TL;DR
The first bombs of World War Two were dropped on Singapore soil on 8 December 1941.1 61 people were killed and 133 others injured.2 This was followed by a swift Japanese invasion from the north in Malaya two months later.3 Local forces and the British military were completely overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the Japanese army and surrendered a mere week later.4 Singapore was renamed Syonan-To, or Light of the South, in an occupation which lasted a dreadful 3 years and 7 months.5
Notes
1 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_7_2005-01-25.html
2 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_7_2005-01-25.html
3 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2013-07-19_113523.html
4 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2013-07-19_113523.html
5 http://www.nlb.gov.sg/biblioasia/tag/syonan/
6 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2013-07-19_113523.html
7 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2013-07-19_113523.html
8 https://www.nhb.gov.sg/~/media/nhb/files/places/trails/world%20war%20ii/wwii-text.pdf
9 https://books.google.com.sg/books?id=jGLE74Jdr0IC&pg=PT64&lpg=PT64&dq=“When+you+encounter+the+enemy+after+landing,+think+of+yourself+as+an+avenger+coming+face+to+face+at+last+with+his+father’s+murderer.+Here+is+a+man+whose+death+will+lighten+your+heart.”+–+Excerpt+from+a+manual+issued+to+Japanese+troops+in+Southeast+Asia&source=bl&ots=HMMPnOGnxD&sig=ACfU3U2pq8Fcnto56-j1nvtb0q_wbO7yuA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjq2ZK-rszsAhWs6nMBHWjjAD4Q6AEwBXoECAcQAg#v=onepage&q=“When%20you%20encounter%20the%20enemy%20after%20landing%2C%20think%20of%20yourself%20as%20an%20avenger%20coming%20face%20to%20face%20at%20last%20with%20his%20father’s%20murderer.%20Here%20is%20a%20man%20whose%20death%20will%20lighten%20your%20heart.”%20–%20Excerpt%20from%20a%20manual%20issued%20to%20Japanese%20troops%20in%20Southeast%20Asia&f=false
10 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2013-07-19_113523.html
11 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_457_2005-01-04.html
12 https://www.facebook.com/NationalHeritageBoardSG/posts/biar-putih-tulang-jangan-putih-mata-death-before-dishonour-was-the-malay-motto-t/2195246733831517/
13 https://news.nus.edu.sg/highlights/tracing-footsteps-brave
14 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_457_2005-01-04.html
15 https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/60/a8515460.shtml
16 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_154_2005-01-31.html
17https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2013-07-19_113523.html
18 https://corporate.nas.gov.sg/former-ford-factory/whatson/exhibition-syonan/
19 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_123_2005-02-03.html
20 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_40_2005-01-24.html
21 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_40_2005-01-24.html
22 http://www.nlb.gov.sg/biblioasia/2019/05/21/wartime-victuals-surviving-the-japanese-occupation/
23 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1219_2008-12-10.html
24 https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/08/06/commentary/japan-surrender-world-war-ii/
25 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_123_2005-02-03.html
26 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/90e0c9be-ec65-4bd1-9b71-28d6062acc38
27 Ceremonial For Installation Of Governor-General, [ARTICLE] Page 2, Morning Tribune 18 May 1946
28 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_123_2005-02-03.html
29 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/90e0c9be-ec65-4bd1-9b71-28d6062acc38