Raz

The escape tunnel exit from the underground magazine for #2 gun.

The emplacements for the 6" breech loading gun.

A concrete machine gun pit.

The duty officers quarters near by had a rather grizzly notice displayed at the last doorway to the

concrete room. Allegedly eye witness reports say this room was used as a execution chamber

for POW's and civilians. Bullet holes and what looks like an explosive detonation scars the interior.

Number 1# gun emplacement.

The surface entrance to the main magazine. This tunnel goes down 4 storeys. Unfortunately

visitors are not allowed to go down and explore this tunnel.

Looking down the shaft.

Here are some pics I took on a trip to Penang in Malaysia of the WW2 British coastal battery on the south east

tip of Penang island.

Completed in the 1930's this battery took 9 years to complete and is sprawled over 20 acres on top and below

what is now known as Bukit (Hill) Batu Maung. The battery armed with two 6" guns was created to protect the

sea ways and the British harbour at Penang. There was also a tunnel from the top of the hill that led down to the

sea to a submarine dock.

During the fall of Penang the coastal battery proved little worth. The Japanese attacked on the 11th of December 1942

with bombers. Penang didn't have any AA guns to defend itself, there were over 2000 casualties that day.

Eight days later the Japanese land forces invaded and took control of the island without a shot being fired.

The British essentially had high tailed it out of Penang leaving much material and equipment intact as their

demolition teams hadn't been given enough time to destroy them.

One such facility left largely intact was the radio station. The Japanese quickly brought this station back

into operation and used it to broadcast propaganda messages to Singapore, "Hello, Singapore. This is

Penang calling. How do you like our bombing?"

The fall of Penang was essentially a complete fiasco which was to be the general story of the British defence of Malaya.

After the war the Penang battery stood lost on the hill. The locals knew it was up there but superstition and

the odd ghost story kept most away. You see during the Japanese occupation the battery had been used as a

POW camp were civilians and POW's had been executed.

In 1995 restoration works were started up to preserve the site and now it's a major tourist attraction.

Main track headed down to #1 gun emplacement. On the right you can see the underground magazine

entrance for #2 gun.

Inside the underground magazine.

Looking up the shell hoist which hauled up shells to #2 gun on the surface.

A photo from a Singapore museum showing a hoard of notes in a suitcase. The cash became totally

worthless when the Japanese surrendered.

Anyone lucky enough to have secreted away any Straights Settlements currency was in good position

when the British came back into power.

As I understand it there were also other different designs for other countries the Japanese occupied.

Anyone else got any cash to show?

Here's some Japanese occupation currency given to me by a member of the RAF who

had a local friend who lived through the Japanese occupation in Singapore.

This cash was also nicknamed banana money. No serial numbers were used on these notes

and there was a big problem with counterfeiting.

Don't ask me if these are genuine notes

Great photos Bob.

Here are two flags I took snaps of whilst at 2 Singapore museums. One is a surrender flag taken by British troops

at Fort Canning. The description tag said it shows the Japanese character YAMAKA, and to a relates to an ordnance unit.

The meatball flag hangs at the Ford Factory museum.

Thanks for the replies guys, very interesting.

Here's the Stupa erected in 1970 in honour of the Prince.

This one is an interesting one, it's the old Japanese war memorial erected along the Straits of Johore

to commemorate the invasion of Singapore in 1942. After the war it was pushed into the sea and forgotten about.

When workers were working in the area in recent years they rediscovered the bottom and top half of the old

memorial while the central section remains lost.

Australian POW's were used to construct the memorial area. It was also compulsory

for school children to visit the memorial on school outings.

Singapore archive photo of the memorial being visited by a German U-boat crew:

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/picas/public/inter...p;submit=Search

I recently went around the little Japanese cemetery in Johor Malaysia looking for any WW2 linked memorials.

There is also a memorial to an Imperial Crown Prince of Japan, Prince Takaoka, Shinnyo Hosshinno

who traveled through the jungles of Malaysia in the 13th or 14th century who was attacked and killed by a tiger.

I also found a group of 3 stones which looked interesting. Here are 2 of them.

I wonder if anyone can read what it says?

This truck was dumped in a car park at a seafood restaurant in Malaysia for

many years. Unfortunately it has long since been scrapped.

After some googling I think the truck is a Scammell?

(UPDATE)

Within 5 minutes of posting this I am now informed that this truck is indeed a British forces Scammell.

A Pioneer Artillery tractor dating from WW2. It would have towed a 5.5" or 7.2" Howitzer.

Thanks for your answer Dave!

I totally forgot I posted the question until today.

Great write up Jim.

Some fantastic pieces being posted in this thread, keep it coming guys

@james

I don't know if it's just me imagining it now but I also seem to recall seeing a

picture somewhere of a maker marked 1st or 2nd class decoration somewhere.

The more common commemorative medal however had clearly a few different makers.

As for the cases I have seen 2nd class examples with both round a rectangle push studs.

The 1st class I've only seen with the rectangular stud.

Thanks Michael.

All these military abbreviations are giving me a headache

Hi Guys

I need some help on abbreviations again.

This relates to armaments at a british coastal battery.

What is an "L.L" and a "L.As."

M.Gs I assume are machineguns?

Stan, you're correct about the material of the badge.

I've also noticed other East Prussia variations out there other than the Wachtler & Lange made pieces.

I've never been 100% comfortable with them.

You've out gunned me Stan, I've just about run out of things to post ;-)

Thanks for posting those Stan.

Here's my Gau East Prussia. I have to use the scrappy sellers old pic for now.

I'll post a better one when I am able.

This piece is maker marked W?chtler & Lange and serial numbered.

Stan, thanks for posting those, wonderful pieces.

What else do you have in your bag of tricks? ;-)

Here are my Gau Essen's. The larger aluminium Hofstatter marked rally badge and the 935

silver gau badge.

Anyone have one of those great looking embroidered 1938 Gautag Essen postcard to show?

Great badges Stan!

The Wartheland is always a show stopper for me.

I only just noticed your AHF post.

Japanische gedenktafel

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/german_cro...her/ap/apb1.htm

I had never seen that on WA site before. Note the bottom left picture. I only recently discovered where

that Japanese memorial is currently at. After they surrendered locals pushed it in to the sea and it was

only recently re discovered after the works dept did some dredging.

You can now find the top half of it in the Japanese cemetery in Century gardens. I will have to get

a pic although most days the gates are locked.

Thanks Koj.

Great badge Erich.

This is a cased Gau Berlin badge in Silver grade. The badge is a lovely 41mm constructed badge made by the Lauer firm whom seem to have been the sole maker of this badge.

The  stickpin miniature of the badge is of equal high quality and made by the same firm. I've so far not seen another miniature example, except for one other, which was part of an amazing nine piece miniature awards chain that had been found by Toby Rowan.

Not part of my collection although I wish it was, the Werner Bock group of documents, including the Gau Berlin Besitz-urkunde, as auctioned by Hermann Historica. This grouping I believe has since been broken up.