The state of Perak. Kampar is situated in the Kinta district.
On December 30 the Japanese direct out-flanking movements to the east of Kampar where they run into patrols from the Indian 28th Brigade Group. British artillery fire inflicts heavy casualties on the Japanese and block their encirclement efforts. Japanese troops arrive from Kota Bahru by trucks and attack the forward defences of Kuantan which is defended by the 22nd Brigade of the Indian 9th Division. Simultaneously, Japanese aircraft attack targets in and around the township, including the main ferry crossing on the Kuantan river. At Johore headquarters, Percival tells Maj-Gen. Bennett of plans to withdraw to Singapore and to demolish the Causeway between Singapore and Johore Bahru.
The severed causeway on the eve of Japanese invasion in 1942.
The next day The Royal Navy sends five newly-arrived "Eureka" fast patrol craft from Singapore to the Straits of Malacca. All craft are either sunk or driven ashore along Malaya's south-western coastline. The Japanese hurl a ground assault against the Kuantan ferry-crossing aimed at blocking the British retreat. Japanese 5th Division troops begin their seaborne infiltration south. Heath and Percival drive to Slim River for discussions with Col Stewart, commander of the Indian 12th Brigade. All three agree that if the Japanese are to be prevented from over-running the central Malayan airstrips before the expected allied reinforcement convoy arrives in mid-January, the Kuala Kubu road junction must be held along with the key east-west road.
On January 1,1942, the Japanese call up fresh troops. The British pit their artillery against the Japanese planes and tanks with success and by nightfall Kampar's defences remain firmly in British hands. After several days of fighting at Kampar and a high rate of casualties, the Japanese consider retreating for the first time in the conflict. Fate works for the Japanese, however, when a message to the British forces from Changkat Jong states that the Japanese are directly threatening the main supply route from the south and that Kampar must be abandoned. The British forces begin to withdraw just before midnight. Percival returns to Singapore and receives reports of the latest Japanese seaborne infiltration at Kuala Selangor. Yamashita moves his HQ south from Taiping to Ipoh.
It now January 3 1940 and the first British reinforcements arrive in Singapore. These comprise the newly-recruited and untrained Indian 45th Infantry Brigade Group. At Fort Canning Headquarters, Percival and his senior war strategists harbour serious doubts about holding the vital Kuala Kabu road junction. Japan's seaborne infiltrations down the Straits of Malacca have introduced a new and alarming dimension to the conflict. As a result, the decision is made to abandon Kuantan. The troops are ordered to move towards Maran, the fork in the Jerentut road about 60 miles inland and due west of Kuantan. Kuantan is captured by the Japanese. The Japanese hurl ferocious attacks on the rearguard of the withdrawing British Indian troops enroute to Jerantut. They also spring two ambushes along the withdrawal route trapping the 2/12th Frontier Force Regiment.
Only 40 men survive.
The British troops from Kampar withdraw to prepared positions at Slim River on January 4. The defence at Slim River is intensified as other forces withdraw there from the Telok Anson and Bernam River actions. The Japanese push eastwards along the northern bank of the Selangor River for a bitter encounter with a detachment of the Indian 6/15th Brigade at Batang Berjuntai, site of an important bridge. Percival, Heath, Bennett and their top staff officers meet at the Sultan of Johore's Segamat shooting lodge for a review of battlefield strategy. Percival, counting on the arrival of the rest of the promised reinforcements, has devised a new strategic plan - a fall back defence line along a line linking Mersing in the east through Segamat to Muar in the west.
On January 6, Gen. Sir Archibald Wavell is appointed Commander-in-Chief of the joint allied forces.
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