In 1942 during Second World War, a company of the Malay Regiment fought a battle from Clementi Road back to a last stand at Opium Hill where they were all but wiped out by invading Japanese forces. Six British officers, seven Malay officers and 146 other ranks were killed in battle and Singapore would fall a day later on 15th February 1942. [“The Malay Regiment – “Ta’at Dan Setia”: 1933-1945,” by Lim Kay Tong].
Join the Raffles Museum Toddycats, volunteers of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, on Sunday, 12 Feb 2012: 7:00am – 12:00pm as we commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Pasir Panjang Ridge (now Kent Ridge)! This event is in collaboration with the National Archives of Singapore, NHB.
Your guides will share with you stories about the Battle of Pasir Panjang, the geography, history and the flora and fauna of the area. We will also reveal how the ridge got its present name as it was renamed ‘Kent Ridge’ in 1954.
Registration is now open! Just fill in the form at: http://tinyurl.com/bpp2012-reg
This 5km walk will start at the University Cultural Centre and end at National Archives’ World War II Interpretative Centre at the Reflections at Bukit Chandu (RBC) via Kent Ridge Road, The Gap and Kent Ridge Park.
For more details on this walk: http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg
You can read more about Pasir Panjang/Kent Ridge heritage here – http://pasirpanjang.rafflesmuseum.net
Update: photos from the walk here.