Invasion of Malaya

"The Japanese 25th Army invaded Malaya from Indochina, moving into northern Malaya and Thailand by amphibious assault on 8 December 1941." - (Wikipedia, Battle Of Singapore)

The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor to deter the US from intervening in Southeast Asia. The Japanese forces in Thailand also continued to go to the Malaya and attack.
The Malaya resisted the Japanese with also the help from Singapore allies.
However, the Japanese concentrated their assault more and began to overrun them.




With the British allowing themselves to be flanked and overrun.

The Imperial Japanese Army Air Force was more numerous, and better trained than the second-hand assortment of untrained pilots and inferior allied equipment remaining in Malaya, Borneo and Singapore. Their superior fighters—especially the Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero—helped the Japanese to gain air supremacy. The Allies had no tanks and few armoured vehicles, which put them at a severe disadvantage.

The remaining Malaya forces had left after too much assault from Japanese forces and left them to be able to pass through and get to Singapore.

Website URL : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Singapore
Date accessed : Feb 17 2013

British Rule After Japanese Occupation

On September 5 1945, after the Japanese Occupation, the British made a return to Singapore. Just because Japanese occupation was over did not mean that hardship for us Singaporeans was over.

Along with me, a lot of people were living in poverty and jobless.

There was a severe shortage of food, water, electricity and housing. People lived in slum conditions and diseases were common because
of the poor living conditions we had.

The British tried to help and solve the problem and put Singapore back on its feet again
but some of these efforts were inadequate.
There were a lot of strikes and often took place in 1947.
It was even called the "Year Of Strikes"











Book : Singapore From Settlement To Nation (Sec 2 Book 2013)
Author : Curriculum Planning & Development Division
Publisher : Marshall Cavendish

Japanese Attacked!

Japan was bombed on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945.
On 8 August 1945, Soviet Union declared war on Japan and invaded Manchuria. The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki along with the entry of Soviet Union into the war ended the Japanese occupation of Southeast Asia. - (Wikipedia)







Japanese was needing help. However, they surrendered. They announced their surrender on August 15.
Many people rejoiced. "The formal signing of the surrender instrument was held at City Hall, Singapore, then known as "Municipal Hall", on 12 September. This was followed by a celebration at the Padang, which included a victory parade. Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander of South East Asia Command, came to Singapore to receive the formal surrender of the Japanese forces in the region from General Seishirō Itagaki on behalf of General Hisaichi Terauchi. A British military administration utilizing surrendered Japanese troops as security forces was formed to govern the island until March 1946." - (Wikipedia)

"After the Japanese surrendered, there was a state of anomie in Singapore, as the British had not yet arrived to take control. The Japanese occupiers had a considerably weakened hold over the populace. There were widespread incidents of looting and revenge-killing. Much of the infrastructure had been wrecked, including the harbour facilities and electricity, water supply, and telephone services. It took four or five years for the economy to return to pre-war levels. When British troops finally arrived they met with cheering and fanfare.

Banana money became worthless after the occupation ended. Many individuals who had acquired their wealth through banana currency were rendered penniless overnight." - (Wikipedia)

Website URL : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_occupation_of_Singapore
Date accesed : 17 February 2013

Changes In Singapore

(February 2013, after British surrendered to Japanese)
With the Japanese occupying, a lot of things has changed in Singapore, the way we must work, what time we do things & and the image of our own country!
Singapore was renamed "Syonan-to" which actually meant "the Light of the South" or "the Radiant South" which I thought was really ironic since a lot of people were suffering..

With the British gone, Japanese forces were sent to us to "restore" Singapore.
They interned British, Australians and Allied Europeans here in Singapore, even including women and children!




Allied forces were forced to march from Padang to Selarang Barracks which was like about 22 km away! (That's so far) However, the Europeans civilians were marched to Katong first before going to Changi Prison .



There were anti-Japanese still roaming around Singapore and when there suspects of it, they was extreme torture or even DECAPITATION to the people who were suspected.

The Eurasians around were also harshly treated by the Japs because they felt that they were a threat to them! Some were put to prison camps but some were put to death if suspected helping the British...

Book : Singapore From Settlement to Nation (Sec 2 Book 2013)
Author : Curriculum Planning & Development Division
Publisher : Marshall Cavendish

The Fall & Surrender of Singapore

In the morning of February 15 1942, the Japanese has broken through the defenses already and the allies we had were low on food and ammunition which was very important to fight back.

"At 09:30, Percival held a conference at Fort Canning with his senior commanders. Percival proposed two options: either launch an immediate counter-attack to regain the reservoirs and the military food depots in the Bukit Timah region and drive the enemy's artillery off its commanding heights outside the town; or capitulate. All present agreed that no counterattack was possible. Percival opted for surrender.

A deputation was selected to go to the Japanese headquarters. It consisted of a senior staff officer, the colonial secretary and an interpreter. They set off in a motor car bearing a Union Jack and a white flag of truce toward the enemy lines to discuss a cessation of hostilities. They returned with orders that Percival himself proceed with staff officers to the Ford Motor Factory, where Yamashita would lay down the terms of surrender. A further requirement was that the Japanese Rising Sun Flag be hoisted over the tallest building in Singapore, the Cathay Building, as soon as possible to maximise the psychological impact of the official surrender. Percival formally surrendered shortly after 17:15." - (Wikipedia)

They surrendered all the military forces in Singapore. It seemed like there was no hope. No help. No defenses anymore. Hopeless. The weapons and equipment were taken and troops could not do anything until any notice.

Website URL : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Singapore
Date accessed : 17 February 2013

Aftermath Of Kranji

11 February 1942, Jurong-Kranji defenses were left and Japanese forces just swept through for Bukit Timah.
Despite their fighting spirit, the Dalforce fighters suffered from poor training and the lack of equipment. A further blow was delivered when the 27th Australian Brigade withdrew southwards. As a result, the Japanese established a stronghold in the northern Woodlands area and secured a relatively easy passage into the island.[1] General Wavell left Singapore for Java early on 11 February and sent a cable to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in London on his assessment of the war front in Singapore (Wikipedia , Battle of Kranji)

The message/cable said :
"Battle for Singapore is not going well... I ordered Percival to stage counter-attack with all troops possible... Morale of some troops is not good and none is as high as I should like to see... The chief troubles are lack of sufficient training in some reinforcing troops and an inferior complex which bold Japanese tactics and their command of the air have caused. Everything possible is being done to produce more offensive spirit and optimistic outlook. But I cannot pretend that these efforts have been entirely successful up to date. I have given the most categorical orders that there is to be no thought of surrender and that all troops are to continue fighting to the end..."

By 12 February, the Imperial Guards had captured the reservoirs and Nee Soon village. The defending troops, by this time, were badly shaken. Thousands of exhausted and frightened stragglers left the fighting to seek shelter in large buildings. On the same night, British forces in the east of the island had begun to withdraw towards the city.
On 13 February, the Japanese 5th Division continued its advance and reached Adam and Farrer Roads to capture the Sime Road Camp. Yamashita moved his HQ forward to the bomb-damaged Ford Factory in Bukit Timah. Heading southwards, the Japanese 18th Division advanced into Pasir Panjang, where the last major battle of Singapore would be fought with the Malay Regiments at Bukit Chandu. - (Wikipedia)

Website URL : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kranji
Date accessed : 17 February 2013

Battle Of Kranji

This was the second stage of the battle. The Battle of Kranji (9-10 February 1942)
The PRIMARY objective of the Japanese were to secure a second beachhead right after their assault at Sarimbun Beach so that they could breach the Jurong to Kranji defence line. This was all so that they could reach the heart of Singapore.

(That's a lot of assaults)




For the first day (9 Feb), The Japanese switched their fire to Kranji where the defensive the positions were.

Telegraph and telephone communications were destroyed in the bombardment and communications between the front line and command HQ were broken.
It would be hard or impossible or to communicate then. Plans could have not been told to the front lines from command
Headquarters.
At 8:30pm that night, the men of the Imperial Guards Division began the crossing from Johor in special armoured landing-crafts, collapsible boats and by swimming.


The second day (10 Feb), There were heavy losses.
In the early hours of 10 February, Japanese forces suffered their heaviest losses during the Battle of Singapore. While moving up the Kranji River, advance landing parties from the 4th Regiment of the Imperial Guard Division found themselves under heavy fire from Australian machine gunners and mortar teams. They also found themselves surrounded by oil slicks, which had been created by Allied personnel emptying the nearby Woodlands oil depot, to prevent its capture.
However, Japanese tanks came in and they ended up capturing Bukit Timah village by 11 February







Website URL : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kranji
Date accessed : 17 February 2013

Battle Of Sarimbun Beach

The Battle of Sarimbun Beach was the first stage of the Japanese assault on Singapore in February 1942 during World War II. Sarimbun was in the west of Singapore Island where the Japanese first attacked.

At 8.30pm on 8 February, Australian machine gunners opened fire on vessels carrying a first wave of 4,000 troops from the 5th and 18th Divisions towards Singapore island. However, the Japanese still pressed on towards land.

Dawn of 9 February, we were beginning to get overrun and surrounded. The 2/18 Australian Infantry Battalion had already lost more the half of its personnel. We were being flanked by Japanese and a lot of personnel had already been lost

Shortly after dark on 9 February, three British Fairmile B motor launches were sent on a raid up the western channel of the Straits of Johor, adjoining Sarimbun Beach. Their objective was to attack Japanese landing craft and communications. They came under fire from enemy forces on both shores, but pressed on almost as far as the causeway. A few Japanese landing craft were sunk before the launches returned down the channel, reaching Singapore safely and suffering minimal damage. Some Allied soldiers saw this as an example of effective defensive tactics that were used too little and/or too late by their senior commanders. - (Wikipedia, Battle of Sarimbun Beach)





Website URL : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sarimbun_Beach
Date accessed : 17 February 2013

The Massacre/Sook Ching Operation

"Operation Sook Ching meaning "to purge" or "eliminate" was a massive Japanese exercise to ferret the local Chinese community for anti-Japanese elements, conducted by the 25th Army beginning on 18 February 1942 and resulting in the massacre of thousands of local Chinese." -(infopedia, Operation Sook Ching)

The Japanese had hostility to the Chinese in Singapore. Since the occupation in Singapore by Japanese, Chinese started making anti-Japanese movements. There would be underground anti-Japanese movement in Singapore.

They made Chinese people aged from 18 - 50 to congregate at concentration centres. The island was divided into four sections.

The massacre sites were

Ponggol Beach.
Changi Beach/ Changi Spit Beach: Victims from Bukit Timah/Stevens Road (Sook Ching point).
Changi Road 8 ms 300 acre plantation (Samba Ikat village): 250 victims from Changi 8 ms (Sook Ching point).
Hougang 8 ms: Six lorry loads of people were said to have been massacred here.
Katong 7 ms: 20 trenches were dug.
Beach opposite 27 Amber Road: Two lorry loads of people were said to have been massacred here; the site is now a car park.
Tanah Merah Beach/Tanah Merah Besar Beach: 242 victims taken from Jalan Besar Sook Ching point; currently a runway of Changi airport.
Thomson Road: Sime Road, near golf course and the villages in the vicinity.
Katong, East Coast Road: 732 victims from Telok Kurau School (Sook Ching point).
Siglap area, Bedok South Avenue/Bedok South Road: Previously known as Jalan Puay Poon.
Blakang Mati Beach, off the Sentosa Golf Course: Many bodies of the massacred victims were washed ashore and were buried. - (infopedia)

Website URL : http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_40_2005-01-24.html
 Date accessed : 17 Feb 2013

The Start Of Japanese Occupation

"The Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II occurred between 1942 and 1945 after the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. Military forces of the Empire of Japan occupied Singapore after defeating the combined Australian, British, Indian and Malayan garrison in the Battle of Singapore." -(Wikipedia, Japanese occupation of Singapore)

First of all, it was just like the start of going to hell. It was the start of something that would make thousands of people die and suffer. Japanese started coming down to Singapore and it all went bad.     


 Website URL : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_occupation_of_Singapore
 Date accessed : February 17 2013