"A Pariah made in Singapoor" Topic

"Watch this now to learn about Henry Gordon Bennet, the commander of the Australian 8th Division. He already had a reputation as a courageous frontline commander in WWI: Bennet had been wounded on his first day of battle, but he escaped the hospital ship as soon as he had a chance (not permission) and went right back to the front lines.

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Armand

He was courageous in WWI. It doesn't change the fact that he was a poor commander, one who deserted his command in 1942. He put ceremonial activities above training and preferred to play the "Raj" rather than get his boots dirty in the jay.

True, 8 DIV 2AIF was not the cream of the 2AIF. It needed training. It needed to get used to navigating, fighting and just living in the jungle. And it had been the dumping ground for those personnel that were too young, too old or that the other 2AIF divisions, on their way to a "real war" in the Desert (not garrison duties like the 8th was expected to face) didn't want. But some real training and a commander who could lead, not bluster, could have made the 8th as good as the other 2AIF divisions.

He got bumped up to LTGEN and was given command of the (mainly militia) III Corps in West Australia, to get rid of him and his constant bleating. Instead he should have been stripped of his rank and gaoled for abandoning his men.

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Armand

A tricky one this. PersonallY I agree that a general should stay with his men at the time of a surrender. A subsequent escape to fight on (eg O'Connor or Leclerc) is highly commendable. MacArthur's departure from the Philippines was a direct Presidential order I recall.

His decision to undertake a hazardous escape was controversial from day one. It is worth reading PM John Curtin's speech praising his courage in doing so or the support he enjoyed even from 8th Div ex POWs

Bit like Melville and Coghill, who rode (under orders) from the massacre at Isandlwhana, to save the Colours. Was it Buller who said he did not think the VC should go to officers who have abandoned their men?

Thanks also…

Armand

I can see your points, Deadhead, but Bennett's job was to make sure his division was trained and ready to fight in the jungle. While some parts performed fairly well, others didn't- so he failed his primary mission. He then did a runner, after warning his troops they'd be charged with desertion if they did the same (and some still did, in the worst cases forcing civilians off boats at gunpoint).

So the whole picture doesn't add up to O'Connor or Coghill, it adds up to a Colonel Blymp saving his nether regions.

You do have me convinced. I did not know about the suggestion that escaping was desertion. If true, that is truly shameful.

If your government has signed an Armistice (as in France 1940) then you are on very dodgy ground, legally, in fleeing to England and fighting on. But many a minority did.

In a local surrender, I do think a CO should not abandon his command, but instead help them to escape and continue the struggle. Once in captivity, the real hero does escape.