The Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse

The sinking of Prince of Wales and The Repulse took place in the 10th of December, 1941, just a few days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the Bombing of Allied Singapore, both key events in History.

"The sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse was a Second World War naval engagement that took place north of Singapore, off the east coast of Malaya, near Kuantan, Pahang, where the British Royal Navy battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse were sunk by land-based bombers and torpedo bombers of the Imperial Japanese Navy on 10 December 1941. In Japanese, the engagement was referred to as the Naval Battle off Malaya (マレー沖海戦 Mare-oki kaisen?)."
~Wikipedia Description

The two ships (one King George V class, the other Renown-class battlecruiser) were involved in Force Z, which consisted of one battleship, one battlecruiser and four destroyers. The main objective is to intercept the Japanese in the north of Malaysia, but the severe shortage of aircraft to protect Force Z, underestimation of the ability of the Japanese armed forces, and the political rather than naval impetus for its deployment are blamed for the destruction of the force.

~How the hell am I able to get an evac without being shot by an RPG!? (Tom Clancy's: Ghost Recon - Future Soldier)

On December 1941, the two ships were sent to Singapore as "repellents". The Prime Minister of Britan during WWII, Winston Churchill, made a public announcement that the two ships will be deployed. But then, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto caught wind and ordered 36 long-range medium bombers (Mitsubishi G4M bombers) to reinforce the existing Mitsubishi G3M-equipped Kanoya Air Group and Genzan Air Group. The ships were not shielded by any aircraft from the Royal Air Force, so the ships were attacked, and were sunk due to the planned airstrikes. Among those who died was Admiral Sir Thomas "Tom" Spencer Vaughan Phillips, which is famous for his command ("Prepare to abandon ship. May God be with you.")


We learnt after the events of the sinking of the ship to do everything that has to do anything about moving valuable stuff around  to keep it a secret. We also learnt that we could have to be supported in some times in our lives, as the text explained, during the event there was no RAF planes to help fend off the Japanese bombers and fighters, meaning that the only defense is the Ships AA guns.

Website URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_Prince_of_Wales_and_Repulse
Date accessed : 13th February 2013

The Battle of Sarimbun

"Sarimbun is an area located in the north-western part of Singapore, close to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Live Firing Area.

Sarimbun was where General Tomoyuki Yamashita landed his troops during World War II, and was engaged in the Battle of Sarimbun Beach. Sarimbun is also home to many small vegetable and fruit farms and health farms. These farms are normally owned by local entrepreneurs. Sarimbun also hosts multiple permanent campsites, especially on Jalan Bahtera. These campsites include the Singapore Scout Association's Sarimbun Campsite, Girl Guides Singapore's Camp Christine, and Ministry of Education's Jalan Bahtera Adventure Centre."

~Wikipedia Description

Sarimbun is in the Lim Chu Kang area, that place where P5s spend their school time for a mandatory camp. Sarimbun is a Malay place name, and existed probably since the early nineteenth century. The Franklin and Jackson's Plan of Singapore (1830) refers to Sungei Sarimbun, or Sarimbun River in Malay, as "Serimhone".

Rimbun means "luxuriant", "in great quantity" or "thick". 

Sarimbun was the first phase of the Japanese invasion to Singapore fro 8th -9th February where the first Japanese infantryman stepped onto Singapore ground. 

The first wave of 4000 Japanese soldiers went in, but were stalled due to the Australian 22nd Brigade's machine gunners. But after midnight the Brigades have lost comms with each other, forcing them to retreat. At 1am, further Japanese troops were landed and the last Australian reserves went in.

Before dawn, a part of the brigade was overrun/ surrounded. Percival maintained a belief that further landings would occur in the northeast and did not agree to reinforce the 22nd Brigade until Tengah Airfield itself was threatened. However, before limited British and Indian infantry reinforcements arrived, the badly-battered Australian and Singaporean units, along with the Jinds, had retreated to take up positions on the "Jurong Line", stretching south from the village of Bulim. Tengah Airfield was taken by the Japanese at around midday on 9 February, and as a result, they lost.

This has taught us to get more people in your team, seeing as that the Allies have only 3000 compared to Japan's 10,000 , the more the merrier.

Website URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sarimbun_Beach & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarimbun

Date accessed: 12th February 2013

Kranji Battle in Singapore

"Kranji is a suburb in northwestern Singapore, located about 22 kilometres (14 mi) from the city centre."

~Wikipedia Description

Kranji is a suburb area in the Woodlands District situated near the Woodlands Checkpoint & The Causeway. The name was from a local tree the kranji or keranji (Dialium indicum, Velvet tamarind). Its abundance has rapidly dwindled since the first half of the nineteenth century.

The battle for Kranji (from the 9th to the 10th of February 1942) was the second phase to the invasion of the Japanese troops.

We can see where this battle is going: 

Imagine yourself being in a game lobby, awaiting a Team Deathmatch, which side will you go on?

1. A n00b (no experience,ignorant) team with 5 other players,
2. A pro team with the same amount of players, or
3. A pro. team, but with 10 more people in the team

Obviously you would go for 3 right? 

The British are on the losing side, with only 2000 men to 10,000 Imperial Guards from Japan. Surprisingly, this was where the Japanese have actually suffered one of their most heavier losses.

9th of February was the first day the Japanese troops set foot on Singapore ground. With a good bird's eye view, Yamashita can see the progress of the advancing Japanese troops.

~Battlefield 3 Campaign, Mission Guillotine

On the 10th of February, while they were moving up the river, the 4th Regiment of the Imperial Guard Division was taking fire thanks to the mortar crews and the Australian Gunners. Oil spills were all around the ground due to Allied personnel dumping them. And the gun muzzle flares ignited the oil spills, burning the invading army, but that did not stop light tanks,as they just drove past the flames. And tank beats everything, as the gunners and infantry men were gunned down and run down. If things couldn't get any worse, Percival's secret orders to withdraw to the last defense line around the city only if necessary were misunderstood by Maxwell, who took this to be an order for an immediate withdrawal to the Line, which is a defense perimeter covering Kallang aerodrome, MacRitchie and Peirce reservoirs and the Bukit Timah supply depot area to ensure the integrity of the city's defense.  

The aftermath was that the Line was left unattended, and the Japanese invaded Singapore.

This teaches us to listen carefully, otherwise, there will be serious consequences (just like in exams, if you don't listen to the teacher, you will get 'F's all over your paper

~Dammit, I'm on newb team... (Blacklight: Retribution)

Website URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kranji & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kranji

Date Accessed: 12th of February 2013

Battle at Pasir Panjang in Singapore

~This is HOW a long beach should look like!

"Pasir Panjang is an area in the south-western part of Singapore. It is located at the southern part of the Queenstown Planning Area, an urban planning zone under the Urban Redevelopment Authority. Kent Ridge is a topographical feature which runs through Pasir Panjang."
~Wikipedia Description

Pasir Panjang, or Passir Panjang in 1851, is located in the south-west part of Singapore, which is just two stations away from HarbourFront. Pasir Panjang literally means "long sand" in Malay, as a reference to the long beaches before having the land reclaimed to become wharves at the beach.

The battle for Pasir Panjang lasted from 13th to the 14th of February 1942. 13,000 Japanese troops had made an amphibious landing in the northwest part of Singapore near Sarimbun after the battle for Sarinbun Beach, and had started to advance south towards Pasir Panjang, they also captured Tengah Airfield enroute. 

The Japanese started the battle off with mortar bombing and firing their weaker guns.The defensive had gone through the shooting and explosions. That is until the Banzai charge was commenced, and it was there that the Malay Regiment became overwhelmed, and the Japanese broke the defensive line.

Adnan Bin Saidi, the renowned hero of Singapore, was the Regiment's leader. He was mortally wounded in battle (W.I.A), then was tortured before being bayoneted.

Abdul Bin Saidi taught us to honor Singapore, as his motto would suggest "Death before dishonor" 
He also taught us to win or die trying.

Website URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pasir_Panjang & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasir_Panjang
Date accessed: 12th of February 2013

Battle at Bukit Timah

Bukit Timah, which literally means "Tin Hill" in Malay, is the highest point in Singapore (163.3m tall). The hill has no relations to the word tin, or the element itself. But the original name for the name of the hill is Bukit Temak, which means "hill of the temak trees", referring to pokok temak, a tree that grew abundantly on the slopes of the hill. Some say it lives a Monkey Man of some sort.
But enough of this talk, this post is about the battle of Bukit Timah, not its geography.

The battle for Bukit Timah was at 11th February, 5th Division Japanese squadron, supported with tanks one of the 50 tanks were destroyed by an anti-tank gun, who were blocked by  The 12th Indian Brigade and some British troops under Major Angus MacDonald and Captain Mike Blackwood. After a little bit of CQC/CQB (melee combat), and some heavy losses from poorly armed Dalforce, by midnight, the Japanese troops vanquished the opposing side. The British launched two brigades for a counter-strike, but it too failed. The next day, the Japs flanked the British defenses  and the British retreated. But the Chinese Dalforce fought to the end,and the Japanese suffered some heavy losses. So they then massacred the townsfolk in the nearby town

Singaporeans learnt to be prepared for a situation, just like the scout motto "Be prepared" and the coaster I got from the Discovery Center in Singapore "Peace loving but combat ready".

Website URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bukit_Timah & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukit_Timah

Date accessed: 12th February 2013

The End of the Japanese Ocupation

After Operation Zipper, and the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Operation Tiderace was a go.the plan was to capture Port Swettenham and Port Dickson, and would involve an airstrike of more than 500 aircraft of the Royal Air Force. The assault was scheduled for 9 September 1945, but was forestalled following the Surrender of Japan. When news hit to the Japanese officers in Singapore, the command was surprised. They thought of themselves being as loyal soldiers, as they think that surrender is just plain shameful to their own country. Rather than dishonoring their country, 300+ officers then committed suicide with hand grenades in Raffles Hotel, as they rather "die in honour" (seriously, most of the world knows that the Japs are well respected anyways).

~FREEDOM!

~How gamers like me think

This was the message of the Japanese Emperor after the surrender:

"

... Despite the best that has been done by everyone—the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State, and the devoted service of Our one hundred million people—the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.

Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.

Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers.

The hardships and sufferings to which Our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, Our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is insufferable."

Now... cheer for the gallant losers?

"The formal surrender was finalised on 12 September at Singapore City Hall. Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander of Southeast Asia Command, came to Singapore to receive the formal surrender of Japanese forces in South East Asia from General Itagaki Seishiro on behalf of Field Marshal Hisaichi Terauchi, commander of the Japanese Southern Army Group who had suffered a stroke earlier in the year. A British Military Administration was formed to govern the island until March 1946. Itagaki departed for Japan shortly afterwards to face his trial and execution as a war criminal."

~Wikipedia Description

~The only way to be sure, and just to be safe

After the surrender, I think that Singaporeans have learnt to be proud 

of their own country. Just ask any Singaporean son.

Website URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tiderace & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrender_of_Japan

Date Accessed: 12th February 2013

Treatment by the Japanese

After the surrender of the British on 15th February 1942, the Japanese have then conquered Singapore, and Singapore was then renamed to Syonanto (昭南島 Shōnantō), which means "Southern Island gained in the age of Shōwa". The name is frequently mistranslated as "Light of the South", even in Singaporean textbooks.

Singapore was officially returned to British colonial rule on 12 September 1945, following the formal signing of the surrender instrument at the Municipal Building.
~No, PLEASE NOOOO!!!!.....
The Kempeitai (Japanese military secret police) committed numerous atrocities against the common people, including starting the Sook Ching Massacre. The Japanese also committed numerous war crimes, all being listed here:

1. Mass killings
2. Human experimentation and biological warfare
3. Use of chemical weapons
4. Torture of prisoners of war
5. Cannibalism
6. Forced labour
7. Comfort women
8. Looting

During the operation, there was a currency called "Banana Money", which has been issued in other countries where the Japanese have conquered, like Malaya. This currency had the same value as the Malayan Dollar, food then became really scarce, and Singaporeans can only rely on staple foods, such as sweet potatoes and yam. The Kempeitai established a network of informers around the island to help them identify those who were anti-Japanese. These informers were well-paid by the Kempeitai and had no fear of being arrested. Japanese soldiers patrolled the streets and commoners had to bow to them when they passed by. Those who failed to do so would be beaten and some people would be taken away.

The lessons learnt are to be strong, even in times of crisis, and to put on the shoes of the less fortunate, so to experience the lives of the others.

Website URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_occupation_of_Singapore
Date accessed: 12th February 2013