The Fall of Singapore

World War II is widely regarded as the largest global conflict ever, with more than 100 million people being directly involved and with an estimated number of fatalities between 50 and 85 million. The Second World War not only tested the military power of many countries, but more importantly the relationships and cooperation between these nations. For Australia, a relatively new country, this was only their third military engagement and a chance to prove their loyalty to Britain and the Empire. However, for Australia, war brought the distinct possibility of breaking such formalities between countries, and in the Pacific no battle would test Australia’s relationship with Britain more than Singapore. The Allied defeat at Singapore in 1942 changed the relations between Australia and Britain to a substantial extent, in an era when Britain’s imperialistic rule of Australia was still present. The repercussions of the result of this battle signified an historic change in Australia’s relationship with Britain due to Australia’s decision to ally itself with the United States (US). The resulting decline of British influence in Australia was an outcome, as well as Australia’s loss of trust and loyalty in Britain.

While Britain’s Empire crumbled, so did the loyalty Australia had so willingly placed in Britain since the late 1700’s. This loyalty began to disappear when Australia allied themselves with the US, and when Australian Prime Minister, John Curtin altered the country’s foreign policies; however, the ‘nail in the coffin’ was Britain’s lack of support in Australia’s time of crisis. With Britain’s apparent ‘fortress of the east’ having fallen, Australia was left extremely vulnerable to direct attack, and four days after the Japanese took Singapore, Darwin was bombed with 240 civilian casualties, and as a result the Pacific became Australia’s largest priority (Skwirk.com, 2014). Almost immediately, Australia looked towards Britain for assistance, however British