Social Studies lessons back in school might’ve been a thing in the past, but it’s undeniable that they’ve taught us unforgettable history.
The Pasir Panjang Battle in 1942 would be one of those historical moments you’ve read in the books, where soldiers fought for our nation against Japanese troops, the battle becoming a defining moment in World War II.
War hero 2nd Lieutenant Adnan of the Malay Regiment was at the forefront of this very war, hailed as such for his contributions as well as his endless tenacity and bravery, even at the face of death.
Unfortunately, the last living survivor who barely made it out alive after fighting in the battle has since passed away.
Passed Away Due To COVID-19
Mr Ujang Mormin, the last living soldier who fought alongside Lieutenant Adnan during the battle, passed away on 9 Feb 2021 as a result of COVID-19.
He lived to the ripe old age of 100.
Malaysian newspaper The Star reported that Mr Ujang tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to hospital shortly on 26 Jan.
However, his grandniece received a call a few weeks later, on 6 Feb, from the hospital telling her that Mr Ujang was in critical condition.
Before his passing, Mr Ujang had actually requested to see his relatives and friends, but arrangements fell through due to the difficulty of movement in the pandemic.
His grandniece commented in retrospect that it was as if Mr Ujang “knew the time had come.”
Fought In The Battle At Only 21
Hailing from Rembau in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, Mr Ujang was only at the tender young age of 21 when he joined the 1st Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment in 1939, as he recalled in an interview.
He went through basic training until 1941, the fateful year he was deployed to the Gap Ridge, which is also known as Pasir Panjang Ridge here in Singapore.
The gruelling battle ended with most of his comrades having fallen to the Japanese, including Lieutenant Adnan who he fought beside, and Mr Ujang was one of the handful of survivors left from his regiment.
He recounted that upon hearing the news of Lieutenant Adnan’s passing, Mr Ujang and his comrades retreated into the jungle, where the officer in charge announced the end of the battle for them and let them go their own ways.
After staying under the kind hospitality of a Malay family in Jalan Serangoon, Mr Ujang took a freight train back to his hometown of Rembau in Malaysia.
“As I arrived in Kampung Kundur, I was so surprised to see many relatives and friends coming to greet me home, it was like a party, as I saw my parents’ faces I immediately hugged them and just cried, it is something I will always remember,” he teared up while remembering.
Mr Ujang then settled down with a wife who bore him two daughters and a son. Unfortunately, his wife and two daughters have already passed on, and his son’s whereabouts remain unknown.
After the end of the war, Mr Ujang returned to work for the Royal Malay Regiment in 1947 as a prison warden, and did so until his retirement.
Mr Ujang’s sacrifices and determination will forever remain something worth learning from.
Featured Image: Facebook (Abu Fateh View)
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