By mid-January 1942, the relentless Japanese advance across Malaya had forced British and Commonwealth forces to withdraw to Johore in the south of the country. It was here that one of the few local victories against the Japanese came on 18th January.
At dawn, the Imperial Guards Division advanced down the road towards the town of Bakri. With little infantry support, the advance was led by Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks from the 3rd Company, 14th Tank Regiment. The Japanese were unaware that they were driving into the path of two 2-pounder (40mm) guns from the Australian 2/4th Anti-tank Regiment, which had been put in place the night before. Capable of penetrating up to 49mm of armour at 100 yards’ range, they were more than a match for the approaching column.
Once the leading tanks passed a bend in the road, the forward gun under Lance-Sgt Clarrie Thornton opened fire with armour-piercing rounds. The rear gun under Sgt Charles Parsons followed up with high-explosive rounds from the front.
Here we see the view from Parsons’ gun. Based on original photographs and film footage, the 2-pdr is depicted in an exposed position on the side of the road; Parsons is standing directly behind the gun crew.
The intense fire from both guns effectively knocked out eight tanks and halted the Japanese advance towards Bakri. Despite this victory, by the end of the month the overall defence of Johore had turned into a full retreat to Singapore.
Sources
Bagnall, Frank ‘Singapore and burning tanks’, Jan 1942 (https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C188784, accessed 22nd Jan 2026).
Bogdanovic, Nikolai. World War II: Battle by battle. Oxford, England: Osprey Publishing, 2019.
Forster, Tim ‘The road to Singapore: Australian gunners defeat tanks of the Japanese Imperial Guards near Bakri 18th January 1942’, Dec 2020 (https://forums.kitmaker.net/t/the-road-to-singapore-australian-gunners-defeat-tanks-of-the-japanese-imperial-guards-near-bakri-18th-january-1942/3266, accessed 22nd Jan 2026).
Stille, Mark. Malaya and Singapore 1941-42: The fall of Britain’s empire in the East. Oxford, England: Osprey Publishing, 2016.
By Ibrahim Zamir
Empire of History 