In 1941, the British totally underestimate the fighting ability of the Japanese- until Japan launches a surprise attack on Singapore, a tiny jewel in the Crown of the British Empire. General Arthur Percival is the British general tasked with the defence of the wealthy colonies of Malaya and Singapore. General Tomoyuki Yamashita -the Tiger of Malaya - leads the "driving charge" to oust him. The Japanese are outnumbered from the start, but with the help of bluff, speed and bicycles they put the British to rout, striking a blow at the very heart of Britain's Empire in the East.