| Original caption: “Japanese troops take cover behind steam engines at the railway station in the final stages of their advance down the Malayan Peninsula, which culminated in the surrender of all British forces, and the occupation of the British naval base on Singapore Island.” Japanese soldiers are seen approaching the Johor Bahru Train Station. This is probably a staged propaganda photo by the Japanese military press, as the photographer is standing while the soldiers are crawling. By 1935, 50 years after the start of the 1st British-built railway line, the Federated Malay States Railway (FMSR) had laid 1,321 miles (2,126 kilometers) of railway tracks and built 213 permanent stations and 76 halts across the Peninsula. The British Commonwealth forces utilized the FMSR railroads to transport supplies, troops, and wounded personnel throughout Malaya. Thus, trains were targets for Japanese aircraft, and the lines became defensive positions. As Allied resistance collapsed after the Battle of Muar in January 1942, both Eastforce and Westforce fell back on Johore Bahru, the last town on the Malay Peninsula. The Japanese were surprised that more defenses were not prepared there, and later stated that if the Allies had dug in, they would’ve never taken Singapore. The 9th Indian Infantry Division had 2 brigades moving towards Johore Bahru, and only the 8th Brigade was over a rail bridge when it was blown against orders. The 22nd Brigade was cut off. Major General Arthur E. “Bustling Bill” Barstow (March 17, 1888 – January 28, 1942) was killed trying to re-establish communications when the wire was cut with the bridge collapse. A Japanese patrol caught his party, and in the firefight, he was shot. They recovered his body. The Japanese nearly destroyed the 22nd Brigade. Johore Bahru held until January 31. The Imperial Japanese 5th Infantry “Koi” Division entered the town 6 hours after the causeway was blown, cutting off Singapore from the mainland and beginning the 2-week siege that would end on February 15. During the battle, Imperial Japanese Army Lieutenant General Tomoyuki Yamashita (November 8, 1885 – February 23, 1946), commander of the 14th Area Army, viewed the Singapore battlefield from a tower in Johore Bahru. Many Allied soldiers wanted to fire on the tower. However, orders were to refrain, as there was concern about paying reparations after the war. Because the causeway was blown, Johore Bahru remained the terminal station of the FMSR until 1946, when the rail link was repaired. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1536.jpg |
| Image Size | 916.78 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2982 x 3290 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | January 31, 1942 |
| Location | |
| City | Johore Bahru |
| State or Province | Johor |
| Country | Malaya |
| Archive | Australian War Memorial |
| Record Number | 127899 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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