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Kedah |
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Jitra
Major battle site littered with pillboxes strewn in a
wide area from Jitra down to Alor Setar. The pillbox is
used to protect Alor Setar airfield but in December
1941, all of these were submerged under water due to
tropical rains and it hampered British 11th Indian
Division defences when Japanese started their attack
from Thai-Malay borders.
After crossed the border and repaired demolished road
and bridges, 1st Tank Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel
Saeki attacked 1/14th Punjab position on December 10, at
Changlun where the attack was repulsed. Second flanking
attack on December 11, forced the Punjabs to retreat to
Gurkhas position north of Asun. In heavy downpour,
Japanese tanks made surprised attack on the Punjabs
before proceed to Asun.
At Asun, the Gurkhas had no anti-tank guns and they
failed to blow the bridge but managed to destroy 2 of
the tanks before being flanked by the Japanese at both
direction and broke the defence lines. Most of the 2/1st
Gurkhas were captured and the road to Jitra was wide
open
Saeki Detachment sped down to 11th Division defence line
at Jitra where two British Brigades waiting for them. On
the night of January 11, Japanese started their frontal
attack at 2/9th Jats Regiment position east of the flank
where Japanese tanks made their attack on the main road
forcing their way between the two Brigades with light
blazing and before being stopped by anti-tank guns.
Saeki ordered his men to attacked 1st Leicester and Jats
position without success. With fresh reinforcement from
11th and 41st Infanty Regiment, Saeki resumed the attack
which succeed to isolate D Company of Jats Regiment
leaving a gap between the company and Leicester
position. The Leicester attempt to close the gap but
failed. Another counter attack made by two companies of
1/18 Punjab failed to close in to D Company which later
running out of ammunition and overrun by the Japanese.
On December 12, Major General Murray-Lyon requested
retreated south to Gurun where General Percival finally
agreed. Another Japanese attack at Sungai Bata bridge
was repulsed by 2/2nd Gurkhas Rifles before withdrew. On
December 13, 11th Indian Division were ordered to
withdraw to south bank of the River Kedah at Alor Star.
A lone pillbox still guarding a road to Alor
Setar and it is still submerged under water |
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Another pillbox guarding a road and alor setar
airfield but also submerged. |
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Alor Setar
A major town for State of Kedah, Alor Setar was
undefended when Jitra fell. Most of the British forces
retreated south of Sungai Kedah leaving Alor Setar to
its fate. Most of street fighting between Japanese and
retreating British forced occured and some of them were
trapped when a railway bridge was demolished.
Sungai Kedah where most retreating British were
dug in on the left side riverbanks. |
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Remnants of bridge which demolished by British
still found near Sungai Kedah |
Merbau Pulas
Battle action at Merbau Pulas Bridge. On 16th
December, Brigadier Paris ordered 5/2nd Punjab Battalion
under Lt. Col. Cecil Deakin to hold a bridge north of
Merbau Pulas town. The bridge was ready for demolition
and Deakin with his subedar-major (sergeant-major) and
three signallers were standing at the bridge’s southern
end waiting in case any stragglers turned up before the
bridge was blown at first light. Suddenly they were
rushed by Japanese infantry covered with mortars and
machine gun fire. Denkin stood his ground and charged
back at the Japanese killing 3 of the Japanese with the
help of his subedar-major and the three signallers. The
Japanese fled and the bridge was the blown up
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