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After being imposed a trade embargo due to its invasion of China, Japan began looking for an alternative source of supplies for its war machine. As a result Japan attacked the British fortress of Singapore.

After being imposed a trade embargo due to its invasion of China, Japan began looking for an alternative source of supplies for its war machine. As a result Japan attacked the British fortress of Singapore.

==Japanese invasion==

==Japanese invasion==

The Japanese had prepared for the invasion of Singapore with a heavy bombardment. They began their amphibious landings on the north-west of the island, where the Strait of Johore is narrowest. This area was held by the Australian 22nd Infantry Brigade but late on the night of 8 February the Japanese made their way through undefended sections.

The Japanese had prepared for the invasion of Singapore with a heavy bombardment. They began their amphibious landings on the north-west of the island, where the Strait of Johore is narrowest. This area was held by the Australian 22nd Infantry Brigade but late on the night of 8 February the Japanese made their way through undefended sections.

By midnight, the two Australian brigades had lost communications with each other, and the 22nd Brigade carried out a premature withdrawal according to Professor Brian P. Farrell in the documentary ''No Prisoners'' (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Four Corners series, 2002). In the same documentary Major John Wyett, a 8th Division staff officer, claims the commander of the Australian 22nd Brigade, Brigadier Harold Burfield Taylor cracked under the pressure and says, ''"Taylor was wandering around rather like a man in a sleep walk. He was utterly, utterly, you know, shell-shocked and not able to do very much."'' Clifford Kinvig, a senior lecturer at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, also points the finger of blame at Brigadier Duncan Maxwell, commander of the Australian 27th Brigade for his defeatist attitude and for not properly defending the sector between the Causeway and the Kranji River.

By midnight, the two Australian brigades had lost communications with each other, and the 22nd Brigade carried out a premature withdrawal according to Professor Brian P. Farrell in the documentary ''No Prisoners'' (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Four Corners series, 2002). In the same documentary Major John Wyett, a 8th Division staff officer, claims the commander of the Australian 22nd Brigade, Brigadier Harold Burfield Taylor cracked under the pressure and says, ''"Taylor was wandering around rather like a man in a sleep walk. He was utterly, utterly, you know, shell-shocked and not able to do very much."''<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/specials/noprisoners/transcript.htm 4C Special: No Prisoners]</ref>, and other witnesses reporting that many other deserters were drunk, raping the local Malay and Chinese women.<ref>Clifford Kinvig, a senior lecturer at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, also points the finger of blame at Brigadier Duncan Maxwell, commander of the Australian 27th Brigade for his defeatist attitude and for not properly defending the sector between the Causeway and the Kranji River.

Twenty-four hours later a second Japanese landing force struck between the Causeway and the mouth of the Kranji River, and made rapid progress. By the morning of 10 February there were Japanese troops on most of north-west Singapore.  

Twenty-four hours later a second Japanese landing force struck between the Causeway and the mouth of the Kranji River, and made rapid progress. By the morning of 10 February there were Japanese troops on most of north-west Singapore.