Tension filled the air between 1 and 8 February 1942, as British and Japanese forces prepared for the battle for Singapore.
On the morning of 8 February 1942, the Japanese began their intensive artillery attack over the northern coast of Singapore. This was a clever deception to distract defending British forces from the planned invasion point at the north-western Sarimbun. Besides confusion, the shelling at the North also caused a breakdown of communication between the Australian front-line troops and their headquarters.
The Sarimbun area was under the command of Brigadier H B Taylor, and defended by the 22nd Australian Brigade. However, the defence of the 4.5 mile northwest coastline was very weak. Stretching from Kranji River to Sarimbun River, the defence line was far too extended for the troop size of 750 men. The terrain, comprising mainly mangrove swamps and heavy jungle, prevented the construction of defence obstacles. The defending forces were further hampered by the shortage of ammunition and searchlights. Confronted by the onslaught of enemy number, the valiant defenders were thoroughly overwhelmed.
Following the successful Japanese landing at Sarimbun, star shell flares were sent into the air – a signal to the Japanese Command Headquarters, at the Sultan of Johore’s palace, that full-scale landings of Japanese Divisional troops could begin.