THE BATTLE AT BAKRI CROSSROADS ,17-19 JANUARY 1942The Australian troops, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Robertson, were been ordered to carry out a counter attack against what was supposedly a small Japanese force, before returning to their previous battle stations. However, they were also warned that, if the Japanese were encountered in any strength, it was imperative to hold up the enemy advance for seven days, to prevent the main Allied force retreating down the main trunk road to Yong Peng from being cut off.On arrival on the afternoon of 17 January, 2/29 Battalion dug in forward of the crossroads, on the Muar Road. The next day, at 6.45 am, General Nishimura ordered an attack on the cross roads, spearheaded by nine light tanks under Captain Gotanda Shiegeo. Overconfident following the successful deployment of tanks at Slim River, Gotunda advanced without infantry support against the2/29th’s position. His tanks were wiped out by two anti-tank guns, in a well-executed ambush. Enemy troops attempting to flee were mown down by the infantry.However the Japanese, who were skilled jungle fighters and masters at infiltration, outflanked the Australians and set up a roadblock.This battle best remembered for anti-Tank ambush ,but it also involved some tenacious fighting by a scratch force. The anti-Tank ambush was relatively unsophisticated, involving simple roadblock and AT guns employing frontal fire from fairly open positions.Despite fierce fighting, the 2/29th could not fight its way back to the crossroads. Eventually 2/19 Battalion, deployed at the crossroads, were able to break through, but not before a large number of men from the 2/29th were forced to take to the swamps to avoid encirclement. The survivors who managed to reach the rear joined the 2/19th to form a perimeter, fending off determined attacks by enemy forces advancing along both the Muar and Parit Jawa roads. The fighting was bitter, hand-to-hand at times, and casualties were high. Many of the surviving Indian troops were young, untrained and undisciplined, and proved to be more of a hindrance than help.On 19 January, Brigadier Duncan was concussed by an aerial attack on Brigade Headquarters, which killed or wounded all his senior staff. With Lieutenant Colonel Robertson also dead, the 2/19th’s Lieutenant Colonel Charles Anderson assumed command of the Allied force. Hemmed in by enemy forces and under constant air attack, Anderson was ordered to withdraw from the crossroads and attempt to break through to Yong Peng. His line of retreat was through the village of Parit Sulong, where British troops of 6Norfolk Battalion, 53 Brigade, were holding the bridge over the Simpang Kiri River, 16 miles awayPERTEMPURAN DI PERSIMPANGAN BAKRI, 17-19 JANUARI 1942Pasukan tentera Australia, di bawah arahan Leftenan Kolonel John Robertson, telah diperintahkan untuk melakukan serangan balas terhadap sepasukan kecil tentera Jepun , sebelum kembali ke markas pertempuran .Namun, mereka juga diberi amaran bahawa, walau bagaimana kuat sekali pun serangan tentera Jepun itu,mereka perlu menahan kemaraan tentera jepun selama tujuh 7 hari supaya Tentera Bersekutu yang sedang berundur melalui jalan utama ke yong peng tidak terganggu.Setibanya pasukan australia ini di persimpangan Bakri pada tengahari 17 Januari 1942,Batalion 2/29 mula bersiap siaga di jalan ke muar berdekatan dengan persimpangan Bakri.Pada keesokkan harinya, pada jam 6.45 pagi,General Nishimura telah melancarkan serangan di persimpangan tersebut didahului dengan sembilan 9 kereta kebal ringan dibawah arahan Kapten Gotanda Shiegeo. Dengan penuh yakin berikutan dengan kemenangan dalam pertempuran di slim River,Gotunda telah maju tanpa sokongan askar infantri untuk menentang posisi tentera australia 2/29. Banyak Kereta kebal musnah disebabkan bedilan daripada dua meriam anti kereta kebal.Ia adalah satu taktik serangan penyergapan yang berjaya oleh pasukan 2/29. Kru kereta kebal Jepun yang cuba melarikan diri telah dipintas oleh infantri 2/29 dan dijadikan tahanan.Walaubagaimanapun,tentera jepun lebih berpengalaman tentang hutan Malaya dan pakar dalam membuat penyusupan laluan hutan berjaya memintas sekatan jalan yang dibuat oleh tentera australia.Dalam pertempuran sengit ,pasukan 2/29 tidak dapat kembali ke persimpangan Bakri.Akhirnya Batalion 2/19 dikerahkan ke persimpangan bakri .Mereka telah melalui laluan paya untuk mengelak daripada dikepung. Mereka yang terselamat berjaya bargabung dengan pasukan 2/19 untuk membentuk satu kawalan perimeter,bagi menghalang serangan pihak tentera jepun yang mara daripada arah Jalan Muar dan Parit Jawa.Pertempuran semakin sengit dan adakalanya mereka berlawan hingga habis peluru dan angka kematian terus meningkat dari kedua dua pihak.Pada 19 Januari 1942,IbuPejabat Briged yang diketuai oleh Brigaider Duncan telah diserang dengan serangan udara.Banyak tentera berpangkat tinggi telah terkorban atau cedera dalam serangan itu.Leftenan Kolonel Robertson juga telah terkorban dalam serangan tersebut dan Leftenan Kolonel Charles Anderson seterusnya diangkat bagi memimpin pasukan. Serangan udara bertali arus di Ibu Pejabat Briged tanpa henti memaksa Anderson berundur daripada Persimpangan Bakri untuk ke Yong Peng.Pasukannya perlu melalui Pekan Parit Sulong dimana tentera British daripada Batalion ke 6 Norfolk,53 Briged sedang mempertahankan Jambatan merentangi sungai simpang Kiri kira-kira dalam jarak 16 batu jauhnya.
Sumber
Facebook Galeri Parit Sulong, Australian War Memorial
