The Fall of Singapore
Singapore had expected an attack from the sea and the forces allied with Singapore struggled to respond to the attacks affectively. After the Japanese bombers sank the British warships Repulse and The Prince of Wales off the coast on the 10th of December 1941, the allies’ power was even weaker. The British, Indian and Australian troops as well as thousands of refugees, retreated to the island of Singapore after RAAF squadrons were ordered to evacuate in late December from the Malay Peninsula. Beginning on the 8th of February the Japanese landed on the North West of the Island and attacked. Within 6 days they had reached Singapore city, which was under constant attack from the air also by the Japanese. The allied forces were weary to battle, low in numbers and weakened by the poorly thought out defence strategy. The Royal Australian Navy warships escorted merchant and other ships that were struggling to help people escape capture by the Japanese. The Fall of Singapore and its British naval base was a severe blow to the Allied forces. The British believed that they could not let Singapore be taken by people who they thought were inferior fighters to themselves. Australia believed that Britain’s presence in Singapore should have protected it from Japanese invasion.
The Japanese claimed victory and continued to gain land throughout the pacific. The allied attempts to hold dingapore led to 85,000 troops. By early 1942, 2000 Australians had died fighting and the Japanese had captured 22,000 prisoners of war.
The Japanese claimed victory and continued to gain land throughout the pacific. The allied attempts to hold dingapore led to 85,000 troops. By early 1942, 2000 Australians had died fighting and the Japanese had captured 22,000 prisoners of war.