The Memorial

What have they left for us? Not only the bullets or fortress, but the scar of the war, the lessons, the experiences, the sacrifices of the warrior.

When the Indian soldier told the villagers to run away and save their life they only smiled and never thought that the war will really happen. When the bombs had rocked their house, only then they believe they are in the war. It's unbelievable but it's happen.

Economic

The British had destroy the rubber plantation and tin mines before they leaving Malaya. On that time, economy of Malaya only rely on the exports but the occupation makes the situation worst. no one care about the economy anymore, their life is precious than money. Lack of essential goods cause the inflation. the value of currency had fall, prices for goods for example rice had increase and it's hard to imported the rice from Burma and Thailand as the Japanese has imposed restrictions on international trade. Japan implemented a local-controlled economy to burden the people. moreover the Corruption, black market has widespread among the people.

Social

The system of the school has change to Japan system. every morning the students need to sing Japanese song anthem and respect their flag. In addition, the people must used the language and practice the culture of Japan. Besides, the worst thing is the invasion has affected the health of people not only in Kota Bharu but also all over Malaya. The disease that affected people are malaria, beriberi and cholera had spread widely throughout the peninsular. the death rates had increase rapidly and no one can help as the doctors and nurses were sent to the camp prisoners, medicine was not supplied to the clinic and the food has been seized 

Memoir of WW II

the 1st pillbox at Kota Bharu airfield

the "treasure"  or war relics that killed  found at the landing site

the pillbox still guarding the airfield

Resources

1) Zaf1. (2009). Axis History: 70 minutes before Pearl Harbour, Retrieved 6 October, 2013

    from, http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=160789

When they come to us..Real story

What did they do to the people? What if the person refuse to obey their order? What happen to the women? Men? children? How they treat us? they are nice or cruel?

Living Conditions

it's hard to move around, it's dangerous to walk alone, It's very terrible life when you can't go out and find the food to eat. If you have daughters, you will need to hide them from the Japanese. This story I heard from my late grandmother on how is her life during World War II when the Japanese occupation. My late grandmother was born many years before the World War II. When the invasion, she were young and able to remember all the event that happen on that time. Her life on that time is very hard. She's only ate tapioca to make her full. Most of the time, she need to hide from the Japanese soldier. My late grandmother had the experience in escape from the Japanese soldier when the soldier come to her house. She is lucky on that day.

Other than that, the prices for goods rises and makes people have a difficulties to buy their daily necessity. The only foods that easy for them to get is tapioca.

The propaganda " Asia for Asians" has been used to convince Malays to against the British. The agenda behind the propaganda is the Japanese want to take over the land. Believe or not, they are created the world record when they can took control 100 miles of Malay Peninsula only for 72 hours.

Malays was treat nicely better than other race. Even though they are treat us and Indian better but they still will punished those who are oppose them, Malays or Indians. But what happen to Chinese? The Japanese want to eliminated Chinese because we know that Chinese were known as the financial support for both Nationalist and communist who are fighting with Japan in China. They saw the ethnic of Chinese is the biggest treat for them. Lt. General Tomoyuki Yamashita has ordered his army to eliminated anti-Japanese within Chinese. 50, 000 or more ethnic Chinese were killed in the invasion.

Indians and Chinese were forced to work as a labour along with Chinese on the Thai- Burma Railway. Almost 73,000 Malayans were forced to work and 25, 000 are dying suffered from the hardship

The labour were forced to work on the Thai-Burma Railway under Japanese supervision

Rules

People need to bow when they meet the Japanese soldier on the road or anywhere they go. If they are refused to do so, they will severely punished or get whacked or even get killed. The punishment given to those who refused is they will be force to drink soupy drink, or they are forcing to makes something that have no senses.

The punishment given by the Japanese soldier..where is the humanity?

Counteraction..Defending Force

When the Japanese troops closer to the beach, the British armed force take the action to protect the land from the intruders. Who involves ?, How they defensed the land from the Japanese? From the sources, I have some info to share with all of you on how the defending force pretend our land...

Defending force consist of 8th Indian Infantry Brigade, Indian 9th Infantry Division, the 21st mountain Battery, The 3/17th Bn, Dogra Regiment. They are responsibility to pretend the beaches and prevent the Japanese from approaching the land. They were provide with the land mines, barbed wire, and pillboxes while the 73rd Field Battery of the 5th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery are ready at the nearby airfield to support the Defense Force at the beaches.

The Dogras Regiment took their action in order to protect the land by opened intense fire on the Japanese with artillery and machine guns. According to Colonel Masanobu Tsuji in his book he said

"The enemy pillboxes, which were well prepared, reacted violently with such heavy force that our men lying on the beach, half in half out of the water could not raise their heads".

what had happen on that time? the first and second waves were successfully defeated in the north and south bank of the estuary. The Japanese were trapped and the defending forces start to attack them again. Japanese had lost their soldier in the first battle. However, the troops managed to get off the beach and the defending forces need to back up the airfield.

The order have given to the Dogras to take back the beach with the cooperation between 2/12th Frontier Force Regiment attacking from the south and the 1/13th Frontier Force Rifles attacking from the north. the fighting caused lot of casualties from both side. The British forces made some move unfortunately they are failed to take over the beach and close the breach.

The Waves of Japanese Troops

The convoy of Japanese had been located 240 km from Kota Bharu and according to Flying Officer Ramshaw, they were escorted by a battleship, five cruisers and seven destroyers. The messages about the Japanese convoy has been announce and the command has been issued but there were no luck as the British planes cannot make further reconnaissance flights as the bad weather prevented the plane from taking off.

The convoy from Japanese troops has arrived in Kota Bharu

On Dec 7, at 10.00 a.m the Japanese convoy had split up to find a place to landing. But before they landed at the prearrange place, they had attack the Flying officer Bedell and his crew who was monitor the progress of the Japanese fleet. The Officer was shot down by Japanese aircraft and become the first allied casualties of the war

Midnight of 7th December

3 km off the coast of Kota Bharu, the IJN transport ships were spotted by a group of Indian guards when the ships had dropping anchor. Awagisan Maru, Ayatosan maru, Sakura Maru were carrying approximately 5, 200 troops. At 12.45 a.m, the first troops heading to the beach in four lines to attack the the defending forces, the Indian 8th Infantry Brigade, support by the Indian 9th Infantry Division, Dogra Regiment and the 21st Mountain Battery. Second later, the war scene had begins..

Resources

1) Ron Taylor (2003). Far Eastern Heroes: Japanese Invade, Retrieved 6 October, 2013      

   from http://www.far-eastern-heroes.org.

Behind the scene...

"The greatest battle happen in our country 72 years ago. In 1941, the first Japanese troops landing at Kota Bharu has created historical moment that should not be forgotten by our people. The Japanese invasion in Malaya brought lot of tragic moment for country. The new generation should appreciate the fighters who fought to defend our country by take cognizance about the history of our country. Do not let it be the forgotten battle".

The Greater East-Asia Prosperity Sphere

Their aim is to seizing Singapore and to control Malaya as we rich with our natural sources such as rubber, spices, oil and other sources that coveted by all the world power. Japan with their propaganda  to be the Greater East Asia Prosperity Sphere had killed almost 10, 000 people in Malaya. 

Sabak-Badang Beach, Kota Bharu Kelantan

Japanese army landed at Sabak-Badang Beach in Kota Bharu

Kelantan which is situated in eastern Malaya boarder with Thailand is the first place the pacific war battle happen. Sabak-Badang Beach located at south of Kota Bharu had witness a swarm of Japanese troops landed on the shoreline. The fighting had begun on the beaches

People Behind the Invasion

Lt General Tomoyuki Yamashita or known as
 the Tiger of Malaya

Lt General Tomoyuki Yamashita had landed the Japanese 25th army, with 70,000 men and 211 tanks at three port, Singgora and Pattani in Siam and in Kota Bharu, Malaya. He had sailed from Samah Harbour on Hainan Island on 4 December 1941.



http://library.thinkquest.org/12405/15.htm

http://www.far-eastern-heroes.org.uk/2nd_Lt_Robert_Hartley/html/japanese_invade.htm

http://www.studymode.com/essays/The-Japanese-Occupation-In-Malaya-Malaya-811563.html

http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/shammons/invasion.html

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/japan_attack_malaya.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09dGuZ6zQt0

http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/japadvance/malaya.html