1942MALAYA

BSA M20 despatch

2011-12-12T22:23:00.000-08:00

The BSA M20 was a British motorcycle made by Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) at their factory in Small Heath Birmingham. Initially viewed as a near failure by the War office in 1936, the M20 evolved into one of the longest serving motorcycles in the history of British military motorcycling, as well as becoming the most numerous type produced for the Second world war with 126,000 in active service, so many are still in use around the world today.

The You tube video below is possibly the closest version seen on the cover of Moon Over Malaya ridden by a Argyll & Sutherland Highland Division personnel. The painted Olive Green might not be the colour as early 1940s version were painted in Khaki Gas Proof No3.

The war in Malaya: Sgt Buntain's diary

2011-06-13T02:58:00.000-07:00

The following makes a rather insightful story from the perspective of a RAAF crew chief defending Malaya. They did shoot down a number of the Zeros despite getting a bad rating from history books.

[Sgt. Ron J. Buntain was an Australian stationed at Sembawang airfield, Singapore island, when the Pacific War broke upon him. Evidently he was a crew chief servicing one of 453 Squadron's Brewster Buffaloes. A tip of the virtual hat to Tim Matthews, who faxed me the sergeant's diary. I've edited it a bit. -- Dan Ford]

Monday, 8 Dec 1941 -- Was awakened by siren at Naval base at 0345 hours. Air raid warning yellow was given over amplifier system. 453 Squadron told to report to hangar immediately, while on the way to hangar we saw a formation of [Japanese] bombers which had been picked up in the searchlight beams. All told 17 bombers. Anti-aircraft guns went into action. Saw flashes of tracer bullets bursting around the kites [aircraft]. Bombs began to fall. The first indication that they were the Japs and war was declared by Japan at 0600 hours....

Tuesday, 9 Dec 1941 -- Air raid warning at 0200 hours. Out of bed in a hell of a hurry. Dutch squadron arrived today (Glen Martin bombers). Buffalo crashed while taking off just after dark. Hit dispersals pens. Plane wipe off [destroyed], twenty minutes later another Buffalo landed on top of a Glen Martin. Smashed cockpit of Glen Martin. Buffalo turned over and motor landed 50 feet in front of plane. Both pilots hurt slightly....

Thursday, 10 Dec 1941 -- Hudsons from 1 and 8 Squadrons arrived back from Quantan and Kota Bahru. Driven out by the Japs. Some in a bad way. Buffalo almost killed pilot today. Tail of kite refused to come down. 21 Squadron adjusted trimming tabs wrong.

Friday, 11 Dec 1941 -- Air raid at 0245 hours. No bombs dropped. Had a quiet day. Went into Singapore and taxis refused to run out to [aero]drome....

[Several entries missing]

Saturday, 20 Dec 1941 -- Travelled second class by train from Singapore. Arrived Kota Lumpur 0730 hours. Taken out to transit camps for breakfast by truck and then out to Sungi Besi aerodrome which was an aero club drome before we took it.... Barracks built on side of hill in the rubber trees 1/2 mile from drome. Trucks very handy.

Sunday, 21 Dec 1941 -- On parade 0545 hours. Had to stand by our kites at 0900 hours. Jap bombers escorted with fighters came over and bombed drome. Two of our machines attacked formation. [Sgt K.R.] Leys shot down but bailed out. [Sgt E.A.] Peterson alone shot down 2 bombers. Indians on Bofors guns did a good job. Kept kites flying high.

Monday, 22 Dec 1941 -- Buffaloes on patrol this morning. Had no sooner landed when Japs appeared overhead. Twelve of our kites engaged them; very big dog fight. Shot down 25 Japs with a loss of 6 of our kites. [Sgt S.G.] Scrimgeour forced to bail out and was machine gunned on the way down in his parachute. This afternoon 4 Navy Zero fighters straffed us. Not so good a feeling either and worst of all my machine which Peterson was flying was shot down while he was trying to get off the deck and was killed (burnt). Poor B-- and this morning poor P/O Bob Drury while in the dog fight got shot up bad. Half his aileron shot away and crashed on landing.

Tuesday, 23 Dec 1941 -- Helping to remove the remains of Bob Drury's kite off drome. Poor old Bob died today. Jap "reco" over today but was shot down by AA fire. Got orders to leave for Singapore tonight. Only have 4 machines left [in B flight?]. Leaving a few of the boys behind to service kites as an advanced base.

[453 Sq moved back to Sembawang on the island of Singapore, where it was combined with 21 Sq RAAF, for a total of 16 Buffaloes under the somewhat hapless Squadron Leader W.J. Harper.]

Friday, 26 Dec 1941 -- No raids today. Boys are wondering what is wrong. Too quiet to be true. Working on test kite.

Saturday, 27 Dec 1941 -- No raids again today. Test kite flown. Test proved successful. Got 520 mph in dive....

[The stripped-down and smoothed-up Buffalo was 30 mph faster than others in the squadron.]

Thursday, 30 Dec 1941 -- Very quiet all day. Went on guard with Pat in the rubber 1800 hrs with Tommy guns. Air raid 1830 hrs. 17 machines bombed Tengah. Another raid 16 [enemy planes] 1945 hrs. Bombed Singapore docks. Started big fires. Another at 2100 hrs. Bombed the docks again. At 2115 hrs the C.O. gave us a warning that the suspect paratroops have been dropped. 2330 hrs another raid; this time Siletar was bombed. At 0030 hrs another raid on Naval base ... and at 0445 hrs another aid on Singapore. At 0600 hrs off guard--boy, what a night! I began to pack....

Saturday, 3 January 1942 -- No air raids today. The Squadron has 12 kites ready for the air now owing to action over the sea towards Java. Sgt [H.H.] Griffiths is missing.

Sunday, 4 Jan 1942 -- A fairly quiet day. While working in the hangar, a .5 gun exploded and one of the boys was wounded....

Saturday, 10 Jan 1942 -- Lost count of number of raids today. Almost one continual raid. Had a hell of a time--nerves just beginning to feel the strain. Buffaloes returned from operations--two missing....

Monday, 14 Jan 1942 -- 12 Navy Zero fighters over today. Our Buffaloes went up to meet them--shot down two. Japs only 70 miles away now. Paper reports 125 planes over Singapore Island this morning....

Thursday, 15 Jan 1942 -- Air raid at 0930 hrs. Our Buffaloes went up. One pilot shot down one Jap bombers. Japs dropped stick of bombs on Naval base setting fire to big oil tanks. Flames leaping 600 feet up into the air. Hudsons and our Buffaloes as escort out on operations today. Don't know results yet.

Friday, 16 Jan 1942 -- No raids today. Glen Martins with our Buffaloes as escort went to bomb the Japs at Mersing. Our Buffaloes did the straffing causing the Japs a little strife. Goodie! Goodie!

Saturday, 17 Jan 1942 -- What a day. Air raid 1030 hrs, a formation of 27 Jap bombers accompanied by Navy Zero fighters came over drome from the direction of the Naval base. Japs were in V formation until our drome was in sight, then they lined out covering the full width of drome. The first bombs landed about the centre of the runway and right across the hangars.... One bomb hit our hangar and set fire to a plane in the hangar and boy did the bullets make a terrible noise. The size of bombs ranged from 120 lbs antipersonnel (Daisy Cutters) to 500 lb general purpose and two men were killed and many injured. Kites in the dispersal bay were set on fire and quite a number of the boys were buried in the shelter trenches....

Sunday, 18 Jan 1942 -- Been cleaning up as much wreckage as possible. Taking machines off target area into the rubber.... In operations from Sembawang today lost 1 Hudson and 1 Buffalo. Off west coast of Jahore saw Hurricanes flying for the first time....

Monday, 19 Jan 1942 -- Our Buffaloes shot down 2 Navy Zero fighters over south end of island. Filling in bomb holes in drome.

[Sgt Buntain was hit by shrapnel in a raid on 20 Jan but kept on working, getting medical attention every day.]

Friday, 23 Jan 1942 -- Reported to hospital this morning. Leg getting worse. Almost one continual raid today. Drome looks like somebody let a lot of rabbits on it. Holes everywhere. They make a good dugout to sleep in. All buildings down to ground and to make matters worse they bombed our cookhouse. On bully beef and dog biscuits now. Wish to God the war was over. Buried quite a few of the dead this morning before dawn. Nerves going to hell. Just wondering how much more I can stand....

--- 3 Feb 1942 -- Started shelling us today. Boy, give me good old Aussie and I'll never leave it again. Air raid siren just gone [off].

[This was the last entry in Sgt. Buntain's diary. When Japanese troops began to cross from Jahore, the men of 453/21 Squadron destroyed its aircraft and all useful materiel, then made the best of their way to the Singapore docks. They boarded City of Canterbury, which escaped that night--presumably the night before Singapore surrendered--and took them to the Dutch island of Java, where Sgt. Buntain's leg was saved by a Dutch doctor. Other ships took him to Columbo and in time to Adelaide, Australia, which he reached on 17 March 1942. Postwar, he worked for the Australian airline Qantas, and went on to earn a civilian pilot's license. -- DF]

1942Malaya celebrates 20,000 visits

2011-04-11T03:40:00.000-07:00

1942Malaya today hits 20,000 visits. Many thanks to all of you for visiting this blog. It's gratifying to know there are many fans of Malayan history. I'm also very pleased to receive many well wishers and also contributors to the site. Do keep those emails coming. Do inform me if there are errors that I may have overlooked.

As you all know our school history textbooks give scant information about the war in Malaya so it's important we keep this piece of history intact and well documented. Do recommend this site to all fellow history buffs. Thank you.

Malaya: 1st allied casualty of the Pacific War not Pearl Harbour

2011-04-11T02:59:00.000-07:00

Another interesting fact about the war in Malaya.

The 1st Allied casualty of War was recorded at 8.45am on the 7th December off Kota Bharu and not Pearl Harbour.

For the record , the crew comprised

Warrant Officer William Edward Webb

Commander,

Flying Officer Patrick Edwin Bedell (Australia)

Second pilot,

Sergeant Colin Burns Treloar, RAAF,

Navigator,

Sergeant Edward Alexander Bailey,

Fitter 2,

Sergeants Stanley Abram and Peter Eator,

Wireless Operator/Air Gunners,

Leading Aircraftsman Arthur Henry Chapman,

Air Gunner,

and Aircraftsman First Class William Thomas David Burnett,

Flight Mechanic.

The plane was a Catalina Mk II, RAF serial W8417, and coded FV-W in No. 205 Flying Boat Squadron, Royal Air Force.

The Japanese convoys were in the Gulf of Siam some twenty five miles west of Panjang Island off the west coast of Cambodia, about 500 miles almost due north of Singapore and about 160 miles NE of the Malayan invasion beaches at Kota Bharu and Patani Roads where they eventually landed. Seaplane tender Kamikawa Maru had responsibility for flying security patrols overhead, and probably before first light catapulted several Aichi E13A Jake reconnaissance floatplanes to go to work. One of those planes, coded ZI-26, was flown by Ensign Eiichi Ogata, and he and his radioman/gunner found the British Catalina FV-W shadowing the ships and approached the flying boat probably unseen from below and behind, and when alongside and in a good position for the gunner to bring his single 7.7mm machine to bear, deliberately fired a fired a long burst into the flying boat's hull! The time was 0820 (Tokyo), 7 December Far East time.

According to the Japanese pilot Webb's Catalina veered off sharply and turned away. This maneuver could have resulted from the pilot taking instinctive evasive action to break up the attacker's aim or, perhaps more likely, the pilot slumping over the controls dead or wounded as the machine gun fire ripped through the plane. In all probability several crew were hit, the radio set made inoperable and the fuel tanks in the wing punctured and now draining into the hull, a situation that cre-ated a severe fire hazard. Incredibly, Ogata reported that he followed the Catalina for some thirty minutes, seeking another opportunity to attack,

but evidently did not do so. If in fact the radio was still operable after Ogata's attack any signals Sergeants Abram and Eator were able to push out on the key were never received. Webb would hardly have delayed reporting by radio having been attacked over international waters, and that nothing was heard in Singapore suggests strongly that nothing was sent by the Catalina. If the Catalina's wireless operators were not transmitting it was most likely because they couldn't!
Then a patrol of Japanese Army 1st Sentai Ki-27s under LT Toshirou Kubotani found the Catalina. Kubotani's section of fighters also attacked, and started a fire in the wing, and after the fourth fighter completed its pass the Catalina suddenly exploded and plunged into the sea. There were no survivors. The shoot-down was reported to General
Yamashita, commanding the invasion forces in transport Ryujo Maru, and acknowledged.

Excerpt from: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PBY/message/7345

The Battle of Muar

2009-09-05T00:13:00.000-07:00

The Battle of Muar was the last major battle of the Malayan campaign. It took place from 14 January to 22 January 1942 around Gemensah Bridge and on the Muar River. After the British defeat at Slim River, General Archibald Wavell, commander of ABDA, decided that Percival’s III Indian Corpsshould withdraw 150 miles south into the State of Johore to rest and regroup, whilest the 8^th Australian Division would attempt to stop the Japanese advance. Allied soldiers, under the command of Major General Gordon Bennett, inflicted severe losses on Japanese forces at the Gemensah Bridge ambush and in a second battle a few miles north of the town of Gemas. Members of theAustralian 8^th Division killed an estimated 700 personnel from the Japanese Imperial Guards Division, in the ambush at the bridge itself, whilest Australian Anti-tank guns destroyed several Japanese tanks in the battle north of Gemas. Although the ambush was successful for the Allies the defense of Maur and Bakri, on the west coast, was a complete failure which resulted in the near-annihilation of the British-Indian 45^th Brigade and heavy casualties for its two attached Australian Infantry battalions.

This is the first engagement between Australian and Japanese forces in the Battle of Malaya. The 53^rd Infantry Brigade was also the only British unit of the 18^th Divisionto fight the Japanese in Malaya.

The ambush was ordered by the head of Malaya Command, Lieutenant General Arthur Percival’s own instructions; he strongly felt that ambush was the way to fight the Japanese. A multinational force under Bennett, codenamed Westforce, was assigned to defend theMuar area.

Westforce took up positions, covering the front from the mountains to the shore of theMalacca Straits. There were two main areas, and both of these were sub-divided into sectors, which were themselves widely separated and linked with each other chiefly by rather tenuous signal communications.

The first area was around the central trunk road and the railway beyond Segamat. The three subordinate sectors were:

(a) Astride both road and railway near Gemas. Here, the 8^th Indian Brigade made up the holding force.

(b) Further forward along the same road lay the 27^th Australian Brigade. They were charged with a counter-offensive role, and had already prepared an advanced ambush, from the 2/29^th Australian Infantry Battalion, for the Japanese several miles ahead at the Gemensah Bridge.

(c) Leftwards was the 22^nd Indian Brigade tasked with guarding the approaches to Segamat from Malacca, which skirt either side of Mount Ophir.

B company of the 2/30^th Australian Battalion, under Captain Desmond J. Duffy, entrenched and concealed themselves on one side of the Gemensah Bridge, spanning a stream, as part of the ambush. The bridge itself had been mined with explosives, and a battery of field artillery sited on higher ground behind the infantry whence it could command the Japanese approach to the bridge. The 2/30^th (New South Wales) A.I.F. Battalion was under Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Galleghan, nicknamed “Black Jack”.

Type 99 Pontoon Bridge

2009-08-29T23:51:00.000-07:00

One of the key success to the invasion of Malaya was the genius of the Japanese combat engineers. Rivers and beaches were often used to outflank the British forces. The Type 99 Pontoon Bridge is a craft for the river-crossing of the tank and heavy artillery. It combines with three boats, which are collapsible like Type 95 Collapsible Boat. The outboat motor is also available. The crafts were also responsible for making transporting vital troops trucks and tanks across major river like the Muar river towards the front. Their contribution to the success were not highlighted compare with their infantry or armored units. There were special engineer units for river-crossing of tank or heavy artillery. They were Jyumon-kyo (heavy pontoon bridge) units equipped with Type 99 Pontoon Bridges.

3rd Tank Group Engineer Unit and 5th Independent Engineer Company of Jyumon-kyo Unit and The OOB of 3rd Tank Group Engineer Unit HQ 1st Company (6 Type 99 Pontoon Bridges, 42 trucks) 2nd & 3rd Companies (Standard engineer companies)

Type 99 was widely used in the China and in the Pacific War. Especially, it showed outstanding performances in the Malaya campaign.

British battle tactics

2009-08-25T21:03:00.000-07:00

Before the Japanese invasion of Malaya, the Japanese Army studied the British battle tactics. Right from the start of their landing in Kota Bahru, they seemed to be able to read the British strategies. Battles after battles, the british were hoodwinked by their counter measures. It's no surprise that the British were predictable and the Japanese seemed think faster in the heat of battle. Below are some Japanese documents on the British.

ENGLISH ARMY METHODS AND OUR COUNTER-MEASURES

a. General Rules

(1) Although the English army has some mechanical mobility, in general, it does not have much maneuverability. Therefore a quick decisive battle should be sought by flanking and encirclement.

(2) Since determined action is generally better than prudence, we should avail ourselves of the enemy's hesitation in completing his preparation to gain the initiative.

(3) We must gain victory by taking the offensive and seizing the initiative, and overcoming the enemy.

(4) Since their front is generally strong and the distribution of firepower especially thorough there, we should strive to operate on their rear and take advantage of surprise. Since they are unskilled in night fighting, we should make extensive use of it.

(5) As they have great numbers of vehicles and their use of them is skillful, we must make our dispositions carefully so as to limit use of these vehicles. It is essential to be on the alert for motorized flanking and encircling movements.

(6) They definitely use gas; therefore, antigas measures are essential.

b. Attack

(1) They are generally cautious in attacking, and in planned attacks they have a tendency to use positional warfare and make exhaustive reconnaissance and preparations. We should strengthen our position more and more while they are getting ready, and at the same time, by stratagem, try to take the offensive.

(2) In attack, they endeavor to encircle or break through. However, as they are cautious when carrying out an encirclement, we should strive to utilize our maneuverability, further encircle the enemy's encircling force, and fight a decisive action at a point where the enemy does not expect it.

Do not use a passive defense if you can help it, as it has the disadvantage of making it easy for the British to build up their strong firepower. On the defensive, choose a position where the front line will not be under the enemy's fire.

(3) Although they realize the necessity of a charge, particularly in gaining the final decision in a conflict, they do not concern themselves much about its strength, but rather strengthen their firepower and their positions. The infantry weapons for hand-to-hand fighting are few, and automatic weapons are many. The infantry just follow the curtain of fire and occupy the ground. For this reason, it is necessary to plan to split them by means of artillery and machine-gun fire and isolate the infantry. Then by taking advantage of a good opportunity, we can counterattack. It is necessary to carry the battle out of the area selected by him so as to not come under the concentrated fire of the enemy artillery and to prevent his pouring fire on the charging infantry.

It is especially necessary, when our forces are weak, to rely on the bayonet against the enemy troops who penetrate our positions, and to be prepared to drive them back by this means in the final melee.

(4) They are also over-cautious in selecting the main objective of their attack in a meeting engagement, and ordinarily do so after the battle has begun and they have detailed reports of the enemy's dispositions and strength. For this reason, it is essential to bring about, by swift and resolute action, a decisive battle before the enemy's preparations are completed.

c. Defense

(1) Because they often utilize an active defense, it is necessary to dispose your troops carefully, and at the same time, so that they will not discover in this disposition a good opportunity, you must make them abandon their aggressive plans by fierce and resolute attacks.

(2) They generally do not give much consideration to their flanks and make their front strong; therefore, it is best that we carry out encircling movements.

(3) As they spend a great deal of time on their defensive preparations, it is essential to attack swiftly in open warfare and not give them any time to spare. Also, as they sometimes do not make a thorough disposition of troops so that they can move them to suit the situation, it is necessary to attack unexpectedly and swiftly and prevent their making suitable dispositions.

(4) Their firepower, particularly that of the artillery and machine guns, is disposed densely in front of their position, and therefore it is, of course, necessary to choose a deployment which utilizes the terrain and to move quickly. You must particularly pay heed to secrecy and the concealment of your movements and utilize darkness and smoke screens.

(5) Since they hold out large reserves, particularly mobile reserves, you must endeavor to keep your plan hidden and take advantage of surprise. Also, you must use strong striking forces and break through the enemy's lines at one stroke.

(6) When their dispositions are in great depth, to break through, you must also organize in depth and break through the position at one stroke. This is especially necessary to prevent their counterattacking with their mobile reserves and breaking up the attack. To cope with this situation, you must press home the attack with superior force and crush them. Even if there is a deep and somewhat flexible resistance in front of their main position, attack this with the necessary strength, but seek to keep your forces from getting mixed and to keep losses down.

(7) Although the artillery is under a unified command, it has various sorts of duties and is kept mobile; you can expect fire almost anywhere. For this reason, you must attack in strength and, using concentrated fire to the fullest, try to neutralize their guns.

(8) Where the position, especially a position in the rear, is established in depth, and a mobile reserve is used, particularly when a breakthrough is countered by mobile artillery, the coordination of the infantry and artillery, for the action after the penetration of the enemy's position must be very carefully planned.

(9) When they discover the attacker's penetration, they call down concentrated fire on it. Therefore, the attacker must make the penetration difficult to observe; and his artillery must take appropriate measures to neutralize this fire.

(10) They use tanks to good advantage; and measures against them are essential.

Battle Box Fort Canning Singapore

2009-08-20T23:29:00.000-07:00

Battle Box Fort Canning documents the last day before the fall of Singapore. The main attraction is the wax figure displays of Gen Percival and his command staff as they meet for the last time. The display is much better than the one in Sentosa. The figures look harried, gritty and one can feel the morbid end coming. The uniforms and equipment details are very authentic and well researched.

G3m Nell that crashed in Kota Bharu

2009-08-19T20:57:00.000-07:00

Here's a contribution from KL Goh who wrote to me about a crash site in Kota Bharu. Interesting story. Thanks Major Goh for the info:

Forgotten Air War of Malaya by Goh K. Loon

When I was a small kid, I always playing with my friends near a jungle behind my house in Kota Bharu. I remember seeing some twisted metal with rivets on the ground. After many years I returned to the scene and was told by the old villagers nearby that the metal was a plane falling from the sky in Japanese occupation period. Then they told me there was another plane falling in flames and crashed near Kelantan river but I was told it was happened a few years after the war started. I felt so confused because most of the air battle of World War 2 In Malaya was fought only at the beginning of the. I drove to the village they mentioned and managed to find a witness (a Tok Imam), who confirmed that a few years after the war started, one day there was a Japanese twin engines plane falling from the sky trailing flames and black smokes. The pilot tried to ditch on Kelantan River but he hit a coconut tree and the plane exploded. The Japanese soldiers then came and took the bodies of two aircrews and cleared the wreckages.

I started to do my research on the air war at the latter (later) part of World War 2 in Malaya and find out that I totally missed out ‘The Forgotten Air War Of Malaya’.

After the beginning of the World War 2 in December 1941, The Japanese fought the Allied from Malaya to Singapore with fighter and bomber like Oscar, Zero, Tojo, Betty, Nell, Sonia and the greatest success was the sinking of HMS Prince Of Wales and HMS Repulse in Kuantan water solely with the use of airpower on 10 Dec 1941. After the Japanese wining the air superiority in Malaya, they were flying at will to attack any target in Malaya and Singapore. The pilots and aircrews were best trained and they even created a ‘bomber alley’ between Singapore to Sumatra to sink many ships, which evacuated the refugees from Singapore.

The air activities slowed down after Singapore surrendered. The routine air activities were limited to patrolling and others minor air operations. The Strait of Malacca was actually a graveyard for Allied submarines because their air-search radar was blocked by the hills of Sumatra and Titiwangsa range. In one patrol, the USS Grenadier was badly damaged by few Japanese planes and the submarine have to be scuttled and the crews were taken Prisoner OF War in Light Street Convent, Penang.

I met up with some great local historians like Mr. Sager and Mr. Ahamd Shaharom and we worked to put back some missing puzzle of our Malaya history. Then I found out that even the famous Boeing B-29 bomber had come to bomb some targets in Malaya (including Singapore) in 1944 and 1945.

In 1998, an American visited Malaysia with his father diary and he contacted one of our team members Mr Sager Ahmad and told that his father bailed out from a B-29 bomber in Negeri Sembilan during World War 2. Mr. Sager met the son of the aircrew from the famous B-29 bomber ‘Postville Express’ which crashed in Rembau and they visited the crash site together. Mr.Shaharom later took some pictures to put it in our website, Malaya Historical Group

More here: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/history/malaya/index.html

Citations of the Japanese Army-11th Infantry Regiment

2009-08-14T18:19:00.001-07:00

Citations of the Japanese Army-Saeki Tank Unit

2009-08-14T17:55:00.001-07:00

Citations of the Japanese Army-Shimada Tank Company

2009-08-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

citations of the Japanese Army-Itabana Platoon

2009-08-14T17:42:00.000-07:00

Citations of the Japanese Army-Gotanda Tank Company

2009-08-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

Citations of the Japanese Army-Ogaki Battalion

2009-08-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

Citations of the Japanese Army-18th Division

2009-08-14T08:15:00.000-07:00

The 18th Division under the command of Lt General Mutaguchi participated in the initial landings in Kota Bharu. The detachment were responsible for the assault on Kota Bharu airfield and also the capture of Kuantan and later British strongholds in Endau and Mersing.

Citations of the Japanese Army-5th Division

2009-08-14T07:53:00.000-07:00

Here are some article about the Japanese side of the war. Units were awarded for their gallantry in the invasion. We read a lot about the Victoria Cross medals won by the allied army but very little was written about the Japanese side.

Citations are a very high distinction in the Japanese Army, and are usually awarded to formations and units, they are conferred on individuals only for exceptional gallantry. below are citaions awarded by Commander Tomoyuki Yamashita 15 February 1942.

Fifth Division

The 5th Division under the leadership of Lt General Matsui, carried out the landing in southern Thailand at the commencement of the operations against Singapore. Under heavy rain and intense heat, marshes, swamps and dense jungle, the division repaired more than 200 bridges, broke through enemy strongholds. Advancing more than eleven hundred kilometres, it took possesion of Johore Bahru and finally driving out the British forces from Malaya.

The War Criminals

2009-08-13T01:25:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the Japanese War Criminals that committed attrocities in Malaya and Singapore that were convicted. Asia seems to suffer a case of amnesia where this criminals are concerned.

Yamashita General Tomoyuki. On 6 November 1941, Yamashita was put in command of the Twenty-Fifth Army. On 8 December, he launched an invasion of Malaya, from bases in French Indochina. In the campaign, which concluded with the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942, Yamashita's 30,000 front-line soldiers captured 130,000 British, Indian and Australian troops, the largest surrender of British-led personnel in history. He became known as the "Tiger of Malaya".
The campaign and the subsequent Japanese occupation of Singapore included war crimes committed against captive Allied personnel and civilians, such as the Alexandra Hospital and Sook Ching Massacres. Yamashita's culpability for these events remains a matter of controversy, as some argued that he had failed to prevent them. However, Yamashita had the officer who instigated the hospital massacre and some soldiers caught looting executed for these acts, and he personally apologised to the surviving patients.
^{From 29 October to 7 December 1945, an American military tribunal tried General Yamashita for war crimes relating to the Manila Massacre and sentenced him to death. This case has become a precedent regarding the command responsibility for war crimes and is known as the Yamashita Standard. The trial was especially controversial.}
Doihara, General Kenji (1883-1948). Commander, Kwantung Army, 1938-40; Supreme War Council, 1940-43; army commander in Singapore, 1944-45. Deeply involved in the army's drug trafficking in Manchuria. Later ran brutal POW and internee camps in Malaya, Sumatra, Java and Borneo. Convicted on counts 1, 27, 29, 31, 32, 35, 36, 54.

Itagaki, General Seishiro (1885-1948). Chief of Staff, Kwantung Army, 1936-37; minister of war, 1938-39; chief, army general staff, 1939; commander in Korea, 1941; Supreme War Council, 1943; commander in Singapore, 1945. Troops under his command in China terrorized prisoners and civilians. Was responsible for prison camps in Java, Sumatra, Malaya, Borneo and elsewhere. Convicted on Counts 1, 27, 29, 31, 32, 35, 36, 54.

Yoshimura, Sergeant Eiko. Head of Japanese Kempeitai Ipoh. Was responsible for the torture and abuse of civilians and Sybil Karthigasu. Convicted and hanged.

Nishimura, Lieut. General Takuma. Responsible for the massacre of 110 Australian and 35 Indian prisoners in the aftermath of the Battle of Bakri. January 17 1942. He was also charged with the massacre of Allied prisoners in the Parit Sulong incident.

Lieutenant General Takuma Nishimura, Lieutenant General Saburo Kawamura, Lieutenant Colonel Masayuki Oishi, Lieutenant Colonel Yoshitaka Yokata, Major Tomotatsu Jo, Major Satoru Onishi and Captain Haruji Hisamatsu

In 1947, the British Colonial authorities in Singapore held a war crimes trial to bring the perpetrators of the Sook Ching Massacre to justice. Seven officers, namely Lieutenant General Takuma Nishimura, Lieutenant General Saburo Kawamura, Lieutenant Colonel Masayuki Oishi, Lieutenant Colonel Yoshitaka Yokata, Major Tomotatsu Jo, Major Satoru Onishi and Captain Haruji Hisamatsu were charged with carrying out the massacre. While Kawamura and Oishi received the death penalty, the other five received life sentences. The court accepted the Nuremberg Trials defence of “just following orders." The death sentences were carried out on 26 June 1947. Even though the Chinese community urged the British authorities to stage the executions of Kawamura and Oishi in public to ease the anger in the Chinese community, the British allowed only six members of the victims' family association to witness the execution. After the trial the British colonial government in Singapore considered the matter closed, and only demanded war reparations from Japan for damage caused to British property, much to the dismay of the Chinese community.

British 25 pounder Gun

2009-08-11T21:54:00.000-07:00

The Ordnance QF 25 pounder, or more simply, 25-pounder or 25-pdr, was introduced into service just before World War II, during which it served as the major British field gun/howitzer. It was considered by many to be the best field artillery piece of the war, combining high rates of fire with a reasonably lethal shell in a highly mobile piece. It was the British Army's primary artillery field piece well into the 1960s, with smaller numbers served in training units until the 1980s.

The most famous field gun used by Australian forces during World War 11 was the Mark 2 25-pounder gun-howitzer. Introduced in 1940 it could fire at high velocity on a flat trajectory as well as serving as a howitzer, capable of firing on targets hidden behind hills, which made it invaluable in Malaya. When the full weight of fire of a Battery was brought to bear on a target the result was devastating.

The 25 pounder fired a 25-pound projectile at a normal range of 12,500 yards, extending to 13,400 yards when using super charge. Fitted with a telescope sight as well as the usual dial sight for indirect fire, the 25 pounder could traverse a full 360 degrees on its special firing platform. To witness the effect of a direct hit on an enemy tank was an awesome sight It was also used when repulsing attacking enemy boats at Muar.

The steady rate of fire of five rounds a minute made it valuable in repulsing enemy attacks, as the advancing 'g Japanese found on several occasions. Its superb accuracy, reliability and efficiency were the pride of the gun crews who manned them, keeping others busy at the work of feeding its voracious appetite for ammunition.

Thanks for visiting and contributing!

2009-08-11T19:36:00.001-07:00

Many thanks to all you for writing in to support this blog. Soon the blog will hit 2000 visitors, no doubt it's a tiny figure compared to thousands of other blogs, it's a pleasant surprise for me. Also There's many of you out there who's into Malayan history. What's great for me is also finding new stories about the war that I believe will lay buried if it's not for the web. So keep the stories coming. Enjoy Malaya!

Lt Sadanobu Watanabe

2009-08-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

Was watching the “General Wars” on Satelitte TV last night. The episode was on The Battle of Singapore. General Yamashita vs General A.Percival. It was pretty interesting. New footage of the British Army were shown. Couple of facts were debated. Amongst the interesting trivials were, British Infantry carried an average of 18 kilos of kit vs Japanese infantry’s 32 kilos. The Japanese’s use of bicycle made that possible. Yamashita’s looted the British supplies of food and ammunition made his invasion of Malaya quicker.

In the programme, there was a section on the Battle of Slim river. A tank commander Lt Sadanobu Watanabe was highlighted how he single handedly broke through the road blocks set up by the Allied forces. On one of the bridges, Watanabe in true bushido style, personally jumped out of his tank and severed the demolition wires with his sabre before the British could destroy them. He continued to secure another 5 bridges in that battle.

Below are excerpts from the battle:

The 28^th Brigade Positions

Before reaching the 28^th Gurkha Brigade Shimada’s tanks were offered a perfect target in the form of Lt. Col. Cyril Stokes’ 5/14^th Punjabis, who were in marching order (long columns of units following each other) on either side of the road to Trolak. Stokes’ Punjabis were heading up to reinforce Stewart’s brigade. Commanding Shimada’s three leading tanks was Lt. Sadanobu Watanabe, who lead his tanks straight through Stokes’ Punjabis, machine guns firing at the perfect target offered by the lined up soldiers. Lt.Col.Stokes was mortally wounded and his battalion suffered heavy casualties before Watanabe’s tanks carried on toward the road bridge (5/14^th Punjabis mustered 146 officers and soldiers by 8 January ). By 8:00 a.m. the leading Japanese tanks were within Selby’s brigade H.Q. area. The 28^th Brigade were completely unaware of what had happened to Stewart’s entire brigade and the Japanese tore through them faster, scattering both the 2/2^nd and 2/9^th Gurkhas, which were spread around Selby’s brigade H.Q. Although they suffered heavy casualties many of the soldiers from these two battalions made it across the rail bridge before the main Japanese force got to their position.

Like the Punjabi’s, the last battalion of Selby’s brigade, the 2/1^st Gurkhas under Lt. Col. Jack Fulton, were on the march either side of the road as the Japanese tanks reached them. This time though, the marching column of Gurkha’s were facing away from the approaching Japanese and Watanabe’s tanks caught them from behind, the death toll was even higher than that of the Punjabis. One officer and twenty-seven other ranks answered roll call the next day. Fulton, wounded in the stomach and taken prisoner, would die in captivity two months later. Shimada’s tanks had by now broken through both brigades and were into the rear area of the 11^th Indian Division, heading for the two bridges. Leaving the rail bridge for Shimada and the main Japanese force, Lt Watanabe headed toward the more important road bridge six miles away. In this attack Watanabe broke through the artillery, medical, and other support units in front of the road bridge. Two British artillery colonels were surprised and killed while driving on the road in this lightning attack. Upon reaching the road bridge at 8.30 a.m. Watanabe found it defended by a battery of Bofors anti-aircraft guns from the Singapore and Hong Kong Artillery Regiment. Although two of the guns managed to lower their barrels quickly enough to fire on the tanks, the rounds did not damage the tanks’ armor and the gunners fled. Watanabe himself cut the wires to the demolition charges on the bridge with his sword. It was still only early morning and the Japanese attack had managed to scatter the entire 11^th Indian Division, leaving most of its survivors attempting to escape across the Slim River.

In the last part of this 16-mile Blitzkrieg-like attack Watanabe, now in control of the road bridge, sent a force of three tanks under the command of Ensign Toichero Sato to explore the other side of the river. Sato travelled three miles before encountering more British artillery, in the form of two 4.5 inch Howitzers from the 155^th Field Artillery Regiment, RA. Sato’s tank opened fire on the first gun, turning it over and blocking the road. The gunners from the second gun managed to lower their barrels in time to fire on the tanks at point blank range. Sato’s tank was hit and destroyed, killing him, and forcing the other two tanks in his force to retreat back to the road bridge.

Was your school a japanese HQ & Torture Chamber

2009-08-10T00:41:00.000-07:00

There were numerous stories going around that the school we went to when we were still in shorts were used for execution of innocent civilians and allied prisoners. Stories of haunted halls and stairways were plenty. Here are some schools that were in fact Japanese torture chambers.

St Michael’s Institution, Ipoh – A group of Catholics missionaries arrived here in 1912 and began building a school next to the famous Kinta River. It did not take long for the missionary brothers who ran the school to have enough funds to erect a huge school building with unique French structural design. When the WW2 broke out, the school was used bu Japanese secret police as their headquarters. Needless to say, there were lots of torturing carried out. The buidling itself had many tunnels which had been sealed off and the tunnels were said to be used by the Japanese to torture prisoners and to store food.
Malay College Kuala Kangsar, Kuala Kangsar, Perak – This school is said to be a former site of Japanese occupation camp during WW2.
Victoria Institution, Kuala Lumpur – The boys school was turned into a Japanese base during the Occupation. Many British soldiers and locals were brutally tortured to death in the basement and some older buildings on the campus.
The Tuanku Muhammad School Kuala Pilah was used as the headquarters of the Japanese Kempetai (or secret police), how hundreds of people had been tortured at the school, and how over three hundred mainly Chinese victims lay buried in the small rubber plantation at the back of the school.
King Edward VII School. Taiping. The Central School, started in 1883, was the first English school in the Malay States and house its first 1 students. It was renamed the King Edward VII National School when in conjunction with the coronation of England's 7th King in 1901. During the Japanese occupation,the school was the base of the garrison commander who converted the classrooms into torture chambers and dug up the playgrounds to grow food."
St Georges' Institution. Taiping. " The Catholic boys' school was established in 1915 and 13 years later the original building was extended with a wing on each side. During the Japanese Occupation, the school served in turn as Nippon-Go Gakko (Japanese school), Kempetai (Japanese military police) base and Japanese officers' hotel."
Convent Taiping. ' In 1889, the first convent was started in nearby Klian Puah by three sisters from the convent in Penang. The class and orphanage in Taiping were upgraded when the present school building at Kota Road opened in 1938. In May 1941, the British requisitioned it for a large military hospital but in December it was taken over by the Japanese. Towards the end of war, the Taiping Convent became the headquarters of the Japanese military administration, the Gun-sei Kan-bu."
Light Street Convent Penang.
King George VI Seremban. In 1941, the school premises were taken over by the Australian Imperial Forces. During the Japanese occupation, the school was used as the Japanese Military Police Headquarters by the Miyazaki Butai regiment. The dressing room beside the stage in the school hall were reportedly used as torture chambers. After the Allied reoccupation, the British army maintained a military hospital in the school for a further 6 months.
SMK Tinggi Kajang is reported to be one of the oldest schools in the country. During World War II, it was used by the Japanese army as a burial site.
Clifford School (formerly Anglo-Chinese School) Kuala Lipis. During the Japanese Occupation, the school became the military headquarters of the dreaded Japanese secret police, the Kempetai. The Japanese torture chamber built within the school compound was still standing. However, it was demolished in the 1980s, perhaps after too many a ghost story scared the school kids?

64 years since the end of the war

2009-08-07T02:58:00.000-07:00

Timely reminder of the anniversary of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. 64 years ago today millions in Asia breathe a sigh of relief to the end of the Japanese occupation.

The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were nuclear attacks near the end of World War II against the Empire of Japan by the United States at the executive order of U.S. President Harry S. Truman on August 6 and August 9, 1945, respectively. After six months of intense fire-bombing of 67 other Japanese cities, followed by an ultimatum which was ignored by the Shōwa regime, the nuclear weapon "Little Boy" was dropped on the city of Hiroshima on Monday, August 6, 1945, followed on August 9 by the detonation of the "Fat Man" nuclear bomb over Nagasaki. These are to date the only attacks with nuclear weapons in the history of warfare.

The bombs killed as many as 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 80,000 in Nagasaki by the end of 1945, roughly half on the days of the bombings. Amongst these, 15–20% died from injuries or the combined effects of flash burns, trauma, and radiation burns, compounded by illness, malnutrition andradiation sickness. Since then, more have died from leukemia (231 observed) and solid cancers(334 observed) attributed to exposure to radiation released by the bombs. In both cities, most of the dead were civilians.

Six days after the detonation over Nagasaki, on August 15, Japan announced its surrender to theAllied Powers, signing the Instrument of Surrender on September 2, officially ending the Pacific Warand therefore World War II. (Germany had signed its unavoidable Instrument of Surrender on May 7, ending the war in Europe.) The bombings led, in part, to post-war Japan adopting Three Non-Nuclear Principles, forbidding that nation from nuclear armament.

Army Museum Port Dickson aka Muzium Tentera Darat

2009-08-06T20:35:00.000-07:00

Here are some shots of the Army Museum in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. I find the Museum rather interesting. The displays are well sorted out. There are quite a number of WW2 artifacts. A universal carrier, a Japanese type 38 75mm gun, British infantry weapons plus many post war displays. There's a display tunnel used during the emergency years. Also an interesting Mogadishu section where heroic Malaysian UN peacekeepers save some of the Americans during the infamous "Black Hawk Down" incident.

Malaya Invasion video

2009-08-06T02:14:00.000-07:00

Here's a rather rarely seen footage on the war in Malaya. Interesting to see the British artillery in action. Shirtless but wearing a vest that looks like a poison gas mask.

Force 136

2009-07-31T02:13:00.000-07:00

Force 136 was a British-led underground resistance group that operated in Malaya during World War II. There were about 50 members in the group which performed acts of sabotage and espionage against the Japanese.

The Oriental Mission of SOE attempted to set up "stay-behind" and resistance organisations from August 1941, but their plans were opposed by the British colonial governor, Sir Shenton Thomas. They were able to begin serious efforts only in January 1942, after the Japanese Invasion of Malaya had already begun.

An irregular warfare school, STS 101, was set up by the explorer and mountaineer Freddie Spencer Chapman. Chapman himself led the first reconnaissances and attacks behind Japanese line. Although the school's graduates mounted a few operations against the Japanese lines of communication, they were cut off from the other Allied forces by the fall of Singapore. An attempt was made by the Oriental Mission to set up an HQ in Sumatra but this island too was overrun by the Japanese.

[edit]Malayan Communist Party

Before the Japanese attacked Malaya, a potential resistance organisation already existed in the form of the Malayan Communist Party. This party's members were mainly from the Chinese community and implacably anti-Japanese. Just before the fall of Singapore, the party's Secretary General, Lai Teck, was told by the British authorities that his party should disperse into the forests, a decision already made by the party's members.

In isolation, the Communists formed the Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA). Their first arms and equipment were either donated by STS 101 before they were overrun, or recovered from abandoned depots. The MPAJA formed rigidly-disciplined camps and units in the forest, supplied with food by networks of contacts among displaced Chinese labourers and "squatters" on marginal land. Chapman had remained in Malaya after Singapore fell, but had no radio or means of contacting Allied forces elsewhere. Nevertheless, the MPAJA still regarded Chapman as the official British authority, and Chin Peng was appointed liaison with Chapman.

Singaporean World War II hero Lim Bo Seng had returned to Malaya from Calcutta in 1942, and recruited some agents who had made their way to India by 1943. Force 136 attempted to regain contact with Chapman in Operation Gustavus, by infiltrating parties which included Lim Bo Seng and former STS 101 members John Davis and Richard Broome by sea into the area near Pangkor Island. Their radio was unable to contact Force 136 HQ and the MPAJA contacts on Pangkor Island were betrayed to the Japanese.

The radio brought in by Gustavus was finally made to work in February 1945. Chapman was able to visit the Force HQ in Kandy and report. By this time, Force 136 had substantial resources, and in the few months before the end of the war, they were able to send 2,000 weapons to the MPAJA and no less than 300 liaison personnel. About half of these were British who had worked or lived in Malaya before the war, the others were Chinese who had made their own way to India or who had been taken there by Force 136 for training. With these resources, the MPAJA was built up to become a substantial guerilla army with about 7000 fighters. However, Japan surrendered before it had a chance to stage a major uprising.

In isolation in jungle camps for several years, the MCP and MPAJA had purged themselves of many members suspected of treachery or espionage, which contributed to their post-war hard-line attitude leading in turn to the Malayan Emergency.

Local Heroine Sybil Kathigasu

2009-07-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

I remember years ago preparing for my history test there was a little mention of a freedom fighter in Malaya by the name of Sybil Kathigasu, whose heroic exploits against the Japanese army in Malaya were documented in her memoir, No Dram of Mercy. There is not even a whisper of her and her sacrifices nor was she officially given any recognition by the powers-that-be. This is despite the fact that she played a great role in providing healthcare to the terrorised local community during Japanese rule. She remains an icon of bravery and courage, and her only literary work was what is left today.

Sybil Kathigasu (1900-1948), a Eurasian Malayan, was the wife of Dr AC Kathigasu who operated a clinic at No 141, Brewster Road in Ipoh. Days before Japanese troops occupied Ipoh on Dec 26, 1941, the family escaped to the nearby town Papan. Japan began to land troops on Peninsular Malaya on Dec 8, 1941 at the Sabak Beach in Kota Baru, Kelantan. While staying at a shop house at No 74, Main Road, Papan, the British loyalist Sybil Kathigasu secretly kept shortwave radio sets and clandestinely listened to BBC broadcasts to be kept informed of the situation around the world, especially in Britain and Europe. Those acts were considered criminal and highly subversive by the military administration of Japan in Malaya.

Later, she also secretly supplied medicines, medical services and information to the underground communists and guerilla forces of the 5th Independent Regiment of the Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) fighting against the occupation in nearby hills and jungles. Sybil Kathigasu and her husband were eventually arrested in 1943, severely tortured and ‘convicted’. They were jailed until the liberation of Ipoh by communist partisans in August 1945.

She was then flown to Britain for medical treatment. There, she began to write No Dram of Mercy and was awarded George Metal in Buckingham Palace by the King of the United Kingdom. As a result of the injury sustained during her incarceration, Sybil Kathigasu passed away in 1948 in Britain but, to fulfill her last wish as a Malayan, her body was flown back to Ipoh and buried at the Catholic cemetery besides the St. Michael Church.

Besides detailing her own clandestine activities in Papan and torture in Ipoh, Sybil Kathigasu also outlined the socio-cultural landscape and wartime atmosphere in the Ipoh-centered Kinta Valley during the 1940s.
She also vividly recorded the pre-occupation bombing in early and mid-December 1941 as well as the liberation of Ipoh in August 1945. Last year, the Chinese translation of No Dram of Mercy was launched in Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh where a memorial service was also held in her honour. 2005 was the 60th anniversary of the end of the Pacific War and the liberation of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.

Local Hero Lim Bo Seng

2009-07-30T06:41:00.000-07:00

Lim Bo Seng, despite his privileged background and success as a businessman, was staunchly anti-Japanese even before the war came to Malaya. An active contributor of the China Relief Fund, he was later the Director of the Labour Service Department in the newly formed Singapore Chinese Mobilisation Council. Certain to be a target of reprisals for the Japanese, he was compelled to flee Singapore just before it capitulated. He managed to reach Sumatra where he then made his way to Colombo and finally to Calcutta in India. There, he met a British officer, Basil Goodfellow, who persuaded him to join the British efforts in setting up a joint China-Britain espionage network in Malaya. He then proceeded on to Nationalist China to recruit overseas Malayan Chinese for this task. This resistance network came to be known as Force 136.

He was held in high regard by the British and other members of Force 136 for his patriotism, leadership and organisational abilities. After receiving training from the British in India, the men of Force 136 were inserted into Malaya via submarine in batches. Appointed leader of the Malayan Chinese section, he personally arrived in Malaya in November 1943 to co-ordinate the efforts. He was one of the five signatories in the Bukit Bidor Agreement signed on 1st Jan 1944 where the British and the Malayan Communist Party agreed to work together and support each other against the Japanese.

Tragedy was to strike when he was stopped at a checkpoint at Gopeng and arrested. He had earlier ignored warnings and pleas from his comrades about the danger of his mission, which was to revamp the entire intelligence network and solicit funds from his wealthy friends. Brought to Batu Gajah Prison, he was subjected to continuous interrogations and torture by the infamous Kempeitai. Lim Bo Seng was already weak in health, having just gone for a haemorrhoids operation in India before arriving in Malaya. To make matters worse, he suffered from dysentery. Finally, on 29th June 1944, he succumbed under the immense suffering and passed away.

Convent Light Street Penang

2009-07-29T03:57:00.000-07:00

The Penang Convent Light Street school was used to a POW internment camp during the war. On April 22,1943 U.S.S. GRENADIER SS210 was sunk by an airplane off the coast of Sumatra. Survivors were taken POW and taken to Penang and the convent Light Street held in cognito for about 3 or so months while being interragated by the Japs. During the captivity, the prisoners scratched their names on the walls of the buildings.

USS Grenadier (SS-210), a Tambor-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the grenadier fish, relatives of cod that are very common in bathyal and abyssal habitats.

Her keel was laid down by Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine, in April 1940. She was launched on 29 November 1940 sponsored by Mrs. Walter S. Anderson, wife of the Director of Naval Intelligence and commissioned on 1 May 1941 with Lieutenant Commander Allen R. Joyce in command.

The submarine departed Australia on 20 March on her last war patrol and headed for the Strait of Malacca, gateway between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Patrolling along the Malay and Thai coasts, Grenadier claimed a small freighter off the island of Phuket on 6 April. She remained in the area and late in the night of 20 April sighted two merchantmen and closed in for the attack. Running on the surface at dawn 21 April, Grenadier spotted, and was simultaneously spotted by, a Japanese plane. As the sub crash dived, her skipper, Commander John A. Fitzgerald commented "we ought to be safe now, as we are between 120 and 130 feet (40 m)." Just then, bombs rocked Grenadier and heeled her over 15 to 20 degrees. Power and lights failed completely and the fatally wounded ship settled to the bottom at 267 feet (81 m). She tried to make repairs while a fierce fire blazed in the maneuvering room.

After 13 hours of sweating it out on the bottom Grenadier managed to surface after dark to clear the boat of smoke and inspect damage. The damage to her propulsion system was irreparable. Attempting to bring his ship close to shore so that the crew could scuttle her and escape into the jungle, Commander Fitzgerald even tried to jury-rig a sail. But the long night's work proved futile. As dawn broke, 22 April, Grenadier’s weary crew sighted two Japanese ships heading for them. As the skipper "didn't think it advisable to make a stationary dive in 280 feet of water without power," the crew began burning confidential documents prior to abandoning ship. A Japanese plane attacked the stricken submarine; but Grenadier, though dead in the water and to all appearances helpless, blazed away with machine guns. She hit the plane on its second pass. As the damaged plane veered off, its torpedo landed about 200 yards (200 m) from the boat and exploded.

Opening all vents, Grenadier’s crew abandoned ship and watched her sink to her final resting place. A Japanese merchantman picked up eight officers and 68 enlisted men and took them to Penang, Malay States, where they were questioned, beaten, and starved before being sent to other prison camps. They were then separated and transferred from camp to camp along the Malay Peninsula and finally to Japan. Throughout the war they suffered brutal, inhuman treatment, and their refusal to reveal military information both frustrated and angered their captors. First word that any had survived Grenadier reached Australia on 27 November 1943. Despite the brutal and sadistic treatment, all but four of Grenadier’s crew survived their two years in Japanese hands.

U boats and submarines all in Penang

2009-07-29T00:34:00.000-07:00

I've been researching about Malaya during the war and there's just tons of stories that never quite made it into mainstream history books. Maybe it's too insignificant but to me this little stories are in fact quite interesting. Little did we know the Germans were planning to use Penang as their Far East base for the infamous u boats. So did the Japanese. Penang was turned into an Axis submarine base soon after defeating the British.

German records indicate that discussions for a German U-boat base in Malaya had begun as early as August 1942. The base was intended for the provision and support of U-boats operating in the Indian Ocean. The Germans did not have overseas bases and with few exceptions, were they able to use neutral ports. Setting up an Eastern base was no easy task and demanded considerable resources which could have been otherwise channeled for the Atlantic campaign. Why then was Germany interested in an Eastern base?

One of the reasons was due to necessity. Before the German invasion of Russia (Operation Barbarossa) commenced in June 1941, land and air transportation between Germany and Japan was possible. The two allies often seek to exchange knowledge and other raw materials. Germany needed rubber, metals such as copper and bismuth, and medicines such as quinine. On the reverse, Japan needed steel, mercury and optical glass. In addition, the two nations were interested in each other’s latest military hardware, including prototypes of the latest weapons and blueprints for research.

After the invasion of Russia, the only practical means of exchange was by sea. Initially, this was met by surface blockade-runners running to and from the Far East. But the British blitz in 1942 disrupted the flow of materials that by the end of 1942, it became clear that German supply lines were being threatened and the situation could not continue as it is. As a consequence, a proposal was put forth by Admiral Donitz on February 1943 to use submarines for transport purposes. In order to provision for U-boats traversing the Indian Ocean, an Eastern base was clearly required.

Another reason for German interest in an Eastern base seem to suggest that while the Atlantic campaign was going well for the Germans, U-boat operations gradually extended southwards, down the African coast and finally up to the Cape of Good Hope. In its quest for more fertile fields, it was only logical to further extend into the Indian Ocean, where it is believed that Allied ASW capabilities were not as sophisticated as those in the Atlantic. Finally, with the collapse of the Atlantic campaign in May 1943, U-boats needed to be on the offensive elsewhere and with that, U-boats were dispatched to their Far Eastern bases in mid 1943 to undertake offensive operations in the Indian Ocean. Planning however for these bases had already begun, as early as late 1942.

Finally, other indications suggest that the Japanese themselves had on several occasions requested for German U-boats to operate in the Indian Ocean. Donitz was unreceptive of the proposal and viewed it as an unnecessary diversion from the Atlantic campaign. But with the collapse of the Atlantic campaign in May of 1943, the approval was finally given.

The motivation for German interest in the Far East is likely due to a combination of factors – but one thing is absolutely clear. On February 20 1943, a strategic decision was made to send the first wave of submarines to the Far East. These were not German U-boats, but Italian transport submarines, codenamed Aquila and Merkator. Their mission was to ply to and from Asia, ferrying rubber and other scarce raw materials.

Barely a month later, on March 28 1943, U-178 departed from France and enroute to the Indian Ocean, BdU sent a message that she was to sail to Malaya and set up a U-boat base there. After having replenished from a surface tanker in the Indian Ocean, the U-178 arrived in Penang at the Malayan Peninsula on August 1943. KK Wilhelm Dommes became the first commander of the German U-boat base in Asia.

Penang, was selected as the main U-boat base. A second base was established at Kobe, Japan, and a small repair base was located at Singapore, Jakarta and Surabaya.

Malaya's Japanese Gestapo

2009-07-28T05:38:00.000-07:00

Years before the invasion, Japanese secret agents were already stationed in Malaya carrying out subversion and providing intelligence information, troops and war materiel. These Japanese immigrants, or first generation descendants of Japanese born in Malaya, were considered doho, or compatriots by Japanese traditions and law. Their allegiance to the Emperor and Japan was assumed by Japan's leaders. The doho in Malaya included the Japanese Editor of a local journal, a Japanese diplomat (arrested for espionage), thousands of Japanese prostitutes, businessmen, dentists, photographers and barbers. The policy of this editor was to oppose the pro-England, pro-Southeast Asia policies of local newspapers and soften public opinion in Japan's favor. The prostitutes, passed on pillow talk, and the businessmen, dentists, photographers and barbers were all well-placed to collect intelligence, take photos and glean intelligence while hearing the chatter of their customers and social contacts.

Captured or copied military vehicles

2009-07-24T21:25:00.000-07:00

Picture: Harley Davidson motorcycle, Bren gun, Universal carrier and Chevrolet Truck?

Whilst researching the Japanese Army's equipment I came across many photos and equipment which at 1st glance I thought they were captured allied equipment but at a closer look they are Japanese equipments. The Japanese concept of copying european designs came as early as they started their industrial revolution. From the Type 38 rifles (Mauser design) to their type 96 light machine gun (bren gun) you can almost see where the original forms came from. While the original designers took years to perfect their creations, the Japanese cleverly shortcut the whole process by copying what is already a very well tested design.

Bicycle BLITZKRIEG

2009-07-22T22:39:00.000-07:00

Despite transport scheduling problems and sighting of the invasion force by British reconnaissance aircraft while enroute to the landing area, the initial landing took place at 0215 (local time) 8 December 1941, one hour twenty minutes before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The landings were highly successful and largely unopposed, except at Kota Bahru where the expected stiff resistance was encountered. The British had previously anticipated the precise invasion landing points in a 1937 study done by the then-General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Malaya, Major General W.G.S. Dobbie. He theorized that a future assault would take place during the northeast monsoon season (October through March), when bad weather would limit the reconnaissance capabilities of the defenders. MATADOR, a defensive plan based on Dobbie’s work, was formulated but never executed because the British government did not want to violate Thai sovereignty without a prior declaration of war.

Within four days of their landing, 5^th Division had advanced from Singora through the town of Jitra to capture the RAF airfield at Alor Star, nearly 100 miles away. Using flanking techniques developed by Yamashita’s staff, the 25^th Army swept over town after town and airfield after airfield. There were numerous obstacles to the advance, such as the dense jungle, long supply lines, oppressive heat, and torrential rains, but the quickly over-run enemy positions provided tons of so-called “Churchill Stores:” food, ammunition, trucks, and fuel left by the retreating British. By 11 January 1942, the invasion force had captured Kuala Lumpur.

Influenced by the intense heat and impassable jungle, Japanese planners decided from the beginning to use bicycles rather than horses as a means of troop and light material transportation. This decision allowed the foot soldiers to travel farther, faster, and with less fatigue. Due to the vast number of rivers on the Malay peninsula, and the British propensity to destroy the more than 250 bridges they crossed during their retreat, bicycles allowed the infantry (to continue) their advance, wading across the rivers carrying their bicycles on their shoulders,or crossing on log bridges held up on the shoulders of engineers standing in the stream.
The British could not escape the troops on bicycles. They were overtaken, driven off the paved roads into the jungle, and forced to surrender. The constant pressure and relentless pursuit was psychologically devastating to the defenders; a true blitzkrieg—Japanese-style.

Lieutenant Thomas Wilkinson

2009-07-20T01:24:00.000-07:00

Thomas Wilkinson VC (1 August, 1898 - 14 February 1942) of Widnes was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealthforces.

He was 43 years old, and a temporary lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

A native of Widnes, Lancashire, Wilkinson was a Lieutenant (Temp.) in the Royal Naval Reserve, serving as captain of the 1000-ton patrol vessel HMS Li Wo, a former Yangtze River passenger steamer, in the days leading up to the fall of Singapore to the Japanese. From his citation: “On 14th February, 1942, HMS Li Wo . . . was on passage [in the Malayan Straits, Java Sea] from Singapore to Batavia. Her company consisted of eighty-four officers and men, mainly survivors from HM ships and Army and Air Force units. Her armament was one 4-inch gun (with 13 practice shells) and two machine-guns. Since leaving Singapore she had beaten off four air attacks and had suffered considerable damage. Late in the afternoon she sighted two enemy convoys, the larger being escorted by Japanese fleet units, including a heavy cruiser and some destroyers. Lieutenant Wilkinson, with the unanimous backing of his mixed company, decided to engage the convoy and to fight to the last, inflicting what damage he could. He knew that his ship faced certain destruction. In the action that followed the machine-guns were used effectively, and a volunteer gun-crew fought the 4-inch gun to such purpose that they hit and set on fire a Japanese transport. After a little more than an hour, HMS Li Wo was critically damaged and was sinking. Lieutenant Wilkinson decided to ram the damaged transport. It is known that this ship burned throughout the night and was probably sunk. Having ordered his ship to be abandoned, Lieutenant Wilkinson himself went down with her. Lieutenant Wilkinson's valour was equaled only by the skill with which he fought his ship. The Victoria cross is bestowed upon him posthumously in recognition of the heroism and self-sacrifice displayed not only by himself but by all who fought and died with him.” Wilkinson’s name is listed on the Liverpool Naval Memorial; his V.C. medal is on display at the Imperial War Museum, London. (bio by: Paul F. Wilson)

Brigadier Arthur Edward Cumming

2009-07-20T01:14:00.000-07:00

Another VC recipient. Pretty much unreported. Brigadier Arthur Edward Cumming VC OBE MC (18 June 1896 - 10 April 1971) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Cumming was 45 years old, and a lieutenant colonel in the 2/12th Frontier Force Regiment, Indian Army, Commander during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC (currently displayed at the National Army Museum).

On 3 January 1942 near Kuantan, Malaya, the Japanese made a furious attack on the battalion and a strong enemy force penetrated the position. Lieutenant Colonel Cumming, with a small party of men, immediately led a counter-attack and although all his men became casualties and he, himself, had two bayonet wounds in the stomach he managed to restore the situation sufficiently for the major portion of the battalion and its vehicles to be withdrawn. Later he drove in a carrier, under very heavy fire, collecting isolated detachments of his men and was again wounded. His gallant actions helped the brigade to withdraw safely. He later achieved the rank of brigadier.

Japanese Snipers

2009-07-17T02:15:00.000-07:00

I was always intrigued by the sinister Japanese snipers. They wrecked havoc on the US marines during the assaut on Iwo Jima. So far i haven't read much about their role in the Malaya campaign.

During the early part of the Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese annoyed with German trained Chinese snipers decided to develop snipers for themselves. The first Japanese sniper rifle was developed in 1937. 'The Japanese were equipped with a number of different rifles, the earliest, a 6.5mm Type 38, dating back to 1905. Under the guidance of Colonel Namio Tatsumi, the 6.5mm Type 97 and 7.7mm Type 99 rifles were developed, being equipped with 2.5x or 4x power telescopic sights. One advantage of the smaller 6.5mm cartridge was that there was almost no smoke from the discharge, and the sound of the rifle-a distinctive high-pitched "crack"-made it very difficult to locate.

Training in camouflage, fieldcraft and other such techniques were common to normal Japanese infantry, so a Japanese sniper was specially trained only in shooting and given a sniper rifle. The Japanese did develop some unique sniper-related items, like tree-climbing spikes, for use by their snipers. Snipers were trained together with normal riflemen in an infantry unit. Usually, there was one sniper in one rifle platoon. Sometimes, snipers were gathered and formed a sniper team.

During the Malaya campaign, the Japanese used snipers who would take down British, Australian, and Indian troops while dressing in local native attire to disappear into the population after attacks. This was a trick learned from the Chinese. Some of the Japanese "snipers" faced by Allied troops were actually just marksmen asked to harrass the Allied troops more than men specifically trained as snipers.

Lee Enfield Vs Arisaka

2009-07-16T05:19:00.000-07:00

Interesting video of how both the British and the Japanese infantry rifles stacked up. The bipod that came with the Japanese rifle seemed a little odd. Interesting to know the Arisaka is copied from the great Mauser rifle.

WW2 Japanese arms

2009-07-16T04:23:00.000-07:00

Found a nice video about the Japanese weapons during ww2. Now we can see and hear how the weapons performed in the old days via videos. Towards the end of the video there's a section on the portable mortar that the Japanese forces used which I find quite interesting.

Boys anti-tank rifle

2009-07-14T01:35:00.000-07:00

The Rifle, Anti-Tank, .55in, Boys commonly known as the "Boys (or, often and incorrectly,"Boyes") Anti-tank Rifle" was a British anti-tank rifle. There were three main versions of the Boys, an early model (Mark I) which had a circular muzzle brake and T shaped bipod, a later model (Mk II) that had a square muzzle brake and a V shaped bipod, and a third model made for airborne forces with a 30-inch (762 mm) barrel and no muzzle brake. There were also different cartridges, with a later version offering better penetration.

At its introduction, the weapon was effective on light armour (16 mm thick) at 100 yards (91 m). There were two main service loads used during the Second World War, the W Mark 1 (60 g AP at 747 m/s) and the W Mark 2 ammunition (47.6 g AP projectile at 884 m/s). The W Mark 1 could penetrate approximately 16 mm of armour at 100 yards, about the thickness used on the frontal armour of a half-track or armoured car, or the side or rear armour of a light tank. Later in the conflict, a more effective round was developed, the W Mark 2, which fired a tungsten-cored projectile at 945 m/s. The W Mark 2 was able to penetrate up to 3/4 inch (19 mm) of armour at 100 yards (~91 m), with the plate inclined at 70° from the horizontal (i.e. 20 degrees from the direct line angle of fire), the effective thickness being ~21.5 mm at 0°. Its effective range against unarmoured targets (e.g. infantry), was much further. Despite its recoil slide and cushioned buttpad, the felt recoil of the weapon (along with noise and muzzle blast) was terrific, frequently causing neck strains and bruised shoulders. Consequently, the Boys was almost never fired as a free weapon (i.e. not affixed to a support) except in emergencies.

The Boys rifle was used in the early stages of World War II against lightly armoured German tanks and combat vehicles. Britain also supplied a large number of Boys anti-tank rifles to Finland in 1939 and 1940 during the Winter War with the Soviet Union. The weapon was popular with the Finns, because it could deal with Soviet T-26 tanks which the Finnish Army encountered in many engagements.

In the Far East theatre the Boys was used against lightly-armoured Japanese tanks in Malaya as late as 1942, when the 1/14th Punjabis knocked out two light Japanese tanks at a roadblock. As British and Commonwealth forces lacked a longer-range rocket-propelled anti-tank weapon such as the bazooka or panzerschreck, the Boys remained in inventory for use in that theatre.

The Mitsubishi G4M Betty

2009-07-12T21:26:00.000-07:00

The Mitsubishi G4M or 一式陸攻 Ichishiki rikujō kōgeki ki, Isshikirikkō ("Type 1 land-based attack aircraft") was the main twin-engine, land-based bomber used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II. The Allies gave the G4M the identification name of Betty.

The G4M was designed for long range and high-speed at the time of its introduction. Consequently, weight saving measures were incorporated into the design, such as dispensing withself sealing fuel tanks, which caused Allied fighter pilots to give it the derisive nicknames "one-shot lighter", "flying Zippo" and "flying cigar". Similarly, pilots of the Imperial Japanese Navy called the G4M the "Type One Lighter" and "Hamaki" ("Cigar"). This was due to the fact that on many occasions, it was used for low-altitude torpedo attacks where its performance advantages were negated. The "Betty"'s relatively-large size made it a large target to shoot at, and the simplified approach path on a torpedo run to attack a ship, meant for a generally easy interception.
When used for medium- to high-altitude bombing against stationary targets like a supply depots, seaports, or airfields, "ease of interception" was another matter entirely. Using its long range and high speed, the G4M could appear from any direction, and then be gone before many fighters could intercept them. The 20 mm cannon in the tail turret was much heavier armament than commonly installed in bombers, making dead astern attacks very dangerous. Sometimes, assuming they did not catch fire in the first place, G4Ms also proved to be able to remain airborne despite being badly shot up. For example, after 751 Kokutai's attack during the Battle of Rennell Island, three out of four survivors (of 11 aircraft that went to attack) returned flying on one engine only. Near the end of the war, the "Betty" was used as a common kamikaze-carrying and launching platform, and was the usual aircraft for carrying the Ohka kamikaze rocket aircraft.
The G4M was similar in performance and missions to other contemporary twin-engine bombers such as the German Junkers Ju 88 and Heinkel He 111, and the American B-25 Mitchell, and B-26 Marauder. These were all commonly used in the anti-shipping role. The G4M Model 11 was prominent in attacks on Allied shipping in the 1941 to early 1944 time-frame, but beyond that time, it was increasingly the easy prey of the ever-improving enemy fighters.
As torpedo bombers, the G4M's most notable use was in the sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse off the coast of Malaya on 10 December 1941. They carried out the attacks alongside the older Japanese bombers, the Mitsubishi G3M "Nells" who were doing high-level bombing runs. The battleship Prince of Wales and battlecruiser Repulse were the first two capital ships ever to be sunk exclusively by air attack during a war, while at sea. Those bomber crews were a handful of selected Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force (IJNAF) aviators in prewar Japan, who had skills not only in torpedo-attacking at less than 9 m (30 ft) high but also in being able to navigate long-range flight over the ocean to spot a pinpoint target moving fast on the sea. The same squadrons in Kanoya Air Group (751 Ku), Genzan Air Group (753 Ku) and Mihoro Air Group (701 Ku), which sunk the British capital battle ships, later staged an extended series of attacks against American ships and land targets in Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, late 1942.

Italian Breda 47mm Anti-Tank Gun

2009-07-12T21:20:00.000-07:00

In my research, I've come across articles that the British troops used the Italian Breda 47mm Anti-Tank Gun against the Japanese invaders. The guns did come standard with certain armoured cars and tanks in the European Theaters. Anyone reading this can verify?

The Tank Squadron that came too late

2009-07-12T06:59:00.000-07:00

100^th Indian Indp. Light Tank Squadron, Malaya 1942

In April 1941 one Jat squadron was detached from 8th King George’s Own Light Cavalry and assigned to the newly raised 44th Cavalry then at Risalpur. Subsequently, this squadron was detached and redesignated as 100th Light Tank Squadron. It was composed of three troops and equipped with obsolete light tanks. These tanks would have been:

Light Tank Mk II Indian Pattern
[the production version of Carden-Loyd Mk VII/VIII light tank]
two-man (commander/gunner, driver) light tank with cupola
armament: 1x Vickers .303in machine gun
armour: 10mm to 4mm
maximum speed: 30mph (20mph cross country)
Horstmann suspension

Light Tank Mk IV India Pattern
two-man (commander/gunner, driver) light tank with cupola
armament: 1x Vickers .303in machine gun Or 1x Vickers .5in machine gun
armour: 12mm to 4mm
maximum speed: 36mph (28mph cross country)
Horstmann coil spring suspension

The squadron had between 9 and 18 of these tanks.

The squadron was sent to Malaya early in 1942. On 29 January 1942, His Majesty’s Transport Empire Star arrived in Singapore with "16 tanks of obsolescent type." On 11 February 1942 a detachment of squadron was attached to Massy Force of 18th Infantry Division for counterattacks against the Japanese forces on Singapore Island. The entire squadron was lost when British forces surrrendered on 15 February 19

British Far East Air Force

2009-07-12T06:44:00.001-07:00

The Far East Air Force was charged with the air defense of British possessions beyond India (Australia was a separate entity): Malaysia, Burma, Singapore, Borneo. The goal of British defense policy in the Far East was the defense of the naval base in Singapore, where the British would send a battle fleet in time of war. This was expanded to include all of Malaya, and to help the small number of ground troops cover the large about of ground, air units were added. The plan entailed some 339 aircraft (local commanders had asked for 550).

Neither of these numbers were approached, and all of the aircraft were second-line.

In December, 1941, the British Far East was guarded by 233 aircraft in 13 squadrons:

4 sqdn Bristol Blenheim lt bombers (1 sqdn IVF model)
2 sqdn Lockheed Hudson lt bombers
2 sqdn Vickers Vildebeest torpedo bombers (biplanes)
1 sqdn Catalina seaplanes
4 sqdn Brewster F2A-2 Buffalo fighters
- 1 in Mingaladon (Rangoon), Burma
- No. 243 & 48 Sqdns in Kallang, Malaya (outside Singapore)
- No. 21 sqdn. at Sungei Patani
- No. 453 sq. at Sembawang

Add to this a small Australian air contingent moved to Malaya once the Japanese attacks began consisting of

2 sqdn of Lockheed Hudson lt bombers
2 sqdn Brewster F2A-2 Buffalo fighters

In early 1942, the Australians added two more squadrons of Hudsons: 1 to Timor and 1 to Ambon.

None of these fared very well against the Japanese. However, as American aid began to reach Britain and the Battle of Britain eased off, Britain could afford to send more aircraft. By September, 1942, British air strength was up to 25 sqdns (including those based in India).

Pilot Quality: Average

Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car

2009-07-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

The Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car is rather unknown during the war. Together with the Lancaster Armoured Cars they held up against the mightier Japanese tanks. The British thought tanks were unsuitable for the tropical terrain and all they have were the obsolete armoured cars. Very little is written about this vehicles during the invasion. Maybe too insignificant to the retreating troops.

The South African Reconnaissance Car, better known under its British designation Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car, was an armoured vehicle produced in South Africa and adopted by the British Army during the World War II. he Mk II had a shorter wheelbase than the Mark I and 4x4 drive and was known in British service as Armoured Car, Marmon-Herrington Mk II. It and the Mk III were extensively used mostly for reconnaissance being the only armoured car available in sufficient numbers, and had a reputation as a reliable, but underarmoured vehicle. Their normal armament, consisting of a 0.55 inch Boys anti-tank rifle in a turret, a coaxial Bren machine gun and one or two additional machine guns for anti-aircraft defence, was also considered insufficient. British service units modified some of the vehicles to carry various guns, including the Italian 20 mm and 47 mm Breda, the German 37 mm PaK 35/36 and the 2.8 cm sPzB 41 taper bore gun, the French 25 mm gun, the 20 mm Oerlikon cannon and the British QF 2 pounderanti-tank gun. As there was no place for a gun in the small turret, the latter had to be removed and the crew had to rely on the gun shield for protection. Some other vehicles were adapted to serve as artillery observation post vehicles, ambulances, command cars, recovery vehicles, and Royal Air Force liaison cars. The Mark III was slightly shorter than the Mark II without its double doors.

The IJA 18th Division aka Chrysanthemum Division

2009-07-07T23:20:00.001-07:00

IJA 18th Division (第18師団Dai-ju-hachi Shidan?) was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Chrysanthemum Division (菊兵団 Kikuhei-dan^?)

The infamous Division caused the most carnage amongst the chinese population in Malaya. One of the reasons for the attrocities committed in Malaya was because the same division were involved in major battles against the Chinese army in their China theatre. Local chinese in Malaya poured in funds to fight the Japanese in China.

The 8th Division was formed inKurume, Kyūshū on 13 November 1907, together with the 17th Division, as part of the post Russo-Japanese War expansion of the standing Japanese military. In World War I it was strengthened by an additional infantry regiment (the 29th) and given an independent command in the siege of the German colony of Tsingtao in the Shandong peninsula, China. Abolished at the end of World War I, it was revived for participation in the Siberian Intervention.

However, in 1925, it was again dissolved as one of the four divisions cancelled by Minister of War Ugaki Kazushige as part of a cost saving measure during the Kato Takaaki administration.

The 18th Division was resurrected in September 1937, and assigned to the 10th Army with the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War. It took part in the Battle of Shanghai. As part of the China Expeditionary Army, it participated in theBattle of Nanjing (and subsequent Nanjing Massacre), and various campaigns throughout China, cumulating in the Canton Operation of 1938.

In 1941 the division was under the command of Lieutenant-General Renya Mutaguchi. It was re-assigned to the 25th Army (which was under the command of General Yamashita Tomoyuki). It participated in the invasion of Malaya and Singapore. Afterwards, it was transferred to the Japanese Fifteenth Army and the Burma front, where it suffered over 3000 casualties from food poisoning and malaria.

Late in 1943, Mutaguchi was promoted, and replaced in command of the division by Lieutenant-General Shinichi Tanaka. Transferred to theJapanese Thirty-Third Army, and operations in northern Burma, 18th Division fought against the American-led Chinese divisions advancing on Mogaung and Myitkyina, and against the British Chindits operating behind their lines. Although sufferering heavy losses, the division nevertheless inflicted many casualties and imposed severe delays on the Allies.

In the aftermath of the disastrous invasion of India in 1944, Lieutenant-General Tanaka exchanged appointments with Lieutenant-General Eitaro Naka, formerly Chief of Staff at Burma Area Army. In the 1945 campaigning season, the division once again lost many thousands of men in the Battle of Central Burma, particularly at the Battle of Meiktila south of Mandalay. It ended the war in southern Burma.

Of the 31,444 men sent to Burma, more than 20,000 did not make it home to Japan.

RAF Lockheed Hudson

2009-07-07T21:38:00.000-07:00

The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter. Although later outclassed by larger bombers, the Hudson achieved some significant feats during the first half of the war. On 8 October, 1939, over Jutland, a Hudson became the first RAF aircraft to shoot down a German aircraft. (The accolade of the first British aircraft to shoot down a German plane went to the Blackburn Skua of the Fleet Air Arm on 26 September, 1939.) They operated as fighters during the Battle of Dunkirk. A PBO-1 Hudson of US Navy squadron VP-82 became the first US aircraft to destroy a German submarine when it sankU-656 southwest of Newfoundland on 1 March 1942. A Hudson of Royal Canadian Air Force Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron 113 became the first aircraft of RCAF's Eastern Air Command to sink a submarine, when Hudson 625 sank U-754 on 31 July 1942.

Following Japanese attacks on Malaya, Hudsons from No. 1 Squadron RAAF became the first aircraft to make an attack in the Pacific War, sinking a Japanese transport ship, the IJN Awazisan Maru, off Kota Bharu, an hour before the attack on Pearl Harbor. During the war, they were used as maritime patrol aircraft in the Pacific by the US Navy, the RAAF and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

They were operated by RAF Special Duties squadrons for clandestine operations; No. 161 Squadron in Europe and No. 357 Squadron in Burma.

RAAF No.8 Squadron

2009-07-07T21:21:00.000-07:00

From Top: Portrait of Flying Officer Ron Widmer.

Group Portrait of No 8 Squadron RAAF, "C" Flight. Front Row (L to R): Flying Officer (FO) R. Widmer; FO W. J. Hoddinott; FO J. W. Robertson; FO C. H. D. Browne; Flight Lieutenant (FLt) C. C. Williams; Squadron Leader (SLdr) P. A. Parker; FLt E. R. Bell; FO C. H. (Spud) Spurgeon; Pilot Officer (PO) S. N. Chesterman; FO J. F. Montifiore; FO K. G. Kleining; Second Row: Sergeant (Sgt) Alan Morton; Sgt Doug Adams; Sgt Tim Bethke; Sgt Neville Dunn; Sgt Fred Rollo; Sgt Lance Quail; Leading Aircraftman (LAC) Ray Stevens; LAC Mick Greene; LAC Gerry Guider; LAC Howard Ridge; Third Row: Sgt A. W. Callaghan; LAC Ron Lidster; Corporal (Cpl) Sid Cooke-Russell; John Reid; Sgt Roy Patterson; LAC Wally Stokes; LAC Fred Osborne; Sgt Alan Duxbury; Back Row: Cpl Arch Munro; LAC Harry Brown; LAC Jo Jo Wooster; LAC Vic Barelli; Flight Sergeant Bill Peat; CPL "Bushy" Attrill; LAC Wally Brown; Cpl "Trader" Horne; Cpl Don Devlin; LAC Jack Hopgood. On nominal roll but missing from photograph: LAC Noel Waugh; Cpl George Robinson; Cpl Lial Haggar. Kota Bharu Malaya April 1941.

Japanese Mitsubishi G3M Bomber wreck off Kuantan

2009-07-06T22:45:00.000-07:00

In the book called Fortnight Of Infamy, there was a chapter about the attack of the Kuantan Air base by 9 Japanese Bombers G3M Nell. During the raid, the Japanese bombers were intercepted by a lone RAAF Hudson returning on a reconnaisance patrol. Apparently one of the Japanese bombers was shot down during the attack. The RAAF No.8 Squadron Hudson commandered by Ft Lt Ron Widmer claimed he shot down one of the enemy planes. This was however not confirmed until much later. In 1996, a wreck belonging to the Jap bomber was found 25 miles from Kuantan. It's unclear till today if the wreck was the Japanese bomber that Ft Lt R Wilmer shot down.