Battle of Jitra

Battle of Jitra
Part of the Battle of Malaya, World War II
Map of the Malayan Peninsula. Jitra is situated in the state of Kedah (top left).
Date 11–13 December 1941 Location Jitra, Malaya 06°16′05″N 100°25′18″E / 6.26806°N 100.42167°E / 6.26806; 100.42167Coordinates: 06°16′05″N 100°25′18″E / 6.26806°N 100.42167°E / 6.26806; 100.42167 Result Japanese victory
Belligerents
11th Indian Division	5th Infantry Division
Commanders and leaders
David Murray-Lyon	Takurō Matsui

The Battle of Jitra was fought between the invading Japanese and Allied forces during the Malayan Campaign of the Second World War, from 11–13 December 1941. The British defeat compelled Arthur Percival to order all Allied aircraft stationed in Malaya to withdraw to Singapore.

Allied defences at Jitra were not complete when the Pacific War broke out.Barbed wire lines had been erected and some anti-tank mines laid but heavy rains had flooded the shallow trenches and gun pits. Many of the field telephone cables laid across the waterlogged ground also failed to work, resulting in a lack of communication during the battle.

Two brigades of Major General David Murray-Lyon's 11th Indian Division held the front line. On the right was the 15th Indian Infantry Brigade, composed of 1st Battalion The Leicestershire Regiment, the 1st Bn 14th Punjab Regiment and the 2nd Bn 9th Jats; on the left was the 6th Indian Infantry Brigade, composed of the 2nd Bn East Surrey Regiment, the 1st Bn 8th and 2nd Bn 16th Punjab Regiments. Batteries from the 155th Field Regiment, the 22nd Mountain Regiment and the 80th Anti-tank Regiment provided the artillery support. The 28th Indian Infantry Brigade, consisting of three Gurkha battalions was placed in divisional reserve.

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