<prompt> Andika mwendelezo wa aya hii - Jeshi la Australia lilipata ushindi mara kadhaa katika miezi ya mwanzo ya Vita vya Pasifiki. The 8th Division and RAAF squadrons in Malaya formed a part of the British Commonwealth forces which were unable to stop a smaller Japanese invasion force which landed on 7 December. The 8th Division and RAAF squadrons in Malaya formed a part of the British Commonwealth forces which were unable to stop a smaller Japanese invasion force which landed on 7 December. Kikosi cha Jumuiya ya Madola ya Uingereza kilirudi Singapore mwishoni mwa Januari, lakini kililazimika kujisalimisha tarehe 15 Februari baada ya Wajapani kukamata sehemu kubwa ya kisiwa hicho. Vikosi vidogo vya Australia vilipigwa na kushindwa mapema mwaka wa 1942 huko Rabaul, na huko Ambon, Timor  <response>: , na Java. Jiji la Australia la Darwin lilibomolewa sana na Wajapani mnamo Februari 19, ili kuzuia lisitumike kama kituo cha Allied. Zaidi ya Waaustralia 22,000 walipelekwa uhamishoni mapema mwaka wa 1942 na wakavumilia hali ngumu katika utekwa wa Wajapani. Wafungwa walipatwa na utapiamlo, wakakatazwa matibabu na mara nyingi walipigwa na kuuawa na walinzi wao. Matokeo yakawa kwamba wafungwa 8,296 wa Australia walikufa wakiwa kifungoni. 