History of Singapore
During World War 2, Singapore was conquered and occupied by the Japanese Empire from 1942 to 1945. When the war ended, Singapore reverted to British control, with increasing levels of self-government being granted, culminating in Singapore's merger with the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia in 1963. However, social unrest and disputes between Singapore's ruling People's Action Party and Malaysia's Alliance Party resulted in Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia. Singapore became an independent republic on 9 August 1965.
Singaporeans in the United Kingdom
The story of the Singaporean community in the UK roughly follows that of the British Chinese community, as most Singaporeans are actually of Chinese descent (see Chinese Singaporean). There is a Singaporean diaspora in the UK, due to Singapore's history as a former British colony (as part of the Straits Settlements from 1826 to 1942, and separately as the Crown Colony of Singapore from 1946 to 1959), and its current membership in the Commonwealth of Nations.