| Original caption: “Singapore—the cornerstone of the Malay Barrier — fell to the Japanese. An enormous blow to British prestige, the capture of the vulnerable stronghold at the tip of the Malay Peninsula foreshadowed the demise of Australian-British-Dutch-American (ABDA) Command. Japanese soldiers guard a group of Singapore’s defeated defenders. The 5th and 6th (City of Norwich) Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment, were both assigned to the 53rd Infantry Brigade, and the 4th Battalion to the 54th Infantry Brigade. Both brigades were part of the 18th Infantry Division. The Norfolks arrived in Singapore at different times; the 5th and 6th arrived on January 13, 1942, and the 4th on January 29. They received very little training before the 5th Battalion was deployed in Johore on January 16, 1942, just north of Singapore. They were tasked with keeping the only road still in Allied hands to Singapore open; they held it until January 26, so they destroyed 250 transport vehicles and fled through the jungle on foot. The bulk of the Battalion was evacuated by the Royal Navy by January 28. On the same day, all Allied troops were ordered to retreat to Singapore. The 6th Battalion fought in Malaya at Yong Peng from January 16, but had trouble containing Japanese infiltrations at the Simpang-Kanan River on January 20. They held Senggarang on January 24, but 2 days later, they had to make a fighting withdrawal to Singapore, destroying 250 transport vehicles and fleeing through the jungle on foot. The 4th Battalion endured heavy aerial bombing and fought at Bukit Timah on February 12. Without anti-tank weapons, they fought Japanese tanks. At the surrender, the 5th and 6th Norfolks were at Bradell Road. They were glad to get their 1st night of rest in many weeks on February 15-16, 1942, after the surrender. They endured, however, 3 1/2 years of starvation and harsh working conditions in Japanese prison camps. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1533.jpg |
| Image Size | 985.81 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 3733 x 2585 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | February 15, 1942 |
| Location | Bradell Road |
| City | Singapore |
| State or Province | Straits Settlements |
| Country | Singapore |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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