Kuantan
A lonely
pillbox guarding scenery beach north of Kuantan
During
1940's Kuantan was a small town in Pahang east coast. Kuantan was 190 miles
from Headquartes of 9th Indian Division but British decided to make use of
small aerodromes 10 miles west of Kuantan town which garrison by 22nd Indian
Brigade under Brigadier Painter and some aircraft. During world war 2,
several British squadron operated from these based which most of the planes
supporting planes based in Pengkalan Chepa and Gong Kedah attacking Japanese
landing forces in early December 1941. Most of surviving planes from
Kelantan also make a shelter on this aerodrome before proceed to Singapore.
When
Kelantan fell to Japanese, Japanese Air Division which now operated from
Kelantan airfield attacking Kuantan aerodrome and military installation
nearby starting from 9th December. Airplanes from G3M Nell bombers and G4M
Betty bombers attacked and bombed Kuantan aerodrome without getting any
resistance from ground due to Kuantan did not have any anti-aircraft guns
installed. Japanese only done minimal damaged to the aerodromes since it was
been evacuated since 9th December. Only return fire were from small arms
rifles. During retreat from Kelantan, 9th Indian Division was assigned to
protect Kuantan aerodrome.
British
insisted that the aerodromes which located 9 miles from Kuantan river will
be defended and leaving Japanese landing forces which landed in Kuantan
beaches unopposed leaving several small light mobile forces in the east of
Kuantan river. The only single way to connected east and west Kuantan was a
slowing ferry services guarded by several pillboxes.
In
the morning of 30th December, Takumi Detachment which come from Terengganu via
Jabok Valley and supporting troops landed at Kuantan beaches comes in a strength were engaged by British
artillery and small arms fire. The 2 ferry were bombed and only one remained
in service. At night of 31st December, the rearguard forces were withdrawn
from east of Kuantan and destroying the ferry but the defence lines
positioning west of the river still intact but due to water level at that
time were rising upper the reaches, most of the lines including pillbox now
are under submerged which weakened the defences.
In
meantime, Commander of Kuantan Forces were ordered to hold Kuantan
aerodromes till 5th January but in 2nd January a serious threat in west
coast of Malaya and the communication, they received orders to withdraw to
Jerantut in 3rd January. By the day, Japanese troops closed in on the
aerodromes and during the withdraw at 1750 hours, a strong attacking took
place. In this attacking, Lt. Col Cummings commanding the rearguards of
2/12 Frontier Force Regiment won the Victoria Cross. During the withdrawal
to Jerantut, the rearguards was twice being ambushed on the main road by
Japanese who bypassed the aerodromes using bush tracks west of the
aerodromes and suffered heavy casualties. Only 40 of his men survived.
On
the night of 6/7th January, British troops reached Jerantut ferry and moved
to Raub-Tras-Tranura. Even Kuantan was captured by Japanese troops, Kuantan
forces do some significantly task to deny its aerodrome fell to enemy for a
month and greatly decreased the enemy to make a large scale air attack on
Singapore. Japanese also suffered heavy casualties on these operation
especially by British artillery when the Japanese concentrated its troops on
Kuantan town.
During
MHG trip to Kuantan, several pillboxes were found near Kuantan aerodrome now
airport. One pillbox in Kuantan old ferry terminal, one found near a mosque
east of Kuantan aerodrome and one situated in Teluk Chempedak beach which
now a tourist picnic spot here in Kuantan. Several others were located in
Pengkalan Balok which north of Kuantan.
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A pillbox turned well into relaxing spot for
visitors at Teluk Cempedak beach |
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Another pillbox located near Kuantan river ferry
crossing overlooking Kuantan town. |
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One pillbox found near Kg Balok. |
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The last pillbox found near Balok beach north of
Telok Cempedak |
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Another pillbox found in the vicinity of Balok
river |
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A preserved example of pillbox found near Balok
beach resort |
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Overgrown bushes covered this pillbox as a
natural camouflage. |
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One pillbox found near RMAF airbase at Kuantan |
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