Fall of Singapore

WORLD WAR II
WAR IN THE PACIFIC, FALL OF SINGAPORE

Introduction
Singapore was a symbol of British power in Asia; while it stood strong the people of Australia felt confident that
the British navy would come to their aid in the event of a Japanese attack. Singapore played a pivotal role in
Australia’s defensive plans, which relied on the promise of a British fleet being sent to Singapore to discourage
Japanese aggression in the region.
The Australian 8th Division of the 2AIF had been stationed in Malaya since 1940 and the island of Singapore, at
the southern end of the peninsula, was the base of the British navy in Asia. Singapore appeared to be a stronghold
whose coastlines could always be defended from invasion. So long as Britain maintained its presence there, and
continued to defend the island and the seas around it, Australia felt
protected.
The British expected an attack on Singapore to come from the sea. There
were no permanent defences on the landward side, and Singapore's big
guns pointed towards the ocean and couldn't be turned around. However,
the Japanese advanced by land and the troops moved quickly down the
Malay Peninsula, many on bicycles.
Alert in the East (video) Source A

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C188955
1. Identify the events the video mentions occurring in 1819 and 1938. Why do you think no mention is made of
Singapore’s history before this time?
2. Why does the film say that Singapore is important as a naval base?
3. How does the commentator describe the Royal Air Force? Why do you think such extravagant terms are
used?
4. The Fleet Air Arm is the air branch of the British Royal Navy. Describe what you see them practising in the
film.
5. Describe the effect of the background music used in the film.
Strained Ties
World War Two

Australia’s entry WWII
Churchill and Curtin Exchange
However, British Prime Minister Churchill and his war cabinet were instead focused
on fighting the forces of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy in Europe and North Africa https://www.naa.gov.au/students-and-
and could not spare the ships. In early December 1940, the outdated warships teachers/learning-resources/learning-
resource-themes/war/world-war-ii/
HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse arrived to appease Australian fears. Japanese defence-singapore-correspondence-
aggression increased and it became clear to Australian Prime Minister Curtin that prime-minister-john-curtin-uk-prime-
Britain would not be able to guarantee the security of Australia. To make matters minister-winston-churchill
worse, all of Australia’s fighting divisions were serving overseas. Churchill insisted
that the 6th and 7th Divisions of the 2AIF should remain in the Middle East to support the British Army, but
Curtin challenged him and a furious exchange of telegrams between the two leaders ensued. Eventually Curtin
was successful and the 2AIF was recalled for duty closer to Australia.
Extension:
1. Click to the URL, examining the telegram, why do historians believe the exchanges between Curtin and
Churchill were heated/bitter?
Growing problems and the attack
The day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces began their invasion of the Malay Peninsula. On the
10th of December 1941, Japanese bombers sank two British warships, the Repulse and the Prince of Wales, off
the coast of Malaya. This was a serious blow for Britain and its naval strength. Singapore's defences were
severely weakened and there was increasing concern in Australia. Singapore was now increasingly vulnerable to
attack, with no planes or ships left to protect it from Japanese bombing.
The British Empire’s soldiers (including Australians) were spread too thinly to stop the Japanese Army from
landing on the north-west of the island. The British defenders in Singapore expected Japanese forces to attack by
sea. Instead, Japanese soldiers rapidly advanced down the Malay Peninsula towards the island while Japanese
aircraft bombed strategic targets. The Indian, British and Australian
defenders were exhausted and caught-off-guard by the speed, relentlessness
and power of the Japanese advance. Japanese forces attacked the island on 8
February 1942 and were threatening the city itself within days. Japanese
aircraft also began bombing the city causing mass panic. Nurses and civilians
were ordered to evacuate under the watchful gaze of the Royal Australian
Navy (RAN). As water supplies became critical and conditions steadily
deteriorated during the sustained ground and aerial bombardment, all hope of
breaking out and achieving victory was lost. The British Commander
General Percival surrendered Singapore on 15 February.
1. What were the issues in Singapore before the attack?

2. Identify the key strategies used by
the Japanese to attack Singapore
3. When did the British Commander
surrender? Japanese troops take cover behind a
steam engine
Source B
World War Two
Map of the Japanese conquest of Singapore island, 1942
Working in small groups, examine the above map and then complete the following:
1. I notice that ... (What catches your attention in the map?)
2. Explain why the Fall of Singapore happened in the way that it did.
The Fall of Singapore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIB7hbrZj7c
1. What did Prime Minister Winston Churchill say after the Fall of Singapore?
2. The presenter states that for the allied troops and Australian soldiers 'there was worse to come'. Describe what he
states was worse after the surrender of Singapore.
Significance Activity
Historical 5 R's
Significance
Remarkable An event/person has been remarked upon by people at the time & since
Remembered The event/person or idea at some stage has been important and remembered by a group of people.
Resulting in Change The event/ person or idea has consequences for the future
Resonate People make analogies with the idea/concept or event and makes 'ripples' through time that connect with
current experiences, attitudes and/or beliefs.
Revealing Reveals some aspect of the past
1. How signficant was the Fall of Singapore? One Paragraph (TEEL)
World War Two


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WORLD WAR II

WAR IN THE PACIFIC, FALL OF SINGAPORE

Alert in the East (video) Source A

World War Two

Growing problems and the attack

1. What were the issues in Singapore before the attack?

The Fall of Singapore

Revealing Reveals some aspect of the past

1. How signficant was the Fall of Singapore? One Paragraph (TEEL)

World War Two

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