Today we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Fall of Singapore during the Second World War, one of the worst military disasters in Australian and British history.
Some 15,000 Australians were taken prisoner by the Japanese when British and Commonwealth forces surrendered on 15 February 1942, and were held firstly at Changi and later at other locations across Southeast and East Asia, including Japan.
These prisoners of war endured great suffering and by the end of the war, more than 7,000 had died in captivity.
Singapore was home to a British naval base, with a large force stationed on the island that included many who had been evacuated after serving in Malaya.
On 8 February 1942, Japanese forces began their attack on the island from the north-west.
While fighting was intense, the battle was short-lived. Japanese forces seized control of the island’s main water reservoirs, and soon after, the Allies, who were disorganised and lacking supplies and air support, were forced to surrender.
Four days after the Fall of Singapore, Japan bombed Darwin, bringing the war to the Australian mainland for the first time.
These events stunned the nation and led the Australian Government under Labor Prime Minister John Curtin to reconsider our place in the world and our traditional ties with Britain.
It marked the beginning of the Alliance with the United States – a partnership that continued throughout the Second World War and beyond, and remains a bipartisan pillar of Australia’s national security policy.
Today we remember those who served during the Second World War, particularly those who took part in the campaign in Malaya and on Singapore.
Their sacrifice in service of our nation should always be remembered.
If you would like to know more about the Fall of Singapore, visit the Anzac Portal.
This afternoon, the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial will commemorate the service of Private Harry Bernard Longley, and all those who took part in the Malaya and Singapore campaign.
You can watch the ceremony live here.
