Following September 1940 when Japanese forces entered northern Indo-China, the Australian Government had become most concerned about the security of Singapore. From October 1940, the British and Dominion garrison there was steadily strengthened, including the 8th Division (less one brigade) which arrived in February 1941. In accordance with an agreement with the Netherlands East Indies made in early 1941, Australian battalion groups were landed at Ambon and Timor by mid-December 1941.

The Pearl Harbour attack was not the only Japanese operation in early December 1941. Japanese forces landed in Thailand and Malaya and attacked the Philippines. They advanced quickly, capturing Rabaul by 23 January 1942 and accepting the capitulation of Singapore on 15 February. Both Timor and Ambon were overrun by the Japanese by 23 February 1942 ( although some 300 Australians continued to harass them in Timor until withdrawn between December 1942 and February 1943). By 12 March the Japanese had taken Java.

Australian casualties in the campaign were 18,940, including 1,789 killed and 1,306 wounded

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