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2/20th Battalion

A.I.F.

Kota Tinggi is a fairly large town astride a river and the site of the only large road bridge on the east coast of Johore The bridge was vital to all Allied Forces in the area.

GUARDED BRIDGE

9 Platoon fell for guarding bridge - the engineers who had already prepared the bridge for demolition, placing some eight tons of gelignite and a ton of gun cotton for cutting the steel girders.

That morning we spotted 27 Japanese bombers heading our way.

Imagine our feelings and thoughts of bombs falling on or near the bridge loaded with such an amount of explosive! As bridge guards, we were not to leave the vicinity of the bridge and we easily imagined the Japs would want to demolish the bridge to isolate our forces and transport from further withdrawal. We gave a huge sigh of relief when they flew straight on south obviously with Singapore their target.

DRINKING CORDIAL

During relief from guard duty we explored town, from which the entire population had been evacuated. We located a well-stocked cordial factory, so of course we did our best drinking plenty, being not inclined to leave any for the Japanese if we could help it. It was obvious to us now that with the success of Japanese push down the west coast, we were definitely heading for Singapore.

Next day 2/20 transports started heading further south, fully loaded with men. I organised a supply of cordials for each truck, giving two cases to each truck. We, of course, were popular! Trucks had to slow down and crawl over the bridge approach where explosives placed. They drove very carefully and we easily got cordials aboard - we also got plenty of enthusiastic help.

WITHDRAWN FROM BRIDGE

We expected to have to remain at our post until the Japanese arrived or the bridge was blown.

Suddenly, John Rowe Lieutenant Platoon C.O. ordered us to board trucks with all arms and gear.

When the bridge was blown, the engineers were seen to have done a fine job. [ We drove over a replaced bridge when going back to Mersing in February 1992].

SOUTHERN JOHORE DEFENCE LINE

We were taken back to an area a few miles north of Johore Bahru and became part of the defence line across southern Johore. We were ordered to hold until all forces from the west coast had withdrawn on to Singapore Island where we were to make a final stand.

LAST ACROSS CAUSEWAY

We remained here for couple of days and finally marched through Johore Bahru and across the causeway, which was already prepared for demolition.

We were supposed to be the last of the A.I.F. across. I have since heard many claims to being last. I haven't a clue which Australian unit really was.

However, of Australia's allies, there were some 80 odd Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, being the remainder of a whole battalion who had fought the Japanese repeatedly from Kota Bahru on the Thailand/Malayan border south along the west coast. They were given the privilege of being very last and were led by a Regimental Piper.

Copyright © 2002, Elliott McMaster, "Glen Ora", Nabiac, New South Wales, Australia, 2428.  Original content in these Web pages is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be produced by any process or any other exclusive right exercised without written permission from the copyright holder.