Field Marshal Percival

Hyperion

Banned
Based on the MacArthur thread.

Suppose Lt. General Percival, the commander of Singapore, was promoted to Field Marshal several months before the Japanese invasion?

Any differences.
 
If he was promoted Field Marshall 'several months' before the Japanese invasion, then that would mean that Brooke-Popham is likely pensioned off and Perceival becomes C in C of British Far East Command, opening up GOC Malaya position for someone else.

I think.
 

Cook

Banned
Suppose Lt. General Percival, the commander of Singapore, was promoted to Field Marshal several months before the Japanese invasion?
There was no reason for him to be promoted to Field Marshal, the forces requiring a Field Marshal’s command weren’t there. Wavell (Percival’s boss) wasn’t even a Field Marshal at the time and he commanded all British Forces in Southern Asia. By the way, going from Lieutenant-General to Field Marshal is two rank increases, not one.
 

Ak-84

Banned
You need Alan Brooke to take out the senior cane and beat Churchill incessantly over the head with it.Maybe Malaya Command is reinforced and Operation Matador commenced.
 
There was no reason for him to be promoted to Field Marshal, the forces requiring a Field Marshal’s command weren’t there. Wavell (Percival’s boss) wasn’t even a Field Marshal at the time and he commanded all British Forces in Southern Asia. By the way, going from Lieutenant-General to Field Marshal is two rank increases, not one.
Well, if he were promoted to General several months to a year before that, and if his command were heavily reinforced so that the numbers deserved a Field Marshal in command, it would make sense. The larger size of his forces would have an impact, but where are those forces coming from?
 
If he was promoted Field Marshall 'several months' before the Japanese invasion, then that would mean that Brooke-Popham is likely pensioned off and Perceival becomes C in C of British Far East Command, opening up GOC Malaya position for someone else.

I think.

In that case, the British have just thrown away everything they have in the Far East.

That is, if Slim does not get vacuumed into the empty post of GOC Malaya.
 
Its not a fait accompli OKH. If Arthur Percival becomes C in C Far East Command which would only require him to be a Lieutenant General, and from my readings, pretty much anyone would have been more effective than Brooke-Popham who was well past his use-by-date.

This appointment would butterfly away Pownall taking over from Brooke-Popham in December.

Whether Percival would do better in this role that limited his direct operational control would depend on his subordinates and his replacement as GOC Malaya Commmand. Maybe Pownall is his replacement?
 
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