Archives Invites: Dr Will Butler Researching the Fall of Singapore, 1942 – Records at The National Archives, UK
Archives Invites: Dr Will Butler Researching the Fall of Singapore, 1942 – Records at The National Archives, UK
Drawing on records from The National Archives, UK, this talk will trace the British defence and subsequent fall of Singapore during the Second World War. Using a range of material produced by both politicians and military leaders before, during, and after the conflict, Head of Military Records at The National Archives, UK, Dr Will Butler will assess the historical importance of Singapore to the British strategically, examine the planning and conduct of operations leading up to the Second World War, and discuss the campaign as it occurred in early 1942 from a British perspective.
Date: 28 February 2023
Time: 6.00pm to 7.00pm
Venue: ZOOM
Admission to the programme is free.
For more information, please visit this link for more information.
About Speaker
Dr Will Butler is Head of Military Records at The National Archives, UK, and specialises in records relating to the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force from the late 18th century to the present day. He holds an MA and a PhD, which he completed in 2013, from the University of Kent. His research focuses on Irish soldiers in the British Army, particularly from the mid-19th century onwards, the “amateur military tradition”, as well as the role of the British Army during both World Wars. Since joining The National Archives, Will’s research has increasingly focussed on the armed forces during the Second World War. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Kent, sits on the Council of the Army Records Society and is a Managing Editor of the British Journal for Military History.
About “Defending the Little Red Dot”
The responsibility of defending a nation rests on its people. Every year, Singapore commemorates Total Defence Day on 15 February, which marks the fall of Singapore in 1942. For this year’s Total Defence Day, the National Library Board presents Defending the Little Red Dot, a campaign packed with talks, book displays and film screenings, highlighting stories of resistance and resilience during the Japanese Occupation, and the importance of preparedness in the digital age.