 The fall of Singapore was described by Winston Churchill as " the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history " . It was a profound blow to the prestige and morale of the British Empire . The promised fleet had not been sent , and the fortress that had been declared " impregnable " had been quickly captured . Nearly 139 @,@ 000 troops were lost , of whom about 130 @,@ 000 were captured . The 38 @,@ 000 British casualties included most of the British 18th Infantry Division , which had been ordered to Malaya in January . There were also 18 @,@ 000 Australian casualties , including most of the Australian 8th Division , and 14 @,@ 000 local troops ; but the majority of the defenders — some 67 @,@ 000 of them — were from British India . About 40 @,@ 000 of the Indian prisoners of war subsequently joined the Japanese @-@ sponsored Indian National Army . 
