John Curtin

When Australia changed Burmese history

On 23 December 1941, the Japanese army began the aerial bombing of Rangoon, then crossed the border from Thailand by land, seizing Moulmein at the end of January. On 15 February, Singapore - Britain's "impregnable" fortress in the Far East - fell, and 80,000 Allied troops were captured. On 19 February, the Australian town of Darwin was bombed by the Japanese. By late February, the Japanese 15th Army was fast approaching Rangoon, defeating the 17th Indian Division, and crossing the Sittang...