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2- 4th January
Continued withdrawal to Kuala Lumpur
2nd January 1942
Richardson mentions that, in the early hours of the 2nd of January, they parked some 4 to 5 miles out and stayed the night on guard. Fighting round about but not too near. Mosquitoes terrible – little sleep.27
In his diary entry of 2nd January Walter states that at 05.00hrs, the enemy came down river and landed at the north jetty at 06.00hrs.
The Independent Company withdrew to DEGONG (KAMPONG DEGONG) where Walter describes there being ‘heavy bombing all day. Richardson and I took cover under bamboo trees – poor cover.”
In Richardson’s account of the 2nd of January he says:
0600 moved off and were surprised by fire from our 25 lb howitzer battery over our heads! Quite eerie. Point blank at 50 yards. Scraped tree tops. Took up position in rubber estate. Planes over looking for us. A little machine gun fire but no bombs. 10.00hrs moved off to new position some 8-9 miles along Kampar-Degong Road and stayed all day. We were holding this road to prevent Japs outflanking main lines. Nothing happened.
3 Me 100's (aircraft) came over very low. Bombed (20 pills) and machine gunned us for half hour or so. Burnt out two trucks. 2 Indians shell-shocked. Machine gun bullets whistling through banana leaves just over our heads (Pollock and I). Our Ack Ack guns and L.M.G.s and Brens put up a pretty hot barrage and may have hit two planes; only two maintained attack. Gave us a brisk time. After this Pollock and I made about 12 pints of coffee and drank about half. The other chaps had the remainder. Moved off to Kuala Lumpur at 1900 hours.
Some scare because Japs were near the road. We were ready to meet these. Nothing happened. Up Bidor Road past Argyle Bde and Artillery. A damnable ride. Signs of bombing at Bidor and other villages south. A few planes shot down were lying about.
Still plugging along all night. Little sleep, very tired. I drove Proctor's car for some way. So tired I nearly drove into a ditch several times. So did Proctor. Had a two hour break and then away again.
Reached Kuala Lumpur "Kent T.D.Camp" about 0800 after 13 hours travel. Fell asleep several times in the convoy as it stopped periodically – driving Lt. Bramston’s car. Once we were awakened only by a M.P. shining torch in my face. Very tired. Certainly wears one down.
3rd January 1942
The entry in Major Fearon’s Diary (p29) for the 3rd of January says:
‘By 11.00hrs the Company was concentrated at the aerodrome camp in Kuala Lumpur. The Company was to receive 3 days rest and re-organisation and refitting started straight away.
However, events were moving at Kuala Selangor on the west coast, where the enemy were attempting to land and at 1700hrs the Independent Company was placed on one hour’s notice to move to Batang Berjuntai.
In the event nearly another 24 hours were given to the Company with the move to Batang Berjuntai
4th January 1942
Richardson wrote in his diary that there was a sort of panic prevailing in Kuala Lumpur with air raids over the city. Then at 1630 the Independent Company suddenly moved out of Kuala Lumpur along Kuala Selangor Road where the Japanese have made a landing some 600 strong.
Laying up in rubber until 1930 approx in positions. Then moved off to Batang Berjuntai, 13 miles from Kuala Selangor. Slept quite well there until 0500 on side road.28
In Fearon’s account, he indicated that after the arrival of the Company in darkness (at Batang Berjuntai), night positions were taken up covering both bridges and the approach from the West.
The Company was deployed as follows:
- 1 Platoon left watching approaches from the West (from Richardson’s account, he may be part of this platoon)
- 3 Platoon Right on demolished bridge
- 2, 4 Platoons, Coy. HQ and AIF (Rose Force) on Main (Western) bridge with an offensive role for tomorrow.
Information was received that two tps (troops?) 3 Cav (3 cavalry?) were North of the river on the road running East and West from Kuala Selangor and that they had been in heavy contact with the enemy during the day and were withdrawing towards the bridge.29
Reference
27 Richardson Diary, p6.
28 Richardson diary
29 Fearon Account p29
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