On February 14 1942, the 56th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Army launched one of the bloodiest attack in Singapore to take control of Pasir Panjang Ridges. A Malay platoon made up of 42 men commanded by 2nd Lt Adnan Bin Saidi, aged 27, from the 1st Malay Regiment was tasked to defend Bukit Chandu. This was a very important defense position as it overlooked the northern region of Singapore and if the Japanese were to gain control of the ridge, they will have direct passage to the British army’s main ammunition and supply depots and other key military installations along Alexandra Road.
Although they were heavily outnumbered by the Japanese, 2nd Lt Adnan Bin Saidi urged his men to press on and to fight to the very end. The Japanese soldiers in the guise of deception, sent a group of soldiers dressed in Indian soldiers uniform. C Company saw through the disguise and started firing at the approaching Japanese troops, killing several of them. The Japanese forces subsequently launched an all out charge up Bukit Chandu which shattered the Malay Regiment defense line. Being out of ammunitions, the Malay Regiment continued the battle through hand to hand combat. Adnan bin Saidi was seriously wounded. He was captured and instead of taking him prisoner, continuously kicked and punched him before tying him to a cherry tree and was stabbed to death.
The battle was lost and the ridge fell to the Japanese.
More about the Reflections at Bukit Chandu can be found on their website at http://www.s1942.org.sg/s1942/bukit_chandu/homepage.htm
31K Pepys Road off the West Coast Highway
The sign reads
Deepest hopes you help fulfill -
Now harmony and quiet rule.
Sacrifice and courage on this hill
Is peace reflecting on this pool
~ Edwin Thumboo ~
The sign reads
“If we do not remember our heroes, we will
produce no heroes. If we do not record their sacrifices,
their sacrifices would have been in vain…
the greatest strength we have as a people is our common memories
of the past and our common hopes for the future…
For without those memories, the next generation will not have
the fighting spirit to carry on.”
BG (NS) George Yeo
Minister for Information and the Arts
(1991-1999)
At the launch of SCCI publication,
“The Price of Peace”, 21st June 1997
The Honor Roll of the Soldiers of the 1st Malay Regiment who have fallen during the Battle of Pasir Panjang
Singapore Shoreline divided into 3 combat zones
On February 14 1942, the Japanese Soldiers stormed into the nearby Alexandra Hospital and massacred more than 200 patients and staffs in a senseless killing spree.
Officer’s uniform of the Malay Regiment
Malay Regiment Walking Out Dress
Head Statue of 2nd Lt Adnan bin Saidi
Statue of a Japanese Officer
Map of the Battle of Pasir Panjang
Photo of the Japanese Soldiers on Bicycle through the Malayan Peninsular into Singapore
War Relics of the Second World War in Singapore
Maps
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