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The Australian defenders were battle-weary, having lost nearly 700 men fighting in Malaya since 14 January, with hundreds of others wounded or sick.
The Australian defenders were battle-weary, having lost nearly 700 men fighting in Malaya since 14 January, with hundreds of others wounded or sick.
On 5 February 1942, down to 18 tanks and lacking ammunition and food, a small force commanded by Lieutenant General [[Tomoyuki Yamashita]] attacked the island of Pulau Ubin off Singapore’s northeast coast. This diversion deceived General Percival, commander of the forces in Singapore, who moved his major ammunitions stores to the east. The main Japanese attack came later from the northwest.
On 8 February, the actual attack on Singapore started with the landing of troops on the northwest coast. Australian troops fought well initially, inflicting heavy casualties on the Japanese. However, the Australian defenders retreated unnecessarily amidst the confusion of battle, allowing the Japanese to establish a beachhead. Subsequent landings by the Japanese were unopposed. The military situation for the British and Indian defenders under Lieutenant-General [[Arthur Percival worsened]].
==Civilian evacuations==
==Civilian evacuations==