Only 'little bumps' by Barbara Hickey

Author:Barbara Hickey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbara Hickey
Published: 2022-10-05T04:58:32+00:00

Chapter 17

Billy, 1941–1942.

Fall of Singapore

The Imperial Japanese Army landed at Padang Pak Amat beach, Kota Bharu, Malaysia, just after midnight on 8 December 1941, and engaged in battle with the British Indian Army. Two Japanese divisions also attacked the British in the north-west.

The Japanese were well prepared and ready for action. They sank British battleships off the east coast, and by 9 January, the British position was desperate. The Supreme Commander, General Wavell, ordered the withdrawal of all forces to Johor. Billy’s brigade, the 22nd, under Brigadier Harold Burfield Taylor, was positioned to defend Johor State with the 27th to the west. The Japanese engaged in jungle warfare, infiltrating behind defence lines, using small tanks and bicycles along the jungle tracks. The British forces had no tanks and very little air support.

The Australians won several battles but suffered heavy losses. The danger for Billy was extreme as Japanese snipers were positioned to shoot officers, despatch riders and telephone/signal operators. The 22nd Brigade withdrew across the causeway to Singapore Island on 30 January.

The Australians had been ordered to defend the north-west of the island and the Johor Causeway. These areas were not considered as a possible invasion point, and so the other Commonwealth forces were stationed in the north-east. Troops were strung far apart from each other as there were not the numbers to have them close together. Between the second and eighth of February, Taylor’s 22nd Brigade suffered an intense artillery barrage. Their response was limited as they were ordered to fire no more than twelve rounds per twenty-five-pounder per day and ordered not to fire on the Sultan of Johor’s Palace which was being used as an observation post by the Japanese.

On 8 February two reconnaissance patrols from the 22nd Brigade infiltrated the Japanese area across the Johor Strait. They reported a build-up of Japanese troops ready to attack the north-west section of Singapore Island. All reports to headquarters and requests for artillery and aerial support were not granted. An intense bombardment from the Japanese occurred at 1400 hours, and at 2000 hours the enemy attempted to land. Japanese troops targeted 22nd Brigade headquarters, which moved back several times. On 11 February, 22nd Brigade headquarters came under heavy attack. Non-combatant staff took up rifles and bayonets along with Brigadier Taylor to successfully fend off the enemy.

By 12 February, 90,000 troops had withdrawn to the city centre. Billy’s regiment continued firing and came under heavy enemy artillery fire and air strikes.

At times communication was only through the messages of the despatch riders or by word of mouth.

Early in the morning of 12 February, Billy met his greatest challenge thus far. Billy was scared but luckily the pain in his elbow and leg was tolerable. His head was pounding from a blow to his skull. He had crawled into the drain on the side of the road. His motorcycle lay on its side in a shell hole. For days now he had been able to put his fear aside as he

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