It was defended by 9th Indian Division which attached to 2nd Battalion Loyals. The 27th Infantry Brigade of Australian Imperial Force ( AIF ) took position north of Gemas which later retreat to Batu Anam after a sharp engagement with Japanese at Gemencheh Brigde and successful tank ambush 3 miles north of Gemas.

45th Indian Brigade which hold Muar west of Johore were overrun by Japanese attack and a reserve of Australian 2/9 and 2/19 Battalion were sent to check the enemy advances were cut off at Bakri, make their way until reaching Parit Sulong where they were ordered to free themselves and escape to Yong Peng. British realised that if Japanese managed to captured Yong Peng, all British forces at the north of Johore will be surrounded and cut off. So withdrawal off all forces were ordered and Batu Anam were abandoned.

Buloh Kasap

When British and Australian retreat south, some of the important bridges were demolished to hampered Japanese advance down to Singapore. But Japanese were quickly repaired the bridge.

An important bridge at Buloh Kasap town were demolished at one of her section.  A magnificent bridge built by Sultan of Johore expenses spanned  over Muar River and was contructed in late 1930's. It was never repaired by Japanese since they constructed another new bridge nearby. After war, it was never been repaired by British and abandoned until now. People living nearby called it "Jambatan Putus".

Element of Union Jack

Jemaluang

Immediately after arrived in Singapore in early 1941, 2/18th Battalion were moved to Mersing. They constructed well prepared defences position around Mersing but in 17th January 1941, they were ordered to withdrawal to Jemaluang further south leaving the well prepared defences at Mersing after Japanese which already captured most of west coast of Johore threatening to outflank the forces at the east coast.

The battalion took 3 companies supported by 2 batteries of 2/10 Field Regiment,  sprang an ambush at Nithsdale Estate in the early hours of 27th January. Japanese forces which landed earlier at Endau were caught by surprise inflicting heavy casualites on their side. This action prevented Japanese to pushed south using the east coast road and forcing them to move inland.

Tebrau Airfield

No.1 Aerodrome Construction Squadron from New Zealand responsible to constructed military airfield in Malaya at that time. Started work on October 27, 1941, the area were still covered with rubber trees were quickly removed and work planned to built bomber aerodrome. Construction still on the way when war broke out on December 8 1941. Workers watched clearly as Japanese bombers flew above Singapore Island. During mid of December, some of the construction parties were sent to Bekok to construct a new fighter airfield. Some were send to Seletar and Sembawang to repaired damaged airfield. When it was fully functional, it was used by light aircraft from Malayan Volunteers Air Force.

During mid of January 1942, a detachment which send to Singapore were called back to continue their work at Tebrau. Also Bekok parties were recalled when the airstrip was ready. During January 15 when Japanese troops were north of Johore, orders were received to demolish any equipment and runway were prepared for demolitions and planted with mines. On January 27, all personnel from Tebrau were evacuated and slowing coming down to Singapore.

During Japanese occupation, it was repaired and used as fighter strip. Used also as emergency airstrip and most of the obsolete fighter planes were stationed there to protected southern Johore and  northern Singapore from increasing threat from long range B-24 and PB4Y bombers flying reconnaissance mission.

Wartime Tebrau Airfield used by Japanese

After Japanese surrender, most of Japanese air force and Navy planes were flown to Tebrau for evaluation. British markings with the aconym ATAIU-SEA were painted on the aircraft. Due to limited spaces only handful of planes were send to UK. Rest of the planes were scrapped.

Tebrau airfield was abondened. An "U" shape dispersal area were missing and some of the airfield military based were turned into permanent army camp. The runway shape still can be recognised and more buildings like factories were built.

Parit Sulong

On January 15th, 45th Indian Brigade which defended the south side of the Muar river at Muar town managed to hold frontal attacks from Imperial Guards who came from Malacca. They were reinforced by  2/19 and 2/29 Battalion from Australian 8th Division. After being outflanked by Japanese who managed to landed on the beaches, on the evening of 16 January, Japanese troops captured Muar town. Most of the British units retreated to Bakri. After ensuing tank attacks being hold off by Australian 4th Anti-Tank gunners, General Nishimura managed to captured high ground at Bukit Pelandok and cutting British line of retreat to Yong Peng.

After most of the senior officers were killed, Lt Col Anderson took charge of the brigade and slowly retreat down using Parit Jawa and Parit Sulong. Japanese managed to used captured boats infiltrate south and managed to landed on the beaches and moving so fast to Parit Jawa and down to Batu Pahat. They managed to erected several road blocks to cut down Anderson Brigade. Being attacked on the rear and the front, they Australian managed to destroyed the roadblocks until they arrived at Parit Sulong bridge. A platoon of 2nd Norfolk who guarded the bridge  were nowhere to be seen and a series of company attacks on the bridge roadblock were failed. Japanese also concentrated their troops on the side south of the bridge.

2nd Battalion Loyals were send from Yong Peng to rescue to trapped Brigade but were hold off by Japanese and Anderson realised that any chances to breakaway the blockade were slim. He ordered the troops to make their way to escape using any means and path to evaded captured leaving some of the wounded at the town. Later all the wounded were herded into a small area and machinegun down by Japanese. Their remains were set ablaze in a shop ruins to removed any proof of the massacre. 3 of the wounded managed to escaped and later being a witness to General Nishimura court of inquiry. He was quilty by Australian Military Court and hanged to death on Jun 11, 1951.

Parit Sulong Bridge

Kota Tinggi

Kota Tinggi area were chosen by British during late 1930s to strengthen Singapore Fortress. A report from Major General William Dobbie which now was a General Officer in Command of Malaya and Singapore ordered an expansion of defences lines of Singapore Naval base. An outer defence lines at Kota Tinggi and Sedili were suitable to hold off any northward attacks if enemy successful landed at North Malaya. A large sums of budget were approved to built a defences lines consisted of pillboxes guarding trunk road from Mersing to Kota Tinggi and Singapore. Also a chains of pillboxes were built south banks of Kota Tinggi to protect from enemy river crossing which another sets of pillboxes also were built at Sedili river if enemy penetrated Kota Tinggi by river.

Mysteriously that the project were abandoned after Dobbie retirement and no major works were carried out to finished up the defence lines. Pillboxes which now nearly completed were abandoned. Most of the pillbox design were from Navy design which similarity to Singapore and Penang fortress.

During early months before World War 2, Australians which based at Mersing were ordered to occupied the pillbox. Some of the pillboxes were not found due to overgrown and were forgotten. Later in the late stages of Malaya operation, the Australians and Indians were ordered retreat south and none of these defences lines were actually use during the war.

Some of these pillboxes which located at Sedili river and Kota Tinggi river were sunk into the river due to erosion and some still can be found at Kota Tinggi town and roadside towards Mersing. We hope that in future, local museum at Kota Tinggi could preserve this site as a heritage site for future generations. 

Kota Tinggi river pillboxes

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