N S Nash - In the Service of the Emperor: The Rise and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1931–1945

In the Service of the Emperor

By the same author:

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Chitrl Charlie

Valour in the Trenches

Strafer: Desert General

Where Tom Long Roamed

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The Siege that Changed the World: Paris, 18701871

The Rise and Fall of the Japanese Empire 19311945

N.S. Tank Nash

First published in Great Britain in 2022 by

PEN & SWORD MILITARY

an imprint of Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Yorkshire Philadelphia

Copyright N.S. Nash, 2022

ISBN 978-1-39909-007-0

eISBN 978-1-39909-008-7

Mobi ISBN 978-1-39909-008-7

The right of N.S. Nash to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

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This book is not intended to be either a blow-by-blow account of the battles fought by the Japanese in the service of their emperor nor a blood-soaked and depressing chronicle of the conduct of the Japanese as they swept across Asia. Because Japanese behaviour was so egregious and so consistent, its behaviour is an integral element in its expansionist, militarily led policy. This policy led to the second Sino-Japanese War (193745), which was a major conflict and an integral part of the wider war that convulsed the world. However, China was never conquered, was not incorporated into the Japanese Empire and thus is not a centre of focus.

The aim is to produce a melange that puts diplomatic, political, strategic and military operations into context and by so doing provide a relatively short, overall view of world affairs and the part played by Japan in the period 193145. Many of the events described were taking place concurrently and so thwart my aim of presenting a chronological text. Of necessity, some of the fine detail of political and military has had to be excluded in the pursuit of brevity.

In considering the behaviour of the Japanese during the period of empire, I have placed its conduct into historical context and compared it, albeit very briefly, to that of its contemporary ally Germany. The taking and care of prisoners is an element of warfare which, over centuries, has been inconvenient and problematic and is an issue addressed here. Victors justice is considered and the measure of retribution that was delivered leads on to a summary of the Japanese Empire and all its works.

In this text I had followed the Japanese practice of putting the family name first. I have drawn on a wide circle of sources and considered the views of historians who have gone before me. John Toland makes for compelling reading, but his history is not neutral in its judgements as he writes from a discernible American standpoint. S.C.M. Paine was a valuable source and the reproduction of her masterly map on is gratefully acknowledged. John Costello provided carefully balanced and neutral views. Sir Max Hasting is the historians historian. His painstaking research and balanced judgements have influenced my view. FM Lord Slim, Lord Russell and many others have been consulted, as the bibliography shows.

This text, as in all my previous books, has been reviewed by Lieutenant Colonel Tom Gowans and I am grateful to him for his usual meticulous observations. My editor at Pen & Sword was, again, the punctilious and efficient Linne Matthews, whose forensic eye for detail added value to my work. She polished the text and excised my errors, and I am, once again, very grateful to her. The design team at Pen and Sword, led by Matt Jones, have produced a most handsome book, as is their wont.

I have acknowledged, where possible, the sources of maps and photographs where the copyright is available. In many cases the copyright has expired and I can only offer grateful thanks to the originators of sources that are unknown.

Finally, any errors or omissions are mine alone.

Tank Nash

Malmesbury, Wiltshire

March 2022

Australian Army Service Corps

American-British-Dutch-Australian forces

American-British-Dutch-Australian Command

Aide-de-Camp

Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom

British Expeditionary Force

British Pacific Fleet

Burma Corps

Combat Air Patrol

casualty evacuation

Chinese Expeditionary Force

Commander Air, Solomon Islands

COSMOPA Command of the South Pacific Area

policy chemical weapons policy

6-wheeled amphibious truck

Eastern Assault Convoy

Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere

General Officer Commanding

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief

Far East Air Force

His Majestys Australian Ship

His Majestys Government

Her Netherlands Majestys Ship

Imperial Japanese Army

Imperial Japanese Navy

Indian National Army

Judge Advocate General

Long Range Penetration

Landing Ships, Tank

motor torpedo boat

NSDAP Nazi Party

North Vietnam Army

observation post

boat patrol torpedo boat

Royal Australian Air Force

Royal Australian Navy

Supreme Allied Commander Southeast Asia Command

signals intelligence

Signal Intelligence Service (US Army)

Special Reserve Battalion

Task Group

wartime signals intelligence

United States Army Air Force

US Army Forces in the Far East

United States Marine Corps

United States Navy

Western Assault Convoy

War Plan Orange

The Second World War had been over for twenty-six years when I was posted to Singapore in 1971 to join 28 Brigade. I was a captain, with aspirations of a majority one day. On arrival I reported to my new commanding officer. He made me feel welcome but then spoiled my day by asking me to take on the role of Officers Mess Secretary as an extramural appointment.

Sembawang Officers Mess was a building redolent of colonial times, atop a hill and overlooking the airstrip and, in the distance, the Straits of Johore. The brigade headquarters shared the mess with 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR), recently arrived from Vietnam.