THE LAND BASED MATADOR

Brook-Popham in my opinion was the man on the spot who could evaluate a more accurate assessment of the needs. His plan was a land based Matador  This was a plan of action that envisaged an attack by the Japanese from the North of Malaya via Thailand and the Kara Isthmus.  It was drawn up by Brook-Popham, in August 1941 he submitted his plan to London for approval. (PRO record FO 371/28163)

If implemented at the right time, it possibly could have delayed the Japanese long enough to allow the British forces stationed in Malaya and Singapore to mount a delaying action until reinforcements arrived.

Land Matador relied on assumption that the Japanese would land on the east coast of Thailand at two points that of Songkhia and Pattani.  Then advancing south to Jitra and lower down to Kroh. It was envisaged in Matador that two forces could intercept them just over the boarder in Thailand, thus allowing long enough for the main force to assemble and attack

There was only one problem, if the British were to implement this without the Japanese being at war with Thailand (Siam) first, it would be seen as an attack by the British on a neutral country. To complicate matters further Sir Josiah Cosby the British Ambassador in Siam the previous year 1940 had signed a non-aggression pact with Pibul the President of Thailand.

Requests by Brook-Popham to London for additional resources to cover this Plan were made around January 1941, but remained unfulfilled. Click here for list

It was considered a good plan bearing in mind that it had problems.  But the Land based Matador like the best laid plans, was not to be.  It had is obstacles, one of them being Churchill

He must have disliked it so much I could not find any reference to it in Churchill's memoirs.  He seems to have conveniently forgotten all about it.  Churchill’s distrust of it lay in the political aspects, he also favoured being a naval man, a naval solution.