41st Division (Philippines)
| 41st Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | August 28, 1941 - April 9, 1942 |
| Country |
.svg.png){kind=small} Commonwealth of the Philippines |
| Branch | Philippine Army |
| Type | Infantry Division |
| Size | Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Tagaytay City, Cavite |
| Anniversaries | August 28 |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | BGen Vicente Lim |
The 41st Infantry Division was a division of the Philippine Army under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). Brigadier General Vicente Lim was the division's commander.
After the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in late 1941, it formed part of South Luzon Force (activated December 13, 1941) under Brig. Gen. George M. Parker Jr.[1] The South Luzon Force controlled a zone east and south of Manila. Parker had the PA 41st and 51st Infantry Divisions and the 2nd Provisional Artillery Group of two batteries of the U.S. 86th Field Artillery Regiment (Philippine Scouts).
It was active from August 28, 1941 to April 9, 1942, whereupon it surrendered when Corregidor fell. Previously it was active in the City of Manila Southern Luzon.
When the Japanese began landing at Lamon Bay on December 24, 1941, South Luzon Force was badly dispersed.[2] The 41st Division (PA) on the west coast was in position, but elements of the 51st Division along the east coast were in the process of movement. The South Luzon Force had been reinforced during the past few days by the recently inducted 1st Regular Division (PA), but only the 1st Infantry of this division had actually moved into the area. Its orders were to relieve the 3d Battalion, 52d Infantry, north of Mauban. By evening of the 23d the relief had been accomplished, and one battalion of the 1st Infantry was in position at Mauban, another at Infanta; the remaining battalion was in reserve at a road junction northeast of Lucban. This move had just been completed when MacArthur's headquarters transferred the 1st Infantry to North Luzon Force. General Parker-and General Jones-protested the order vigorously, and it was finally rescinded, but the movement of the 3d Battalion, 52d Infantry, was in progress when the enemy landed.
That same evening the 51st Division troops, who had moved south to delay the movement northward of the Kimura Detachment from Legaspi, were pulled back and were in the process of moving when the Japanese landed. The results for them were more tragic; many of them were cut off and never returned to the American lines.
Not only were the forces along the east coast dispersed at the moment of the landing, but those units in position were handicapped by the absence of artillery.
The 41st Division may have fought in the Battle of Bataan from January 8, 1941 until surrender by the Japanese troops on April 9, 1942. On April 9, the inevitable bitter end came. Maj. General Edward P. King Jr., commander of the Southern Luzon Force, to prevent the unnecessary slaughter of his war-torn troops, negotiated the surrender of the Bataan troops with the Japanese High Command.
References
- ↑ The Fall of the Philippines, p. 68-69.
- ↑ The Fall of the Philippines, p. 141.