The first documented massacre of Australian troops by the Imperial Japanese at Parit Sulong during the Second World War was a tragic chapter in the history of the Australian Defence Force.

In mid January 1942 a small Australian and Indian force was cut off by the Japanese around Bakri and Parit Sulong in Malaya (now known as Malaysia).  The Australians and Indians doggedly fought their way out, losing almost half of their men.  Lieutenant Colonel Charles Anderson was awarded the Victoria Cross for leadership in this fight.

The Japanese, enraged by the losses they had suffered in the severe fighting over the previous week, massacred a group of 163 Australian and Indian wounded left behind at Parit Sulong before sunset on 22 January 1942. Only two men survived.

Action at Parit Sulong, January 1942 by Australian Official War Artist Murray Griffin (1903-1992).  The Australian crewed 25 Pounder field gun of the 2/15th Field Regiment in the foreground is firing over 'open sights' straight down the road.  The sides of the road are littered with damaged, burning and abandoned Allied vehicles and armoured cars.  This artwork was completed by the artist in Changi Prisoner of War camp in 1943.

A different perspective to the well known artwork above.  This is a contemporary Imperial Japanese artwork depicting their attack on Parit Sulong.  It was made in early 1943 and printed as part of a series of Japanese victories against the Western Allies.  Others in this series include the Landing at Kota Bharu and the Fall of Singapore.

Note the many similarities to the Murray Griffin artwork (which in the background shows these tanks advancing towards the Australians) and the amount fire being poured at them by the Australian and Indian troops.  Source : personal collection.