Imperial Japan occupied the former British colony of Singapore from 15 February 1942 when its military forces defeated the combined Australian, British, Indian and Malayan garrison in the Battle of Singapore. The occupation lasted until Japan's defeat in 1945. During Japanese occupation, Singapore was renamed Syonan-to, meaning 'Island of the Light of the South'. Singapore was officially returned to British colonial rule on 12 September 1945, following a formal signing of surrender in at City Hall.