Figure 1.-- The fall of Singapore shocked America and even more so Britain. Most Americans, howwever, were focused on the Philippines. It was Australia, however, that was directly affected. Singapore and the Royal Navy were the cornerstone of Australia's defense. With the surrender of the Singapore garison. Australia was not only essentially on her own, but largely defensless. Most of the Australian Army was a world away with the British 8th Army in North Africa. Prime-Minister Curtin described the disaster at Singapore as 'Australia's Dunkirk' and told the Australian people that it would be followed by the 'Battle for Australia'.

The Japanese seizure of Singapore and the surrender of the 120,000 British (British, Australian, and Indian) garison shocked public opinion (February 15). Singapore was the principal British base in the Pacific. It was described as inpregnable anf the Gibraltar of the Pacific. The comparative ease with which the Japanese took Singapore was particularly shocking. The American public was still reeling from Pearl Harbor and was focused on the Philippines. Singapore was just one more piece of bad news, anbeit aaticularly shocvking one. It was much more shocking in Britain. The British public believed that Singapre was impregnavle and it was the largest surrender in British Army hidstory. (Until Singapore the obkly British field amies to surrender had been in the American Recolution.) It did not, however, immediately affect Britain which because of the Nattle of Britain and the arrival of American forces was relatively secure. It did directly affect Australia. Singapore and the Royal Navy were the cornerstone of Australia's defense. With the surrender of the Singapore garison. Australia was not only essentially on her own, but largely defensless. Most of the Australian Army was a world away with the British 8th Army in North Africa. Primeminister Curtin described the disaster at Singapore as 'Australia's Dunkirk� and told the Australian people that it woukd be followed by the 'Battle for Australia'. And the Japanese further unerved Australians 4 days after Singapore fell by launching the first air strik on Darwin (February 19).

Created: 9:27 AM 3/7/2010
Last updated: 9:27 AM 3/7/2010