DK - World War II Map by Map

SURRENDER AT SINGAPORE 119

Johor Bahru

Mandai

Sarimbun Beach Kranji Woodlands

Nee Soon

Seletar

Sembawang

Paya Lebar

Kallang

Sa Ranggong

Bedok

Changi

Tengah

Jurong

Pasir Panjang

Bukit Timah

Choa Chu

Kang

Singapore

Peirce

reservoir

MacRitchie

reservoir

S i

ng

ap

or

e

St

r

a

it

Johor e

S t

ra

it

Pulau Ubin

SINGAPORE ISLAND

MALAYA

27th Australian

Brigade

53rd British

Brigade

54th British

Brigade

22nd Australian

Brigade

1st Malaya

Brigade

18th Infantry
Division

28th Indian

Brigade

5th Infantry

Division Japanese Imperial Guards

Kr

an

ji

△ Hands up in surrender

Faced with almost certain defeat, British and Commonwealth

soldiers in Singapore give themselves up to invading Japanese

troops on February 15, 1942.

THE BRITISH SURRENDER

FEBRUARY 15, 1942

Within the British perimeter, supplies of water,

gasoline, and ammunition were running low.

The Japanese pressed hard against the perimeter,

and on the morning of February 15, Percival, faced

with the impossibility of launching a counterattack,

opted to surrender. The formal surrender

occurred at 5:15 pm, with hostilities ending at

8:30 pm. Around 110,000 British, Indian, and

Australian troops were captured and a further

5,000 killed or wounded. The Japanese suffered

1,714 deaths and 3,378 wounded.

TAKING THE ISLAND FEBRUARY 11–15, 1942 4

The Japanese swept south-east toward Singapore city,

taking Bukit Timah and its Allied food and fuel supply

depots on February 11 and then capturing the water

reservoirs that supplied the city. By February 13,

Japanese engineers had re-built the causeway over

the Johore Strait, allowing them to drive their tanks

across to the island. On February 12–13, the British

established a 28-mile (45-km) defensive perimeter

around the city, behind which they retreated.

3

Jan 31

The British

blow holes in

the causeway

linking the

mainland to

Singapore. Feb 7 The

Japanese launch

a feint attack on

the north-east

of Singapore.

Feb 10 The

Japanese suffer heavy

losses in a battle

around the mouth

of the Kranji River.

Feb 12–15

A Malayan infantry

battalion, two British

infantry battalions,

and a force of Royal

Engineers fight a

bitter defensive

action.

Feb 11

The Japanese take

Bukit Timah.

Feb 14 The Japanese occupy

Alexandra Hospital in the

west of Singapore city, where

they kill up to 50 soldiers and

around 200 patients.

Feb 15

After the Allied

surrender, many

prisoners are held

at Changi Prison.

Japanese advance Feb 11–15

British defensive

perimeter, Feb 13

Johor-Singapore causeway

THE AFTERMATH

FEBRUARY 15, 1942, ONWARD

Most of the captured Allied soldiers were interned

in Changi Prison, where many died. Others were

deported to be used as forced labor. Singapore’s

Chinese, Malay, and Indian citizens all suffered at

Japanese hands. During the Sook Ching massacre

from February 18 to March 4, the Japanese

targeted Chinese civilians, killing up to 70,000.

Singapore would later be recovered by the British

after Japan’s defeat in September 1945.

5

Sook Ching massacre sites

Massacre

Allied defensive

positions

Allied prisoners

US_118-119_The_british_surrende_at_Singapore.indd 119 19/03/19 5:40 PM