Fraser’s Gap, The Road From Jerantut To Kuantan, Malaya (Dec 1941)
Frasers Gap, Malaya, Jerantut To Kuantan – Dec 1941
On the road linking the west to the east from Kuala Kubu to Raub one must pass through Fraser’s Gap in the steep mountains to Jerantut, Maran and finally reaching the Eastern coastal town of Kuantan.
“Located in Malaysia’s mid east coast, Kuantan was the closest base from which aircraft might fly in support of the British ships. Like Koata Bahru, it was an exposed outpost, built as part of the RAF’s plans to assume primary responsibility for the defence of Malaya. In such a remote location, it was fiendishly difficult to prepare as an operational base.”
Source: The Long Raod To Changi, Ewer Peter, 2013, pg 109
“When, before the war, a Government official, now Lord Llewellyn, queried Major – General Dobbie about the complete absence of fortifications on the north coast of Singapore, though the east and the west and the south bristled with armaments, the General replied simply: ‘The north needs no fortification. No one could get through the jungle that leads to it’
Unfortunately, the Japanese were never informed of this fact!”
(Sir John Dill, May 6th, 1941)
Source: The Naked Island by Russell Braddon; 1955 edition Pan Books Ltd, Pg 284
‘Lieutenant Colonel D’Aubuz clearly felt that no stigma applied to the 88th, and one must agree that at the very least they had proved themselves well above the average in the Malayan campaign. He stated the following:
“The regiment, apart from the East Coast operations, had fought a delaying action over 400 miles of country which has well been described as a ‘Gunner’s Nightmare’, and had taken part in 14 seperate engagements on the mainland, including two which could be dignified by the name of ‘battles’. It was probably unique in being the only regiment to bring all its guns back to the Island.”’
Source: Lancashire Gunners at War – The 88th Field Regiment, 199 – 1945 by Stephen Bull, Pgs 80
December 10th 1941 –
Japanese troops sink Britain’s two main warships – the Prince of Wales and Repulse off the coast of Kuantan