<sod>Situated on the north-west coast of the island, the 22nd Brigade was allocated a frontage of {{convert|8|mi|km}} &ndash; considerably larger than normal &ndash; along a stretch of coast line that was hard to defend due to its terrain.{{sfn|Legg|1965|p=231}}{{sfn|Morgan|2013|p=12}} When the Japanese assaulted the island on 8 February 1942, the main assault fell on the 22nd Brigade's area.{{sfn|Legg|1965|p=234}} Stretched across a wide frontage, the 2/20th Battalion's lines were eventually infiltrated by the assaulting Japanese. After initially inflicting heavy casualties on the Japanese the battalion, threatened with encirclement, was forced to withdraw to a new position along Lim Chu Road. Although still intact, it was apparent that this position would shortly be overwhelmed and the battalion was again ordered to move south, during which it became scattered.<ref name=AWM/> The initial Japanese assault cost the battalion heavily. Casualties on the first night amounted to 334 killed and 214 wounded,{{sfn|Legg|1965|p=235}} including the commanding officer, second-in-command and three of the four company commanders.{{sfn|Hall|1983|p=167}} After Assheton had been wounded in the initial Japanese assault, a section was sent out to pull him to safety but before they reached him, he ordered them to leave him due to the volume of Japanese fire and he was subsequently killed.{{sfn|Hall|1983|p=167}}{{sfn|Wigmore|1957|p=322}}<eod>
<sod>Situated on the north-west coast of the island, the 22nd Brigade was allocated a frontage of {{convert|8|mi|km}} &ndash; considerably larger than normal &ndash; along a stretch of coast line that was hard to defend due to the tidal flats and islets that punctuated the terrain.{{sfn|Legg|1965|p=231}}{{sfn|Morgan|2013|p=12}} When the Japanese assaulted the island on 8 February 1942, the main assault fell on the 22nd Brigade's area, with the 2/20th bearing the brunt of the initial attack.{{sfn|Wall|Seale|1985}}{{sfn|Legg|1965|p=234}} Stretched across a brigade-sized frontage of {{convert|7,000|yds}}, which ran north along the coast from the Serimbun River to the Kranji River, and which included the Namazie Estate, an airfield and the main supply route that ran along the sealed Lim Chu Kang road,{{sfn|Wall|Seale|1985|pp=51&ndash;59}} the 2/20th Battalion's lines, held by a total of about 750 men, were eventually infiltrated by the assaulting Japanese. After initially inflicting heavy casualties on the Japanese the battalion, threatened with encirclement, was forced to withdraw to a new position along Lim Chu Road. Although still intact, it was apparent that this position would shortly be overwhelmed and the battalion was again ordered to move south, during which it became scattered.<ref name=AWM/> The initial Japanese assault cost the battalion heavily. Casualties on the first night amounted to 334 killed and 214 wounded,{{sfn|Legg|1965|p=235}} including the commanding officer, second-in-command and three of the four company commanders.{{sfn|Hall|1983|p=167}} After Assheton had been wounded in the initial Japanese assault, a section was sent out to pull him to safety but before they reached him, he ordered them to leave him due to the volume of Japanese fire and he was subsequently killed.{{sfn|Hall|1983|p=167}}{{sfn|Wigmore|1957|p=322}}<eod>