Figure 1.--Here we see Malay children watching British troops withdrawing south toward the Singapore in colonial-era armored cars. The Japanese force was much smaller than than the British defenders, but more mobil. The British had assumed that the Malay jungle would preclude offensive operations. It did not. The equipmebntband storesv abandoned by the British would be a major factor in the Japanese success.

British commander General Arthur Percival when notified of the landings was advised to set up a defensive line and famously is said to have worried about the effect on morale. A staff office is said to have replied, "It would be bad for morale when the Japanese start running all over the island." The British hoped that air bases in the north would help deter the Japanese., but air losses badly reduced RAF power and the Kota Bharu air base in the north quickly fell. In addition the Japabnse used the air base at Singora in Thailand. The British organized opposition using III Corps of the Indian Army, the Australian 8th Division and various British units, but the British were unable to develop a solid defensive line. The Japanese moved so rapidly that the British were never able to establish a solid defensive line. Command of the sea enabled Yamashita to make amphibious landings to undo British efforts to organize a denensive line. The British command decided to concentrate their offensive in southern Malaya in Johore. The defense of Johore was undertaken by the 8th Australian Divisionsuported by an Indian brigade commanded by Major General Gordon Bennett. There were some localized Australian tactical successes at Gemas (January 14), Bakri (January 18-19) and Jemaluang (January 27). The Australians were, however, not able to stop the Japanese advance and they withdrew south into the Singapore iskland bastion. The final British (Commonwealth) units completed the retreat withdrawing across the Straits of Johore to Singapore (January 31). They blew the causeway behind them. The British were coonfident that they could hold out on Singapore which is an islasnd.

Created: 12:17 PM 7/19/2024
Last updated: 12:17 PM 7/19/2024