regiment was based in East Anglia on defensive duties until the end of the year, then moved to Scotland for training. On 18 May 1941 it formed its third battery, numbered 483. It departed for overseas service with the 18th Infantry Division on 28 October 1941. The regiment was destined to reinforce the Eighth Army in Egypt, however in response to the Japanese invasion of Malaya, the division was diverted to British Malaya and arrived in January 1942. The 118th Field Regiment landed at Singapore, on 29 January, amidst Japanese air raids. The city was already under threat from advancing Japanese forces, and the 18th Infantry Division were stationed to defend the northern part of the island. The Japanese began a heavy bombardment of the island on 5 February, to which the British artillery replied with counter battery fire, together with harassing fire (HF) directed against Japanese preparations. The assault across the Johore Strait began on 8 February, gaining lodgements in the western sector, and by 12 February the 18th Infantry Division began to withdraw to the city's perimeter. It was involved in bitter fighting on 14 February, with the guns crammed into inadequate space under fire. By then 118th Field Regiment was positioned on the Bukit Timah Road. Captain Robert Johnson, acting as FOO for one of the regiment's batteries, rallied a group of infantrymen whose officers had been killed. Communications had broken down with his battery, he ran to and from RHQ under small arms fire with fire orders to be relayed to the guns. The fire that came down as a result of his action destroyed the enemy in front and rather than withdraw the infantry were able to regain some ground. Johnson was awarded the Military Cross. However, the regiment's ammunition was scarce and water supplies were running out. A small cadre from each unit was sent to Sumatra aboard the last boats to leave. The regiment spiked its guns by jamming a second round down the muzzle, before firing the last round using a length of signal cable, splitting the gun barrels. The force surrendered on 15 February. Twenty-two members of the regiment were rendered casualties during the fighting. Authorisation for the regiment to carry the '8th London' subtitle was officially given on 17 February 1942, two days following the surrender. The regiment was officially disbanded on 1 January 1947, when the TA was reformed.