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1941
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November
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30th
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Samah Harbour, Hainan, Southern China - A coded message is handed to Lt-Gen Tomoyuki Yamashita commanding officer of Japan’s 25th Army, aboard his 10,000-ton headquarters ship, Ryujo Maru. It reads: “X-day December 8, Proceed with plan.” Tokyo has set the date for the invasion.
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December
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1st
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Samah Harbour, Hainan - Yamashita plans his campaign with the aid of maps supplied by Japanese born Malay Planters, these detailed tracks and roads that could be used, Yamashita marked with pencilled crosses the approximate positions of airfields. Yamashita begins and ends each day with a prayer, bowing reverently towards the Emperor’s palace in Tokyo.
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2nd
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Singapore - The arrival of the battleship, HMS Prince of Wales, and the battle cruiser, HMS Repulse, proves a psychological shot-in-the-arm for flagging British colonial morale. The two capital ships in with four escort destroyers, HMS Electra, HMS Express, HMS Tenedos and HMAS Vampire
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3rd
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Samah Harbour, Hainan - Yamashita decides he’ll attempt to capture Singapore on February 11th, Japan’s National Day and the 2,600th anniversary of Emperor Jimmu’s coronation.
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4th
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Samah Harbour, Hainan - As dawn breaks the Japanese invasion fleet nudges into the open sea and sets course south. For the first time in several days Yamashita emerges from his cabin and, scanning the skies, notes that the sun and moon are together visible. A good omen, he reassures himself. He writes a short poem to mark the occasion.
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5th
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Singapore - Air Chief Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, Britains Commander-in-Chief, Far East receives authority to launch the top secret, pre-emptives operation “ Matador” without prior reference to London.
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6th
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Kuala Lumpur - Lt-Gen Arthur E.Percival, Britain’s General officer Commanding Malaya, is in conference with Lt-Gen Sir Lewis Heath, 3rd Indian Corps Commander, when first reports of an approaching Japanese fleet are received. Percival orders transmission of the pre-desnigated emergency codeword “Raffles” to all units. Immediately all British forces within Malaya Command are brought to “action alert.” Percival makes preparatory moves for launching “Matador”, then flies back to his Malaya Command Headquarters at Fort Canning in Singapore.
Singapore - Evening discussions take place between Sir Shenton Thomas, the Governor, Brooke-Popham and Percival, Brooke-Popham hesitates over “Matador” then decides it is premature to launch the operation. The moment is lost.
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7th
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Singapore - At another top level Malaya Command conference, called at 10.30pm in the Naval Base’s War Room, Brooke-Popham again hesitates over “Matador”. He decides to delay the operation, at least for the night.
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8th
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Kota Bahru - Singora - Patani - Shortly after midnight troops from Japan’s 25th Army make co-ordinated landings and ultimately establish beach-heads at these three east coast points. At Singora and Patani the Japanese 5th Division comes ashore unopposed. But at Kota Bahru units of the invading 18th division meet stiff resistance and suffer resistance and suffer heavy casualties.
Singapore - At 4.30 am in a co-ordinated surprise attack, 17 Japanese Navy bombers, flying from Saigon, attack Singapore’s Keppel Harbour Docks, Naval Base and air bases at Tenngah and Seletar. Incongruously Singapore’s street lights remain ablaze throughout the bombing and air raid sirens are silent. Within two hours of the Singapore raid orders are given to intern all Japanese civilians in Malaya and Singapore and to arrest all Japanese vessels in Singapore harbour.
Northern Frontier - At dawn, two companies of the Indian 11th Division are ordered across the border into Siam to meet the Japanese advance south along the road from Singora, Further east another Indian force crosses the border from Kroh in a move to block the Japanese advance down the Patani road. These are half-hearted attempts to initiate “Matador” and another secret pre-emptive plan known as “Krohcol”. Both ultimately result in confusion, retreat, and very heavy casualties for the defenders.
Air Raids - During the day Japanese aircraft attack British airfields at Ator Star, Sungei Patani, Butterworth and Penang Island in Malaya’s north-west, and Kaula Trengganu, and Kuantan on the east coast.
Singapore - As dusk falls with Singapore still reeling from the mornings Japanese air attacks, The Prince of Wales and the Repulse and their four escort destroyers leave the Naval Base on a fateful mission to intercept the Japanese landings. The naval squadron, code named Z Force is led by Rear Admiral Sir Tom Phillips, Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet. He is aware he will be without air support.
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9th
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Kota Bahru Airfield - Advancing Japanese, now backed by freshly landed tanks, hurl back the British Indian defenders and swing south to capture Kota Bahru township by 2pm.
Singora - Yamashita prepares for an all out drive to seize the northern Kedah township of Jitra, a strategically important road and railway junction commanding approaches to Britain’s key northern airfields at Alor Star and Sungei Patani to the south. He despatches the Saeki Detachment and the Kawamura Brigade down the Singora - Jitra road. After repelling weak British Indian resistance at Sadao, the lead units of this second front cross the border into Malaya by midnight.
Betong, Southern Siam - Driving south down the Patani - Kroh road, the Ando Detachment of the Japanese 5th Division wipe out Indian troops rushed north across the frontier to Betong.
Butterworth - All but one in a squadron of British Blenheim bombers are wiped out by a Japanese air raid on Butterwortli airstrip moments before the lumbering craft are due to take off for an attack against Singora. The surviving RAF pilot, Sqd-Ldr A. S. K. Scarf, decides to fly alone to Singora and drop his bombs. Mortally wounded in the attack on the Japanese-held airfield, Scarf crash-lands his Blenheim at Alor Star, reckoning he will be unable to stay conscious for the trip back to Butterworth. The lives of his crew are saved but Scarf dies a few hours later in the Alor Star hospital. He is posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain’s top medal for valour, and becomes the first VC in the Malayan campaign.
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10th
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South China Sea, off Kuanan - Japanese Navy bombers sink HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse in an action lasting one and a half hours. Britain is dealt her greatest ever naval disaster.
Singapore - Britain’s Cabinet Representative in the Far East, Mr A. Duff Cooper, inaugurates a War Council of which he becomes chairman. Australia’s top military commander, Maj-Gen Gordon Bennett, is not invited to sit on the council but is informed he may attend meetings if he wishes.
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11th
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Northern Kedah - Japan launches the battle for Jitra which will determine the course of the war in northern Malaya. Article - Jitra
Kota Bahru - British Indian units mount up fearful casualties in vain attempts to hurl back Japanese thrusts on the north eastern front.
Singapore - Just three days into the war Malaya Command strategists begin acknowledging the devastating impact of Japanese air power operating from Singora and Patani airfields in southern Siam. They order that British fighter aircraft will, until reinforcements arrive, only be used in the defence of Singapore bases and for the protection of supply convoys moving north into Malaya.
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12th
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Singapore - Malaya Command issues orders for the retreat to Kuala Krai and the secret withdrawal of the defeated Kota Bahru force down the rail line to Kuala Lipis.
Kroh - Japanese launch a heavy attack on the 3/16th Punjab Regiment. British war planners fear the invaders are attempting a bold pincer movement to eliminate the entire north-western defence link in one dramatic action.
Penang - Eighty-five Japanese dive-bombers direct massive air raids on Penang inflicting 2,000 casualties on the islands civilian population.
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13th
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North-western Front - The British north-western front-line is in full retreat south of Jitra. Japan’s unopposed airforce compounds the confusion with relentless bombing and strafing raids on the fleeing, exhausted defenders. Advancing Japanese ground forces have taken to bicycles and disguise themselves in local dress as they infiltrate south.
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14th
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Singapore - Britain’s Far East War Council decides that as Penang can only be held another three to four days at best, it will be abandoned.
Northwestern Front- As the British retreat from Alor Star to the south, the Japanese enter from the north. The invading troops first swarm onto the Alor Star airfield and find it virtually intact. Bombs are stacked in neat piles waiting to be loaded. In an adjoining rubber plantation are 1,000 drums of high octane aviation fuel. In the main RAF officers mess, porridge, still hot and ready to serve, sits amid the polished silver on the long dining table. By midday the Japanese begin flying their aircraft in from Singora and Patani. By evening a squadron of Japanese light bombers, fuelled by British gasoline and loaded with British bombs, departs Alor Star air base to attack the retreating defenders who forgot their demolition-before-departure drill.
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15th
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Alor Star - Yamashira moves his HQ to Alor Star and that evening he and his senior staff officers gather in the abandoned RAF officers’ mess for dinner to celebrate the first stunning phase of their Malayan campaign.
Butterworth - British abandon the RAF Butterworth air base after a week of intensive Japanese air raids.
North-western Front - Remnants of the demoralised Indian 11th Division are scattered in groups between the Muda River and Bukit Mertajam, having suffered crippling losses in men and weapons.
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16th
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Penang - British evacuate Penang Island. Article: Penang
North-western Front - Heath’s frontline is in complete disarray. His British Indian troops are exhausted by lack of sleep and food. They are rattled by persistent Japanese air attacks. They have no answer to the invaders’ superior ground tactics that highlight encirclement, infiltration and outflanking moves. Huge casualties add to their demoralisation. With the Japanese now clearly thrusting the main body of their Patani landing force down the mountainous back road from Kroh, Heath orders a desperate withdrawal, first to the Krian River, 30 miles (48 kin) from the key road junction at Kuala Kangsar, then beyond to the Perak River.
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17th
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Penang - Japanese take Penang. Article: Penang
Alor Star - The advance party of the Imperial Guards Division including the divisional commander, Lt-Gen Takuma Nishimura, and his Chiefof-Staff, Maj-Gen Imaye, arrive by rail from Bangkok. Immediately animosity and suspicion erupt between Yamashita and the two Imperial Guards’ generals. Yamashita finds Nishimura arrogant and aloof. From Imayc, formerly a lecturer at the Tokyo War College, there radiates an air of intellectual superiority. Yamashita finds Imaye even more insufferable than Nishimura. The High Command tension, germinated here, becomes a major thorn in the 25th Army commander’s side for the entire campaign.
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18th
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Ipoh - Percival flies to Ipob for an important strategy meeting with Heath. The two British generals recognise the pointlessness of attempting any protracted defence effort across the terrain north of Ipoh. Malaya’s second largest population centre will be given up without a fight. Before driving south together for a reconnaissance of likely defence positions, Percival and Heath patch-up Britain’s badly-mauled front-line units. The Indian 6th and 15th Brigades become the Indian 6/15th Infantry Brigade. Two brigades of the 16th Punjab Regiment are amalgamated and the separate British battalions — the Leicesters and the East Surreys — are merged to form the “British Battalion.”
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19th
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Grik to Kuala Kangsar Road - At dawn a battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, just withdrawn to Kuala Kangsar, drives up the mountainous back road to Grik with orders to halt the Japanese thrust south. The invaders are located 34 miles (54 kin) north of Kuala Kangsar and fierce fighting erupts around the village of Sumpitan. By nightfall the British are forced back four miles (6 km) to Lenggog.
South of Ipoh - Percival and Heath carry out their joint reconnaissance of positions below Ipoh.
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20th
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Singapore - Brokke-Popham, approves Percival’s new strategic approach to the fighting.
Perak River - Switching tactics, Japanese troops take to rafts on the Perak River and infiltrate south to attack the British at Lenggong and drive them back to Kota Taman. For the next 24 hours, however, the Argylls turn the tables on the Ando Detachment at Kota Tampan and inflict severe casualties before being ordered to withdraw south.
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21st
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Grik to Kuala Kangsar Road - Expanding the raft infiltration technique, Japanese field commanders. begin floating troops down Chenderoh Lake which lies east of the Grik to Kuala Kangsar road. While some rafts are detected and sunk, sizeable numbers of invading troops under cover of early morning darkness, slip behind British front lines, by-passing Kuala Kangsar completely Their targets: the key road and rail bridges south of Kuala Kangsar. Sensing another disaster in the making, Maj-Gen D.M. Murray-Lyon, commander of all British troops west of the Perak River, orders an immediate general withdrawal this night.
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22nd
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Grik Road - Retreating down the Grik Road the 3/2 nd Punjab Regiment blunts the Japanese advance briefly with two well engineered ambushes. These inflict heavy casualties on the invaders. But they are the final British actions west of the Perak River.
Kuala Kangsar Area - Japan’s Imperial Guards Division arrives from Bangkok to relieve the tired Ando Detachment which has been fighting without rest since landing at Patani (Siam) on December 8.
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23rd
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Perak River - By midmorning the British withdrawal across the Perak River via the lofty Iskandar Bridge, ordered 36 hours earlier, is complete. A gap is blown in the concrete and steel structure to impede the Japanese advance.
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24th
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North of Ipoh - British Indian troops fight fierce delaying actions against the Imperial Guards in the Chemor area as the Indian 6/15th Brigade digs in and fortifies the chosen Kampar defence position. The Chemor fighting, which extracts heavy losses on both sides, buys time for the continuing British withdrawal of men and supplies, by road and rail from Ipob
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25th
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It is anything but a happy Christmas for the British in Malaya. In 18 days the generals from Tokyo have grabbed all Malayan territory lying north and west of the Perak River. They have captured the island of Penang, Province Wellesley on the mainland opposite, together with the states of Perils, Kedah, Kelantan and large chunks of Perak. They have sunk two British capital ships, decimated Britain’s aircraft strength and seized all her northern airstrips from where they are now operating their own attack planes. In a few hours the retreating British will have finished destroying all that they can’t withdraw from Ipob and this key northern tin mining centre will have fallen to the invaders as well.
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26th
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Ipoh - While the Japanese freely rotate front-line men with fresh troops brought down from Siam, British military commanders have no back-up reserves. Percival is deeply troubled over the high casualty rate suffered by Indian forces fighting delaying tactics north of Ipob. He issues orders to all 3rd Indian Corp field commanders to ensure casualties are kept down and units remain as fighting formations. Heeding his instructions, British Indian troops north of Ipob retreat to positions south of the township.
Taiping High School - Yamashita moves his HQ into a Chinese high school at Taiping as his 5th Division occupies Ipob.
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27th
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Taiping - During a meeting of senior 25th Army officers convened at his Chinese high school HQ. Yamashita reveals his plan for an important switch in battle strategy. He intends sending 1,500 5th Division troops in landing barges, south down the Straits of Malacca. Their mission: to infiltrate behind British lines from the coast. Immediately Yamashita encounters strong opposition to his proposal from a broad cross-section of his staff, particularly his chief planning officer, Colonel Masanobu Tsuji. The Colonel argues that as direct tank and air supported infantry thrusts down the main road are proving so successful, the format should not be changed. He is concerned the landing barges will prove easy targets for British naval patrols. Tsuji urges Yamashita to conserve small craft for the all-important final crossing to Singapore. But Yamashita overrules all opposition and issues the necessary orders. He triggers widespread resentment among his senior staff.
Singapore - Military intelligence reaching Malaya Command HQ at Fort Canning reports 34 Japanese vessels lying off Singora. Assessments are that Japan is about to undertake a major reinforcement of the battlefront. Other reports indicate self-propelled small craft, originally off-loaded at Singora, have been trucked overland to the southern Kedab coastline. This immediately raises the likelihood of Japanese sea borne operations down the Straits of Malacca aimed at further infiltration of troops behind British lines.
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28th
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Kampar - During the morning, the reorganised British Battalion, together with the Indian 6/15th Brigade Group and the Indian 28th Brigade Group, including the Gurkhas, complete construction of their respective defensive positions around Kampar. They are backed by the Lanarkshire Yeomanry’s 155th Field Artillery Regiment and gunners from the 88th Field Regiment. With their armoured vehicles the Argylls guard the northern approaches to the town. Kampar will prove to be the strongest British defence position in the campaign and Percival has staked much on its ability to hold and deny the Japanese central Malaya. Ranged against the British defences here are the Imperial Guards, the Okabe Regiment and the Ando Regiment.
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29th
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Battle for Kampar - Forward patrolling throughout the day by both sides results in frequent skirmishes. Late at night the four-day battle begins. British artillery accurately ranges onto Japanese positions. Invading field commanders are immediately anxious about their front-line casualties.
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30th
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Battle for Kampar - Japanese direct out-flanking movements to the east of Kampar where they run into patrols from the Indian 28th Brigade Group. Once again accurate British artillery fire plays a dominant role. It inflicts heavy casualties on the Japanese and blocks their encirclement efforts.
Singapore - A deeply worried Percival leaves his Fort Canning HQ by road to Malaya for a series of critical meetings with his front-line commanders. Enroute to Kuala Lumpur he talks with Australia’s Army Commander, Maj-Gen Gordon Bennett, at Bennett’s Johore HQ. Percival reveals he is already planning for the ultimate withdrawal to Singapore and demolition of the Causeway linking the island to Johore Bahru.
Telok Anson - To meet the Japanese sea borne infiltration threat, the 1st Independent Company is sent to Telok Anson (now Telok Intan).
Kuantan, East Coast - Arriving from Kota Bahru by trucks, down rough coastal tracks, Japanese Takumi Detachment troops, with orders to seize Kuantan, promptly attack forward defences of the coastal town. Kuantan is defended by the 22nd Brigade of the Indian 9th Division. Simultaneously, Japanese aircraft attack targets in and around the township including the main ferry crossing on the Kuantan River.
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31st
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Battle for Kampar - Japanese troops, frustrated by British artillery fire in their attempt to outflank Kampar’s eastern defences, launch a major ground attack on the Gurkha perimeter. The Gurkhas, fighting hand-to-hand with drawn kukris, prove more than a match for the attacking force, and repel repeated attempts to overrun their position throughout the day.
Tapah - After spending the night in Kuala Lumpur, Percival is joined by Heath for the drive 100 miles (160 kin) north to Tapah, now the HQ of the Indian 11th Division. Enroute the two generals stop at the vital Kuala Kubu road junction and later inspect its “last ditch” defence preparations north of Tanjong Malim. They then drive on to Slim River for discussions with Col Stewart, commander of the Indian 12th Brigade. All three agree that if the Japanese are to be prevented from over-running the central Malayan airstrips before the expected allied reinforcement convoy arrives in mid-January, the Kuala Kubu road junction must be held along with the key east-west road.
Kuantan, East Coast - Japan hurls a ground assault against the Kuantan ferry-crossing. Heavy fighting follows. Other Japanese units thrust into downtown Kuantan. There they are hit by British artillery.
Straits of Malacca - In a bid to revive Britain’s sea-borne commando raid capability and hammer away at Japan’s lengthening logistical lines, Japanese vessels lying off Singora. Assessments are that Japan is about to undertake a major reinforcement of the battlefront. Other reports indicate self-propelled small craft, originally off-loaded at Singora, have been tracked overland to the southern Kedak coastline. This immediately raises the likelihood of Japanese sea borne operations down the Straits of Malacca aimed at further infiltration of troops behind British lines.
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1942
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January
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1st
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Battle for Kampar - Calling up fresh troops, the Japanese swing the focus of their attentions onto the British Battalions perimeter at 7 pm. Heavy and confused fighting ensues. The Japanese once again have the advantage of almost unopposed air support and possess the only tanks. But Kampar’s terrain is proving ideal for artillery and British gunners are a major factor catching several Japanese units in the open, unable to advance or retreat. The Argylls, north of the town, hurl hack attack after attack. By nightfall Kampar’s defences remain firmly in British hands.
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2nd
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Battle for Kampar - The fourth day of the battle sees frantic hut vain efforts by the Japanese to overrun positions held by the British Battalion. A Sikh company of the 1/18th Punjab Regiment throws back a furious attack with a classic bayonet charge through massive mortar and machine-gun fire. Only 30 members of the company survive the action but the position holds. The message from Changkat Jong that evening seals Kampar’s fate. The Japanese are directly threatening the main supply route from the south. British gunners lay down intense artillery barrages to mask the inevitable withdrawal. Fearing a major counter attacking the making, exhausted Japanese commanders for the first time in the war, consider retreating. Then to their surprise and relief the British begin pulling back shortly before midnight.
Ipoh - Yamashita moves his HQ south from Taiping to Ipoh.
Singapore - Percival drives back to Singapore where he receives reports of the latest Japanese sea-borne infiltration at Kuala Selangor, 45 miles (72 kin) south of the Bernam River mouth and within 60 miles (96 kin) of Kuala Lumpur.
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3rd
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Singapore - The first British reinforcements arrive. These comprise the newly-recruited and totally untrained Indian 45th Infantry Brigade Group. At his Fort Canning HQ, Percival and his senior war strategists now nurse grave doubts about holding the vital Kuala Kubu road junction. Japan’s sea borne infiltration’s down the Straits of Malacca have introduced a new and alarming dimension to the conflict. As a result, the decision is made immediately to abandon Kuantan on the east coast and to withdraw British forces there westwards to Jerantut.
Kuantan - The Japanese hurl ferocious attacks on the rearguard of the withdrawing British Indian troops enroute to Jerantut. They also spring two spectacularly successful ambushes along the withdrawal route trapping the 2/12th Frontier Force Regiment. The regiments severely wounded commanding officer, Lt-Col A. B. Cumming, is subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross. Only 40 of his men survive.
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4th
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Kampar to Slim River Road - As the British Kampar defenders retreat towards Slim River village their sappers and miners demolish bridges and lay minefields before the advancing Ando and Okabe regiments. While blown bridges delay Japan’s tanks, they scarcely affect her front-line infantrymen whose light personal equipment and bicycles make them extremely manoeuvrable.
Kuala Selangor - Japan’s Watanabe Regiment pushes eastwards along the northern bank of the Selangor River for a bitter encounter with a detachment of the Indian 6/15th Brigade at Batang Berjuntai, site of an important bridge.
Slim River - The British retreat to prepared positions in the Slim River area intensifies with forces withdrawing there from the Telok Anson and Bernam River actions.
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5th
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Segamat - Percival, Heath and Bennett, together with their top staff officers, meet at the Sultan of Johore’s Segamat shooting lodge for a critical review of battlefield strategy.
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6th
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Singapore - Three days after his appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the joint ABDA (American, British, Dutch, Australian) Allied Command, head quartered at Bandung, Java, General Sir Archibald Wavell prepares for an on-the-spot inspection of the Malayan battlefront.
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7th
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The Slim River Battle - Japanese tanks, spearheaded by troops of the Ando Regiment, press down the main north-south trunk route onto British forward defence positions at Trolak (now Terolak). A bright moon illuminates the road. In the heavy fighting several tanks are destroyed. But the advance continues following the arrival of tank reinforcements. For two hours the Argylls blunt the tank drive once more. Fearful losses ultimately force the Scottish defenders into retreat. Somehow a communications breakdown prevents British rear defences receiving reports of the Japanese thrust. As the tanks roll on the British reel back in confusion. At 8.30 am the Slim River road bridge falls to the Japanese intact. Day-long fighting all but wipes out the Indian 11th Division’s 12th and 28th Brigades. About 3,200 British troops, mostly Indian, surrender. British losses in equipment are also huge. These include 23 heavy artillery pieces, six aircraft guns, 50 armoured cars, 550 other motor vehicles and large quantities of food, ammunition and medical supplies. The victorious Japanese once again delightedly proclaim the battle spoils ‘Churchill Supplies.” The Slim River debacle blasts away all hopes of saving central Malaya.
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8th
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Batu Caves - Wavell, accompanied by Heath drives from Kuala Lumpur to Batu Caves, HQ of the Indian 11th Division and travels further forward to meet survivors of the Slim River battle. He finds two British brigades together totalling less than 500 shattered men, incapable of withstanding any further attack. Appalled, Wavell orders Heath on the spot to begin planning a huge 150-mile withdrawal to Johore. He intends countermanding Percival’s orders issued at the Segamat conference three days earlier, and imposing his own defence ideas. By now Wavell is harbouring serious misgivings about Heath’s ability to impose effective counter tactics to the Japanese onslaught. He is also losing confidence in Percival. On the other hand, the British Supreme Commander is impressed by Bennett and intends handing the Australians the responsibility of halting the Japanese advance.
Ipoh - Yamashita calls an urgent meeting of his senior staff and field commanders following their Slim River victory. The aim is to review strategy for the final battles before Singapore. Once again he hears forceful arguments against sea borne infiltrations. His officers still favour the tried and tested land tactics that have been achieving such spectacular results. Yamashita concedes that 5th Division troops, sent south in barges, encountered severe operational difficulties owing to inexperience with such manoeuvres. But he contends the mere threat they appear to impose has unnerved the British, inspiring further retreats. Once more Yamashita overrules all objections and orders sea-borne infiltrations to continue. His one concession to critics is the replacement of 5th Division troops in the boats by Imperial Guards. Colonel Tsuji is so angered by these developments that he refuses to speak to anyone for 48 hours. Meanwhile Yamashita instructs his 5th Division to press directly towards Kuala Lumpur. He brings the Takumi Detachment from Kuantan, on the east coast, to the trunk road area on the west.
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9th
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Singapore - On the insistence of Wavell, Percival issues completely revised orders for the retreat to Johore. These call for the establishment of West-force under Bennett’s command. The Australian general’s tactical area of responsibility is defined as all that section of Johore State above the east-west line: Mersing—Kluang—Batu Pahat. On the key north-west frontier of Johore, Bennett’s line of defence is to run from Segamat in the centre, through Mount Ophir to Muar in the west. The withdrawal to Johore that this entails means the instant abandonment of the states of Negri Sembilan and Selangor; the administrative capital, Kuala Lumpur, its sea-link, Port Swettenham, the historical town of Malacca, and important population centres like Port Dickson, Seremban and Tampin. The withdrawal is scheduled to begin under cover of darkness the following day.
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10th
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Serendah - Only hours before the withdrawal is due to start, the Japanese attack a Gurkha position at Serendah, just north of Kuala Lumpur. After bitter hand-to-hand fighting, Serendah falls to the invaders. The defenders sustain grim casualties and at day’s end, break off to join the general retreat through Kuala Lumpur.
Gemas - Following another command conference at Segamat, Percival, Heath and Bennett make an on-the-spot inspection of the Gemeneheh River bridge, above Gemas, which the Australian general has chosen as the site for a major ambush of the advancing Japanese.
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11th
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Kuala Lumpur - British Indian forces complete their withdrawal through Kuala Lumpur in the early morning hours and demolish the last bridge there with explosives at 4.30 am. At 8pm troops of the Japanese 5th Division enter the capital and seize its two airfields which are quickly put to use by the Endo Air Group.
Muar - Japanese aircraft carry out their first strikes against Muar causing a mass exodus of the civilian population to the countryside. British sappers are called in to man the Muar ferries, deserted by their crews.
Singapore - Mr. Duff Cooper, Resident Minister for Far Eastern Affairs with Cabinet rank returns to London on the orders of Prime Minister Churchill.
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12th
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Negri Semilan - The massive withdrawal underway results in staggering congestion along the main trunk road running south and along the single track rail line to Singapore. Problems are compounded by the need to restrict principal movements to hours of darkness to avoid Japanese air attacks.
Singapore - Some 112 Japanese aircraft direct strikes against Singapore targets during the day.
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13th
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Singapore - The US merchant marine convoy arrives in Singapore bringing the British 53rd Infantry Brigade Group (part of the British 18th Division), two anti-aircraft regiments, and the 50 crated Hurricane fighters. The troops, disoriented by 11 weeks at sea, land without transport and artillery pieces which are still in transit aboard slower ships. The Hurricanes are pieced together at sites scattered across Singapore to minimise the chances of air attack. But there are only twenty four available pilots. For a few days the new British aircraft have an impact. Then the infinitely more experienced Japanese pilots size up their opposition and within a fortnight the Hurricanes have been all but eliminated.
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14th
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Johore - Australian positions on the latest fall-back defence line (Segamat-Mount Ophir-Muar), together with the new Westforce command structure under Bennett, are ready. The ambush, so vital to Bennett’s overall battle strategy, and prepared by the 2/30th Battalion of the Australian 27th Brigade, is lying in wait at the Gemencheh River bridge, 10 miles (16 kin) north of Gemas, on the main north-south trunk road. At 4 am Bennett officially assumes command of the Malayan front.
Gemencheh River Bridge - At about 4 pm a vanguard of some 300 cycling Japanese infantrymen from the Mukaide Detachment pass over the wooden bridge. The hidden Australians allow them through into the planned ‘killing zone” further down the road. After another 500 or so have cycled by, the Australians blow the bridge and in a furious action account for about 700 Japanese killed and the destruction of several tanks. By late evening the Australians, with eight dead and 80 wounded, withdraw to their main force position. It will be the biggest single setback suffered by the Japanese in their Malayan campaign. But, significantly, the Gemencheh River bridge action only briefly delays the invaders’ advance.
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15th
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Gemas - Australian forces below the Gemencheh River bridge withdraw to positions east of Gemas. Yamashita rushes 5th Division troops, briefly resting in Kuala Lumpur, to the Gemas front where the Mukaide Detachment is on the verge of being wiped out by the Australians.
Muar - Japanese Imperial Guards, advancing from Malacca, hurl back light resistance from forward positions of the newly arrived, untrained Indian 45th Brigade, and quickly command the northern bank of the Muar River, opposite Muar town. Later in the day Australian gunners, supporting the Indians on the southern bank, thwart a Japanese attempted crossing at the mouth of the river by firing point blank at barges filled with invading troops. At night the Japanese successfully transfer forces to the south side, rout two battalions of the Indian 45th Brigade, capture the town and cut the vital Muar-Yong Peng road. What remains of the Indian force retreats to Bakri along with the Australian gunners.
Malacca - Japanese troops board small coastal craft in Malacca and infiltrate south, coming ashore at Pant Jawa, below Muar, and even beyond Batu Pahat.
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16th
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Segamat - Bennett is deeply troubled by the previous night’s Muar action. With his Westforce HQ at Segamat, 70 miles (112 kin) north of Yong Peng, he recognises the threat of a Japanese thrust eastwards to cut the main north-south route. Westforce’s defence position is critical. The bulk of its fighting strength is in the Labis-Segamat area, 56 miles (90 kin) north of Yong Peng. The failure of the Indian 45th Brigade to hold Muar has opened a side door for a large Japanese flanking movement to Yong Peng.
Yong Peng - Percival and Bennett meet at noon at the Australian commander’s rear HQ, 4 miles (6 kin) east of Vong Peng. They face two alternatives: a swift withdrawal from Segainat or an attempt to stabilise the Muar front. They opt for stabilising the Muar front at Bakri.
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17th
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Muar Front - Percival orders the British 53rd Brigade Group into Johore as reinforcements just three days after the unaclimatised and unfit troops step ashore in Singapore. The 6th Norfolk Battalion of the 53rd moves onto Bukit Pelandok, 6 miles (10 kin) west of Yong Peng on the Yong Peng—Muar road. Bukit Pelandok the dominant high ground in the area, is situated close to the point where a second road running from Batu Pahat in the south meets the Yong Peng—Muar road. Five miles (8 kin) further down the Yong Peng—Muar road a Norfolk platoon defends Pant Sulong Bridge. Fourteen miles (22 kin) further on is the Indian 45th Brigade HQ at Bakri. Unbeknown to both British and Australian military intelligence, the Japanese have begun moving north from Batu Pahat towards Bukit Pelandok and east towards Bakri from Muar. They plan to surround and annihilate British and Australian forces at these two positions.
Gemas Front - Australian 2/30th Battalion troops, under intense fire from fresh Japanese 5th Division units, report they are in danger of being overrun.
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18th
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Singapore - British military intelligence shortly before midday produces an assessment showing a division of Japanese Imperial Guards deployed in the Muar area and the Japanese 5th Division on the trunk road front. Suddenly Percival and Bennett recognise the full extent of the Japanese threat and the hopelessness of the task they have undertaken to stabilise the Muar front. In a dramatic telephone conversation, Percival agrees with Bennett’s new plan to withdraw Westforce behind the Segamat River as a preliminary to a more extensive withdrawal south.
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19th
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Bukit Pelandok - In the afternoon a Japanese force advancing along the road from Batu Pahat drives the Norfolks from Bukit Pelandok. Immediately all land communications with Australian and British Indian forces at Bakri are severed. Subsequently orders are given for British troops to recapture Bukit Pelandok. But the hill remains in Japanese hands.
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20th
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Segamat Front - Bennett moves his Westforce HQ back to Yong Peng and orders a general retreat south of the main road defences to beyond the same township.
Kuala Lumur - Yamashita calls a conference of his top military strategists following the establishment of his new HQ in Kuala Lumpur.
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21st
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Yong Peng - Efforts by Bennett to get a rescue force of British troops from the 2nd Loyals through to Pant Sulong prove futile. Nothing is done to assist the beleaguered commander at Pant Sulong, Lt-Col C .G .W. Anderson, of the Australian 2/19th. Controversy will long linger over why the desperately needed relief effort fails to materialise. Never will it he satisfactorily explained why an attack by the British, down the Yong Peng-Parit Sulong road, timed for 2.30 pm this day is postponed to 5.30 pm, then to dawn the next day, then to 9.30 am after which it is finally abandoned.
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22nd
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Yong Peng - Tension runs high between Bennett and British generals over orders given the 53rd Brigade to rescue Anderson’s force at Pant Sulong. The orders are inexplicably overlooked.
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23rd
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Yamashita HQ, Kuala Lumpur - Yamashita receives reports of the massacre of Australian and Indian wounded at Pant Sulong. He is highly critical of the arrogant General Nishimura and his elite Imperial Guards. The commanding officer of Japan’s most famous unit, the Imperial Guards’ Third Regiment, is among the heavy Japanese casualties on the Muar front. Once commanding officer of the Third Regiment himself, Yamashita seizes the opportunity to replace the severely wounded officer by a colonel of his own choosing. Nishimura, insisting the appointment of Imperial Guards’ officers is his prerogative, is furious. Yamashita ignores the protests.
Rengam - Bennett moves his HQ hack from Yong Peng to Rengam and, following a meeting with Percival there, orders are given that the line Jemaluang—Kluang—Ayer Hitam—Batu Pahat is to be held. There is to be no withdrawal without Percival’s personal permission. Percival makes it clear he is still hoping to deploy the bulk of the British 18th Division in southern Johore upon its arrival in Singapore.
Yong Peng - By midnight the rearguards of West-force and the British 53rd Brigade pass through Yong Peng. The Yong Peng bridge is then demolished and the threat to Westforce from Japanese units punching eastwards from the Muar front diminishes for the time being.
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24th
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Singapore - The Australian 2/4th Machinegun Battalion accompanied by 2,000 reinforcements lands in Singapore.
Southern Johore - The British front in southern Johore has contracted to such an extent that it leaves defending forces no room whatever to manoeuvre. A collapse of any single section of the latest defence line declared by Percival will immediately demand the final withdrawal to Singapore. In 24 hours Bennett will pull back his HQ to a point on the trunk road just 22 miles (35 kin) from the Johore Bahru—Singapore Causeway. Here, he and Percival will receive notice that the final collapse in Malaya has already begun at Batu Pahat.
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25th
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22nd Milestone (35 km) North of Johore Bahru - Percival, Bennett and Heath hold a conference at 3.15 pm in a rubber plantation at Bennetts new HQ on the main north-south trunk road. Maj-Gen B.W. Key, commanding officer of the British 53rd Brigade reports on efforts underway by his troops to reinforce the Batu Pahat defenders, hard pressed by the Imperial Guards. It is decided that Britisn forces at Baru Pahat must withdraw to Senggarang, 12 miles (19 kin) south along the coast. Recognising that the last fateful collapse of a British defence line in Malaya has occurred, the generals agree that the withdrawal to Singapore is now inevitable and imminent. Final withdrawal plans to Singapore are put forward and orders issued to field commanders for an immediate southerly retreat of Westforce units from Ayer Hitam and Kluang. The general withdrawal is to continue in co-ordination with events on the eastern and western coasts.
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26th
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Ayer Hitam - Westforce troops withdraw south. To bolster delaying actions, the 2nd Gordons are taken from garrison duty in Singapore to relieve the 2nd Loyals on the main trunk road front.
Endau - Two Japanese transports, escorted by four cruisers, and six destroyers land 18th Division troops near the mouth of the Endau River.
Johore Bahru - From his Johore Bahru HQ, Heath, whom Percival has authorised to command the withdrawal to Singapore, issues final orders for this move which is to be completed early on the morning of January 31. The orders call for a co-ordinated retreat down the four available routes to Johore Bahru. These are: the road leading from the east, the road leading from the west, in the centre the main north-south trunk road, and the rail line.
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27th
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Central Front, Southern Johore - Indian 9th Division comes to grief in its efforts to withdraw down the railway line to Johore Bahru. The 8th Brigade destroys the railway bridge just south of Layang Layang, against orders, and withdraws down the line towards Sedenak. This isolates the 22nd Brigade located north of Layang Layang. The breach of discipline triggers a disastrous chain of events. A dangerous gap occurs between the two withdrawing brigades and Japanese 5th Division troops are quick to take advantage by infiltrating the area. The commanding officer of the Indian forces, Maj-Gen A. E. Barstow, is killed attempting to travel between his divided units. Australian 27th Brigade forces moving south on the main trunk road, parallel to and left of the rail line, are unaware of the 22nd Brigade’s plight. On orders, the Australians, fighting fierce rearguard actions, accelerate their retreat. The 22nd Brigade takes to the jungles but less than a hundred officers and men ultimately make it to Singapore.
Kluang (now Keluang) - Yamashita moves his HQ forward from Kuala Lumpur to Kluang for the final seizure of southern Johore. At a meeting with his staff officers he plans a thrust by the Imperial Guards from the west to cut off the escape route across the Causeway.
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28th
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Johore Bahru - Heath provides Bennett with hour-by-hour withdrawal schedules for the departure of British forces across the Causeway. The plan is for two protective bridgeheads — an inner and outer — to be established holding the Johore end of the Causeway for the duration of the withdrawal. The outer bridgehead is to be manned by the 22nd Australian Brigade and the 2nd Gordons while the inner is held by the Argylls.
Bukit Serene - Bennett lunches in the Royal Palace with his old friend, Sir Ibrahim, the sultan of Johore. The Malay ruler is deeply upset that the mainland is being abandoned by the British. The Sultan talks of his bitter disappointment that the British heads of Johore government departments have left without even saying goodbye. He is shocked that even the expatriate medical staff at the Johore hospital should have abandoned their posts.
Singapore - Unarmed Flying Club aircraft take off from a temporary field in vain efforts to locate the missing Indian 22nd Brigade.
Withdrawal Routes - Rearguard delaying actions against the hard pressing Japanese continue as retreating units converge on Johore Bahru down all four withdrawal routes.
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29th
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Trunk Road Front - There is heavy fighting along this withdrawal route all day between retreating Australian 27th Brigade forces and the Japanese 5th Division’s Sugiura Brigade. On the other three withdrawal routes the retreat goes on with continuing rearguard delaying tactics.
Singapore - The long-awaited main force of the British 18th Division sails into Singapore harbour late at night. These are the troops on whom Percival has been relying to turn the tide of war in southern Johore. They land in Singapore 96 hours after the final decision has been taken to abandon mainland Malaya.
Johore Bahru - Bennett moves his HQ to a bungalow at Johore Bahru’s Straits View Hill overlooking the western reaches of the Straits of Johore and Singapore beyond.
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30th
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Singapore - Percival, unable to delay the Causeway withdrawal, makes arrangements with the Royal Navy to run clandestine shuttles in small craft across the Straits of Johore to rescue Indian 22nd Brigade stragglers.
The Causeway - Managing to keep transport bottlenecks through Johore Bahru to a minimum, the British position themselves for the final departure at a pace that outstrips Japanese predictions. The planned spoiling action from the west fails to materialise and as darkness descends, the retreat across the Causeway begins.
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31st
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The Causeway - Under brilliant moonlight 3rd Corps, the original northern defenders, departs Johore without incident. At 5 am Bennett is at the southern end of the Causeway to watch the last troops of his Westforce cross onto Singapore island. By 7 am the Gordons, and the Australian 22nd Brigade, the outer bridgehead forces, are being piped across by the last two surviving Argyll pipers. Shortly thereafter the Argylls themselves, led by the same pipers, make the crossing. Last man over is the Argylls’ commanding officer, Lt-Col I. Stewart as the skirl, “Blue Bonnets over the Border” fades in the early tropical morning air. At 8.15 am Indian sappers blast a 70-foot wide gap in the Causeway. The British have lost Malaya. The battle for Singapore begins.
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