1941 Operation Matador – A Forward Defence of Malaya

Air Chief Marshall Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, Commander British Far East Command ( source: life)

1^st Dec 1941 Sir Robert Brooke-Popham has ordered “2^nd Degree of Readiness”. Troops were ordered back to barracks and Volunteers were mobilized.

5^th Dec 1941 War Office gave authority to Brooke-Popham to execute Operation Matador, upon the following situations:

a) If he had information that Japanese expeditions were advancing with apparent intention on the Kra Isthmus; OR

b) If the Japanese violated any other part of Thailand.

6^th Dec 1941, a Hudson from No.1 RAAF Squadron based in Kota Bahru reported enemy ships convoys 265 mile north. However, after consultation with the Navy, Brooke-Popham hesitated and instead ordered “No. 1 Degree of Readiness” – ready for immediate operations and prepare for enemy attack without prior warning. No order for Operation Matador was executed.

In Kuala Lumpur, during a conference between GOC Malaya Command & GOC III Indian Corps, Percival acted on the sighting reports by No. 1 RAAF. He advised Heath to make preparatory launch of Matador and ordered “Raffles” – Code word for “Action Alert”

Evening discussions in Singapore between Sir Shenton Thomas, Brooke- Popham & Percival – Brooke-Popham decided that it was too premature to launch Operation Matador

7^th Dec 1941 – 1848hrs; Japanese vessels were spotted 150 miles from Kota Bahru, steering south – 30 hrs after the 1^st Japanese sightings. Brooke-Popham claimed that this latest report only reached him at 2100hrs.

7^th Dec 1941 – 2230hrs Malaya Command Conference at Singapore Naval Base War Room - After again consulting with the navy and the army GOCs, Brooke-Popham again delayed “Matador” for the night and placed General Heath 11^th Division to be ready to execute Operation Matador at dawn of 8^th Dec 1941.GOC Malaya Command, Percival, by then, knew it was too late to preempt the landings at Thailand.

8th Dec 1941 – 2220hrs the Japanese ships were anchored off the coast of Kota Bahru and by 0330 hrs, landings by the Japanese at Singora and Patani have been effected. 11^th Indian Division was still waiting for dawn at the border of Malaya – Jitra.