Bayly had his good points. He was an energetic officer, and while in Queenstown he and his niece helped organize food relief that fed about half the local poor. But with hindsight, he was not very impressive. In addition to the incident in that landed him in Queensland, he was a consistant opponent to the coordinated use of RNAS ASW aircraft and blimps to search for submarines. This led to his sector having the least developed air patrol systems of all those in Britain, in one of the most critical sectors for submarine detection.
Malaya What If
- Thread starter Fatboy Coxy
- Start date
MWI 41051911 The III Indian Corps HQ Arrives
Fatboy Coxy
Monthly Donor
1941, Monday 19 May;
It was business as usual now, any UK convoy destined for the Middle East would have a few ships attached who, on reaching Mombasa, would detach and head for Bombay. And again, one or two of them would then proceed onwards to Singapore. It was a percentage game, never the majority, but a steady trickle of resources, as part of the commitment to the defence of Malaya and Singapore. This convoy was called WS 7, and again, business as usual, the detached part, WS 7X had arrived at Bombay, with a ship destined for Singapore.
It had been slightly different this time, as both the trooper from the UK and the one joining it in Bombay, were both bound for Penang, escorted by a C class cruiser. On board the Indian trooper was the main body of the III Indian Corps HQ, a newly formed 41st Indian Infantry Brigade HQ and all their associated smaller units, along with some of their accompanying stores and equipment. A draft of newly recruited Indian soldiers, partly trained, took up the remaining accommodation on the ship. The III Corps HQ was bound for Kuala Lumpur, meeting its new commander, who had arrived a few days ago by flying boat, while the 41st Brigade would be assigned battalions already in Malaya, and join the 9th Indian Division.
On the UK trooper was a few more newly trained staff officers, either for III Indian Corps HQ, 41st Indian Bde HQ, or to help backfill officers who had taken promotions into those units from Malaya Command. There was also a good dozen ECO’s (Emergency Commissioned Officers), all 2nd LT’s who would be posted to Indian units, with the requirement they pass the Army’s Lower Standard Urdu Examination for speaking Urdu, the lingua franca of the Indian Army, within months.
Both troopers would then sail onto Singapore, the Bombay one to take on more passengers before returning back to India, while the UK one would drop off further passengers, enough RAF air and ground crews to provide a cadre for 4 Article XV squadrons, the personnel of 2 AMES units, COLs 518 and 575, a small draft for British army units, and a draft for the Royal Navy, including enough personnel to provide a cadre for a couple of new FAA squadrons, continuing afterwards to Hong Kong.
The steady flow of cargo ships delivering war material was continuing, including from the UK, a recently delivered cargo of 20 crated Fairey Battles, 6 Vildebeest and 4 Swordfish torpedo bombers, for newly forming squadrons, another cargo with a few various specialist vehicles, yet more 3-inch AA guns, along with their associated equipment and ammo for the Indian AA Regiments, a cargo of radar equipment for the two before mentioned units, along with some spare parts, and a cargo of Naval stores, including ASDIC sets and 20mm Oerlikon guns. Meanwhile, yet another tramp steamer taking the northern route across the Pacific, had arrived in Singapore from Vancouver, loaded with Canadian built military vehicles, mostly light trucks.
It was business as usual now, any UK convoy destined for the Middle East would have a few ships attached who, on reaching Mombasa, would detach and head for Bombay. And again, one or two of them would then proceed onwards to Singapore. It was a percentage game, never the majority, but a steady trickle of resources, as part of the commitment to the defence of Malaya and Singapore. This convoy was called WS 7, and again, business as usual, the detached part, WS 7X had arrived at Bombay, with a ship destined for Singapore.
It had been slightly different this time, as both the trooper from the UK and the one joining it in Bombay, were both bound for Penang, escorted by a C class cruiser. On board the Indian trooper was the main body of the III Indian Corps HQ, a newly formed 41st Indian Infantry Brigade HQ and all their associated smaller units, along with some of their accompanying stores and equipment. A draft of newly recruited Indian soldiers, partly trained, took up the remaining accommodation on the ship. The III Corps HQ was bound for Kuala Lumpur, meeting its new commander, who had arrived a few days ago by flying boat, while the 41st Brigade would be assigned battalions already in Malaya, and join the 9th Indian Division.
On the UK trooper was a few more newly trained staff officers, either for III Indian Corps HQ, 41st Indian Bde HQ, or to help backfill officers who had taken promotions into those units from Malaya Command. There was also a good dozen ECO’s (Emergency Commissioned Officers), all 2nd LT’s who would be posted to Indian units, with the requirement they pass the Army’s Lower Standard Urdu Examination for speaking Urdu, the lingua franca of the Indian Army, within months.
Both troopers would then sail onto Singapore, the Bombay one to take on more passengers before returning back to India, while the UK one would drop off further passengers, enough RAF air and ground crews to provide a cadre for 4 Article XV squadrons, the personnel of 2 AMES units, COLs 518 and 575, a small draft for British army units, and a draft for the Royal Navy, including enough personnel to provide a cadre for a couple of new FAA squadrons, continuing afterwards to Hong Kong.
The steady flow of cargo ships delivering war material was continuing, including from the UK, a recently delivered cargo of 20 crated Fairey Battles, 6 Vildebeest and 4 Swordfish torpedo bombers, for newly forming squadrons, another cargo with a few various specialist vehicles, yet more 3-inch AA guns, along with their associated equipment and ammo for the Indian AA Regiments, a cargo of radar equipment for the two before mentioned units, along with some spare parts, and a cargo of Naval stores, including ASDIC sets and 20mm Oerlikon guns. Meanwhile, yet another tramp steamer taking the northern route across the Pacific, had arrived in Singapore from Vancouver, loaded with Canadian built military vehicles, mostly light trucks.
Little changes here and there are starting to add up. It’s very enjoyable to read and anticipate what is coming next.
Agreed. Maybe its a matter of simply finding the right slot for such men. He may not suited for such high level multitask commands, but a focused command suited to what he does do well (whatever that may be, don't know the man in question) would solve such problems. Promoting sideways as its termed. In many cases men such as Bayly aren't necessarily incompetent but simply victims of the Peter Principle, and if kept at the proper level of command or put to a task suited to the talents they do have prove quite useful.
Adm Bayly, for example, sounds like he'd be a fine liaison officer, smoothing over culture clashes in between allied command structures and so, and finding solutions for the same. Not important sounding on the surface, until you realize a lot of the failures of the early months of the war came about from just such clashes and misunderstandings.
Driftless
Donor
There's the inevitable hook. Too often, perfectly intelligent, insightful folks can look at the same input information and take a polar view on how to respond. God knows I've done that, as my wife used to remind me.....
Energetic, definitely. Works well with allies? Well Sims noted he was a bit irascible to serve under, but it seems to have worked out alright. Can’t argue with results?
Such things existed by end of war but were a bit of a work in progress. Most planes could not carry a receiver and a transmitter so they generally went with a receiver. They would use signals, flares or drip message bags to communicate with ships. Late war I think some planes managed to carry both. Blimps could carry both right from the start, which was part of what made them so valuable.
Not so sure honestly. As noted above he may have been a bit prickly for that as a rule. But it worked out in Queenstown so maybe he would have been fine.
Well, I was using the Admiral more as an example of the Peter Principle (someone promoted beyond or outside their skill level or set) and of "Promoting sideways" and finding something they're suited to rather than simply washing them out. Why waste trained personnel the government has spent time and money, plus they got as far as they did in the ranks so they've got to be competent at SOMETHING, right? If not, then send them to a spot they can't do any damage and still get work done at the least.
Some men who suck in combat are excellent trainers or organizers, others who are brilliant combat leaders couldn't administrate their way out of a wet paper bag. And so it goes, and all to often a excellent staff officer is given a combat command they suck at or a excellent combat officer given a high level command that's as much administration as combat...and he sucks at it.
In most cases an officer is simply promoted beyond his level of ability, and no shame in that. Some are brilliant small unit leaders but suck or at best be mediocre at higher command... though surprisingly the opposite can be true as well. Hence why you promote. But when promotion strikes out, it's better to find a suitable home than simply write that officer off, especially when you're short of officers!
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Fatboy Coxy
Monthly Donor
Apologies being so slow with the postings, real life is very busy at the moment, in a good way, but will calm down in November, and I'll move things a long a bit quicker then.
MWI 41052010 The Three Disciples
Fatboy Coxy
Monthly Donor
1941, Tuesday 20 May;
Air Vice Marshal Park sat back into the bamboo chair and finished. “So that’s where we are gentlemen. I can’t pretend to say your commands are going to be easy, Japan may come, she may not, but we have to be ready if she does. You have to make do with what we have here, work together, train them hard, and, as they say, if you can't take a joke, you shouldn't have joined”.
He looked at the three officers sitting with him, all newly promoted Air Commodores (T), recently arrived in Singapore. Henry Hunter, who he thought had the hardest job, was to command 225 Group, with maritime reconnaissance and attack responsibilities. Somehow the Hudson’s and Catalinas (if they came) along with the venerable Vildebeest would have to become a potent force capable of destroying a good part of any invasion force. There were plans to upgrade the Vildebeest with Beaufort’s, manufactured in Australian, being promised, arriving at the end of the year. He was based at RAF Seletar, along with Park.
Archibald Wann, Archie to everyone, was to command 223 Group, Northern Malaya, to support troops operating there. He was expected to form new bomber squadrons with the failed Fairey Battle, and the Blenheim and create a force capable of giving good air support to the Army. His headquarters would be RAF Kuala Lumpur, and he would work closely with the III Indian Corps. He gave a small smile, he’d already met the CO of the III Indian, who had joined them in Bombay, where the flying boat, had stopped to refuel.
Stanley Vincent was to command 224 Group, air defence of Johore and Singapore. Somehow, he had to create new fighter squadrons and knit them in with a radar system that as yet wasn’t fully working, and an AA gun defence that hadn’t been integrated. His headquarters was to be RAF Kallang, and an operations bunker was currently being constructed. He had the Brewster Buffalo, which was a real problem. Not only was it a sluggish flyer, it was also unreliable, with a poor quality of finish, and the number of modifications required to make them serviceable meant they spent an extraordinary amount of time in the hangers. And to add to that, ongoing labour issues at the New York factory meant the deliveries had been well overdue. The good news was the first shipment of Hurricanes promised at the end of March, would be leaving Vancouver soon, and he could then relegate the Buffalos to backwater areas.
In addition, intelligence information had arrived from China, on the latest Japanese fighter, who’s attributes, if the information was to be believed, would make dogfighting an extremely tricky business. Not only was he adopting the finger four flying tactic in the new fighter squadrons, but Park wanted him to look carefully at how best to fight these very manoeuvrable aircraft, and devise an operational tactic for that.
Park thought to himself he could be disappointed with the lack of experience in his command, the poor quality of its aircraft, the limited infrastructure they worked in, and the promise of pilots and new aircraft that hadn’t materialised yet, but he couldn’t complain about the three men sitting with him now. For once he actually felt optimistic about the future.
Air Vice Marshal Park sat back into the bamboo chair and finished. “So that’s where we are gentlemen. I can’t pretend to say your commands are going to be easy, Japan may come, she may not, but we have to be ready if she does. You have to make do with what we have here, work together, train them hard, and, as they say, if you can't take a joke, you shouldn't have joined”.
He looked at the three officers sitting with him, all newly promoted Air Commodores (T), recently arrived in Singapore. Henry Hunter, who he thought had the hardest job, was to command 225 Group, with maritime reconnaissance and attack responsibilities. Somehow the Hudson’s and Catalinas (if they came) along with the venerable Vildebeest would have to become a potent force capable of destroying a good part of any invasion force. There were plans to upgrade the Vildebeest with Beaufort’s, manufactured in Australian, being promised, arriving at the end of the year. He was based at RAF Seletar, along with Park.
Archibald Wann, Archie to everyone, was to command 223 Group, Northern Malaya, to support troops operating there. He was expected to form new bomber squadrons with the failed Fairey Battle, and the Blenheim and create a force capable of giving good air support to the Army. His headquarters would be RAF Kuala Lumpur, and he would work closely with the III Indian Corps. He gave a small smile, he’d already met the CO of the III Indian, who had joined them in Bombay, where the flying boat, had stopped to refuel.
Stanley Vincent was to command 224 Group, air defence of Johore and Singapore. Somehow, he had to create new fighter squadrons and knit them in with a radar system that as yet wasn’t fully working, and an AA gun defence that hadn’t been integrated. His headquarters was to be RAF Kallang, and an operations bunker was currently being constructed. He had the Brewster Buffalo, which was a real problem. Not only was it a sluggish flyer, it was also unreliable, with a poor quality of finish, and the number of modifications required to make them serviceable meant they spent an extraordinary amount of time in the hangers. And to add to that, ongoing labour issues at the New York factory meant the deliveries had been well overdue. The good news was the first shipment of Hurricanes promised at the end of March, would be leaving Vancouver soon, and he could then relegate the Buffalos to backwater areas.
In addition, intelligence information had arrived from China, on the latest Japanese fighter, who’s attributes, if the information was to be believed, would make dogfighting an extremely tricky business. Not only was he adopting the finger four flying tactic in the new fighter squadrons, but Park wanted him to look carefully at how best to fight these very manoeuvrable aircraft, and devise an operational tactic for that.
Park thought to himself he could be disappointed with the lack of experience in his command, the poor quality of its aircraft, the limited infrastructure they worked in, and the promise of pilots and new aircraft that hadn’t materialised yet, but he couldn’t complain about the three men sitting with him now. For once he actually felt optimistic about the future.
Most people do not realise that the reason the Finns got so much out of their Buffaloes compared to the RAF and USMC was because they field-modified the engines. Honestly I find it rather baffling that neither the Americans nor the Brits (whom one would normally assume to be more technically inclined on the whole than those on the Continent) came up with a similar solution. Would it be possible ITTL for a similar breakthrough to be had, and for the Buffalo to develop as good a reputation in the Far East as it did during the Finns' conflict with the Soviets?
Not only the engine, but they removeded a lot of "stuff", ..The prototyp Buffalo was quit capable, but after, an worse enginge, guns&ammo, armour, life raft etc. etc.., it got to heavy. I recall that in later stages of the fight, the Dutch airforce flew with half of guns removed (2x 0.50 cal was enough for the japanes planes), reduced ammo load and partial filled gas tanks. After this the Buffalo became competive, but had only a few planes left to fight with.
For all the improvements over OTL, they still have low numbers of aircraft and a lack of modern aircraft in general. Those Canadian Hurricanes are a welcome addition, especially of they are going to arrive in sufficient numbers to allow Buffalo to be removed from the frontlines.
For all the Zero was a great aircraft, Hurricane is nothing to sneer at, especially when the opposition is going to be flying in Ki-27/43s and usual assortment of interwar light bombers, at least until IJNAS gets involved. Not to mention radar systems, command and control, air defense, all of ot built by the people who are probably now the best in the world at it, having invented it. And its all backed by actual logistics and with all the infrastructure and support that they require.
If sufficient numbers of more modern fighter aircraft become availlable, maybe some of the Brewsters could be transfered to the Dutch?
For all the Zero was a great aircraft, Hurricane is nothing to sneer at, especially when the opposition is going to be flying in Ki-27/43s and usual assortment of interwar light bombers, at least until IJNAS gets involved. Not to mention radar systems, command and control, air defense, all of ot built by the people who are probably now the best in the world at it, having invented it. And its all backed by actual logistics and with all the infrastructure and support that they require.
If sufficient numbers of more modern fighter aircraft become availlable, maybe some of the Brewsters could be transfered to the Dutch?
Also helped that their opposition was ‘porcine’ both in the aircraft they operated and the then skill of their pilot estate (still reeling from the purges)
This.
Honestly the air and naval campaign over (and off) Malaya is shaping up to be very interesting. IMO the Japanese are in for a nasty surprise, when talking of organized aerial defence the British know what they are doing and the Japanese do not have experience fighting against the kind of opposition they'll be facing.
Even in OTL, the war in the skies of Malaya wasn't the one-sided affair in favor of Japan that it is often remembered. The opposition was there, what they lacked was reliable material and coordination (amongst lots of other things, it was still a backwater theater after all). If the ongoing trend continues, the Commonwealth forces will make Japan pay a much, much bigger price for their conquest.
I'm not saying Malaya is saved, but I'm starting to think that maybe Burma is, and that, is a dragon-sized butterfly in itself. Now, it's not going to be a walk in the park. For all the luck they had in that campaign in OTL, the Japanese Army is still a very dangerous beast. The Japanese are competent, trained and seasoned, they know their craft amd they certainly have an iron will, the British are not going to love their first contact with them. But at the very least this time, maybe they'll be capable to fight on (more) even terms.
Great story! Keep it up and time the time you need, in the end, it's only going to make it better.
MWI 41052318 Lost In Command
Fatboy Coxy
Monthly Donor
1941, Friday 23 May;
It was dusk, with night close to falling when the noise of a car approaching along the road drew his attention away from the map the two of them had been studying. The officer spoke to his NCO, “well we’re bloody well lost Bachittar, flag down this car, and I’ll ask the driver, he should know where we are”. The Naik, stood out in the middle of the road, and slowly waved an arm above his head, side to side, the other hand held his rifle. The car, a small Morris, with only side lights on, noticeably began to slow, and as it neared, the Naik walked back to stand alongside the officer, by the side of the road.
The car pulled to a stop, and the officer leaned forward towards the driver’s window. I say driver, do you speak English, I’m rather lost you see, do you know where we… he was interrupted by an English voice shouting from the back of the car “Who the bloody hell are you”. The officer looked into the car behind the driver, and his eyes went wide, mouth opening and shutting, swallowed hard as he took in the rank of a lieutenant general talking to him, a brigadier sitting beside him. He threw a hasty salute, still bent towards the car, “Second Lieutenant Walters sir, 1/8 Punjab”.
The rear window wound fully down, “I see, and who’s with you”
“M, m, my platoon sir,
“And what are you supposed to be doing Walters”,
“On an exercise, we were orienting from a road bridge to a jungle post, then follow the path down to the road, but I didn’t find the jungle post”
“Do you know where you are now Walters?”
“I don’t rightly know sir, I can’t seem to find us on the map, Naik Singh found the road and I thought I might use it as a reference”.
“Naik? where’s your Havildar”?
“Don’t have one sir, just Naik Singh and he translates for me”
“Translates man, good god, can’t you speak any Urdu”?
I’m taking lessons, Bachittar’s teaching me, he’s been frightfully helpful sir. They say I’m down for a course but they don’t say when it will be, sir.
“And how long have you been in Malaya with the regiment Walters”
“Three weeks Sir, I joined beginning of the month, straight after arriving in Singapore with the end of April convoy”
Lt General Godwin-Austen, CO of the newly formed III Indian Corps, looked at the young second lieutenant standing outside the car, a sun burnt face and neck, new uniform, all sweaty and jungle stained, a worried look on his face.
“Hmm, well I have some sympathy for you, I’ve only been here a week myself, OK Walters, get your people onto the side of the road and start marching back the way I’ve came, it’s about 6 miles. When I get to headquarters, I’ll telephone for a couple of trucks for you. That will be all Walters”
“Yes sir, thank you sir”, Walters stood back and gave his best salute
Godwin-Austen tapped the driver’s shoulder “OK driver, drive on”
The car slowly pulled forward, and they twisted round and looked through the back window, watching the Indian soldiers emerge from the jungle and form up in a line as the Naik counted them. Turning back Brigadier Lay spoke, “I’m sorry General, Lt Col Bates is stretched for officers, and we’re managing on a handful of experienced VCO & NCO’s, the milking of officers and experienced men has been terrible”
“And what about the language courses”
“Their very limited with teachers, we’re told we’re not a priority, other units are worse”.
“Well, we’ll have to do something about this William, before I have more than a platoon lost in the Jungle. And while I think about it, maybe I should learn some Urdu, with most of my command speaking it, would set a good example to others too”.
“I’m sure your driver could give you lessons while his driving you around, couldn’t you Naik Bagu”
“Yes, Sahib sir, most certainly sir, Naik Arun Bagu is a very good speaker of Urdu Sahib.”
“We’ll start first thing tomorrow Bagu, and thank you”.
Godwin-Austen sat back into the seat and pondered. He knew raising a new Corps Command would be difficult, headquarters in Kuala Lumper wouldn’t be ready to open till next week, but he expected the brigades to be in good shape. He’d asked the 11th Indian Divisional Commander to put on an exercise for him, so he could see what sort of troops he had. He’d been disappointed with how limited the exercise was to be, when Murray-Lyon had outlined the purpose of the planned manoeuvres, given this was the 6th Indian Brigade, a well-established one, and not a newly forming unit.
But the exercise had gone bad right from the start, late yesterday evening his recently shipped in Canadian built Ford C11ADF, station wagon, had glancingly hit a Tapir, splitting the radiator, and causing him to use this nasty little Morris, with most of his effects still in the Ford. Then watching Brigadier Lay’s feeble control of the exercise had been quite alarming, always giving excuses for why things didn’t go according to plan.
Percival had warned him, his troops all desperately needed training, almost basic training still required for the troops, unit leadership for the junior officers and NCOs and some battalion and brigade exercises for his senior officers. He knew Percival had Malaya Command HQ working hard on expanding training facilities, the big jungle camp down near Segamat would open next month, the different training courses for officers in Singapore were increasing, while in KL language courses and tests were being expanded upon. But nevertheless, he’d never thought they would be this bad, my god, what kind of a command did he have”?
It was dusk, with night close to falling when the noise of a car approaching along the road drew his attention away from the map the two of them had been studying. The officer spoke to his NCO, “well we’re bloody well lost Bachittar, flag down this car, and I’ll ask the driver, he should know where we are”. The Naik, stood out in the middle of the road, and slowly waved an arm above his head, side to side, the other hand held his rifle. The car, a small Morris, with only side lights on, noticeably began to slow, and as it neared, the Naik walked back to stand alongside the officer, by the side of the road.
The car pulled to a stop, and the officer leaned forward towards the driver’s window. I say driver, do you speak English, I’m rather lost you see, do you know where we… he was interrupted by an English voice shouting from the back of the car “Who the bloody hell are you”. The officer looked into the car behind the driver, and his eyes went wide, mouth opening and shutting, swallowed hard as he took in the rank of a lieutenant general talking to him, a brigadier sitting beside him. He threw a hasty salute, still bent towards the car, “Second Lieutenant Walters sir, 1/8 Punjab”.
The rear window wound fully down, “I see, and who’s with you”
“M, m, my platoon sir,
“And what are you supposed to be doing Walters”,
“On an exercise, we were orienting from a road bridge to a jungle post, then follow the path down to the road, but I didn’t find the jungle post”
“Do you know where you are now Walters?”
“I don’t rightly know sir, I can’t seem to find us on the map, Naik Singh found the road and I thought I might use it as a reference”.
“Naik? where’s your Havildar”?
“Don’t have one sir, just Naik Singh and he translates for me”
“Translates man, good god, can’t you speak any Urdu”?
I’m taking lessons, Bachittar’s teaching me, he’s been frightfully helpful sir. They say I’m down for a course but they don’t say when it will be, sir.
“And how long have you been in Malaya with the regiment Walters”
“Three weeks Sir, I joined beginning of the month, straight after arriving in Singapore with the end of April convoy”
Lt General Godwin-Austen, CO of the newly formed III Indian Corps, looked at the young second lieutenant standing outside the car, a sun burnt face and neck, new uniform, all sweaty and jungle stained, a worried look on his face.
“Hmm, well I have some sympathy for you, I’ve only been here a week myself, OK Walters, get your people onto the side of the road and start marching back the way I’ve came, it’s about 6 miles. When I get to headquarters, I’ll telephone for a couple of trucks for you. That will be all Walters”
“Yes sir, thank you sir”, Walters stood back and gave his best salute
Godwin-Austen tapped the driver’s shoulder “OK driver, drive on”
The car slowly pulled forward, and they twisted round and looked through the back window, watching the Indian soldiers emerge from the jungle and form up in a line as the Naik counted them. Turning back Brigadier Lay spoke, “I’m sorry General, Lt Col Bates is stretched for officers, and we’re managing on a handful of experienced VCO & NCO’s, the milking of officers and experienced men has been terrible”
“And what about the language courses”
“Their very limited with teachers, we’re told we’re not a priority, other units are worse”.
“Well, we’ll have to do something about this William, before I have more than a platoon lost in the Jungle. And while I think about it, maybe I should learn some Urdu, with most of my command speaking it, would set a good example to others too”.
“I’m sure your driver could give you lessons while his driving you around, couldn’t you Naik Bagu”
“Yes, Sahib sir, most certainly sir, Naik Arun Bagu is a very good speaker of Urdu Sahib.”
“We’ll start first thing tomorrow Bagu, and thank you”.
Godwin-Austen sat back into the seat and pondered. He knew raising a new Corps Command would be difficult, headquarters in Kuala Lumper wouldn’t be ready to open till next week, but he expected the brigades to be in good shape. He’d asked the 11th Indian Divisional Commander to put on an exercise for him, so he could see what sort of troops he had. He’d been disappointed with how limited the exercise was to be, when Murray-Lyon had outlined the purpose of the planned manoeuvres, given this was the 6th Indian Brigade, a well-established one, and not a newly forming unit.
But the exercise had gone bad right from the start, late yesterday evening his recently shipped in Canadian built Ford C11ADF, station wagon, had glancingly hit a Tapir, splitting the radiator, and causing him to use this nasty little Morris, with most of his effects still in the Ford. Then watching Brigadier Lay’s feeble control of the exercise had been quite alarming, always giving excuses for why things didn’t go according to plan.
Percival had warned him, his troops all desperately needed training, almost basic training still required for the troops, unit leadership for the junior officers and NCOs and some battalion and brigade exercises for his senior officers. He knew Percival had Malaya Command HQ working hard on expanding training facilities, the big jungle camp down near Segamat would open next month, the different training courses for officers in Singapore were increasing, while in KL language courses and tests were being expanded upon. But nevertheless, he’d never thought they would be this bad, my god, what kind of a command did he have”?
Good. Find out now what terrible shape the army is in. And then get to work fixing the problems as best as you can. General Godwin-Austen isn't the type to sit back with a gin and tonic in hand and tell himself; " it's all too much trouble. And anyway, nothing is going to happen out here in this back water. Isn't it? "
Not knowing the personalities involved, hopefully this is a man who can find the men to make the men to make the culture in short order. Less because the British Empire are our protagonists and more because this is a fundamentally interesting problem and one people don’t concentrate on allohistorically.
At least Commanding isn’t having a hissy fit.
At least Commanding isn’t having a hissy fit.
For some reason, I find it rather easy to imagine Shenton Thomas and Arthur Percival in that same situation, inside the walls of government House in Singapore, the room filled by the dim light of the fireplace and the smoke of their cigars...