This extensive tour to the three countries of Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand examines the personal, national and imperial agony and humiliation that resulted from the Japanese lightening conquest. Starting from Kuala Lumpur we examine the limited resistance offered by British Imperial Forces as they withdrew southwards to Singapore and explore the not so impossible Malay Jungle terrain that failed to impede an invading army. Crossing the Johore Straits we spend five-nights in Singapore during which we: scrutinise the initial defence plan and its failure; inspect the colossal coastal batteries; stand on the Japanese landing beaches; walk the battlefields on the edge of the city itself; visit the British Command Centre, see the sites of Percival’s (and the eventual Japanese) surrender, contemplate the POW camp experience; reveal the Japanese massacre sites; and wander through colonial Singapore. We fly to Thailand where we spend three days at Kanchanaburi from where we explore the ‘Death Railway’: riding and walking along the line; exploring caves in which POWs sheltered; paying our respects at numerous cemeteries; and visiting the topical museums. Whilst we will stay at lovely four-star hotels, enjoy great local restaurants and travel in comfort, we are constantly reminded of the story of the brave, misled, betrayed, and abused Imperial soldier who, after fighting far away from home, was condemned to years of impossible internment. The contrast could not be starker!

Simultaneous to their bombing of Pearl Harbour and assault on the Philippines, on 8th December 1941, the Japanese invaded the Malay Peninsula as a precursor of their larger attempt to secure the oil-rich reserves and raw materials of the Dutch East Indies. Standing in their way at the southern tip of that peninsula sat the small fortress island of Singapore, which, in the preceding war years had been developed as the major naval base and bastion from which Britain could project and defend its power in the Far East. In anticipation of an attack from Japan’s powerful navy, extensive and powerful coastal batteries were built to thwart an anticipated a coup de main from the sea. That never came as General Yamashita’s men marched and cycled southwards from their Malayan landing beaches meeting little serious opposition until they reached the Johore Straits on 31 January. An ill-thought-out defence plan and poor senior command meant that Singapore would only resist Japanese assaults for just over a week. Devoid of food and water, Lt Gen Percival, the Allied Commander, believed he was left with no choice but to agree to an unconditional surrender of some 85,000 Allied soldiers to Yamashita’s 35,000, resulting in what Sir Winston Churchill said was “worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history”. But the agony was not to end there: after a relatively comfortable imprisonment on the island, Allied soldiers’ conditions worsened when many of the POWs were shipped off to Thailand to construct the Burma-Siam railway. Those unfortunate POWs endured impossible hardships of slave labour, death, disease, starvation, and cruelty as they worked to excavate railway cuttings, build bridges, and lay track, all the time operating under inhumane Japanese discipline to create the infamous ‘Death Railway’ on which thousands of Allied POWs perished.

Day 0: Flights outwards
Either join our flight from London Heathrow or make your own way to Kuala Lumpur.

Day 1: Arrive Kuala Lumpur
Flights arrive late afternoon. Transfer to airport hotel for one night. Introductory talk over drinks. (D)

Day 2: Battle of Gemas
Drive to Gemencheh Bridge, where the Australians ambushed the advancing Japanese on 14 January, and follow their subsequent fighting withdrawal through Gemas to Segamat. At Bukit Kepong discuss the battle between the local police and insurgent communists during the Emergency. Continue to the historical town of Muar for one night. (B,L,D)

Day 3: The Battle of Muar
Amidst the colonial riverside houses of Muar discuss the forlorn attempts to prevent the Japanese river crossings and the subsequent destruction of 45th Indian Brigade. At Bakri see where Australian anti-tank guns wiped out a Japanese tank force and stop at Parit Sulong, the scene of the Japanese massacre of the Allied wounded. View Singapore from across the Jahore Straits at Danga Bay to gain the Japanese perspective. Cross the border into Singapore for five nights. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Assault on Singapore
Walk amidst the wooded Sungai Buloh Reserve with its overgrown mangrove coast which proved a challenge to both the defenders and the Japanese amphibious landings and see the causeway stormed by the Japanese Imperial Guard. Pay respects at Kranji CWGC cemetery. The failure of the Jurong-Kranji Defence Line, the Malay Regiment’s desperate fight at Pasir Penjang and the Cambridgeshire’s dogged resistance amidst the colonial villas in Adam Park. (B,L,D)

Day 5: The Guns of Singapore
Explore the many extant remains of the Labrador Battery which guarded the entrance to Keppel Harbour. Catch the cable car from Mount Faber to Sentosa to explore the Siloso Battery with its 11-story skywalk, tunnels, fire-control tower, and many WW2 interpretative exhibitions. (B,LD)

Day 6: Downtown Singapore
A day on foot starting with a stroll around lovely Fort Canning Park including Percival’s command bunker where the momentous surrender decision was taken. From the Padang view the Singapore Cenotaph, the civilian and many other memorials including St Andrew’s Cathedral with its Memorial Hall. On the Padang and outside the City Hall was where the Japanese officially surrendered the city. Remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure (B,L)

Day 7: Surrender and Occupation
Drive out to the Former Ford Factory, where Percival signed the surrender instrument. Further Japanese themed visits include the site of their former memorial at Bukit Bakot, the ‘grave’ of Field Marshal Count Terauchi and the site of the Punggol Beach massacre. Drive past Changi prison to the chapel and museum that interpret life as an Allied POW. See the replica 15” gun, the only evidence of the Johore Battery, visit Changi Beach massacre site and look across the Straits to Pulau Ubin which figured in Yamashita’s deception plan. (B,L,D).

Day 8: Travel to Thailand
Morning flight to Bangkok. Drive to Nong Pladuk station, where the Thai-Bruma railway starts. Continue to Kanchanaburi for three nights. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Death Railway
Visit Kanchanaburi CWGC cemetery and the wonderful exhibition at the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre. Travel by train over the River Kwai bridge to Than Krasae to walk along the iconic wooden trestle viaduct and visit its cave. Visit the elephant sanctuary and walk through the jungle to the huge Tham Chaloei Cave, used as shelter by the Allied POWs. (B,L,D)

Day 10: Hellfire Pass
Drive up to Hellfire Pass to visit its interpretation centre and walk a short section of the railway through Konyu Cutting: those fit and willing have the option to extend their walk further to Hintok Cutting. Remainder of the afternoon at leisure. (B,L,D)

Day 11: River Kwai and home
Pay final respects at Chong Kai CWGC cemetery, former POW burial ground, hospital and church. From Curve Mountain gain wonderful river views, enjoy a speed boat ride under the bridge and visit Kanchanaburi’s two WW2 museums. Drive to Bangkok airport for late evening return flights and farewells. (B,L,D)

Day 12: Arrive home.