On December 19 British troops withdraw to Kuala Kangsar. At dawn a battalion of Argyll and Southern Highlanders drive up the mountainous backroad to Grik with orders to halt the Japanese thrust south. Fierce fighting erupts around the village of Sumpitan. By nightfall the British are forced back four miles to Lenggong.
At Fort Canning Headquarters, Lt-Gen Arthur E. Percival devises an entirely new strategic plan, based on assurances given by London that reinforcements enroute to the Middle East are being diverted to Singapore. The new strategy calls for the conflict to be contained in Malaya's central region, with the new tactics aimed at blocking Japanese access to central Malayan airfields. Critical to future success is the choice of Britain's fall back positions between Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur. Percival selects Kampar as the point for a major stand. He also picks Tapah, Bidor and the Slim River as the best available defence positions after Kampar. Brooke-Popham approves Percival's new strategic approach to the fighting. At the same time, Japanese troops move south on rafts on the Perak River to attack the British at Lenggong and drive them back to Kota Tampan.
The Singapore Armed Forces Training Institution, Fort Canning
In Bangkok, the Siam government signs a complete pact of defensive and offensive alliance with Japan on December 21, to take effect at once, by which Siam would help Japan by all political, military and economic means in her power. Japanese field commanders begin floating troops down Chenderoh Lake. While some rafts are detected and sunk, sizeable numbers of invading troops slip behind British frontlines, by-passing Kuala Kangsar completely. Sensing another disaster, Maj-Gen. Murray-Lyon, Commander of all the British troops west of Perak, orders an immediate withdrawal from the Perak River area. The British abandon the RAF Butterworth airbase after a week of intensive Japanese air raids. Heath's frontline is in chaos and he orders a desperate withdrawal, first to the Krian River, 48 km from Kuala Kangsar, and then to the Perak River.
The 3/2nd Punjab Regiment retreats down Grik road and ambushes the Japanese advance. Although successful, these are the final British actions west of the Perak River.
By mid-morning of December 23 the British withdrawal across the Perak River is completed. Japanese attack Kuala Kangsar. The following day Indian forces clash with Japanese Imperial Guards in the Chemor area. The Indian 6/15th Brigade digs in and fortifies the chosen Kampar defence position. On December 26 Indian forces fight delaying tactics north of Ipoh (Battle of Ipoh) and after suffering high casualties, retreat to positions south of the township. The Japanese Army's 5th Division occupy Ipoh and Yamashita orders the river crossing to Ipoh to begin at 8.00pm. The Japanese cross the Perak River to attack Kuala Lumpur through Kampar. After successful ambushes, the British blast the 2 bridges across the 500m-wide Perak River. The British evacuate Selama and retreat to Kuala Kangsar. Brooke-Popham cables London for reinforcements.
On December 27, during a meeting of senior 25th Army officers, Yamashita reveals his plan for an important switch in battle strategy. He intends sending 1,500 of his 5th Division troops in landing barges south down the Straits of Malacca to infiltrate behind British lines from the coast. At this same time, Commander-in-Chief of the Far East, Sir Robert Brooke-Popham is replaced by Lt-Gen. Sir Henry Pownall. Military intelligence informs Sir Henry Pownall at Fort Canning of reports of 34 Japanese vessels lying off Singora. The following morning, British, Indian and Gurkha forces complete their construction of defensive positions around Kampar, backed by the Lanarkshire Yeomanry's 155th Field Artillery Regiment and gunners from the 88th Field Regiment.
Forward patrolling throughout the day by both sides results in frequent skirmishes. Late in the evening, the four-day battle of Kampar begins.
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