The Gordon Highlanders, a regiment with origins dating back to 1794, became a symbol of Scottish bravery and resilience, particularly during WWII when they served in the Far East. Stationed in Singapore, they were drawn into the fierce conflicts of the Pacific theatre, enduring unimaginable hardships as Far East Prisoners of War (FEPOWs) after the fall of Singapore in 1942.
The Défense of Singapore
Arriving from Gibraltar in 1937, the Gordons were stationed at Selarang Barracks in Changi, Singapore, where they became part of the garrison intended to safeguard Britain’s vital naval and colonial interests in the region.
As Japanese forces pushed southward from the Thai border through Malaya, they moved with astonishing speed, using bicycles for rapid movement through the jungle and employing light tanks and air support to overcome Commonwealth defensive positions. By January 15, 1942, the first clashes had reached Johor, and the Gordons were tasked with overseeing the evacuation of the Malay population from Pengerang as the situation became increasingly perilous.
On January 21, the 2nd Battalion handed over their positions at Pengerang to the 1st Mysore Infantry and returned briefly to Singapore before receiving orders on January 25 to reinforce the Australian 27th Brigade. The Gordon highlanders were directed to block Japanese advances on the Ayer Hitam to Johor Bahru road, taking a position around Milestone 50, approximately 50 miles from the causeway to Singapore. This area became a scene of intense combat as Japanese reconnaissance aircraft, snipers, and mortar fire harassed the British lines, supplemented by dive-bombing attacks. Throughout January 26, the Gordon Highlanders fought with determination and managed to slow down the Japanese forces, receiving support from Australian 25-pounder artillery.
Despite their efforts, the battalion suffered significant casualties, with 48 Gordons killed or wounded during the day’s action. They were ordered to pull back through Australian lines but were soon re-engaged in combat as they continued to delay the Japanese advance, engaging in close-quarter fighting that demonstrated their tenacity and skill. By January 29, they reached Milestone 29, where they supported the Australian 2/26th Battalion in fending off any further Japanese advances.
Once in Singapore, the 2nd Gordons were stationed around Changi and tasked with defending the eastern shorelines. This area included positions opposite Pulau Ubin Island, where they prepared for potential Japanese landings. The battalion suffered losses almost immediately when, on February 7, Japanese aircraft bombed Birdwood Camp, killing eight Gordon Highlanders and destroying all of the battalion’s records and documents. The Gordon Highlanders were moved to Point 95, a defensive position in a nearby rubber estate, as they braced for the inevitable Japanese assault on Singapore.
Japanese forces landed on Singapore’s north-western shore on February 8, effectively bypassing the Gordon Highlanders’ positions in the northeast. However, on February 11, as Japanese units advanced rapidly across the island, the 2nd Gordons were ordered to move to Tyersall Park Camp near the Singapore Botanic Gardens. This camp had been used by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Indian 12th Infantry Brigade and also housed an Indian field hospital. Soon after their arrival, the Japanese bombed the camp, setting fire to the hospital. In a remarkable act of bravery, members of the Argylls, Gordons, and Royal Marines worked tirelessly to rescue patients and control the flames despite the continuous threat of Japanese attack.
Initial Preparations and Defensive Positions in Johor
As tensions rose in Southeast Asia, the Gordons were deployed in defensive positions around Johor in December 1941. This area was strategically significant due to its proximity to Singapore and the causeway that connected it to the Malayan Peninsula. Initially stationed at Pengerang, the Gordons conducted preparations that included laying anti-tank and anti-personnel mines to deter the advancing Japanese forces. They fortified these defensive positions with what resources were available, despite the overall shortage of equipment that plagued many Commonwealth units in Malaya.
The battalion had a keen eye on the naval activities at the Singapore Naval Base, where they witnessed the arrival of the battleships HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales. These ships symbolized British naval power in the region, and the Gordons, who had previously been transported on the HMS Repulse, felt a strong connection to them. However, on December 10, 1941, both ships were sunk by Japanese aircraft in the South China Sea, an early signal of how unprepared Allied forces were for Japan's tactical air superiority.
Final Actions and Capitulation
In the final days of the defense of Singapore, the 2nd Gordons were tasked with holding a critical position between Racecourse Village and the railway, blocking Japanese troops advancing from Bukit Timah. The terrain provided cover for Japanese infiltrators, making it difficult to hold the line. The Gordons dispatched fighting patrols and engaged in skirmishes to prevent the Japanese from exploiting gaps in the defenses. They encountered Japanese tanks and air attacks but held their ground until February 14, when orders came to withdraw to Tyersall Camp for a brief respite.
The next day, February 15, 1942, Singapore surrendered to the Japanese, leading to one of the largest capitulations in British military history. The 2nd Gordon Highlanders waited two days before beginning the long march to captivity at Changi POW camp, marking the start of a harrowing period of imprisonment.
On October 12, 1942, 63 members of the 2nd Gordon Highlanders were selected as part of D Battalion to work on the infamous Burma-Thailand Railway, specifically tasked with constructing a railway viaduct at Wampo. Under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Harold Lilley of the Sherwood Foresters and supported by Dr. Stanley Pavillard, a compassionate and skilled medical officer, this POW group managed to maintain a lower death rate during the cholera epidemic that ravaged the railway camps.
A larger group of Gordon POWs left Changi in October 1942 as part of Lieutenant Colonel Stitt’s “V Party,” destined for the brutal labor camps along Hellfire Pass. Major Reggie Lees led these men through some of the most grueling conditions, where they endured forced labor and faced tropical diseases with limited medical supplies and no rest. Many did not survive the horrific conditions, though the survivors would carry their experiences as a testament to the courage and resilience of the regiment.
Final Liberation and Legacy
By the time of their liberation in August 1945, the surviving Gordons were dispersed across Southeast Asia and Japan, many having been transferred to camps across the region as Japan’s war fortunes declined. The end of their captivity marked the close of a dark chapter, but the legacy of the 2nd Gordon Highlanders' service in Malaya, Johor, and Singapore remains a powerful story of sacrifice, brotherhood, and endurance in the face of overwhelming adversity. The regiment’s experience in the Malayan campaign and as POWs highlights the extraordinary strength and spirit of the Highlanders, whose bravery is commemorated in memorials across Singapore and in the annals of regimental history.
LT. Colonel J. Stitt, M.C.
Lieutenant Colonel John Stitt was the commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders during the final defence of Singapore. As the city faced intense Japanese assaults, Lt. Col. Stitt led his men with remarkable resilience, guiding them through the grim circumstances of the Malayan Campaign until the British surrender in February 1942. After becoming a POW, Lt. Col. Stitt continued to uphold his duties by maintaining morale and order among his soldiers. Under his guidance, they endured the brutal forced labour on the Death Railway, where Stitt’s steadfast leadership was a lifeline, providing encouragement and solidarity amidst appalling conditions.
Captain Ivan Lyon
Captain Ivan Lyon’s remarkable wartime story stands out for his daring actions following the fall of Singapore. Rather than surrendering, he managed to evade capture and became one of the masterminds behind Operation Jaywick, a covert mission that saw Allied forces infiltrate Japanese-held Singapore Harbour in 1943. There, Lyon and his team succeeded in sinking Japanese ships, a significant blow to enemy forces. He later participated in Operation Rimau, a follow-up mission that, though ultimately unsuccessful, highlighted his ingenuity and courage. Though he did not survive, Lyon’s bravery exemplifies the Gordon Highlanders’ fighting spirit even under extreme adversity.
Gordon Highlander from 2Bn Co Lt Col Graham & Lt Gen Percival with General Wavell in Singapore Nov 3rd 1941.
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