In 19 forty two, the British prime minister issues a series of orders to troops in singapore. He tells them that they must fight to the death and destroy every strong point individually. The officers will die with their men, and the ruins of singapore will be our tomb says churchill. It was reported to the cabinet by c i g s bcival percival, 17 thousand australian soldiers are needed on singapore alone. In these circumstances, he writes, the defenders must greatly outnumber japanese forces who have crossed the strait.