[1] The Brigade participated in the Battle of Singapore against the Japanese until the surrender of the garrison in February 1942.

With the collapse of the defences in Kota Bahru, the Battalion was withdrawn to Singapore and was joined with the 1st Malaya Infantry Brigade on 18 December 1941.

[4] All organised Allied forces in Malaya had retreated to Singapore on 31 January 1942.

[5] The Brigade put up a stubborn defence during the Battle of Pasir Panjang[6] which included the famous last stand at Bukit Chandu led by a platoon of C Company of the Malay Regiment under the command of 2Lt Adnan bin Saidi.

[7][8] With the fall of the Pasir Panjang Ridge, the Brigade fell back to the defensive line established along Mount Echo in Tanglin to Buona Vista.