Battle of Bukit Timah

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Part of the Battle of Singapore, World War II

Japanese forces in Bukit Timah shortly after its capture.

Date	11 February 1942
Location	Bukit Timah, Singapore
Result	Japanese Victory

Belligerents

Commanders

Ian Stewart

Angus MacDonald

Masanobu Tsuji

v • d • e Battle of Singapore

Sarimbun Beach – Kranji – Bukit Timah – Pasir Panjang

The Battle of Bukit Timah was a battle fought during World War II on 11 February 1942 in Singapore between the Allied forces and the Japanese forces.

By the 10th of February, the Japanese had landed in full force on Singapore Island. They controlled the entire western part of the island, and much of the north. Their next objective was Bukit Timah and the capture of vital water, food, ammunition, and vehicles, machine parts and other supplies. Now, flushed with success, the Japanese again advanced in full force.

[edit] Preparations

The defending soldiers of the 12th and 15th Indian Brigades, the 27th Australian Brigade, and the Special Reserves Battalion; Tomforce, Merrett Force, Dalforce, and the Argylls; Jind State Infantry and the X Battalion — all faced the enemy onslaught. They fought against the Japanese at various points along Bukit Timah Road.

[edit] Battle

On that night, the Japanese 5th Division, supported by tanks, advanced down Choa Chu Kang Road. The 12th Indian Brigade and some British troops under Major Angus MacDonald and Captain Mike Blackwood (both officers from the Argylls and would both later die on the steamship Rooseboom while escaping Singapore), blocked the road and opened fire with an anti-tank gun, destroying the first Japanese tank. But this was merely the first of a force of 50 tanks.

There followed some hand-to-hand combat, as well as bayonet charges from both sides. The poorly trained and equipped men of Dalforce, armed only with parangs, grenades, rifles and shotguns normally used for hunting, suffered heavy casualties. By midnight, the Japanese had overwhelmed the defenders and captured Bukit Timah.

The British launched a counter-attack the following morning with two brigades. But by midday, faced with strong Japanese resistance, the counter attack failed.

The next day, the Japanese Imperial Guard advanced from the North, outflanking the British defenders and forcing their retreat. In the ensuing battle the Japanese suffered their heaviest casualties in the campaign to occupy Singapore. In revenge, they massacred Chinese men, women and children living in a nearby village.