Imagine enduring unspeakable torture yet remaining resolute in the face of your captors.
This was the reality for Sybil Kathigasu and her husband, who were both interrogated and beaten during their imprisonment.
Abdon, her husband, faced the water treatment three times, while Kathigasu was mercilessly beaten and questioned.
Throughout it all, she clung to her rosary, refusing to divulge any information to the Kempeitai.
The torment reached a terrifying climax when Kempeitai Sergeant Eiko Yoshimura kidnapped their five-year-old daughter, Dawn.
Tied to a tree with flames licking at her feet, Dawn’s fate was used to break Kathigasu’s spirit.
Despite being bound and beaten, Kathigasu’s resolve remained unshaken.
Her daughter’s brave words, “Be very brave, Mummy. Do not tell them anything,” echoed in her mind.
Even as the officers began to cut the ropes, they eventually relented and spared Dawn.
Kathigasu confronted Yoshimura, which resulted in a brutal beating that inflicted a fatal injury to her jaw.
Despite this, Kathigasu and her family were moved to Batu Gajah prison, a comparatively humane location where she faced trial.
Charged with espionage, spreading British propaganda, and aiding rebels, Kathigasu was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The severe beatings left her paralyzed, while her husband and son received lesser sentences.
The family’s suffering ended in 1945 after Germany and Japan’s surrenders.
Kathigasu, freed from her chains, made a poignant visit to St. Joseph’s Church, crawling down the aisle in gratitude.
Soon after, she was flown to London for medical treatment, where she penned her autobiography, “No Dram of Mercy.”
Her written accounts helped convict Yoshimura, who was executed for his war crimes.
For her bravery, King George VI awarded her the George Medal at Buckingham Palace.
A Hero Remembered
Kathigasu’s life was tragically cut short on June 12, 1948, when she died of sepsis from her jaw injury.
Initially buried in Scotland, her remains were later returned to Ipoh and re-interred at St. Michael’s Church.
Her husband passed away 24 years later.
Honoring Sybil Kathigasu
Kathigasu’s legacy lives on in Malaysia and beyond.
A road in Ipoh bears her name, and her former clinic stands as a memorial.
Recognized by Time magazine and featured in a TV series, her story continues to inspire. A Google Doodle honored her in 2016, and plans for a biopic are underway.
A Saintly Legacy
Catholics also venerate Kathigasu.
Pilgrims visit her graveside and memorials.
During the 2019 Year of Mission, she was celebrated as a model of the Church’s mission.
Her life of service and compassion is remembered and celebrated, with a wing of the Church of St. Joseph named in her honor.
Cardinal Francis praised her for her unwavering love and compassion, marking 76 years since her passing.
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