Long galley proofs of a contemporary despatch by Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham [former Commander-in-Chief, Far East] covering the period 17 October 1940 to 27 December 1941, with sections on: the formation, problems, and work of General Headquarters, Far East; factors affecting the defence of Malaya and Borneo [later Malaysia], Burma [later Myanmar], and Hong Kong; neighbouring countries; the development of the British Air Forces in the Far East; army strength and requirements in Malaya; events leading up to the war; the start of hostilities; the retreat from northern Malaya; the attack on and fall of Hong Kong; operations in Burma and Sarawak [later Malaysia]; special features of the operations; with an introduction by Brooke-Popham (dated 28 May 1942), appendices reprinting directives and instructions, and giving details of strengths and orders of battle, and explanatory footnotes. [annotated by Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall].