Penang at War ( good source of information in relation to Penang before & during WW1 & WW2)
1898 - Penang was not fortified or protected by heavy guns
- Command of Penang consisted of Central Reserve and outpost observation lines & cycle posts of observation
- Central Reserve comprised 1 company Malay Scout Guides, 1 company Penang Volunteers (PV) and half company of Sikh Police ( 50 men)
- Penang was a hub in the global network of Imperial Telegraph Cables. There were 6 cables under the Eastern Extension Telegraph; 2 cables connected with Madras, 1 with Belawas (Sumatra), 2 cables to Singapore and 1 to Malacca.
- Given the connection, Penang was a critical telegraphic communications hub.
- Penang Volunteer (PV) main responsibility was to defend the telegraphic cables during WW1. (PV was formed in 1861)
-PV was mustered at the fort (Fort Cornwallis?) and marched to Penang Club, to take up positions to defend the Cable House at Northam Road. ( Reason why Penang Volunteers HQ was located at Peel Avenue, a short marching distance away from Northam Road. The HQ was moved from Kampung Bahru, Northam Road then to Peel Avenue)
-British regulars didn’t arrive by 1917 and PV were paid Straits $1 per day to defend the cable house under Eastern Extension Telegraph Company.
(1906 - Penang Volunteers Commandant Lt Col A R Adams, with adjutant Lt Alan Wilson)
July 1914 – PV has 200 men – drills on weekends, local exercises and training camps. An Exercise had the PV defended Penang successfully against an attack by a contingent of Malay State Guides.
May 1915 – “Town Guard” of 60 men established to police Penang Town
Sep 1915 PV increased to 257 men, with 165 aged 18 – 40 yrs old.
Jan 1916 – Governor of Penang allowed a “Double Company” of Chinese Volunteers – Straits Born Chinese.
Nov 1916 – Eurasians and European Allies were admitted into the PV
-Lt Col A R Adams (Boer War Veteran) awarded “Colonial Volunteer Medal” for sending PV to Singapore in 1915 to help deal with the 5th Light Infantry mutiny
-Malay Platoon from Province of Wellesley (PW) Volunteers recognized by Governor of Penang in suppressing Toh Janggut rebellion in Kelantan
1917 – Force of Coast Defence Volunteers added, with a Mounted Corps. Duties of PV was to detain and escort to internment in Singapore of Penang’s German community.
July 1917 – Malay Company of Volunteers disbanded; distrust of Muslim subjects ( probably as a result of Mutiny in Singapore and locals rebellion)
1935 Defence Paper - Planners developed 3 layers of force deployment
- Singapore was the core of the defence scheme
- 2nd layer was the defence of Johor; landward gate to Singapore and was source of food and water
- Outer layer was the defence of Malaya north of Johor. Penang was considered important as it was the port of entry for reinforcements and potential airbase for Northern Defence.
- Established HQ 3rd Battalion Straits Settlement Volunteer Force, SSVF ( Penang & Province of Wellesley Volunteer Corps, PPWVC) in Penang – 1 mechanised company, 3 infantry companies and 1 arms depot
- 2 long range surveillance sea planes operated from Glugor Harbour, Penang
1937 Malaya Defence Scheme upgraded Penang as “Fortress” as Penang was seen as a port and communications hub for international cables. Penang was also selected as a “convoy assembly point” from ships in the Indian Ocean.
1937 SSVF Annual determined the role of SSVF as an integral part of the front line garrisons of the country
Jan 1937 – Mock exercise held by Royal Navy and the Raf in Penang
Jan 1938 – Proposed defence works for Fortress Penang was not completed. Building of small fort at Batu Muang and concrete pill boxes around Penang Aerodrome and gun emplacement in Fort Cornwallis will be delayed till 1940, even though Penang was identified as a potential port to dock cruisers and submarines
1938 3rd Battalion PPWVC established, consisted of 3rd Battalion SSVF, 1 European Machine Gun Platoon ( PW), 1 Malay Rifle Company (PW), 1 Medical Section ( Penang) and HQ Reserve
3rd Battalion PPWVC Commanding Officer: Lt Col Buriatte (Straits Settlement Legislative Council), Staff Captain: Malcolm Moffat (Penang Businessman & WW1 veteran). Assisted by two regular army trainers from the Coldstream Guards and the Wiltshire Regiment
1939 – commenced tactical exercises including night operations and battle practices.
B company was the main fighting force of 140 Europeans in 3 platoons & Lewis gun units. 50 Europeans were in reconnaissance, signals & Intelligence specialists units.
B company fought on the mainland of Malaya with General Heath 3rd Indian Corps.
A company had 140 Malay Officers and men. D Company was under Capt The Ah Yong, which was 80 strong.
E Company had 60 Eurasians under Capt Toolseram. The battalion had Indian Ambulance drivers, signals and support staff.
Fortress Penang was established with a prewar notion that an anticipated scenario was a defence against a naval assault
1940 – Grand Plans for 2 major forts at Batu Ferringhi and Muka Head with 2x9.2 inch naval guns. By 1941, most such plans were still on charts
Jan 1940 Shenton Thomas promulgated the Compulsory Services Ordnance for conscription of British Males 18 – 55 yrs old : most were trained and served in the volunteers
1940, Batu Muang Fort was completed , with armaments of 2 x Naval 6 inch guns and 4 x 4 inch guns guarded the South Channel
Muka Head Fort to cover the North Channel was never built. A gun emplacement at Fort Auchery was set up instead.
Major General Lyon ( Tiger Lyon) commanded the Penang Garrison
As Penang was to guard the West Coast of Malaya and the Straits of Malacca, Tiger Lyon requested for 28 Anti Aircraft guns that never arrive.
Since 1937, Penang was termed as a fortress. In Dec 1941, “it’s far from being one” as commented by General Percival after the war.
Feb 1941 – Police was involved in wartime planning. Penang Acting resident councilor Lesley Forbes headed “Passive Defence Services”. Strength of civil services stood at 1,000 strong air raid wardens, medical auxiliary services and Local Defence Force.
Sep 1941 – Major 3 day exercise involved civil defence was conducted in Penang
7 Dec 1941( Eve of Japanese invasion), Fortress Penang’s defences included:
- 11th Coastal HKSRA ( 2 x 6 inch batteries)
- 36th Fortress Company Royal Engineers ( Search lights)
- 1 company 5/14th Punjab Regiment
- 1 independent Company
- Detachment of 3rd Indian Calvary
- 3rd Battalion PPWVC, SSVF
- Administration detachment
There were no arch lights and anti aircraft guns
Penang and the mainland opposite was the fall back position should 11th Indian Division fall back from Jitra. This Defence axis would be reinforced by 2 additional battalions
Tiger Lyon was responsible for the island and the sector on mainland i.e. Prai and Butterworth ( Port & Aerodrome) and communication route to the North of Malaya.
Extracts from “Penang at War” by Andrew Barber
Looking for information about Arthur Egerton Coope in Kelantan and the Malay Volunteer Rifles. He was British adviser in Kelantan. Particularly interested in 1914-18.
ReplyDelete