Pentagon shaped Pillbox of Tanjung Punai

The strategically located British WW2 Pillbox
near Tanjung Punai at the confluence of Kuantan and Belat river
was left frozen in time for the past 77 years
and known only to anglers and villager staying nearby
but eluded history enthusiast
until a local posted in a facebook page.

 

before and after a small cleanup of fern and a fallen mangrove tree,
hope to  remove those on the roof in my next visit.











The 17th British WW2 Pillbox in Kuantan photographed so far,
build for the swampy area which will be flooded at high tide
with a four steps stairway down into the pillbox after climbing up
the ~1.5 meter wall.

Rocks of Pantai Penunjuk

The beautiful rocks of Penunjuk Beach
have not been spared in the phenomena of rising sea level
plus coastal erosion blamed to climate change,
dredging works for ports off the coast
and damming of a major river nearby,







The sleeping giant look alike rock offshore.



a shot of the rocks at dawn













Probably the Penunjuk River.



Flat land of Kampung Penunjuk was once an emergency landing ground in
a 1940 FMS map,just  before WW2.







a buffer of casuarina tree  for the rising sea level



anchovies in the making...

Tanjung Tokong Search Light Battery

The Search Light Battery of Tanjung Tokong 
build by the British to defend Penang during the World War 2
might look real obsolete today
but that's the best option available then
at the time when radar was yet to be perfected.

    
The first search light is right at the edge of the cape,
only time can tell how much longer it can stand up there.







a great view and an excellent fishing spot too.



the second search light.







the watch tower.





the entrance of the Chinese Temple.



 the old Tanjong Tokong Temple.

View Tanjong Tokong Search Light Battery in a larger map

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