View Full Version : Operation KROHCOL
Lieutenant-General A.E. Percival's Report on English incursions into Thailand immediately following the 'Singora' & Pattani landings by the Japanese:-
http://www.fepow-community.org.uk/arthur_lane/Percivals_Report/html/opening_of_hostilities.htm
And some background on the man himself.
http://www.fepow-community.org.uk/arthur_lane/Percivals_Report/
What's missing is some Thai perspective of this incursion, as there was some initial stiff resistance from Thai forces. Any information of this type gratefully received. One half suspects that this sort of data might have been deliberately lost at the end of the war; to ease Thailand's 'realignment'.
One paragraph in the linked article indicates that an armoured train with Indian soldiers crossed the border and demolished a substantial railway bridge near Padang Besar. I'm going to try and find out which bridge was destroyed and how quickly it was pressed back into action.
I need to do some more thorough reading on this, but I suspect the operations at Padang Besar & Sadao were actually labelled MATADOR. And the Betong Operation was labelled Krohcol, because it proceeded from Keroh in Kedah State:-
http://tinypic.com/4uvvqb
I'd also be interested in more accurately pinpointing 'The Ledge' on the Betong to Yala Road, where Indian troops staged a hindering ambush on a Japanese column. It seems to me that if I can identify 'the bridge' & 'The Ledge', I might then locate some Thai perspectives on these ops. One report suggests that an official in Betong apologised for the delays caused by the confrontation with Thai forces. This seems a bit strange given that every state has the right to protect its sovereignty & honor; especially since there were undoubtedly casualties. I suppose this was indicative of the very divided loyalties at that time; which have probably continued right up to the present day in some form or another.
Related Threads:-
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?p=4513#post4513
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?p=4515#post4515
This 1:250,000 scan might help pinpoint 'the Bridge':-
http://tinypic.com/view.html?pic=4uvxbm
Also a 1:250,000 Scan which might help to pinpoint 'The Ledge'. Notice Keroh middle left:-
http://tinypic.com/4uvtpl
airlana
05-05-05, 02:24 PM
Indeed an interesting part of Thai history that not many know much about.
Over the years I've built up quite a library on SE Asia and CBI operations during WW2. Unfortunately It's long overdue for a sorting out and getting it into some decent order.
Can't help right now re the bridge, but good source of info are the London Gazette Supplements.
The full report
"Operations of Malaya Command, from 8th December 1941 to 15th February 1942" by Lt Gen Percival
is available here
http://www.britain-at-war.org.uk/London_Gazette_1948/
and part 2 section XV11 has details on Krohcol.
I'll see what else I can find
airlana
.
I suspect the operations at Padang Besar & Sadao were actually labelled MATADOR. And the Betong Operation was labelled Krohcol, because it proceeded from Keroh in Kedah State.No, it seems "Operation MATADOR" was actually a contingency plan initially conceived before WW II, and comprising both the Padang Besar/Sadao (no specific code name?) and Betong (KROHCOL=Keroh Column) operations. The idea was to pre-empt a Japanese attack by occupying parts of Southern Thailand, or at least intercepting the enemy's anticipated advance from Songkhla and Pattani at a very early stage. But it had been rejected by London, and the necessary preparations could therefore not be taken, despite grave concerns and repeated pleas for reinforcements from the British Far East Command. In the end it was up to Commander-in-Chief Brooke-Popham to commit the final mistake when he decided not to make any pre-emptive move, even after learning of the imminent arrival of the Japanese troops. (But at that point the British forces in Malaya were doomed in any case.)
Compare:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Matador
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Krohcol
So in the end the plan was put into action too late, after the Japanese had already landed in Thailand and Kota Bahru.
(Also detailed here (http://ourstory.asia1.com.sg/war/headline/church.html).)
Would be interesting to find out about the locations of that bridge and "the Ledge", though!
Wow! Got it! We're getting somewhere. Both of these replies have provided valuable info. Indeed an interesting part of Thai history that not many know much about. ....
"Operations of Malaya Command, from 8th December 1941 to 15th February 1942" by Lt Gen Percival
is available here
http://www.britain-at-war.org.uk/London_Gazette_1948/
and part 2 section XV11 has details on Krohcol.
I'll see what else I can find
airlana
.
QUOTES FROM THE FOLLOWING LINK:-
http://www.britain-at-war.org.uk/London_Gazette_1948/html/body_p2s17.htm
131. On the North Kedah front, a mechanised column consisting of two companies and the carriers of the 1/8 Punjab Regt. with some anti-tank guns and engineers attached, crossed the frontier at 1730 hrs. 8th December and moved towards Singora to harass and delay the enemy. Concurrently an armoured train, with a detachment of 2/16 Punjab Regt. and some engineers, advanced into Thailand from Padang Besar in Perlis. The Singora column reached Ban Sadao, 10 miles North of the frontier at dusk, where it halted and took up a position north of the village. Here, at about 2130 hrs. it made contact with a Japanese mechanised column, headed by tanks and moving in close formation with full headlights. The two leading tanks were knocked out by the anti-tank guns, but the Japanese infantry quickly debussed and started an enveloping movement. Our column was then withdrawn through the outpost position at Kampong Imam, destroying two bridges and partially destroying a third on the way back. Meanwhile the armoured train party had reached Klong Gnea, in Thailand and successfully destroyed a large bridge before withdrawing to Padang Besar.
Just North of Sadao is almost certainly somewhere in the vicinity of the current Safeskin Factory. Here the road runs straight, which would account for comments elsewhere about being able to see the headlights of the advancing Japanese column for some distance. Apparently the Japanese weren't expecting an attack this far north.
The railway report mentions 'Khlong Gnea'. This is almost certainly a corruption of Khlong Ngae by the English who are largely unable to deal with the whole idea of initial ''NG' consonant combinations; despite living cheek-by-jowl with the Welsh who positively revel in them. This location makes sense. The railway up to this point is largely buried in the rubber trees. Whereas I doubt there so many rubber trees then, there was probably more of the original tree cover. At Khlong Ngae, the line begins to make more urban contact, in which it would have been more difficult to conduct furtive ops. Was there no Thai resistance at the Padang & Sadao Borders? I believe there is more than one bridge in the vicinity of Klong Ngae.
There are probably still a few folk living in the vicinity of Sadao & Khlong Ngae who would remember these incidents. I may investigate further on site.
I
London Gazette, 1948
http://www.britain-at-war.org.uk/London_Gazette_1948/html/body_p2s19.htm
151. Naval Operations: — In accordance with pre-war plans, submarines of the Royal Netherlands Navy operated off the east coast of Malaya and in the approaches to the Gulf of Thailand during this period. They reported sinking 4 Japanese transports off Patani on the I2th December, and a merchant ship and a laden oil tanker off Kota Bharu on the I2th and 13th December.
Perhaps some evidence from this 1:250,000 scan:-
http://tinypic.com/4v0mfa
To the best of my knowledge a 'Khot' is a 'wreck'. Correct me if I'm wrong.This map shows 'Khot Enemy Chaser', 'Khot Loftus' & 'Khot Tun Beating China'. The first could be English or a translated Japanese name. The second is almost certainly an English name. And 'Beating China' was more blatantly Japanese policy than the English 'Subverting China'.
Actually, 'Khot' appears to be more like 'reef' or 'shoal', but I still think these represent wrecks.The coast here is fairly shallow and perhaps the ships in question were deliberately 'beached' in order to try & save crew and cargo. :o
Kroh Column’s move into Thailand was Operation Krohcol (the objective being to occupy the Ledge), while Operation Matador was never implemented.
Operation Matador itself could never have been effectively implemented; the occupation of positions on Line A (just north of Songkhla and Pattani) would have required a total of four brigade groups to be deployed: two brigade groups to defend the line north of Songkhla and guard the port and beaches around Songkhla, one to guard the east flank of Hat Yai, and one brigade group to be held in general reserve.
the Padang Besar/Sadao (no specific code name?)
Laycol, derived from the column's CO, Lt. Col. Layton.
The KNIM Submarine O-19 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Bussemaker) attacked a number of Japanese ships on December 12th, and the transport ships Tozan Maru, Asosan Maru, and Kinka Maru were sunk.
airlana
06-05-05, 08:14 PM
More info on the Japanese invasion
Paragraphs 8th and 9th December (http://www.chs.edu.sg/~y02chs282/new_page_35.htm#landings%20in%20thailand)
also a map here (http://www.chs.edu.sg/~y02chs282/defence_of_malaya1.htm)
Lots more by working through the links at left, but nothing yet on "the Ledge" or the bridges.
airlana
.
It is truly difficult to know where to start with these issues and there is a whole mass of evidence out there; mostly from the perspective of the Brits & their Empire forces. My approach tends to be to concentrate on those things on my own patch. So the role of the Singora & Pattani airfields interests me. I apologise to all & sundry for taking a rather unprofessional & anecdotal approach on this. Such is my enjoyment!
The two airfields were obviously key objectives of the Japanese landings. The Singora landings occurred immediately adjacent to the airfield at Khao Seng. Thus, the Japanese were able to fly in (probably from Saigon) and base 100 planes at the two bases. Allied air attacks on these airfields seem to have been largely ineffective; despite the 'sitting duck' targets of so many planes on comparatively small airfields. These planes were to have a an almost immediate devastating effect on Malaya, as evidenced by the following:-
http://www.geocities.com/malaya_hg/png_warmuseum.htm
The British knew Penang Island as Fortress Penang, but in reality it only had 4 anti-aircraft guns and a motley garrison of some 500 untrained troops. This lack of adequate protection became evident when on December 11, 1941 the Japanese inflicted their first major air raid on the island. On December 12, they stepped up their operation and eighty-five Japanese dive-bombers flying from Singora and Patani airfields in Siam directed devastating air raids against Penang. The capital, Georgetown was the primary target, and by the end of the day the civilian casualties exceeded 2000.
Just a few days later, the British evacuated Penang. The following was gleaned from Airlana's link.
Days before the fall of Penang, Japanese planes had dropped bombs on the island. The Japanese occupied its airfield and other airfields in north-western Malaya. Many ships and boats in the harbour were seized by the Japanese who later used them to make coastal landings on the west coast of Malaya.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Songkhla (Singora) Airfield was later to be the airport for the province. This role has been taken over by Hat-Yai International (also the site of Wing 56 AFB), but the airfield is still a Naval Airbase & Helicopter Base for gas exploration & extraction in the Gulf.
One wonders whether Pattani Airfield was at the current (inland) Pattani AFB (which also hosted Thai Airways Flights until about 10 years ago).
Apparently, Japanese Intelligence operatives had infiltrated these two cities for some years before the landings, using apparently bona fide businessmen. These were probably the same individuals who stockpiled aviation fuel adjacent to Pattani Airfield (& I suppose Singora) just days before the landings. One can only assume that a few blind eyes were cast; especially since their were reports that the Pattani field was left deliberately unmowed in order to fool allied aerial intelligence into considering it as an inoperative field.
Back to those Japanese intelligence ops. My wife tells me that her father was a passing acquaintance of a Japanese doctor in the Hat-Yai market area. On the day of the landings, he was seen in the market; having donned his 'Rising Sun' armband. The same Doctor apparently stayed on in Hat-Yai after the war; and was well-liked & respected by his local clients. One gets the impression he lived out the rest of his days here with his local family.
Well, it appears that Malays traditionally called it Singora, so the British tended to use that name. Songkhla has long been the Thai name. In fact, up to about 30 years ago, locals would have been just as likely to call it Bor Yang. Some young people will still tell you they live in Bor Yang.
And Hat-Yai was commonly referred to as 'Kok Sa-met Choon' by locals up to about 30 years ago too.
On another note, it seems a landing also happened simultaneously at Thepa. Could it be that this was in case Pattani and Yala needed to be outflanked, as there are roads from Thepa that intercept the Betong road. How passable they were at that time is debatable; but they could easily have assisted if outflankers were needed.
I still haven't found out whether the Pattani airfield of that time was at its present site 16 Kms SW of Pattani; but if it was, a Thepa landing might have helped to secure the airfield in the event of stiff opposition at Pattani.
It also appears that Japanese reconnaisance at the time of the landing showed that the Betong road was actually quite a difficult road for the passage of motor vehicles; despite earlier intelligence that it was a good road. In the event, it didn't seem to hold back the southerly thrust very much.
This appears to be a spinoff of an Australian Broadcasting Documentary. Quite useful if you want to get up to speed a bit:-
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/specials/noprisoners/
Interactive Map (http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/specials/noprisoners/resources/map/default.htm)
The Wavell Report (PDF)(1942) to the War Cabinet (http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/specials/noprisoners/resources/wavell_report.pdf)
Fascinating account of Norwegian merchant marine sailors who inadvertedly ran into the invasion fleet on 7th Dec, 1941:-
http://www.warsailors.com/singleships/hafthor.html
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=4892&postcount=1Khun Leo Niehorster is requesting some information for the 7th December 1941 Thai order of Battle for his 'War Gamer' website. I note he has already compiled some limited information on this subject in conjunction with Vip Klykoom; whose web on the Japanese 'transit' through Thailand helped to inspire this thread. The link below will take you to the info Khun LN has already compiled on Thailand:-
http://www.niehorster.orbat.com/082_thailand/__thailand.html
Just some added bits to my slowly-developing site:
http://www.geocities.com/thailandwwii/Thawee.html
http://www.geocities.com/thailandwwii/Thosd.html
http://www.geocities.com/thailandwwii/Tiang.html
Note that most of the links don't work (the pages don't exist yet!).
Feel free to send me some additional info, or criticise me for my deplorable English (grammatical corrections welcomed!).
Nai Tiang's death is encorporated into the plot of Win Lyovarin's highly interesting (translated) novel 'Democracy, Shaken & Stirred'.
Thanks for these extremely interesting contributions. The whole 'Pridi' issue will run & run forever.
This whole area is ripe for movie or TV mini-series treatment; although I fully appreciate that it is an extremely sensitive (culture-bound) subject; not best understood by a person who regularly finds fault in his own 'outlaws'. Has any such media coverage happened to date?
Wisarut
23-07-05, 09:36 PM
At least, ITV Deommentary "Yon Roy" has mentioend the story about the disappearence of Tain Sirikhan ... which has been found from the evidence at kaeng Sian, Kanchababuri that Nai Taing was Strangulated to death and then beign burnt with rubber tyres and the assasins have thrown away the ash of Nai Tain into kaeng Sian ... so Nai Tain has becoem "Lost Soul" who have not been cremated properly ... by the Order from Strongman Phao.
I agfraid thast Our great leader has already emulated Strongman Phao by abductign lawyer SOmchai and then strangulated and burnt by using rubber tyres before thorwing the ash into the canals ... and Promoted those police who have done this down and dirty jobs for him ...
Wouldn't that perhaps mean 'a wandering spirit', which is more likely to pester its earthly tormentor than a properly interred spirit?
Anyway, on a more practical note. Let's hope the perpetrator remains dogged by the memory of what he/she has done.
It's been a long while since I've read Win's novel, although I recall that I wasn't too much impressed with it - he just wasn't able to create atmosphere, imho.
IIRC, a senior officer once wrote an account of the night he encountered a truckload of political prisoners before they were killed, and that years later three policemen were tried for the crime, even though they were innocent.
Can't remember if it was the murder of Nai Tiang or the four Isaan ministers though.
Here's an interesting account written by a member of the RAF's Squadron 358 of their short sojourn as Thailand's (as opposed to being "looked after" by the Japanese) PoWs:
http://www.magweb.com/sample/ww2/wl027bp1.htm
Wisarut
25-07-05, 06:22 PM
PKV Said:
IIRC, a senior officer once wrote an account of the night he encountered a truckload of political prisoners before they were killed, and that years later three policemen were tried for the crime, even though they were innocent.
That's the assasination of 4 Isan Ministers at Ratchayothin Intersection
(the the paddy field in Bang Khen) in 1949.
You have a point. I guess I find the details interesting.
One thing that did occur to me recently is that there is absolutely no romantic or sexual content in the whole book. Indeed, women are hardly mentioned; not even in a negative sense. Strange considering that most high-profile criminals undoubtedly like to have an 'entourage' who are turned on by extreme violence and the power that it brings. Indeed, I suspect that is precisely what attracts some women to less scrupulous policemen & army officers. Remember seeing a very high-profile 'blow 'em away' type of policeman at an airport some years back and noticing how much he was surrounded by totally obsequious men & women.
It's been a long while since I've read Win's novel, although I recall that I wasn't too much impressed with it - he just wasn't able to create atmosphere, imho.
'The Thai Resistance Movement During World War II'- John B. Haseman, Sikworm Books, Chiang-Mai, 2002.
I won't attempt to review this book, as I don't have either the literary background or sufficient knowledge of WWII history. It will be interesting to hear the comments of more informed contributors to this forum.Just to say that I found it an interesting account without any obvious political bias.
This latter point is important because the resistance brought together very disparate groups in a common cause. At the end of the war, these groups went their very different ways; which usually lead them into conflict with each other. We have talked here of members of the resistance who eventually ended up dead; presumably because their ability to organise political opposition was only too obvious to those who wanted to retain an authoritarian grip. Many others had to flee the country, or ally themselves with communist insurgency in remote areas.
I am left with the impression that the disappearance of Jim Thompson in the 1960s might well have been connected to his (probably minor) wartime OSS role and (perhaps more significant) acquaintance with Pridi Phanomrung. There is plenty of evidence that ex-resistance types of a slightly more radical bent were purposely picked off by Thailand's reactionaries throughout the remaining decades of the last century.
airlana
28-07-05, 10:50 PM
A wonderful book, small as it is but packed with information.
All the characters Pridi, Phibul, Seni, Direk etc etc
On reflection, its probably the one book that started me on the 'wanting to know more about Thailand and WW2'
So much is still untold and unrecorded - well at least in the public domain.
Force 136 for example.
And as for Jim Thompson - well suffice to say I have never believed he got lost in the jungle or was eaten by a tiger!!!
No doubt all will be revealed one day.
A lot was happening behind the scenes in those days.
Sirin Phathanothai and China comes to mind. Perhaps there was a China connection with Jim's "disappearance"
airlana
.
Wisarut
29-07-05, 02:11 PM
You should als oread the Book about Serithai by Dr. Wichit Na Pomphet
Dr. Wichit himself had been participated in Serithai when he was young
and this book REALLY have Enormous amoutn of data from personal perspectives and interviews with other Serithai :D
Wisarut
29-07-05, 02:13 PM
The late Air Marshal Tawee Jullasab (the former RTAF Commander) also
wrote a record of Serithai .... from his own experience when he jointed
Serithai while flying fighter plans received from IJA. :D
I'm very glad to see that this subject has been moved to its rightful home under 'Thai History'.
Thanks to Khun Wisarut for info on these other books. Are there translated versions? The two gentlemen you mention are both heavily figured in the Haseman book. In fact, the long list of 'players' is what makes it so interesting; as many of them truly are eminent names.
Frank Darling in his 'Intro to the 1st Edition' of the Haseman book uses the name 'French Entocone'; by which it seems he means 'French South East Asia'. Can anyone cast any light on the origin & useage of 'entocone'?
Best book in Thai is Dr. Vichitvong na Pombhjara's 1415 page-long The Free Thai Legend.
There are a multitude of personal accounts and memories available, most of which are unfortunately uncatalogued due to their being printed on funeral occasions. Which is why I spend hours scouring the Sirikit Book Fairs.
Haseman's book is basically shite (please excuse the Klatchian) and is only worth reading for an overall introduction.
The best English language book on the subject is E. Bruce Reynold's topnotch Thailand's Secret War. Expensive, but indespensible.
Indeed it is amazing to find that many of the Seri Thai members are prominent and famous chaps, ladies, and princes - Thailand's cream of the crop, I believe.
Interesting to note that Queen Ramphaiphannee is among those listed as members of the England-based Seri Thai.
Wisarut
01-08-05, 07:52 PM
I alsofoudn the recordsabotu the Low rank Serithai from Isanwho worked with Nai Tai nSirikhan. The assasination of Tian Sirikhan by those Police had forced that manto become member of Lao Daeng (Communist Lao) ...
Whne Thai Mercenaries had trashed the base of Lao Daeng in Plain de Jars, they found that the former Serithai who was now a commander of the base DEAD by drinking Cyanide to escape from becoming POWs. :(
They have captured that memoir of that Dead commander and kept the records for themselves for many years and later on they could identify that Serithai who had beocme Lao Daeng commanderform 2 letters to his girlfriend in 1946, but they decline to reveal the identity of That Serithai sothat commander could rest in peace.
I have a copy of the Diary of the Sgt. that led the mission on the train into Siam during the landing of Japanese troops.
Anyone wanting a copy I can personally send it.
He was a Malaysian reservice Soldier of Eurasian descendant.
Family is personal friends.
Songkhla Naval Base. The IJA landed on adjacent Khao Seng Beach. The original airstrip here was a prime target of the invasion; allowing Japanese fighters & bombers to be flown in almost immediately from French Indo-China, to commence early airraids on Alor Setar & Penang:-
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=7.187079,100.606956&spn=0.029609,0.040280&t=k&hl=en
..... So the role of the Singora & Pattani airfields interests me.
The two airfields were obviously key objectives of the Japanese landings. The Singora landings occurred immediately adjacent to the airfield at Khao Seng. Thus, the Japanese were able to fly in (probably from Saigon) and base 100 planes at the two bases. Allied air attacks on these airfields seem to have been largely ineffective; despite the 'sitting duck' targets of so many planes on comparatively small airfields. These planes were to have an almost immediate devastating effect on Malaya, ..... :-
Songkhla (Singora) Airfield was later to be the airport for the province. ..... , but the airfield is still a Naval Airbase & Helicopter Base for gas exploration & extraction in the Gulf.
I have a copy of the Diary of the Sgt. that led the mission on the train into Siam during the landing of Japanese troops.
Anyone wanting a copy I can personally send it.
He was a Malaysian reservice Soldier of Eurasian descendant.
Family is personal friends.:-
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=1052
Review of Dr Ong Chit Chung's 'The Fall of Singapore':-
http://ourstory.asia1.com.sg/war/headline/church.html
http://ourstory.asia1.com.sg/war/headline/blame5.jpg
Kroh Column’s move into Thailand was Operation Krohcol (the objective being to occupy the Ledge), while Operation Matador was never implemented.
Operation Matador itself could never have been effectively implemented; the occupation of positions on Line A (just north of Songkhla and Pattani) would have required a total of four brigade groups to be deployed: two brigade groups to defend the line north of Songkhla and guard the port and beaches around Songkhla, one to guard the east flank of Hat Yai, and one brigade group to be held in general reserve.
Laycol, derived from the column's CO, Lt. Col. Layton.
The KNIM Submarine O-19 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Bussemaker) attacked a number of Japanese ships on December 12th, and the transport ships Tozan Maru, Asosan Maru, and Kinka Maru were sunk.
airlana
13-09-05, 07:06 PM
Recently got another 2 books
"MALAYA 1941-42" by Colonel E.G.Keogh
published 1962 Directorate of Military Training, Australian Army
includes 16 maps covering various stages from landings in Southern Thailand through to Singapore
The map covering Krohcol and Jitra is here (http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/airlana/Kedah.jpg)
"SINGAPORE - THE PREGNABLE FORTRESS" by Peter Elphick 1995
Both books have several pages on Krohcol and Matador
More than happy to scan and email to anyone interested.
ailana
.
This map has helped me to form a slightly clearer impression of where 'The Ledge' is situated; somewhere near the headwater end of Bang Lang Reservoir. Does the book give any village names in that vicinity. I'd love to go & explore that area, but folk rarely go in that direction these days; I won't bore you with the obvious reasons either. I suspect that the reservoir may have necessitated the rerouting of the road, too.
Any details and maps on Matador on the Thai side of the border?
airlana
14-09-05, 09:41 PM
Yes, slowly making progress on what and exactly where is "The Ledge"
No shortage of references to "The Ledge" but none go into much detail.
The revelant pages from Keogh's book on Malaya are here (http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/airlana/M.htm)
airlana
.
airlana
15-09-05, 05:25 PM
More on "The Ledge"
Source is "Australian Defence Force Journal No.139"
"Under Operation Matador and in an attempt to pre-empt Japanese advances, the British commanders formed the Kroh Column [Krohcol] and the Layton Column [Laycol] to defend the Pattani and Songkla roads, respectively.
krohcol was ordered to advance into Thailand and secure a point known as "The Ledge", a piece of high ground 50km inside the Thai border. However, by the time the column formed and moved out the Japanese were well on their way down the Pattani-Kroh road. The column was a depleted force compared to that originally planned. It comprised the 3/16 Punjabis and an Australian motor transport unit, the 2/3 Reserve Motor Transport Company. It was later reinforced by the 5/14 Punjabis and was supported by the 2/3 Motor Ambulance Company.
Krohcol crossed into Thailand at 1330hrs, 8 December 1941 with the Punjabis being transported by the 2/3 Reserve Motor Transport Company to the "33.5km peg to Betong" and immediately met resistance from , ironically, Thai border police who viewed the column as an invading force. However, after negotiations, the Thais yielded and the column entered Thailand. Matador was underway, but by now the Japanese were well ashore and on their way down the Kroh and Songkla roads.
The column never reached "The Ledge". The Japanese arrived first with their 42nd Infantry Regiment. Krohcol clashed with the Japanese on Wednesday 10 December and after sustaining heavy casualties was forced to withdraw. Just three days later the dispirited and defeated column retreated across the Malayan border"
-----------------------------------------------------------
33.5km peg to Betong
This obviously refers to travelling south from Pattani. ie; 33.5km north of Betong. This position couldn't be far short of The Ledge "a piece of high ground 50km inside the Thai border"
Quote from GWR
"somewhere near the headwater end of Bang Lang Reservoir"
Seems to be pretty close. Maybe a tad further south.
airlana
.
http://www.f16.parsimony.net/forum27947/messages/1297.htm
“Campaigns in Southeast Asia 1941-1942” (pub. 1960), part of the Official History of the Indian Armed Forces in WWII says that the Commander of Krohcol moved in with his own battalion, 3/16 Punjab:
“At 1400 hours the leading scouts arrived at the frontier barrier gate. It had been closed and padlocked. So the scouts smashed it with axes and resumed their advance. Immediately the leading scout had set foot across the frontier he was greeted by a fusillaide of fire and fell dead. This unexpectedly hostile reception required some readjustment of ideas, but for lack of time the advance was resumed within a few minutes. .... “
''The book goes on to say (page 154) that by dusk 3/16 Punjab had covered only three miles in 4½ hours, with 15 casualties. There were 6 Thai bodies on the ground, and total Thai casualties estimated at 24. It was estimated that the batallion was opposed by 150 Thai gendarmes, and on the next day by approximately 300 gendarmes.''
airlana
03-11-05, 08:59 PM
More information of the destruction of railways and bridges during those first few days after the Japanese landings
"An important railway bridge on the Thailand side of the frontier was attacked by Hudsons of of No 1 Squadron [R.A.F] prior to their withdrawl. Reports on this attack indicate that although the permanent track was damaged the bridge was not"
From Lt Gen Percival's report
132 last paragraph
http://www.britain-at-war.org.uk/London_Gazette_1948/html/body_p2s17.htm
Firstly, this has to be No.1 squadron R.A.A.F [Australian] not R.A.F.
Bon Hall in his book on RAAF Hudson Squadrons in the Far East 1940-1942
quotes
"The last RAAF operational sortie from Kota Bharu at 1530 hours on 8 December 1941 was flown by Ft Lt Ossie Diamond to attack a railway bridge at Pasir Mas near the Thailand border"
Flt Lt Diamond was awarded the DFC for operations in Malaya and Sumatra.
Part of the citation reads
"The same day on a third sortie he blew up a railway line above Pasar Mas near the Thai border"
The different spellings of Pasir/Pasar are as written in the references quoted.
Within in hours of this sortie the squadron had withdrawn from Kota Bharu to Kuantan and then Sembawang [Singapore]
airlana
airlana
05-11-05, 07:13 PM
Here's an interesting thread on the "Thai Order of Battle for December 7th 1941" (http://www.f16.parsimony.net/forum27947/messages/1236.htm)
Somewhat interesting but at the same time confusing especially re the comments on location of "The Ledge". Scroll down to "answers" and the one titled "Siam: The Ledge & The Armoured Train"
Quote "describes the Ledge position:
“.... a point known as `the Ledge’ where the road was cut out of a cliff"
Best to read the whole thread, for some other information of interest.
Maybe I should get Stewart's book "The Underrated Enemy".
Has anyone read it - good? bad?
airlana
Best book in Thai is Dr. Vichitvong na Pombhjara's 1415 page-long The Free Thai Legend.
There are a multitude of personal accounts and memories available, most of which are unfortunately uncatalogued due to their being printed on funeral occasions. Which is why I spend hours scouring the Sirikit Book Fairs.
Haseman's book is basically shite (please excuse the Klatchian) and is only worth reading for an overall introduction.
The best English language book on the subject is E. Bruce Reynold's topnotch Thailand's Secret War. Expensive, but indespensible.
Free Thai - Personal Recollections & Official Documents
Compiled by Wimon Wiriyawit
White Lotus Press
1997
Very dull read, but begins to give you some insight into the short-term vision & duplicity of the Brits & Chinese as compared to the more long-term aspirations & duplicity of the USA. Not to mention the constant infighting of Thailand's 'patriotic' elite.
Meanwhile, down at the Somtam stall .....
Gmractiondesk's Account in BBC's 'WW2 - People's War':-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A5033468
There were 32 Victoria Crosses awarded during World War 2 for aerial operations. The only one awarded in the Far East went to Squadron Leader Arthur Stewart King Scarf, of 62 Squadron, who was my Flight Commander.
It was on 9 December 1941 that a daylight raid was ordered on the Japanese-held airfield at Singora, Thailand. He had just taken off when the enemy attacked the airfield, all the other aircraft being badly damaged or destroyed while on the ground.
S/L Scarf saw the destruction on the ground but continued the attack on his own. This he did successfully but opposition over the target was severe and he was attacked by a considerable number of enemy fighters. Even though seriously wounded, he continued to engage the enemy in a running fight back to the Malaysian border in an attempt to return to Butterworth but, owing to the seriousness of his wounds, was unable to reach his destination and had to force-land at Alor Star on the way. He completed the landing without causing and injury to his crew, but had to be admitted to hospital and later died of his wounds.
http://www.far-eastern-heroes.org.uk/Arthur_Scarf_VC/
http://www.far-eastern-heroes.org.uk/Arthur_Scarf_VC/assets/images/Scarf-Arthur-2.jpg
http://www.fepow-community.org.uk/Research/London_Gazette_1948/html/body_p2s20.htm
The Air Situation 11th December, 1941.
157. Photographs taken of the aerodromes in South Thailand showed that the Japanese were already operating large numbers of aircraft from them. On Singora aerodrome alone there were upwards of 100 aircraft with comparatively little anti-aircraft gun protection a wonderful target had we had an adequate and balanced Air Striking Force. The enemy were of course also operating their longer range types of aircraft from their bases in Indo-China and possibly also from aircraft carriers. It is probable that they were operating some 300 modern aircraft at this time.
Not to mention a similar number of planes at Pattani. The RAF only had 100 planes in Malaya in total; some of which were rather outdated.
airlana
15-02-06, 09:08 PM
This has become almost a damn obsession; to find the exact location of "The Ledge":(
Sometime ago, a friend who is ex Army, offered to contact a colleague at the Australian War Museum to see if they could help.
Here's his reply
"Sorry for the delay. My contact at AWM did not get back to his office until mid January, and has only recently completed some digging into WWII unit war diaries.
He has advised as follows:
a. 2/3 Motor Ambulance Company. Only a very brief mention of 'Krohcol', and no mention of 'The Ledge'.
b. 2/3 Reserve Motor Transport Company. A fuller War Diary which mentions attachment to 'Krohcol'. Loading up with Indian troops from 3/16 Punjab, and heading for 'The Ledge' some 30 miles over the border along the Kroh-Patani road. They debussed the troops short of the objective when they cam under fire.
Nothing more specific.
It would appear that in 1941 'The Ledge' had to be a local name, yet it does not appear on larger scale maps of the time.
Have Thai sources been tried for maps of the areas in 1941? Or the Indian Army War Diaries.
Sorry we could not be of any help. Better luck with your next attempt."
I had asked him to look at the records for the Motor Ambulance Company and Motor Transport Company as they are mentioned in earlier in this thread.
By chance, does anyone in Thailand have access to Thai maps of the period for the area? Perhaps if the words "The Ledge" do not appear in English, then maybe the Thai word for "ledge" or "shelf" is shown on the map.
Any further info would be much appreciated
airlana
About 50 Kms on windy roads would still put it at the southern end of the Banglam Reservoir; which is pretty much where we placed it before.
A quick look at a Thai dictionary leads me to suspect that a ledge might be 'naew hin'; although I might well be wrong. I haven't find any name remotely like this on a map to date.
I'm no army type. I suspect that when armies are unable to deal with the language of a country, they compensate by making their own names. Hence, such beauties as 'Hell's Half Acre', 'Heartbreak Ridge' and Hill 101.
I'm sure we would soon find out by asking a few villagers, but that area has seen quite a few driveby shootings in the last few weeks.
Got this off from the New Zealand Electronic Text Centre.
Nothing really relevant, but quite interesting in its own right:
The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Prime Minister of New Zealand
9 December 1941
thailand. My telegram of 7 December [No. 94].
The following is an extract from a telegram from His Majesty's Representative at Bangkok of 8 December:
‘I have just come from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. He tells me that under duress the Thai Government reports an agreement with the Japanese Ambassador this morning allowing the passage of Japanese troops across Thailand to attack Malaya or Burma. The Prime Minister expresses to us the deepest regret. In response to a specific inquiry from myself he has given me a verbal assurance that if we resist the Japanese on Thai territory, Thai forces will not oppose us.’
http://www.napnuts.com/kroh1_game.htm
Don't know where these wargame modellers get their distance from, but they've opted for 25 kms North of Betong, by which I presume they mean 25 Kms North East. Not exactly the most convincing source I'm sure. Note below that I was previously figuring on 5 Kms NE.
A quick rough and ready measurement puts that somewhere in the region of the current Ban Wan Mai Kru School. I've copied a map of the area that shows that the road runs close to a river at this point. That kind of makes sense. The road could run on a ledge at this point, with a river in the ravine below. A real shame that this area is a NO-GO area to all intents and purposes right now. On this map, you can just see the headwaters of Bangkhlam Reservoir at the top. I've placed a red map pin at the approximate point suggested by the modellers.
About 50 Kms on windy roads would still put it at the southern end of the Banglam Reservoir; which is pretty much where we placed it before.
A quick look at a Thai dictionary leads me to suspect that a ledge might be 'naew hin'; although I might well be wrong. I haven't find any name remotely like this on a map to date.
I'm no army type. I suspect that when armies are unable to deal with the language of a country, they compensate by making their own names. Hence, such beauties as 'Hell's Half Acre', 'Heartbreak Ridge' and Hill 101.
I'm sure we would soon find out by asking a few villagers, but that area has seen quite a few driveby shootings in the last few weeks.
http://i4.tinypic.com/10qfkow.jpg
I shouldn't be too difficult to find from that description, but the highway leading to that area is very prone to driveby shootings and ambushes. Maybe a 2bangkok fieldtrip in five years time if there is any progress. The location of the demolished bridge would be much easier.
airlana
04-11-06, 10:42 AM
Only published last year Peter Thompson's book "The Battle For Singapore" gives us a few more details.
Matador had been modified in 1941 when it was accepted that, owing to a shortage of troops, it would be impossible to occupy both Singora and Patani. Under the revised scheme, the main force, the iith Indian Division commanded by Major-General David Murray-Lyon and based in northern Kedah, would head for Singora, 130 miles north of the Malayan border by road and rail, while a separate force — consisting of the 3/16th Punjab Regiment, the 5/14th Punjab Regiment from the Penang garrison, one company of sappers and miners, one field ambulance and a light battery of the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force (MSVF) — would drive along the Patani road from the border town of Kroh, but only as far as a position known as the Ledge, 35 miles on the Thai side of the frontier. At this point, the road had been cut into the sheer side of a hill and could easily be blocked by demolition. Thus the Japanese would be resisted at Singora but allowed to land at Patani and then halted at Kroh as soon as they attempted to cross into Malaya. The Singora opera tion was known as Matador, and the Patani-Kroh operation was labelled Krohcol.
and further on
On 8 December, elements of General Matsui’s 5th Division set off down the only two roads running south from Singora and Patani with the aim of breaking through to the Perak River. Two regiments of the 9th Japanese Infantry Brigade — the 11th and the 41st — supported by a tank battalion and a battalion of field artillery; took the Singora—Alor Star road to attack the British forces in the Jitra Line, while the 42nd Japanese Infantry Regiment, with two companies of light tanks and a battery of field artfflery left Patani for the border town of Kroh to cut the uth Indian Division’s lines of communication north of the Perak River.
Krohcol’s task was to prevent this Japanese force from reaching the coast and blocking the trunk road east of Butter- worth airfield, which would have stranded the division in its Jitra redoubt. To succeed in its objective, Krohcol had to win the race to the Ledge, the easily defensible six-mile stretch of road cut into the hillside above the Patani River. Murray- Lyon’s special force got off to a bad start after the 5/14th Punjabis and a mountain battery failed to arrive at Kroh from their base in Penang on 8 December owing to an organ isational blunder. Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Moorhead’s battalion, the 3/16th Punjabis, was obliged to begin the advance into Thailand without them. Running hours late to meet the advancing Japanese, Krohcol embussed in lorries driven by thc hardy veterans of the 2/3rd Australian Reserve Motor Transport Company and crossed the frontier into Thailand at 3 p.m. on 8 December. The Thais had taken Churchill’s advice to defend their country — not against the Japanese but against the British, and Moorhead’s men received a hostile reception from 300 armed Thai policemen manning roadblocks.
The 11th Division’s first casualty of the Malayan Campaign was a sepoy who was shot dead as he tried to pass through the customs barrier. Thai resistance delayed the Punjabis until the following afternoon and they did not reach the town of Betong, only five miles inside the frontier, until the evening of the 9th. During the night the troops were subjected to sniper fire from the Thais, but at dawn resistance ceased and they drove to within six miles of the Ledge without further opposition.
The young Indian soldiers continued warily on foot, but after only a mile the advance guard came under fire from the Japanese 42nd Regiment, which had beaten them to the Ledge. The Japanese commander then threw his two companies of light tanks into action a terrifying experience for Krohcol’s young Indian members who had never seen a tank before.
In Singapore, Percival issued a special order of the day urging his troops to do their patriotic duty ‘In this hour of trial the General Officer Commanding calls upon all ranks Malaya Command for a determined and sustained effort to safeguard Malaya and the adjoining British territories: he said. ‘The eyes of the Empire are upon us. Our whole position in the Far East is at stake. The struggle may be long and grim but let us all resolve to stand fast come what may and to prove ourselves worthy of the great trust which has been placed upon us?
Appeals on behalf of the Empire were wasted on the Indian troops of Krohcol who were fighting for their lives and suffering heavy casualties. Two Punjabi companies were cut off from the battalion, and although one company rejoined later that morning, most of the men in the second were never seen again. Fearing he could lose his whole battalion, Moorhead requested permission from Murray- Lyon at divisional headquarters at Sungei Patani to withdraw his battalion to Kroh. Permission was granted, and Moor- head planned to withdraw the following morning through the 5/14th Battalion which had caught up with the battle. He set 9 a.m. on 12 December as the pull-out hour, but during the night the Japanese enveloped the Punjabis’ flanks, surrounded C Company and killed all but 10 men, including the company’s two British officers. Moorhead was lucky to escape in one of the carrier platoon’s four remaining vehicles. When he reached the 5/14th Punjabis, he admitted that he might have ‘hung on for too long’
Meanwhile, the mobile force requested by Percival to ‘harass and delay’ the Japanese advance had crossed the Thai border at the same time as Krohcol. Named ‘Laycol’ after Brigadier William Lay, commander of the 6th Brigade, this was a mechanised force consisting of the carrier platoon of the 118th Punjabis, a section of the 273rd Anti-Tank Battery and some artillery pieces. Having advanced io miles into Thailand from north Kedah, Laycol had halted at dusk on the 9th on the Singora—Jitra road, where it encountered a column of enemy tanks, headlights blazing, and a convoy of 30 motor vehicles. The British force opened fire and brought the column to a halt, whereupon large numbers of Japanese infantry immediately jumped from their trucks and started an enveloping movement. Laycol pulled back to the frontier, destroying road bridges, and rejoined the 11th Division at Jitra. To the west, in the tiny state of Perlis, an armoured train had been sent from Padang Besar across the Thai frontier containing a platoon of the 2/16th Punjab and some engineers. It destroyed a railway bridge on the line to Singora and then retreated back to Perlis without encountering any Japanese.
Seems to tie in nicely with GWR's prevvious post and map.
airlana
.
Here's a Google image of the area where we seem to believe the Ledge is. The road runs close to the left-hand side of the Mae Nam Pattani, indicating that there is a steep and sudden drop between the two: -
http://i18.tinypic.com/2ai0hs6.jpg
Now bear in mind that the Ledge was described as about 6 miles long. I measured about 10 Kms on the map including bends. I then marked its approximate start & finish points on this scan of a 1:50,000 map that I found in a secondhand bookshop. It is fairly easy to compare the adjacent river bends with the Google image. Rong-Reeun Ban Mai lies approximately halfway along this stretch, and is map-pinned on my earlier Thinkmap image as Ban Mai Wan Kru School. If anyone ever gets to visit this wartorn area in the farflung future, I suggest that this village would be one place to make enquiries. Also Ban Ai-Yoe Weng at the foot of the scan.
I think we have found the Ledge. The inserted map (below) may not load immediately: -
http://i10.tinypic.com/33kxdnp.jpg
Krohcol was opposed by an ad-hoc force of policemen and civilian volunteers commanded by Police Major Prayoon Rattanakit, Betong's police commissioner. This force harrassed the British column from the safety of the surrounding forests and fell rubber trees across the narrow road, slowing down the progress of the bren carriers (wrongly described as "tanks"). In the meanwhile much of the Thai population of Betong evacuated the town, leaving only the Chinese and the Indian merchants. The Thais were gradually pushed back until kilometre sign 35, when Krohcol's advance was halted. That night the policemen were joined by Japanese tanks coming down from Pattani, who proceeded to pursue and engage the enemy. One of the prisoners released from the local jail, an ex-bandit who knew the area well, was borrowed by the Japanese. Betong was reoccupied, and the force under Prayoon began taking punitive actions against the local Chinese, who were believed to have greeted Krohcol flying the Union Jack as well as the KMT flag. A local Indian accused of volunteering his services (as a guide) to Krohcol was tracked down, cornered, and shot dead by a group of vengeful patriots.
The above information was supplied by a nine-page section in a hefty
1968 document published by Silpakorn University, entitled "Thai Kab Songkhram Lok Khrang thi Song".
Thanks for that! There were, as you pointed out on your site, no tanks used by British forces in Malaya at that time. Indeed, the Brits believed them impractical. The Japanese soon disproved that one.
Your comments about Kilometer 35 are most useful. I note that on the 1:50,000 map below we have Ban Ko Mo 36: literally 'Village at Km 35' in the region of Ban Mai. I note these village numbers run both North and South of Betong on the Yala and Kroh roads respectively; but I suppose you are referring to Kms North of the city. That would put the advance about as far as the hairpin bend where the Klong Sa-phan Daeng falls into the Mae Nam Pattani on the map below. This is pretty much where we have been assuming from our rough calulations. 'Saphan' is a 'bridge'. 'Daeng' is 'red'. Makes you wonder just slightly if it commemorates the bloodshed that perhaps occurred in the area.
When more peaceful times arrive, this would make an interesting site visit. This one and the Khlong Ngae bridge which is very easy to visit: -
http://i10.tinypic.com/33kxdnp.jpg
The book merely calls it "kilometre sign 35" - yes, it's probably north of the city.
Strangely enough, the British did have tanks in Malaya: the 100th Independent Light Tank Squadron. It had a mixture of the Vickers Light Tanks Mk IV and Mk VIb.
Today I received some interesting information on the supposed demolition of Khlong Ngae Railway Bridge by Indian sappers. I've placed it in what I think is a more relevant thread:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=20634&postcount=7
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