00:14On July 7, 1937, the Sino-Japanese War began, forcing China to secure vital supply routes
00:22as the Japanese Navy blockaded its seaports.
00:24This urgent need gave rise to the Burma Road, a treacherous 1,150-kilometer lifeline connecting Kunming to British Burma
00:33and China's sole link to the outside world.
00:37To address a critical shortage of drivers and mechanics, the Chinese government turned to the China Relief Fund,
00:43led by businessman Tan Ka Ki.
00:47On February 7, 1939, a recruitment drive was launched across Nanyang, now known as Southeast Asia.
00:56Yong-Pok Yao, President of the Association of Kuangtong Cemetery Management in Kuala Lumpur,
01:01explains why China looked to Malaya for help.
01:03During 1937 July 7, Japan military attacked China.
01:10In fact, during that time, most of the air attacks, even the shipping, all have been conquered and controlled by
01:19the Japanese.
01:20From there, China got no alternative.
01:23The President at that time, Mr. Chiang Kai-shek, had to try to call up to...
01:27Now we call it Southeast Asia, at that time it's called Nanyang.
01:31They need a help from Malaysia, because firstly, they need a medical treatment, medical equipment,
01:38even foods, drinks, even the military equipment for Malaysia.
01:45And Mr. Tan Ka Ki at that time, trying to call up most of the Malaysians, especially the Chinese.
01:52At that time, because why the Chinese, I should say, they are the first generation who came,
01:57all the way from China to work in Malaysia and Singapore.
02:01They are the first batch.
02:02That's right, to them, that is their home.
02:04They need to protect their home.
02:06More than 3,000 volunteers came forward, among them Malays, Burmese, Indonesians, and Indians.
02:14Of the 55 Indian volunteers, 20 were Sikhs, who included three brothers from Taiping,
02:20Qatar Singh, Dara Singh, and Sardara Singh.
02:23Actually, not only Chinese, but other races also, they also trying to help China in that time.
02:30So, among those people who went as the mechanic and also drivers,
02:35so the squadron leaders is the Dara Singh, and then Gartha Singh,
02:41and also the youngest brothers is Sardara Singh.
02:45Only two managed to return.
02:47The youngest one, very sad to say, he already sacrificed during the duty.
02:54Dara Singh, born in 1914, came from a family of service.
02:59His father, Mota Singh, had served in Mesopotamia in 1915.
03:06After excelling at King Edward VII School, Dara Singh joined the Malayan police as a drill instructor
03:11before training as a motor mechanic.
03:13Dara Singh, while he was there, picked up many Chinese dialects and became very proficient in the languages.
03:24After the war, the two brothers returned to Malaysia, and they were stationed in Taiping.
03:33Dara Singh became a teacher as a PE instructor in Hullian School in Taiping.
03:39Later on, he joined the public service and became a game warden stationed in Shramban.
03:46While the other brother, Kata Singh, became a foreman at the tin dredging in Taiping.
03:54The other brother, Sudara Singh, and we have never heard of him after that.
04:00As squadron leader, Dara Singh was responsible for overseeing more than 1,000 lorries in Paoshan,
04:06ensuring every vehicle reached its destination.
04:09On one fateful day, the front axle of his supply bus snapped without warning,
04:14sending the vehicle careening off course.
04:17Miraculously, he walked away unharmed,
04:20a stark reminder of the dangers these volunteers face daily.
04:23They need to bring it to China.
04:26This is the only way, by route,
04:29that they can go through all the way from South Asia to Vietnam, Myanmar,
04:35and go back to Kunming.
04:37This is the only route.
04:38Among them, there are about 3,100 plus of people
04:42who become the volunteer mechanic and also drivers.
04:47So, about half are already sacrificed during their duty.
04:52Among that, about 40%, they are because of disease.
04:56And 5%, accident.
04:58And another 5% being attacked by the Japanese aircraft.
05:02So, it is very important for this transport,
05:05because at that time, the sea road was already controlled by the Japanese.
05:10So, because of that, they want to find a way
05:12so that they can continue to send goods and needed items to China.
05:16From 1939 to 1942, nine batches of volunteers made the journey,
05:23more than 3,000 in all.
05:26Today, memorials at the Kuangtong Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur
05:30and the Ayer Hitam Memorial in Penang
05:33honor this extraordinary chapter of history.
05:36Records held by the expatriate Chinese Affairs Office of Yunnan Province,
05:40if brought together with these two sites,
05:42could help piece together a fuller account of this shared legacy.
05:47Actually, in Kuangtong Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur,
05:50we do have the first one Nanyang Volunteer's Monument in the world.
05:56It was built and completed in 1947, November 30th.
06:01Every year on the 15th of August, since 2018,
06:06we are doing an event for everybody.
06:09Actually, we are trying to call on, to call up all the,
06:13especially Malaysians who try to remember about the Second World War.
06:18From this volunteer park, we put on all the 3,200 names
06:23into five different area.
06:27Actually, they are from the nine batches
06:29who are going from Malaysia,
06:31at that time of Malaysia, Singapore,
06:34going all the way to,
06:36going through Burma and go to Kunming.
06:39I would say that these people,
06:41they really contribute a lot
06:43to maintain the safety and also harmony in China.
06:50So, moreover, I would say that they actually are the heroes
06:54during that Second World War.
06:57Today, the names of Dara Singh,
06:59Kata Singh and Sardara Singh live on in quiet cemeteries
07:03and on engraved stone across Malaysia.
07:06Drivers, mechanics, volunteers,
07:09but above all, heroes.
07:11Their journey along the Burma Road endures
07:14as a testament to courage,
07:15unity and sacrifice in one of history's darkest hours.
07:19kole Vilza Singh movements of the Sun
07:20on Japaneseここ
07:29are and are
07:29with no one with the pensions.
07:29Thank you for your support,
07:31that's зем mainly
07:34that's home of the People
07:37who are playing
07:37and they can do
07:37it for your As.
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