Battle of Pasir Panjang Commemorative Walk 2023

The NUS Toddycats' Pasir Panjang Heritage Guides invites you to join us on our walk through the Pasir Panjang ridge to commemorate and appreciate the natural, social and war history that made this place. 

We will be walking in groups of 15 (14 participants + 1 guide) through staggered timing. The walk will be about 3 hours, and we will end at the Reflections at Bukit Chandu.

If you are coming with friends and/or family members, remember to register for the same session. Feel free to drop us an email if you have any questions.

Guides Schedule

Saturday, 11th Feb, 08:00hrs: led by Kok Oi Yee

Saturday, 11th Feb, 08:15hrs: led by Kenneth Pinto

Sunday, 12th Feb, 08:00hrs: led by N. Sivasothi

Sunday, 12th Feb, 08:15hrs: led by Stella Wee

---

It is 13th February 1942, and the Japanese Imperial Army which stormed through Malaya turn their attention to Pasir Panjang Ridge. Approaching Singapore City from the west, a seasoned Japanese army is forced to engage the small force of the Malay Regiment on the high ground of Pasir Panjang Ridge. 

A fierce battle is put up by men of the Malay Regiment amidst the confusion of aerial and artillery bombardment, smoke of a burning fuel dump, loss of communications and the early deaths of senior officers who had moved about to keep their men coordinated. 

They would battle on for nearly two days and the company is wiped almost to the last man by the numerically superior Japanese on the eve of Chinese New Year. 

The next day, on 15th of February, 1942, General Percival marches down Bukit Timah Road to surrender to General Tomoyuki Yamashita of the Japanese Imperial Army at the Ford Factory.

The National University of Singapore is built on part of the old battleground and its forest still contains a 1930's military outpost which strategically oversees Jurong, Bukit Timah and Singapore City. In 1954, the Pasir Panjang ridge was renamed 'Kent Ridge,' and the old stone marker which commemorates this event persists to this day at the Gap, though it is often overlooked. 

The account of the heroic battle left a strong impression on the Pasir Panjang Heritage Guides, so we have humbly commemorated the Malay Regiment's defense of the ridge every year since 2002. We share with you stories about the Battle of Pasir Panjang, the geography, history and the flora and fauna of the area that first drew us to explore the ridge decades ago and explain how the ridge got its name.

This year, we begin our trail from Ascent Building, Science Park One (next to the Kent Ridge MRT Exit B) and we will make our way through Kent Ridge Park to end at Reflections of Bukit Chandu. 

The day of the walk

• Meet us at the open space, Ascent Building, Science Park One (junction of Science Park Drive and South Buona Vista Road)
• Please wear good walking shoes, bring at least a litre of water, some sandwiches or snacks in case you get hungry on the walk
• We recommend a hat or umbrella to help protect from the sun
• Rain is always possible so do bring an umbrella and waterproofing for your barang-barang!
• If sensitive to mosquitoes, bring insect repellent 

Links

• Pasir Panjang/Kent Ridge Heritage webpage [link]"Battle of Pasir Panjang Commemorative Walk 2009 Review," by Kenneth Pinto. Raffles Museum Toddycats, 19 Feb 2009. [link]Photos from 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2008.