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Sinister Twilight: The Fall of Singapore
Filled with drama, this classic account follows every step that led to the disastrous fall of Singapore to the Japanese in February 1942. The Japanese army, though outnumbered by 20,000 men, defeated the British only one week after the actual assault began. "Fortress" Singapore turned out to be nothing of the sort, with its defenders ill prepared and complacent. It was all too ripe for handing Japan its second victory of the war after Hong Kong.
286 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1970
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About the author
Noel Barber
46 books72 followersNoel Barber was a British novelist and journalist. Many of his novels, set in exotic countries, are about his experiences as leading foreign correspondent for the Daily Mail. He was the son of John Barber and his Danish wife, Musse, and had two brothers: Kenneth, a banker, and Anthony Barber, Baron Barber.
Most notably he reported from Morocco, where he was stabbed five times. In October 1956, Barber survived a gunshot wound to the head by a Soviet sentry in Hungary during the Hungarian revolution. A car crash ended his career as journalist. He then began writing novels: he became a best-selling novelist in his seventies with his first novel, Tanamera.
Most notably he reported from Morocco, where he was stabbed five times. In October 1956, Barber survived a gunshot wound to the head by a Soviet sentry in Hungary during the Hungarian revolution. A car crash ended his career as journalist. He then began writing novels: he became a best-selling novelist in his seventies with his first novel, Tanamera.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 4, 2021
The fall of Singapore in 1942, and what happened before and after it, is a fascinating story. The Japanese invasion of Malaya changed the history of this part of the world; its link to the creation of the Indian National Army meant that it also had a huge impact on the Indian subcontinent.
Noel Barber’s account of the follies that led to the surrender of addresses a slice of this history, focusing on the actions of the civil and military leaders of Singapore in the run up to the surrender.
Mr. Barber re-constructs many aspects of the ineptitude that led to the debacle of 1942: the refusal to fortify the northern shore of Singapore on the grounds that it would affect morale, the bickering among the services and individuals, the petty-mindedness of some of senior officials, the inability of the military leadership to figure out where the Japanese would land, their inability to respond to the landing after it had happened, and so on. Of course this list ignores the mistakes that led to the Japanese reaching Johor.
Unfortunately, this is a work that has one big defect that overshadows the good things about it. I definitely don’t mean to belittle the horrors that the white population of Singapore went through, or the heroism of individuals – both men and women – during the short war and the horrific internment that followed. But I do think this work is too much of an ang moh (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ang_mo; ang moh is not a pejorative term) view of what transpired. The Asians who feature have bit roles – a beautiful wife of a British journalist, a boy in the Air Raid Precautions (ARP) department, and a few others. This is history written as if some people did not matter.
When the Japanese raced down the Malay peninsula and people fled Penang, places on ships were reserved for whites and Asians were held off at bayonet point. This was part of the flow of events that led to the end of empire. Surely this was well known in 1968, when Sinister Twilight was published. You won’t find any mention of that in the book.
One of the hypotheses that is advanced, though not in as many words, is that Percival was a retard and all the blame was his. It goes something like this: his good subordinate Simmons told him there should be fortifications along the Northern shore. Percival rebuffed the idea. Next his superior, Wavell, told him the same thing. Percival still didn’t get it. Churchill told Wavell the same thing. Nothing happened. So: blame it on Percival. Really? Clearly, J.G. Farrell told the story vastly better here in The Singapore Grip. The people running the show – officials, businessmen, and the like – included many retards. It’s not true that Percival was the only one to fault and the others were great specimens of fair play and honour, those two pillars of empire, and smartness.
Since there is a reference to the rape of Hong Kong, one wonders why there isn’t one to the rape of Singapore and the genocide here. Surely even the slightest effort at being more inclusive would have unearthed some details about the Sook Ching operation (https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infoped...)
It seems peculiar that the desertion of Singapore by the head of the Australian armed forces is treated as something that is complex, and that can’t be judged easily. One wonders why that should be the case. Is it because, as Peter Ward Fay wrote in his book The Forgotten Army, some Generals who lost wars on battlefields were good at winning them in bookshops? In any case, Sinister Twilight does justice to the shameful episode, and that redeemed the book for me. Its other strength is that it does take a very human view of the events.
NUS Press has brought out (much later, of course) many books that help understand the WWII era in this region from multiple perspectives, and NI Low’s haunting account, When Singapore was Syonan-To provides the Singapore Chinese view, which matters because the Japanese regime selectively meted out the worst treatment to the Chinese community. Sinister Twilight is a part of the whole, written well and worth reading – but flawed because of its filter.
When Singapore Was Syonan-to
Noel Barber’s account of the follies that led to the surrender of addresses a slice of this history, focusing on the actions of the civil and military leaders of Singapore in the run up to the surrender.
Mr. Barber re-constructs many aspects of the ineptitude that led to the debacle of 1942: the refusal to fortify the northern shore of Singapore on the grounds that it would affect morale, the bickering among the services and individuals, the petty-mindedness of some of senior officials, the inability of the military leadership to figure out where the Japanese would land, their inability to respond to the landing after it had happened, and so on. Of course this list ignores the mistakes that led to the Japanese reaching Johor.
Unfortunately, this is a work that has one big defect that overshadows the good things about it. I definitely don’t mean to belittle the horrors that the white population of Singapore went through, or the heroism of individuals – both men and women – during the short war and the horrific internment that followed. But I do think this work is too much of an ang moh (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ang_mo; ang moh is not a pejorative term) view of what transpired. The Asians who feature have bit roles – a beautiful wife of a British journalist, a boy in the Air Raid Precautions (ARP) department, and a few others. This is history written as if some people did not matter.
When the Japanese raced down the Malay peninsula and people fled Penang, places on ships were reserved for whites and Asians were held off at bayonet point. This was part of the flow of events that led to the end of empire. Surely this was well known in 1968, when Sinister Twilight was published. You won’t find any mention of that in the book.
One of the hypotheses that is advanced, though not in as many words, is that Percival was a retard and all the blame was his. It goes something like this: his good subordinate Simmons told him there should be fortifications along the Northern shore. Percival rebuffed the idea. Next his superior, Wavell, told him the same thing. Percival still didn’t get it. Churchill told Wavell the same thing. Nothing happened. So: blame it on Percival. Really? Clearly, J.G. Farrell told the story vastly better here in The Singapore Grip. The people running the show – officials, businessmen, and the like – included many retards. It’s not true that Percival was the only one to fault and the others were great specimens of fair play and honour, those two pillars of empire, and smartness.
Since there is a reference to the rape of Hong Kong, one wonders why there isn’t one to the rape of Singapore and the genocide here. Surely even the slightest effort at being more inclusive would have unearthed some details about the Sook Ching operation (https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infoped...)
It seems peculiar that the desertion of Singapore by the head of the Australian armed forces is treated as something that is complex, and that can’t be judged easily. One wonders why that should be the case. Is it because, as Peter Ward Fay wrote in his book The Forgotten Army, some Generals who lost wars on battlefields were good at winning them in bookshops? In any case, Sinister Twilight does justice to the shameful episode, and that redeemed the book for me. Its other strength is that it does take a very human view of the events.
NUS Press has brought out (much later, of course) many books that help understand the WWII era in this region from multiple perspectives, and NI Low’s haunting account, When Singapore was Syonan-To provides the Singapore Chinese view, which matters because the Japanese regime selectively meted out the worst treatment to the Chinese community. Sinister Twilight is a part of the whole, written well and worth reading – but flawed because of its filter.
When Singapore Was Syonan-to
December 15, 2017
Gripping, moving, brilliantly written narrative history - this is the story of what was, at the time, seen as one of the greatest calamities in British military history.
Noel Barber wrote many novels but he was also a journalist and, as this book attests, a bloody good one. Here he interweaves colourful first hand accounts with official testimonies and documents to tell the story of the fall of the little island at the bottom of the Malay peninsular which held such an important strategic position.
The book was written in the late 60´s, when many of the protagonists were still alive, and the rights and wrongs of what happened were still being picked over. In essence, the Japanese victory would never have happened - at least not so quickly - were it not for a great many cock-ups on the British side.
Singapore was such a bastion of English colonialism - stengahs on verandas and mass singalongs in bars under palm fronds on Sundays - that nobody could envisage anything terrible happening at all. But, of course, it did, the Japanese racing down the peninsular from (then) Siam and pouring onto the island with lightning speed.
The story is told largely from the allied point of view - husbands, wives, nurses, military leaders and journalists - and vivid descriptions abound: a husband queing on the dock with his wife and newborn baby suddenly comes under attack as they are boarding the boat to leave. Shrapnel kills the man´s young wife and he must take the baby from her arms and step onto the boat to escape, leaving his wife lying on the docks as the planes fly over.
Barber loves Singapore and anyone who has visited or lived on the island will find the descriptions evocative and emotional - Singapore is the central character in this book. Those interested in the war in the east will find here many useful and first-hand accounts of attitudes and behaviours of the players, Japanese and allied.
A little green jewel in the vast, turquoise sea of literature.
Noel Barber wrote many novels but he was also a journalist and, as this book attests, a bloody good one. Here he interweaves colourful first hand accounts with official testimonies and documents to tell the story of the fall of the little island at the bottom of the Malay peninsular which held such an important strategic position.
The book was written in the late 60´s, when many of the protagonists were still alive, and the rights and wrongs of what happened were still being picked over. In essence, the Japanese victory would never have happened - at least not so quickly - were it not for a great many cock-ups on the British side.
Singapore was such a bastion of English colonialism - stengahs on verandas and mass singalongs in bars under palm fronds on Sundays - that nobody could envisage anything terrible happening at all. But, of course, it did, the Japanese racing down the peninsular from (then) Siam and pouring onto the island with lightning speed.
The story is told largely from the allied point of view - husbands, wives, nurses, military leaders and journalists - and vivid descriptions abound: a husband queing on the dock with his wife and newborn baby suddenly comes under attack as they are boarding the boat to leave. Shrapnel kills the man´s young wife and he must take the baby from her arms and step onto the boat to escape, leaving his wife lying on the docks as the planes fly over.
Barber loves Singapore and anyone who has visited or lived on the island will find the descriptions evocative and emotional - Singapore is the central character in this book. Those interested in the war in the east will find here many useful and first-hand accounts of attitudes and behaviours of the players, Japanese and allied.
A little green jewel in the vast, turquoise sea of literature.
August 21, 2015
With a near family member, whom we know died cruelly on or around its fall in mid-February 1942, being individually-named upon the Singapore Memorial, this contrasting review of mine (unlike a previous reviewer's offering below) is expressly made from the standpoint of someone incapable of envisaging this grimly-mesmerising book's historical account of a creeping tragedy as being capable of promising any kind of reader a 'fun read…..' (sic).
And in fact, although it's been waiting unread on my bookshelves for a very long time indeed, it took the 70th anniversary of VJ Day for me to gird-up and face its harrowing reportage. Yes, it's inevitably narrow in scope - by concentrating mainly on the experiences of just a few, pivotal individuals; among those many thousands who suffered & died - and 'yes' it's a period-piece penned in 1967-8 by a (UK) Daily Mail journalist who faithfully conveys the outdated social attitudes of 73 years ago, according to the outdated social attitudes of 48 years ago (just as our fixed social certainties and attitudes of 2015 will soon seem equally as quaint, if not ludicrous, once another three-quarters of a century have gone by…..).
Yet despite these obvious frailties, "Sinister Twilight' remains a compelling and terrifying read that's packed with immediacy; based as it undoubtedly is on the vivid personal recollections of ageing protagonists who survived & the many named eye-witnesses mentioned, people who were fortunate enough to be still alive and interviewed at the time of writing, i.e. in the late 1960s; give testimony to the invader's notorious atrocities.
Witnesses to the greatest & most shameful British military disaster ever. A disaster too often prefaced & characterised by ineptitude, complacency, inertia, and blind stupidity at the very highest colonial levels; and yet, at one and the same moment; amongst every other element of that polyglot population comprising the territory; also by those simultaneous everyday illustrations of courage, resilience, and enduring, selfless devotion to duty; of kindness & caring for others; so often shown across every and the most ordinary, social & military level, right to the end:
To Lance Corporal Frank Burdon,. 2nd Bn. The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire), who died there on 14th or 15th February 1942, at the age of 29, this one's for you - we salute and remember you.
And in fact, although it's been waiting unread on my bookshelves for a very long time indeed, it took the 70th anniversary of VJ Day for me to gird-up and face its harrowing reportage. Yes, it's inevitably narrow in scope - by concentrating mainly on the experiences of just a few, pivotal individuals; among those many thousands who suffered & died - and 'yes' it's a period-piece penned in 1967-8 by a (UK) Daily Mail journalist who faithfully conveys the outdated social attitudes of 73 years ago, according to the outdated social attitudes of 48 years ago (just as our fixed social certainties and attitudes of 2015 will soon seem equally as quaint, if not ludicrous, once another three-quarters of a century have gone by…..).
Yet despite these obvious frailties, "Sinister Twilight' remains a compelling and terrifying read that's packed with immediacy; based as it undoubtedly is on the vivid personal recollections of ageing protagonists who survived & the many named eye-witnesses mentioned, people who were fortunate enough to be still alive and interviewed at the time of writing, i.e. in the late 1960s; give testimony to the invader's notorious atrocities.
Witnesses to the greatest & most shameful British military disaster ever. A disaster too often prefaced & characterised by ineptitude, complacency, inertia, and blind stupidity at the very highest colonial levels; and yet, at one and the same moment; amongst every other element of that polyglot population comprising the territory; also by those simultaneous everyday illustrations of courage, resilience, and enduring, selfless devotion to duty; of kindness & caring for others; so often shown across every and the most ordinary, social & military level, right to the end:
To Lance Corporal Frank Burdon,. 2nd Bn. The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire), who died there on 14th or 15th February 1942, at the age of 29, this one's for you - we salute and remember you.
June 11, 2025
I read this book back in the 1970's when still at school and thought it was dreadful then, that it should appear on a list of the 'best' Singapore books is pretty dreadful, but considering the list doesn't include J.G. Farrell's 'Singapore Grip', I think we can dismiss the list as inadequate at best and complete rubbish in reality.
The book was written long before any of the relevant historical archives were available, not that Barber is the sort of writer who would have bothered with archival research, or even known how to do any, he was an author who knew what was what, like how no Japanese person could understand how an Englishman thinks (if he had said no Japanese could understand how little an Englishman thinks, about anything, ever, he might have been closer to the truth), but as an insight of how a writer of non fiction, or fiction (Mr. Barber's more usual forte) it doesn't bode well for depth or subtlety.
It is just awful, of course it is Eurocentric, but it doesn't even realise how limited its perspective is. If it didn't happen at Raffles Hotel or to the denizens of Raffles Hotel it doesn't really register.
If you are serious about history then don't read this book. If you want an example of how appalling snobbish, inward looking and dull the British middle class establishment still was in the mid to late twentieth century then read it - but it is really just awful.
The book was written long before any of the relevant historical archives were available, not that Barber is the sort of writer who would have bothered with archival research, or even known how to do any, he was an author who knew what was what, like how no Japanese person could understand how an Englishman thinks (if he had said no Japanese could understand how little an Englishman thinks, about anything, ever, he might have been closer to the truth), but as an insight of how a writer of non fiction, or fiction (Mr. Barber's more usual forte) it doesn't bode well for depth or subtlety.
It is just awful, of course it is Eurocentric, but it doesn't even realise how limited its perspective is. If it didn't happen at Raffles Hotel or to the denizens of Raffles Hotel it doesn't really register.
If you are serious about history then don't read this book. If you want an example of how appalling snobbish, inward looking and dull the British middle class establishment still was in the mid to late twentieth century then read it - but it is really just awful.
March 28, 2025
Barber attempts a panoramic history of Singapore's fall to Japan but falls well short of his ambition. Barber is at his best conveying the day-to-day experience of living under siege and enemy occupation, following several ordinary Brits (and Americans) who lived and suffered during that time. His military and political segments are colorless and superficial, his racial attitudes distressingly retrograde (one passage claims that no Japanese man is capable of "divining the thoughts" of Englishmen, but the converse is evidently possible!). A decent intro to the subject but one desires a more detailed account.
October 26, 2016
A fun read for anyone interested in Singapore history. Did you ever wonder what the old Tanglin neighborhood was like? Was Orchard Road always the place to shop? Did you know Cold Storage existed as far back as 1942? A very well researched book - much of it taken from primary sources. Interesting insight into the expat vs. Asian dynamic during the colonial era.
July 9, 2022
As an outsider to military writing, I found Sinister Twilight to be a great read, but I felt myself craving the answers to a couple obvious questions. Specifically, could Singapore have been saved? Administrative incompetence clearly doomed Singapore to its Japanese conquerors, but by the time the Japanese swept down the Malay Peninsula, Singapore was already exposed to air raids and severed supply lines. Could it have held out for more than 70 days? Absolutely. Could they have held out from 1941 to mid-1945? Doubtful. Could Singapore's administrators done more to protect or insulate Singapore? Every page screams 'yes' to that one. Barber, however, is silent when it comes to counterfactual speculation.
Instead, Barber focuses primarily on how the European community responded to the siege: many acts of heroism among the civilian population, stubborn complacency among the colonial leadership. At times, reading about the decisions that the British government made, it gave me the sense of wanting to yell "don't do that!" or "don't go there!" at some obvious victim in a predictable slasher film. Especially Percival. ESPECIALLY Percival. Sadly, less attention is given to the Chinese, Malay, or Indian communities in Singapore, though the struggles of those communities have been documented elsewhere.
There were a couple other major omissions form this story. Firstly, much of Japan's campaign on the Malay Peninsula is glossed over, and it is here that Singapore's fate was sealed (perhaps) regardless of what the administration did in Singapore. Also, the Japanese are left obscure. What they did in Malaya, and how they ran Singapore outside of the internment camps is largely omitted.
Instead, Barber focuses primarily on how the European community responded to the siege: many acts of heroism among the civilian population, stubborn complacency among the colonial leadership. At times, reading about the decisions that the British government made, it gave me the sense of wanting to yell "don't do that!" or "don't go there!" at some obvious victim in a predictable slasher film. Especially Percival. ESPECIALLY Percival. Sadly, less attention is given to the Chinese, Malay, or Indian communities in Singapore, though the struggles of those communities have been documented elsewhere.
There were a couple other major omissions form this story. Firstly, much of Japan's campaign on the Malay Peninsula is glossed over, and it is here that Singapore's fate was sealed (perhaps) regardless of what the administration did in Singapore. Also, the Japanese are left obscure. What they did in Malaya, and how they ran Singapore outside of the internment camps is largely omitted.
November 28, 2008
This non fiction book reads like a novel...describes the awful days before the Fall of Singapore in the Second World War. I have even more respect and love for the country now I'm reading it...
December 24, 2021
Pretty good book. First published in 1968 so it's now 50+ years old, but there are a lot of personal stories from people who lived and worked in Singapore before and during WWII that couldn't be told now. A great many stories of individual bravery by men and women of all races and classes.
Gen. Percival [rightfully] gets a bad rap for capitulating with ~80,000 troops still on hand. Granted he didn't do himself any favors just prior to the war. He no doubt shortened the battle to the benefit of Japan and detriment of "The Empire", but the bottom line is with no air support, naval support or tanks to defend the island, it was doomed anyway.... and strategically, the right call at the time.
Gen. Percival [rightfully] gets a bad rap for capitulating with ~80,000 troops still on hand. Granted he didn't do himself any favors just prior to the war. He no doubt shortened the battle to the benefit of Japan and detriment of "The Empire", but the bottom line is with no air support, naval support or tanks to defend the island, it was doomed anyway.... and strategically, the right call at the time.
July 25, 2011
Seen from the perspective of the expat community, with scant attention paid to the atrocities commited to and suffering of the 'natives'.
April 12, 2023
This recounts the fall of Singapore to the Japanese in World War II - really the reference, background or 'just the facts' for Barber's fiction Tanamera. It is an unflinching view of the Malaya Campaign of 1941-1942, which resulted in the surrender of Singapore, the largest in the history of the British Army. Blame for the entire campaign -vastly mismanaged - was not only placed with Percival in Singapore but also with those in London. I found it an edge of your seat read and read it after Tanamera. Both inspiring reads especially if you are based in or visiting Singapore.
December 7, 2025
An interesting book for what it is: an overview of the fall of Singapore with a focus on the lives of the white people (British, Australians, American). It gives a glimpse into their lives before the war, talks about their experiences throughout, with a bit on their internment and a quick overview of some of their lives since.
This is very much written from the colonizer's perspective though. Asians are rarely awarded with names and many of the white people "bravely did it single handedly all by themselves with only Asians to assist".
This is very much written from the colonizer's perspective though. Asians are rarely awarded with names and many of the white people "bravely did it single handedly all by themselves with only Asians to assist".
December 19, 2023
Barber achieved his aim of writing a gripping drama. My main criticism is that it's such a page-turner that one can read of scenes of murder and mutilation and not be repulsed; one simply travels too fast through the text to absorb the impact. Barber has a tendency to cliche at times ("rolling countryside") and displays his administration for British phlegm a bit too often. But he is fair, and criticises and praises individuals on both sides in equal measure.
July 10, 2020
Set in Singapore in the months prior to the Japanese invasion and subsequent surrender of the allied military forces.It is written from the civilian perspective rather than the military. Noel's style is flowing and never boring. Recommended especially for readers with an interest in the Far East and the old colonial era.
September 5, 2024
Interesting read, draws heavily on diaries and personal accounts to give readers a glimpse into the disaster a Singapore. Love how it gives deep context to why it was such a disaster but also focuses on instances of astounding bravery and selflessness. Worth a read!
January 2, 2024
Very good. I love history and this writing is excellent. At least I know the story of Singapore.
May 4, 2008
This classic account of the Fall of Singapore to the Japanese is more readable than I expected. Well-written and well-paced. Pretty compelling, actually. I mean, I knew the defence of Singapore was a mess, but I hadn't fully realised quite how unholy the mess was till I got into this book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews