Battle of Pasir Panjang

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Pasir Panjang
partof=the Battle of Singapore, World War II


caption= British machine gun pillbox at Pasir Panjang which still remains today
date=13th February – 14th February 1942
place=Pasir Panjang, Singapore
result=Japanese Victory
combatant1=flagicon|Malaysia|1895 1st Malay Brigade
flagicon|India|British 44th Indian Brigade
combatant2=flagicon|Japan 18th Division
commander1=flagicon|UK J.R.G. Andre
flagicon|UK H.R. RixKIA
flagicon|Malaysia|1895 Adnan bin SaidiKIA
commander2=flagicon|Japan Renya Mutaguchi
strength1=1,400
strength2=13,000
casualties1=159 killed
casualties2=Unknown (Singapore claims heavy casualties)|

The Battle of Pasir Panjang was initiated upon the advancement of elite Imperial Japanese Army forces towards Pasir Panjang at Pasir Panjang Ridge on 13 February 1942 during World War II in the Battle of Singapore. 13,000 Japanese troops had made an amphibious landing in the northwest part of Singapore near Sarimbun, and had started to advance south towards Pasir Panjang. They had already captured Tengah Airfield en route. The 13,000 attacking Pasir Panjang were a significant part of the total strength of 36,000 Japanese troops attacking Singapore as a whole.

Preparations

The 1st Malay Brigade (together with the British 2nd Loyal Regiment), commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel J.R.G. Andre, consisted of less than 3 sections of the Mortar Platoon, Anti-Aircraft Platoon with the Bren Gun Carrier Platoon under Captain R.R.C. Carter held in reserve. They were tasked with defending the approach to Pasir Panjang ridge, known as "The Gap". The 44th Indian Brigade were on their right flank.

A Malay platoon, consisting of 42 infantry, commanded by 2nd Lieutenant Adnan bin Saidi, was part of the defenses of Bukit Chandu. He and his men would take the brunt of the Japanese assault.

Battle

The first battle between the Malay Regiment and Japanese soldiers occurred on 13 February at around 1400 hours. The Japanese 18th Division started to attack the South-Western coast along the Pasir Panjang ridge and astride Ayer Raja Road. The Japanese 56th Infantry Regiment, supported by a considerable force of artillery, attacked the ridge during the morning.

One of the units defending the line was B Company of the Malay Regiment. Under heavy fire from the Japanese troops supported by artillery and tanks, B Company was forced to retreat to the rear. But before this could be completed, the Japanese army succeeded in breaking through B Company's position. In the battle, the troops fought hand-to-hand combat using bayonets against the Japanese. A few from B Company managed to save themselves while others were caught as prisoners-of-war. This penetration led to the withdrawal after dark of both 44th Indian and 1st Malay Brigade to the general line Mount Echo (junction of Raja and Depot Road) Buona Vista.

Battle of Bukit Chandu

D3A Val or Ki-27 Nate) attacking an allied position.On 14th February, the Japanese again launched a heavy attack at 0830 hours, supported by intense mortar and artillery fire, on the front held by the 1st Malay Brigade. The defenders beat off this and a number of other attacks. The fighting included bitter hand-to-hand combat, and losses from both sides were heavy. At 1600 hours an attack supported by tanks eventually succeeded in penetrating the left, and the defenders on this flank were forced back to a line from the junction of the Ayer Rajah and Depot Road through the Brick Works and along the canal to Bukit Chermin. Owing to the failure of units on both its flanks to hold their ground, the 1st Malay brigade withdrew at 1430 hours. It was at this point that C Company of the Malay Regiment received instructions to move to a new defence position, Opium Hill.

Opium Hill or Bukit Chandu in Malay was named after an opium-processing factory located at the foot of the hill. This was also where C Company of the Malay Regiment made their final stand against the Japanese attack. Opium Hill was a key defence position for two important reasons. It was situated on high ground overlooking the island to the north; and secondly, if the Japanese gained control of the ridge, it gave them direct passage to the Alexandra area. The British army had its main ammunition and supply depots, military hospital and other key installations located in the Alexandra area. C Company's position was separated from D Company by a big canal. Oil was burning in the canal, which flowed from Normanton Depot. The burning oil prevented C Company soldiers from retreating further south. The company was under the command of Captain H.R. Rix, a British officer. He encouraged the men to defend Opium Hill down to the last soldier, and was killed together with many of his Malay Regiment soldiers in the last defence battle at Pasir Panjang.

Failed Japanese Trick

Japanese troops pressed their attack on Opium Hill in the afternoon but under the guise of a deception. They sent a group of soldiers, dressed in Punjabi uniforms, passing themselves off as Indian soldiers in the British army. C Company saw through this trick as they knew that soldiers of the British army usually marched in a line of three whereas the Japanese disguised soldiers were in a line of four. When they reached the Malay Regiment's defence line, C Company's squad opened fire, killing at least twenty men. Those who survived escaped downhill.

Last Stand

Two hours later, the Japanese launched an all-out banzai attack in great numbers. The attack overwhelmed the allies, and the defence line finally shattered. Greatly outnumbered and short of ammunition and supplies, they continued to resist the Japanese. All kinds of arms such as grenades, small arms and bayonets were used by the troops. Soldiers engaged in fierce hand-to-hand combat using bayonets. Yet, they stood their ground frustrating the Japanese. Adnan was seriously wounded but he refused to retreat or surrender and instead encouraged his men to fight to the end.

After a bloody battle, Pasir Panjang was finally under Japanese control, and Adnan bin Saidi, wounded and unable to fight, was captured. Instead of taking him prisoner, the lieutenant was continuously kicked, punched and beaten by the Japanese. He was then tied to a rubber tree and bayoneted to death.

Casualties

For the entire Malayan Campaign, but largely on 12, 13 and 14 February 1942 in Singapore, the Malay Regiment suffered a total of 159 killed. Six of them were British officers, seven Malay officers, 146 other ranks and a large but unspecified number wounded. About 600 surviving Malay Regiment soldiers reassembled in the Keppel Golf Link area. Here, they were separated from the British officers. They later joined POWs from the Indian Battalions at the Farrer Park concentration area. It remains unknown today as to how many the Japanese lost, but Singapore history books claim their casualties were heavy.

Aftermath

Quote box
align=right
width=35%
quote=The Malay Regiment showed what "esprit de corps" and discipline can achieve. Garrisons of posts held their ground and many of them were wiped out almost to a man.
source=Lieutenant General Arthur Percival|The battle of Pasir Panjang had little strategic significance. The allied units posted there were actually in reserve, but instead had to withstand the main Japanese invasion force, and received no reinforcements whatsoever.

Adnan bin Saidi is described by many Singaporeans and Malaysians today as a hero for his actions on Bukit Chandu—he encouraged his men not to surrender and instead fight to the death. He is also credited in their school history books as the soldier who caught the disguised Indian troops' marching error.

Some people today believe that Bukit Chandu has Paranormal activity, claiming they could hear Malay soldiers repeatedly shouting "Fight on!".

ee also

* History of Singapore
* Battle of Singapore

References

External links

* [http://www.s1942.org.sg/s1942/bukit_chandu/directory_battlediary2.htm Pasir Panjang Battle Diary]