Sybil Kathigasu

Malaysian WWII nurse and resistance fighter awarded George Medal

Sybil Kathigasu (1899-1948), the only Malayan woman awarded Britain's George Medal for bravery, ran secret medical services during Japan's occupation of Perak. The Eurasian nurse and her husband provided covert treatment to Allied soldiers while operating a resistance communication network from their Ipoh clinic.

Her memoir 'No Dram of Mercy' details 73 days of torture by the Kenpeitai military police, who burned her feet and broke her jaw to extract intelligence. Despite horrific abuse, Kathigasu refused to betray resistance fighters - whispering 'I'd rather die first' in Cantonese to fellow prisoners.

Modern feminists celebrate Kathigasu's legacy in University Malaya studies as embodying multiethnic resistance. The National Museum preserves her medical instruments, while her granddaughter continues advocating for wartime women's stories.