Japan occupied Malaya for three-and-a-half years (1941–45). The period under the Japanese military administration is generally considered tomark a profound transition inthe history of Malaya/Malaysia, but little is known about the period because of difficulties with limited date/materials/information and other reasons. Fifty-three years have already passedsince the surrender of the Japanese and it is necessary to look back at this period to argue the twentieth-century history of Malaya/Malaysia and to look ahead toward the next millennium. This panel is organized by Malay/Malaysian specialistsin Japan, and will include discussions about various aspects of the Japanese occupation in Malaya and Singapore; Japanese military administration; economic policy; and women’s internment camps.
Japan occupied Malaya for three-and-a-half years (1941–45). The period under the Japanese military administration is generally considered tomark a profound transition inthe history of Malaya/Malaysia, but little is known about the period because of difficulties with limited date/materials/information and other reasons. Fifty-three years have already passedsince the surrender of the Japanese and it is necessary to look back at this period to argue the twentieth-century history of Malaya/Malaysia and to look ahead toward the next millennium. This panel is organized by Malay/Malaysian specialistsin Japan, and will include discussions about various aspects of the Japanese occupation in Malaya and Singapore; Japanese military administration; economic policy; and women’s internment camps. Welcome to the forum Heng. Look forward to some more posts. Malaya had a tough time of it.
Helo to all the members: I afraid my discussion here may causing some limitation because the history of Japan in Malaya may not well know by the international. Malaya(now Malaysia and Singapore). Anyhow below are the discussion chapter that may make our discussion more interesting: 1) The Start of the Invasion (Kota Bharu Landing): 8 Dec 1941 2) Battle of Slim River 7 Jan 1942 3) Fall of Kuala Lumpur: 11 Jan 1942 4) Fall of Gemas 15 Jan 1942 5) Battle of Singapore: 15 Feb 1942 6) Effect On the Local Community especially the Chinese Combatants: Allied Forces>> Indian Army; British Army; Australian Army; Malayan forces; Straits Settlements forces; Gurkha Axis>> Japanese Army
Hi Heng, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I see you live in KL......I have had a look at most of the battle sites you mention...and visited Planet Hollywood a few times with the very hospitable MAF. Rgds Tim
Heng, welcome aboard, and we look forward to hearing more about the fall of Malaya and Singapore. I wrote an article about it for an issue of World War II History magazine last year. A fascinating campaign. The British did everything wrong, and the Japanese did everything right.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4919222.stm The site of a World War II battle between British and Japanese forces in Malaysia is due to be preserved. About 100 soldiers from the East Surrey and Royal Leicestershire regiments and the Indian army died at Green Ridge in Kampar, north of capital Kuala Lumpur. They were trying to halt the Japanese advance through the Federated Malay States in the latter days of 1941. It is believed to be the first time the Malaysian government will give official protection to a WWII battlefield. The UK's Ministry of Defence said it had not been officially notified of the move by the Malaysian government. But a spokeswoman said: "We welcome any move by any government to honour the lives of people who died fighting for their country."
If you want any information about the Battles of Jitra, Gurun and Kampar I can help, I have researched them fully
Welcome aboard, mate. Great subject you chose to introduce yourself to the crowd here in the good ol´ nuthouse. By the way, let me praise the superb clobbering the Diggers gave the Nip at Gemas, even though as out-everything as the Commonwealth forces were during the whole campaign.
Hello eastsurreys, My grandfather (who raised me) was a lance bombardier gunner with 352 Battery of 88th Field Artillery and was at battles; Gurun, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Gemas and Singapore Island. I have some good evidence that he made a timely shooting down of a jap spotter plane at Kampar, with a bren gun. I would be honoured to have access to your Gurun and Kampar research. Best wishes Steve
Steve, eastsurreys has not been on the forum since they posted back in January 2009. It might be best to pm them via the forum to see if they still have the research material you're hoping to access. Good luck. Steve (bamboo43)