BOOK LAUNCH EVENT ON OCT16 AT BIC IN BANGALORE Meet family members of Indian soldiers who defended Singapore in WW2 as theyreminisce about the soldiers' war and that of their waiting wives and families at home. 🗓 Thursday, 16 October 2025 | 6:30 PM 📍 Venue: Bangalore International Centre

97-year old Lt Asha Sahay Chaudhary died peacefully at her home in Patna surrounded by her family on Aug 12, 2025. She was possibly the last known survivor of the all-female Rani of Jhansi Regiment of the Indian National Army. #IndianArmy #INA #IndianNationalArmy #WW2 #Indianindependence

British POWs officers of the Indian Army in Changi Singapore 20 May 1943, an astonishing survival as it was misfiled. They were all kept together & not sent on work parties to prevent them from interacting with the Indian POWs in the city who had served under them. #IndianArmy #WW2 #SingaporeWW2

War is a terrible mistake. This might seem obvious, but Singapore; Jeya Ayadurai, MBE, explained why this still happens - Speaking to radio FM 89.3 on the 80th anniversary of end of WW2 VJ on August 15. #WW2 #WW2Singapore #IndianArmy omny.fm/shows/moneyf...

Aug 18, 1945, Bose boards a Japanese plane at Taihoku. Minutes later, it crashes. Bose is fatally burned, his last words recorded for the Emperor of Japan. Yet a seating chart from that very flight still raises more questions than answers. Source: Jun Shimada, NAI & Wikimedia Commons

Rash Behari Bose (1886–1945) took India’s freedom struggle abroad. From the 1912 Hardinge assassination attempt to the 1915 Ghadar Mutiny, exile in Japan, and Pan-Asian networks, he laid the groundwork for what became the INA. Source - /https://www.atpress.ne.jp/news/104283 #gautamhazarika

On 18 Aug 1945, #SubhasChandraBose was reported to have died after a #planecrash at Taihoku, now Taipei. The aircraft caught fire; Bose was said to have succumbed to burns in hospital. Still, controversy over his fate has persisted for nearly 80 years. Source: The Statesman

Tribute to Prof. Chandar S. Sundaram (1960–2025), #historian of the Colonial #Indian & National Armies. As a #novice, I was moved by his generosity, he read my sources, guided me, and gave me confidence. My regret is not being there enough when he was unwell. You went far too early. #RIP.

A moving service yesterday by the Malayan Volunteer Group (MVG), to commemorate POWs/ civilian internees from Singapore/ #Malaya. Most poignant were the words of these men and women, from their letters and diaries, read out 80 years later by their descendants. #ww2books #ww2 #gautamhazarika #VJday

UK PM Sir Keir Starmer wheeling a veteran of WWII in the Far East after the event commemorating the 80th anniversary of VJ (Victory against Japan) day, held on August 15 at the National Memorial Arboretum. #ww2books #ww2 #historyfacts #gautamhazarika #historylovers #worldwar2 #history #japan #VJday

King Charles stands to honour the 104-year-old #Indianarmy veteran Capt Yavvar Abbas, who had just honoured him, at the commemoration event on August 15, of the 80th anniversary of VJ (Victory against Japan) Day that marked the end of #WWII. #ww2books #gautamhazarika #history #japan #VJday

On August 15, 1945, for the first time, the #Japanese people heard their emperor’s voice. Through crackling radios, #Hirohito announced #Japan’s surrender in words few understood, but with a meaning all recognised: the war was over. Source: Atomic Heritage Foundation, Jewel Voice Broadcast

15 August — a date that holds two freedoms. 1945: #Japan surrenders, WWII ends. 1947: India claims its #independence. Two years apart. Same day. Both hard-won. Source: National Archives / Public Domain #ww2books #ww2 #gautamhazarika #worldwar2 #August15th #indianhistory #IndependenceDay

On this day, Aug 12, 1942 – At #Singapore’s Farrer Park, Indian POWs faced a choice: remain captives or join a new force to free #India with Japanese help.. Led by Capt. Mohan Singh, many chose the latter, planting the seeds of the #indiannationalarmy. Source: National Archives of India

Thanks Phil for writing this fabulous book on the (not) end of WWII and the chance to interview you about it. And congratulations on completing your trilogy. #WW2 #IndianArmy scroll.in/article/1084...

INDIAN POWs in Borneo Naik (Corporal) Surat Singh, 17 Field Company Bombay Sappers stands silently looking at graves of 6 soldiers of the Indian Army at Lutong Camp in Borneo, likely those shot/ beheaded by the Japanese on 27Jun1945. Sources AWM, ICWC #WW2, #WW2Singapore #WW2Borneo #IndianArmy

INDIAN POW LIFE IN SINGAPORE- a page from a diary kept by an unknown Indian POW in wartime Singapore – he is writing the HINDI alphabet using blank Bank of China stationery. Source:National Archives India #WW2, #WW2Singapore #IndianArmy LEST WE FORGET. Share this post to keep their memory alive.

JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF SINGAPORE Nusan has kindly “photo-ized” the wartime print posted 2 days ago – of Singapore’s naval base being used by the Japanese navy. Add a touch of reality to it, almost as if we were there. #WW2, #WW2Singapore

JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF SINGAPORE Wartime prints of Sembawang Naval Base. Inaugurated on 14Feb1938 after almost 20 years of fits and starts, it was barely used by the Royal Navy but served as a large base for the Japanese navy. Source The Great Japanese Maritime Society of Arts #WW2, #WW2Singapore

On its 180th birthday today, here is the last wartime Straits Times of Singapore published on 14Feb1942 #WW2, #WW2Singapore #Changi

FRIENDSHIP IN WARTIME SINGAPORE - following on my post yesterday Nusan has kindly colourised the picture of Indian Army soldiers fraternising with the ladies in 1941. Hope you like it. #WW2, #WW2Singapore #IndianArmy #Gurkha LEST WE FORGET. Share this post to keep their memory alive.

FRIENDSHIP IN WARTIME IN SINGAPORE – Half of the soldiers defending Singapore/ Malaya in World War II were Indian. Here Gurkhas fraternize with the ladies – in a sequence of photos (colourised by Nusan) taken by Harrison Foreman in 1941 #WW2, #WW2Singapore #IndianArmy

The sinking of the HMS Prince of Wales & Repulse by Japanese planes on 10Dec1941. Searching for the Japanese invasion force, with little air cover, the ships were sunk with the loss of 840 lives. #WW2, #WW2Singapore, #HMSPrinceofWales #HMSRepulse Source: Great Japanese Maritime Society of Arts

Indian Anti-Aircraft gunners of the HKSAR training in 1941. Entrusted with the air-defence of Malaysia/Singapore, with just 150 guns they were very thinly spread out and could do little. Source Harrison Foreman UWM Archives. #WW2, #WW2Singapore #IndianArmy

With Olga Henderson, the 93-year-old survivor of Changi internment camp in World War II Singapore. Olga was just 9 went she and her family were taken from their home and idyllic life in Johore, to be confined within the walls of Changi Prison. #WW2, #Civilianinternees, #WW2Singapore, #Changi

An afternoon with Phil Craig - a great chat on his newest book, 1945 The Reckoning – War, Empire and the Struggle for a New World. Watch out for the interview coming soon www.hodder.co.uk/titles/phil-... #philmcraig

Today is the 81st anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy. Warplanes providing cover were painted with these distinctive white stripes to prevent friendly fire. Here is a model in my collection of a Typhoon fighter bomber, named CHINA BRITISH #WW2 #penguinbooks #penandswordbooks

An Imagined Japanese wartime air raid on Manhattan, published around August 1943 when the war was going badly for them. From the series Art from the Naval Campaigns of the Greater East Asia War Source www.asiabookroom.com #WW2 #JapanesePropaganda

Dr Ghee Bowman 1961-2025. The untimely passing of Dr Bowman, a great storyteller of the Indian Army in World War II is an irreparable loss. He was the author of two well researched books on the experience of Indian soldiers, both cracking reads. Here is my tribute. scroll.in/article/1082...

The Anti-Japanese resistance within the Indian National Army in wartime Singapore - See my article on how they tried to undermine Japanese influence from the inside, sourced from documents in National Archives of India. scroll.in/article/1081...

INDIAN POW LIFE IN WW2 SINGAPORE – A Geography Lesson for Sepoy Lal Singh, 2/17 Dogra LEST WE FORGET – share this post to keep the memory alive of those who served. #IndianArmy #IndianPOW #SingaporeWW2 #FEPOW #WW2 Source NAI

OCCUPATION OF SINGAPORE – CELEBRATING EASTER IN CHANGI GAOL On this day 83 years ago – 4Apr1942 A surprise gift of cigarettes and a boiled egg - the first for most in almost 2 months are the highlights. NEVER AGAIN #WW2 #SingaporeWW2 #InterneesWW2 cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-RCMS...

The beheading of Indian POW Sepoy Mohd Shafi and other atrocities – First WWII War Crimes Trial in Singapore See my article on what happened. The beheader identified as No.2 in the photo was sentenced to death by hanging. #IndianArmy #IndianPOW #SingaporeWW2 #FEPOW #WW2 scroll.in/article/1080...

INDIAN POW LIFE IN SINGAPORE – Tamil to Hindi Dictionary in Roman-Hindi, another rare survival as little records exist today of their captivity. #IndianArmy #IndianPOW #SingaporeWW2 #FEPOW #WW2 Source NAI

INDIAN POW LIFE IN SINGAPORE – SARDARA SINGH’S SIGNATURE - THE ANSWER On the 17th you had seen 7 samples of Singh’s signature, and guessed which he would finally use. Here is a document signed by him – it was signature No. 2 #IndianArmy #IndianPOW #SingaporeWW2 #FEPOW #WW2 Source NAI

Am quite chuffed featuring in Teleskop’s video on collecting – it’s an app that help’s you track your asset’s and its’s special as it enabled me to catalogue my collection of books, maps and paintings. Thanks Teleskop Technologies! www.instagram.com/reel/DHTFHQB...

NDIAN POW LIFE IN SINGAPORE – GUESS WHICH SIGNATURE SARDARA SINGH FINALLY USES. pls reply with the numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 7 and tomorrow you will see if you have guessed correctly when I post a document he has signed. #IndianArmy #IndianPOW #SingaporeWW2 #FEPOW #WW2 Source NAI

OCCUPATION OF SINGAPORE – On this day 83 years ago – 11Mar1942 – First issue of Changi Guardian, a newspaper at the European men’s internee camp at Changi Prison. NEVER AGAIN. #WW2 #SingaporeWW2 #InterneesWW2 Images-manuscript by Miller/Wade Changi 1942 in my collection.

A tribute to the Historian Dr Tilak Raj Sareen on his First Death Anniversary – Sareen Sahab wrote about the Indian Independence Movement overseas - he was unique in sharing his research through his documentary histories, an archive in themselves. Farewell Sir & Thank You. scroll.in/article/1079...

TALK ON SINGAPORE WAR CRIMES TRIALS on 26Feb at Haw Par Villa - part of NHB annual Battle for Singapore series - covered Indian POWs, European and Singaporean civilians. NEVER AGAIN. Share this post to keep their memory alive. #WW2 #SingaporeWW2 #InterneesWW2 #WarCrimes #IndianArmy #IndianPOW

OCCUPATION OF SINGAPORE – 9 MILE MARCH TO CHANGI GAOL – 83 years ago today – 6Mar1942 A sketch & an account by Mr. WFN Churchill, one of the “Heaven-born” in the Malayan Civil Service and now an internee is here cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-RCMS... #SingaporeWW2 #FEPOW #WW2 #InterneesWW2

OCCUPATION OF SINGAPORE – Today 83 yrs ago 5Mar1942 - AN UNPLEASANT AFTERNOON SURPRISE AT KARIKAL - a move to Changi Prison next morning. Hastily, the last issue No. 14 Karikal Chronicles was published with instructions cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-RCMS... #SingaporeWW2 #FEPOW #WW2 #InterneesWW2

OCCUPATION OF SINGAPORE – A NORMAL MORNING AT KARIKAL MAHAL – SOON TO TURN UPSIDE DOWN. #SingaporeWW2 #FEPOW #WW2 #InterneesWW2 Source: We Published in Prison by H. Miller & G.H.Wade, a manuscript made later that year in Changi Jail where they moved, in my collection.

INDIAN POW IN SINGAPORE In a rare survival, he says (a lot lost in translation) MY MOTHER AND SISTER HAVE BEEN CHIDING ME THE LAST TIME I WAS IN THEIR EMBRACE WAS THE GOOD OLD DAYS THAT WERE SO LONG AGO #IndianArmy #IndianPOW #SingaporeWW2 #FEPOW #WW2 Source NAI, Glory Macwan, Amoli Son

OCCUPATION OF SINGAPORE – On this day 83 years ago today, 3Mar1942, The Shonan Times announced more of the Japanese Makeover of the city - new names, dates, time zones, as well as Allied & Japanese losses in the campaign. NEVER AGAIN. #WW2 #SingaporeWW2 # Source: Miller papers IWM

OCCUPATION OF SINGAPORE: OTD 83 yrs ago today, 2Mar1942, the 10th issue of the Karikal Chronicles published in the European male internee camp at Karikal Mahal, Singapore IMAGESmanuscript We Published in Prison by H. Miller & G.H.Wade, Changi 1942 in my collection. #WW2 #SingaporeWW2 #InterneesWW2

OCCUPATION OF SINGAPORE: On this day 83 years ago today, 27Feb1942, the 8th issue of the Karikal Chronicles was out – the newspaper of the male European internee camp at Karikal Mahal in Singapore. #WW2 #SingaporeWW2 #InterneesWW2 Images Miller/ Wade fm my collection

81 Years ago today - 8000 men died including over 2000 Indian POWs when the Japanese "Hell Ships" Tango & Ryusei Maru were sunk by USS Rasher. See my article below. #IndianArmy #IndianPOW #WW2 #SingaporeWW2 #HellShip Source Peter Cundall/ Lynetta Silver, NAA, image public scroll.in/article/1079...

Hi, for those in Singapore, my talk on War Crimes Trials in Singapore Wednesday Feb26 at Haw Par Villa at 6pm To register see the link enclosed. Thanks hpvroamtalk-bsg2025.peatix.com

OCCUPATION OF SINGAPORE – The first wartime newspaper, Karikal Chronicles Issue 1 on 19Feb1942, 83 years ago today. NEVER AGAIN. Share this post to keep their memory alive. #WW2 #SingaporeWW2 #InterneesWW2 cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-RCMS...