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How The Fall Of Singapore Affected Australia

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The Fall Of Singapore was a devastating loss for the British Empire in WWII. As a result of this battle repercussions were felt by Australia. The Fall Of Singapore occurred on the 15th of February 1942, it was the end of the Malayan Campaign, which started on the 8th of December 1941. This campaign lasted for 68 days and left a significant legacy for everyone involved and many others. (Daily Mercury, 2012) In order to fully understand the fall of Singapore and how it affected Australia we must first look at what the Fall Of Singapore was. Then look at how Australia was involved and as a result of this look at how the Fall Of Singapore impacted Australia. Singapore was a sign of British Power in East Asia. (Ww2australia.gov.au, n.d.) This gave …show more content…

Australia felt as though they had no security due to the surrendering of the British in 1942. This loss to the Japanese meant that Australia had no protective barrier against the Japs and felt as though there was nothing stopping them from invading Australia. (Mcarthur, 2011) Many Australian soldiers were involved in WWII especially in the Malayan Campaign. More than 20,000 Australian soldiers fought and of these 20,000, 15,000 were taken prisoners of war after the final surrender. (Daily Mercury, 2012) 14 per cent of troops defending Singapore were Australians. Australians suffered 73% of the battle deaths. (Murdoch, 2012) This goes to show that Australia was greatly impacted losing many brave soldiers in battle. The speed and ferocity in which Japan attacked Singapore was very unsettling for Britain and Australia worrying both parties, as there was a fear that they could strike again. The fall of Singapore was not the extent of how the Japanese affected the Australians, within four days of the surrender to the Japanese, 90 Japanese aircraft bombed the north part of Darwin. (Mcarthur, 2011) This was devastating to Australians affected because they realised that the war could come to Australia and they were not safe anymore. After this tragedy Australia could no longer rely on Britain and turned to America, which was stated by John Curtin the Prime Minister at the time. (Mcarthur, 2011) The Fall Of Singapore

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