Kammala wannan magana: Matthews yana da gemu mai gemu, kuma an kira shi "The Duke" saboda kamanninsa na jiki ga Prince Henry, Duke na Gloucester. An tura shi a matsayin jami'in sakonni na Brigade na 27, wanda ya isa Malaya a watan Agusta. 'Yan Australiya sun kasance wani ɓangare na garkuwar tsaro da aka kafa saboda karuwar damuwa game da yiwuwar yaƙi da Japan. A karkashin jagorancin Brigadier Duncan Maxwell, brigade ya koma Jemaluang, a matsayin wani ɓangare na 8th Division karkashin Major General Gordon Bennett. Ya ƙunshi brigades biyu kawai, an ɗora wa rukunin aikin tabbatar da gabashin Johore. Bennett ya tura Brigade na 22 a gaba kusa da Mersing kuma ya riƙe Brigade na 27 a baya a matsayin ajiyarsa. A watan Disamba na 1941 da
Jafananci sun mamaye Malaya, kuma Brigade na 27 an sadaukar da shi ga juriya na Allied a cikin yakin Malay, kodayake matakan farko na fadace-fadace sun kasance a arewa, nesa da yankin Australiya.