the March Through Malaya

  • Landing of Japanese Troops

    On the day of 8 December, 1941, Japanese troops landing on the east coast of South Thailand, as well as at the point of Kota Bahru in north-eastern Malaya. This was the begining of the Japanese invasion of Malaya and were some of the darkest days in history.
  • the Sinking of British Battleships

    On this day, two british battleships were sunken by the Japanese fighter planes in Kuantan, on the east coast of Malaya; the Repulse and the Prince of Whales. Although this was not the worst part, though it seems. Th British only had two battleships stationed n the area. This was the worst point in time of naval record of the war. Thus, the British no longer had any defenses whatsoever angainst the oncoming Japanese troops, and the Japanese landed along the coast of Malaya.
  • the Battle of Jitra

    The Battle of Jitra was one of the deadliest in history. When Japanese troops reached the border, the British tried to fend them off. The British fought them hard with weapons of their own. However they (meaning the British) had not thought of bringing tanks into Singapore/Malaya. Unfortunetly, the Japanese had thought so to do so. The tanks moved ith surprising speed, which ws another great disadvantage to the British because they had not expected them to do so, esecially in jungle terrain.
  • the Battle of Slim River

    At the place of Slim River -which was located in Perak- the remaining (doomed) British fought a losing battle against the Japanese. The British tried unsuccesfully to use anti-tank guns to bring down the Japanese tanks, but their weapons sadly did not work. Also to their disadvantage, the British were unable to track the progress of the Japanese. And the Japanese captured large quantities of food, ammunition, and equipment. So, the Japanese won the battle of the Slim River which was a major win.
  • Japanese Troops Entered Kuala Lumpur

    On this dark day, Japanese troops entered Kuala Lumpur without much persistence from the Britsh. This was due to the discovery of the large quantities of food and ammunition. They also seized the vital maps of Singapore and Johor (specially made by the British millatary) that had been intended for the British troops. So now the Japanese had the maps and the British had nothing.
  • the Battle of Gemas

    At Gemas, the Australian and Indian forces tried to prevail the Japanese from entering Singapore. They put explosives on a wooden bridge. The Australian comander waited until the point of when most of the Japanse soldiers were on the bridge to blow it up. This was a big victory for the Allied forces. But the Japanese soldiers soon made coastal landings on westal Johor. The Austrailen and Indian forces put up a hug fight but they eventually lost against the Japanese.
  • the Fall of Panang

    A few days before the fall of Panang, Japanese planes dropped bombs on the island. Thus, the Japanese ocupied its airfiled as well as other airfields in the northern-western area of Malaya. Also, many ships and boats were taken by the Japanese who were of use to the them as they used them to make coastel landings in the west-coast of Malaya.
  • the Destruction of the Cuaseway

    In the last days of January, 1942, the British, Australian, and Indian units from several parts in Johor and Singapore. Eventually, the combined forces realised Malaya was lost and blew up the Cuaseway linking Singapore and Malaya. This action was taken in hope that it would slow the Japanese down from entering Singapore; the mighty fortress of the British.