 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Muna December 1941, kupinda kweJapan muMalayarakatanga. Bennett akazviwana ari mutungamiri wesimba re ad hoc rinozivikanwa se Westforce, iyo yaisanganisira Australian 27th Brigade asi kwete yechi22, iyo yakanga yaendeswa kuIII Indian Corps uye zvikamu zvakawanda zveIndia. Mauto aBennett haana kubatanidzwa mumatanho ekutanga ehondo sezvo kurwiswa kwekutanga kweJapan kwakawira pamayuniti eBritish neIndia akatenderedza Kota Bharu nemuganhu weThai-Malay; asi sezvo maJapan akadzosera vadziviriri kumashure uye vakafambira mberi muJohore, maAustralia vakarwa mabasa akati wandei muna Ndira. Zvikurusa zvacho zvakauya pedyo neGemas neMuar, uko vaAustralia vakawana kumwe kubudirira kwenzvimbo vasati vamanikidzwa kudzokera kuSingapore pamwe chete nemamwe mauto eAllied pakupera kwemwedzi. 