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From:
Lieutenant-General Sir Lewis Heath
Officer Commanding, 3rd
(Indian) Corps
To:
Major General John
Steed
Officer Commanding, 11th
(Indian) Division
Dear John
The
decision to place you in command of 11th Division, replacing
Major-General David Murray-Lyons, has not been an easy one: but it is
the right one. Although David has served his country well for many
years, it is obvious that he cannot cope with the demands of the current
campaign. I have every confidence that you, on the other hand, will rise
to the occasion and give the enemy the sound thrashing that they so
richly deserve.
Now,
your orders…
The
GOC-Malaya Command, Lieutenant-General Percival, has determined that the
best place to stop the Japanese from advancing further down the
peninsular is the defensive position already established just north of
the
village
of
Lardak
.
The
position sits astride the main north-south trunk road where it cuts
through the Bebola Udang ridge. It is a natural defensive site that has
been strengthened by extensive works commissioned over the last few
months. Hold the Japanese here, and you stop their advance dead in its
tracks. Let them through, and the way to
Kuala Lumpur
and beyond is open…terribly open.
I
know that your men have been fighting solidly for almost a month now,
and that you report that they are tired beyond belief, but we just do
not have the assets available to reinforce you at this moment in time. I
can only tell you that you MUST stop the Japanese at Lardak.
Good
luck, and may God be with you
Yours
etc
Heath
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