The Australians' resistance is presented as significant but unable to stop multiple Japanese divisions moving around its flanks. Their two-brigade formation could impose costs but could not seal every route against a much larger force. At Singapore, Percival expected the main threat from the northeast while the Japanese came from the northwest. Units already weakened by the campaign then lost cohesion, and the command system could no longer reliably protect or direct its reserve.
Notable Point · 27:58-30:25
A defence positioned for the wrong approach
As Japanese forces outflanked Commonwealth positions in Malaya, Singapore's defence became a struggle to hold together damaged units and an exposed reserve.