On 30th December 1941, the 4 day battle of Kampar in Malaya began. Virtually unheard of, this battle was Japan's first reversal in Malaya. The Japanese forces facing the British/Indian troops were unable to bypass or get round the flanks of the defenders. Well sited artillery inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese and intense hand to hand fighting left the allies in control of the area and the Japanese unable to advance. Only Japanese amphibious landings on the West coast further south, thus threatening the allied rear caused a British withdrawal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kampar This battle has probobly been forgotton because the next major engagement was the disasterous Battle of Slim River.
You may recall how the 6th and 15th Brig faught against the 4000 from the formidable Japs! I think this battale was an important event for the Malaya's independent. The other important thing was the birth of Jat-Punjab Reg due to the amalgamation of East Surreys and Royal Leicesters. Thus formed the 11th Ind Div of about 1300 personnels, stood against the Japs, protecting the further north-west. http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/ww2/malaya/malaya11_580.jpg
