Kuala Sungai Karang Pillbox Revisit

Checking on the British WW2 Pillbox at Kuala Sungai Karang
after my last visit 3 years ago
and so much have changed since.



Here is how it looks like 3 years ago
and notice it is tilting in a different position now.










Erosion have exposed an old water well meant for the defenders of this pillbox
from the 22 Indian Infantry Brigade.



 http://www.britain-at-war.org.uk/WW2/London_Gazette/Malaya_Command/html/body_p1s6.htm 
35. At Kuantan the small cantonment lies a mile or so from the sea in the bend of the Kuantan River. North of the river are some 12 miles of beach suitable for landing. South of the river mouth there are also good landing beaches but a tributary of the Kuantan River blocks the deployment from these beaches northwards. The road from Jerantut (100 miles distant) crosses the Kuantan River by a ferry west of the cantonment. The aerodrome was situated near this road some 7 miles west of the ferry.
The Commander of the Kuantan Force of one weak brigade group which had only moved into position in April, 1941, was instructed that his primary task was to secure the aerodrome for the use of our Air Force and to deny it to the enemy. The beaches were far too long to hold in strength, but if the enemy was allowed to land unopposed he could concentrate a large force for an attack on the aerodrome. Moreover , the slow ferry crossing of the Kuanton River was a source of great weakness. The plan, which I approved, was to deploy one battalion on the beaches, where material defences were constructed, and to hold one battalion for the defence of the river lines and of the aerodrome. I also authorised the construction of a swinging pontoon bridge across the river which, however, owing to difficulty in getting suitable material was not finished in time. Communication with Kuantan was by military wireless and by a civil land line. Both these channels of communication were subject to frequent interruption.




Branches of this uprooted tree seems to be crying out for help.



A panaorama shot of Kuala Sungai Karang,








View Sg Karang Pillbox in a larger map

British WW2 Pillboxes in Kuantan

The British WW2 pillboxes is actually a hardened field defence bunker intended to protect Malaya from the Japanese invasion anticipated to be by sea
but ended up to be by land and worse still they came by bicycle because of the about turn in Siam
which allowed the Japanese to past through without a fight.

The most famous pillbox in town is the one at Telok Chempedak beach
and looks well preserved with a new coat of cement.




















View Teluk Cempedak pillbox in a larger map



The Tanah Putih Pillbox is still on dry land and is located
on the right side of the old Tanah Putih Bridge across the Kuantan River
if you are driving out of town.




There is another pill box on the other side of the bridge
but i haven't seen it for a very long time
and is only visible during very low tide.






A monitor lizard taking its own sweet time to walk away from me.




View Tanah Putih Pillbox in a larger map



Pantai Pelindung 1 Pillbox is at the edge of the beach.










View Pantai Pelindung Pillbox 1 in a larger map



Pantai Pelindung 2 Pillbox is already on the beach
and is at the mercy of the waves during high tide.







View Pantai Pelindung 2 Pillbox in a larger map

Sungai Karang Pillbox at the river mouth is already on the beach
and will be flooded during high tide.


An Indian family enjoying their picnic behind the shade of the pillbox.




























View Sg Karang Pillbox in a larger map



Pantai Batu Hitam Pillbox is partly hidden by a muslim cemetery.















View Pantai Batu Hitam Pillbox in a larger map

Sungai Belat Pillbox  is half sunken into Sg Belat
for as long as i can remember and it is still there.








I hope to find a few more pillbox in Kuantan and will add on here.


British Anti Invasion Preparation


British Pillboxes