| Page Views: 3,728 Last Visit to Batu Maung: November, 2005 | Lest We Forget by bpacker - last update: Nov 13, 2005 |
WWII in Penang ( 1941 - 1945 ) | The locals suffered under the Japanese Rule |
Not many people know this but The Biggest War Museum in SE. Asia rests near the coastal shores of Penang in Batu Muang. This unique museum is actually a British military defence fortress built in the 1930's in a jungle thicket facing the sea. At that time, the British were expecting the Japanese to attack by sea but as we all know, they advanced by land instead and rendered all the fortifications null. Penang was left in haste to the Japanese on the 17th December 1941; with arms, boats, supplies and a working radio station as the British withdrew south. And the rest is history. The Penangites were left to the mercy of the Japanese and they suffered greatly under their rule. Many became senseless casualties of war, died under torture or beheaded for simple acts of isolence. |
| The British surrenders to Gen. Yamashita in 1942 |
|  | The British Surrenders to the Japanese Despite the hasty withdrawal from Penang, the British still surrendered to the Japanese in Singapore later in 1942. Many chilling facts came up after the surrender. For example, do you know that British were too ill equipped to defend Malaya in the first place and that they were told to fight to the last man? Read on to find out more. |
| The Brave Explorer, Mr Johari Shafie, File pix |
| | Restoring a Forgotten Fort Do you know that this fort was only re-discovered in the 1970's and that at one time, this entire region was shunned by the locals because it was supposed to be haunted by ghostly soldiers? It took a very brave man from Kedah to track through the thicket and discover this fort. Read on to discover more... |
| CuChi Tunnel? Naw, it's Penang War Museum! |
| | Personal Experience Thanks to hubby's fanaticism with WWII, I explored this 70-year old fort and explored her arteries of underground tunnels, peered into musty bunkers and looked in horror as I witnessed the suffering of the Penangites under her Japanese masters. Read on to find out what I really think about this place and other logistical details on how to get to this place.. |
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| Pros: | "Well preserved 70 year old British Fort" | | Cons: | "Not well-publicised, A wee bit off the beaten track" | | In A Nutshell: | "The Biggest War Museum in SE Asia" |
bpacker's Batu Maung Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 6 - Photos: 6 | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | Transportation
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1 | Local Customs
Tips: 7 - Photos: 7 | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
 Comments for bpacker about Batu Maung | | | | |
betska Fri Jun 6, 2008 00:21 UTC
fat bastard in a kilt what a crack-up......... | magdalena2007 Thu Sep 27, 2007 20:26 UTC
Beautiful page! great dedication :) | robertgaz Fri May 19, 2006 07:17 UTC
Lest we forget. | Nemorino Tue Nov 15, 2005 08:29 UTC
Very informative tips. I had never heard of this place before. |
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