Battle of Bukit Timah
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| Battle of Bukit Timah | |||||||
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| Part of the Battle of Singapore, World War II | |||||||
 Japanese infantry and tanks in Bukit Timah. |
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| Combatants | |||||||
 5th Division 18th Division |
 2nd Bn, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Dalforce 27th Australian Brigade 12th, 15th and 44th Indian BrigadesTomforce Merrett Force Special Reserve Battalion Jind State Infantry 'X' Battalion |
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| Commanders | |||||||
| Takuro Matsui Renya Mutaguchi |
I.M.Stewart John Dalley Angus MacDonald Lionel Thomas |
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| Casualties | |||||||
| N/A | N/A (Chinese village population massacred by Japanese troops) | ||||||
The Battle of Bukit Timah was a momentous battle fought during World War II on 11 February 1942 in Singapore between the Allied forces and the Japanese forces. The battle was one of the bloodiest during the Japanese conquest, with staggering casualties suffered on both the defending locals who fought with the Allied forces, and the invading 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: 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. 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 bravely against the Japanese at various points along Bukit Timah Road. And it was in Bukit Timah that one of the fiercest battles took place.
On that night, the Japanese 5th Division, supported by tanks, advanced down Choa Chu Kang Road. The 12th Indian Brigade and some British troops 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 very fierce hand-to-hand combat, as well as bayonet charges from both sides. The untrained and poorly equipped men of Dalforce fought hard. Armed only with swords, grenades, rifles and shotguns normally used only to shoot down birds, the Chinese volunteers suffered very heavy casualties. By midnight, the Japanese had overwhelmed the defenders and captured Bukit Timah.
The British decided that this strategically important hill had to be recaptured. They launched a counter-attack on the following morning with two brigades of British troops. But by midday, faced with strong Japanese resistance, the counter attack had 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.
Like most historic battle sites, the exact location of the Battle of Bukit Timah is subject to severe stereotyping, categorised by many locals as a site of much paranormal activity.
