Parit Sulong
Encyclopedia
Parit Sulong is a small town in Johor
, Malaysia on the Simpang Kiri River, 30 km east of Muar
. The historical Parit Sulong Bridge
constructed during World War II
is a main feature in that town.
The first large massacre
of 161 Australian troops by Japanese forces occurred at Parit Sulong on the west coast of Malaya
on 22 January 1942. Wounded survivors from the battle of Muar who could not travel on foot were left at Parit Sulong when the remnants of the greatly outnumbered force of Australians and Indians escaped from the Japanese who surrounded them.
The Japanese soldiers delighted in kicking and hitting the prisoners with rifle
butts. They forced them into an overcrowded shed and denied them food, water and medical attention. At sunset, those able to walk were roped or wired together and were led away. The Japanese collected petrol from the Allied vehicles which had been left stranded, shot and bayonet
ed their prisoners, threw petrol upon them and ignited it.
The officer who ordered the massacre, Lt General Takuma Nishimura
, was tried and convicted of war crime
s and executed by hanging
on 11 June 1951.
Approximately 18km away from Bandar Penggaram,Batu Pahat, capital of Batu Pahat
district.
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
, Malaysia on the Simpang Kiri River, 30 km east of Muar
Muar (town)
Muar, also known as Bandar Maharani is a town geopolitically situated in Muar District in the region or area of Muar in northwestern Johor, Malaysia...
. The historical Parit Sulong Bridge
Jambatan Parit Sulong
Parit Sulong Bridge is a famous bridge in Johor, Malaysia and the site of a battle during World War II. It is located in Parit Sulong on Federal Route .-Construction:...
constructed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
is a main feature in that town.
The first large massacre
Parit Sulong Massacre
On January 23, 1942, the Parit Sulong Massacre was committed against Allied soldiers by members of the Imperial Guards Division of the Imperial Japanese Army...
of 161 Australian troops by Japanese forces occurred at Parit Sulong on the west coast of Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
on 22 January 1942. Wounded survivors from the battle of Muar who could not travel on foot were left at Parit Sulong when the remnants of the greatly outnumbered force of Australians and Indians escaped from the Japanese who surrounded them.
The Japanese soldiers delighted in kicking and hitting the prisoners with rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
butts. They forced them into an overcrowded shed and denied them food, water and medical attention. At sunset, those able to walk were roped or wired together and were led away. The Japanese collected petrol from the Allied vehicles which had been left stranded, shot and bayonet
Bayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
ed their prisoners, threw petrol upon them and ignited it.
The officer who ordered the massacre, Lt General Takuma Nishimura
Takuma Nishimura
was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. He was later tried by the Allies for war crimes, and was executed. Nishimura was a native of Fukuoka prefecture.-Early military career:...
, was tried and convicted of war crime
War crime
War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...
s and executed by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
on 11 June 1951.
Approximately 18km away from Bandar Penggaram,Batu Pahat, capital of Batu Pahat
Batu Pahat
Batu Pahat is a district in the state of Johor, Malaysia. It lies south-east of Muar, south-west of Kluang, north-west of Pontian, and south of Segamat and the new Ledang district. The capital of the district is Bandar Penggaram, Batu Pahat....
district.