommendations for the defence of Malaya, from where an attack would come, as indeed it did. And why, we asked, was the 18th division committed so late when the island was all but lost?

John Whitaker

Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan