Moon over Malaya

'Moon over Malaya' is a composite of many narratives and individual accounts of the Argylls and the Marines in the Malayan campaign.

The cover of the books shows a Lanchester armoured car. It is mentioned that the armoured cars used were of two types. The Marmon and the Lanchester armoured cars were obsolete types and the armour mounted were easily penetrated by anti-tank rifles, anti-tank guns and possibly machine gun fire. There was mention of engagements where Japanese tanks accounted for the few British armoured cars.

The Japanese fielded about 200 tanks in the Malayan campaign.

Lanchester Mark I, II Armoured Car
Armament: 3 x 0.303in (7.7mm) MGs
Armour: 8mm
Crew: 3
Dimensions: Length 4.9m; Width: 1.93m; Height: 2.99m
Weight: 7820kg
Powerplant: Lanchester 6-cylinder petrol, 115.2kW (86bhp)
Speed: 88km/h
Range: 320km


The book described fierce engagements at Upper Bukit Timah resulting in the destruction of armoured cars and a large column of over fifty Japanese tanks and armoured vehicles that could not be stopped. Road blocks, mines, anti-tank rifles and guns had accounted for a few Japanese tanks.

An interesting point to make is the mention of the Tyersall Park camp which is across the Road from the Tanglin Barracks. Today, Tyersall Road is just behind the Botanic Gardens.

'Tyersall Park Camp, the 2nd Argylls' home since December 1939 lay south of Bukit Timah Road and north of Tanglin Barracks. On the west side of the beautiful Botanical Gardens, the site reverted to jungle after the war. The land is still the property of the Sultan of Johore but remains overgrown , undeveloped and inaccessible. 200 yards from Napier Road is the rusted remains of Argyll Gate and further on the side entrance...'

Today, bordering the road is a large forested area where one can find attap huts inside. This forested area is bound by the Tyersall Road, Holland Road, Sommerville Park (apartments). Does this land still belong to the Sultan of Johor? I am curious. I guess one can do a check with the strata titles.

The account also described artillery bombardment of the camp as well as sniper fire.

The volume includes interesting photos of the campaign.

On a related note, I saw a new book 'Did Singapore Have to Fall?: Churchill and the Impregnable Fortress' at Borders. This book by Karl Hack and Kevin Blackburn includes quite a lot of details and raw information include naval artillery and more.

An interesting chapter also included the locations of two mass graves or massacre sites in Bedok and Changi. The first was at the site of the present Temasek Junior College which the second is at the soon to be completed Changi Airport Terminal 3.

"Now the work has moved on
And the factory's gone
See them sell your history
Where once you were strong
And you used to belong"
'The Circus' Erasure