Badge – Fall of Singapore

$6.00

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Description

The fall of Singapore to the Imperial Japanese Army on 15th February 1942 was a crushing defeat for the British Empire.  Nearly 130,000 troops, including 15,000 Australians were surrendered.  In one of the first attacks of the Asia-Pacific War, Japanese bombers struck the island on 8th December 1941.  That day Japan invaded the Malay peninsula and advanced toward Singapore.  On 8th Febrary 1942 Singapore’s defences were breached and despite pockets of strong resistance over ensuing days, by 15th February the British commander, Lt-Gen Arthur Percival, called for a ceasefire.  Britain’s stronghold in the region was lost.  It would be up to Australia and the United States to stop the Japanese.