<prompt> Bhala okuqhubekayo kwalesi sigaba - Ibutho lase-Australia lahlaselwa kaningi ezinyangeni zokuqala zeMpi YasePacific. I- 8th Division kanye nama-RAAF squadrons eMalaya kwakha ingxenye yamabutho e-British Commonwealth angakwazanga ukumisa ibutho elincane lokuhlasela laseJapan elafika ngomhlaka 7 Disemba. Ibutho leBritish Commonwealth lahoxa eSingapore ekupheleni kukaJanuwari, kodwa laphoqeleka ukuba lizinikele ngoFebhuwari 15 ngemva kokuba amaJapane ethathe ingxenye enkulu yesiqhingi. Amabutho amancane ase - Australia nawo acindezelwa futhi anqotshwa ekuqaleni kuka - 1942 eRabaul, nase - Ambon, eTimor  <response>: , neJava. Idolobhana lase-Australia iDarwin lahlaselwa kakhulu amaJapane ngo-February 19, ukuze avimbele ukuba lisetshenziswe njengesisekelo se-Allied. Abantu base - Australia abangaphezu kuka - 22 000 bathunjwa ekuqaleni kuka - 1942 futhi bakhuthazelela izimo ezinzima ekuboshweni amaJapane. Iziboshwa zazincishwa ukudla okunomsoco, zinqatshelwe ukwelashwa futhi ngokuvamile zazishaywa futhi zibulawe onogada bazo. Ngenxa yalokho, kwafa iziboshwa zase - Australia ezingu - 8 296 lapho zisejele. 