Hero or Deserter?
Gordon Bennett and the Tragic Defeat of the 8th Division
On the 15th of February, 1942, the senior officers of the Allied forces in Singapore agreed to a ceasefire with the Japanese.
After little more than 70 days of warfare the Allied forces had been brought to their knees and there was little choice but for them to surrender. More than 15,000 Australian men became prisoners of war but one man’s determination to avoid this fate overshadowed their sacrifices for decades to come.
The commander of the 8th Division, Major-General Gordon Bennett, evaded capture by leaving his post two hours after the ceasefire and before his men were taken into Japanese custody. Determined to return to Australia and brief the authorities on how to thwart Japan’s military tactics, Bennett believed he had a duty to escape. But his choice would divide Australia, then and now.
Public support was in Bennett’s favour but the Army condemned his actions. Whether or not he can be classified a deserter depends on interpretations of military law and timing. His moral obligation to his men was another factor, yet the men of 8th Division were nearly unanimous in their support of his actions.
In this exhaustive account of the 8th Division’s role in the Malaya campaign and the events surrounding the fall of Singapore, Roger Maynard draws on eye witness accounts of the men who were there and Bennett’s own detailed recollections. The book bears testament to the courage of the Australians whose tragic defeat ended in such terrible human cost. Crucially it endeavours to resolve one of the most controversial issues of the Second World War – was Gordon Bennett a hero or deserter?
Ebury Australia | RRP $34.99 | Paperback
For this and other great titles: www.penguinrandomhouse.com.au
Gordon Bennett and the Tragic Defeat of the 8th Division
On the 15th of February, 1942, the senior officers of the Allied forces in Singapore agreed to a ceasefire with the Japanese.
After little more than 70 days of warfare the Allied forces had been brought to their knees and there was little choice but for them to surrender. More than 15,000 Australian men became prisoners of war but one man’s determination to avoid this fate overshadowed their sacrifices for decades to come.
The commander of the 8th Division, Major-General Gordon Bennett, evaded capture by leaving his post two hours after the ceasefire and before his men were taken into Japanese custody. Determined to return to Australia and brief the authorities on how to thwart Japan’s military tactics, Bennett believed he had a duty to escape. But his choice would divide Australia, then and now.
Public support was in Bennett’s favour but the Army condemned his actions. Whether or not he can be classified a deserter depends on interpretations of military law and timing. His moral obligation to his men was another factor, yet the men of 8th Division were nearly unanimous in their support of his actions.
In this exhaustive account of the 8th Division’s role in the Malaya campaign and the events surrounding the fall of Singapore, Roger Maynard draws on eye witness accounts of the men who were there and Bennett’s own detailed recollections. The book bears testament to the courage of the Australians whose tragic defeat ended in such terrible human cost. Crucially it endeavours to resolve one of the most controversial issues of the Second World War – was Gordon Bennett a hero or deserter?
Ebury Australia | RRP $34.99 | Paperback
For this and other great titles: www.penguinrandomhouse.com.au
