1. What substance is there in the charge that Britain betrayed Australia in 1942 I.E Historically accurate is such a view To what extent was Britain responsibity for the failure of the Singapore strategy To what extent must Australian governments of the time accept responsibility?
2. What do the enduring controversies in Australia about the Singapore campaign tell us about the relationship between memory of war, national identity and politics.
World War Two created a new world order. The balance of power shifted from, a strong
British power to an even stronger American and Russian power. The collapse of the
Singapore was a sharp reminder of this new world order for Australia. Before World
War Two Australia had a very strong link with Britain. This imperial link was well
received in both Britain and Australia. The strong belief expressed by Australians in the
years after 1945 was that Australia was betrayed by Britain when they could no longer
support plans for the Singapore strategy, which resulted in the collapse of Singapore.
This popular myth does not represent Australia's significant role in this Historical event.
The gaping holes in the Singapore strategy should have been addressed extensively by
both Britain and Australia. Australia should take equal responsibility in this unfortunate
demise of Singapore. The events of World War Two including the Singapore strategy,
encouraged Australia to develop and promote an identity which was separate from
Britain. Issues linking the different interpretations of war events, National Identity and
When you betray somebody, or a group of bodies you are generally being disloyal and
deceiving the party involved. Did Britain betray Australia in 1942, when Singapore fell?
When considering a judgment on this question it is important to remember that 1942 was
sixty years ago. Our current opinions based on beliefs and values of t...