Hero’s are people who are able to demonstrate leadership, able to stand fast against difficult circumstances, and excel in a certain quality, to rise above the expectations of others. An ordinary person can be a hero, in difficult situations, where others has either no will or no hope to prevail, and that person has the courage, determination and willpower to persevere. A person not necessarily has to succeed in something to be considered a hero. If that person demonstrates his noble intentions through his actions, people will also consider him a hero, a martyr if he fails, but a hero nevertheless.
Firstly, the will to succeed is the most important. A person may be very smart, have resources and favours may be on his side. However, if he quails at the slightest difficulty, he will never succeed. Therefore, his determination is the most important factor in being a hero.
In most of the situations where a hero rises from, it is the ability to demonstrate leadership that is the most important. Although there is no exact definition of leadership, the basis of leadership is making the right choices, and guiding the team through a task or event. To have good leadership skills, one must first take the initiative to do what is correct, not only considering himself but also the whole team’s benefit from that decision. A wrong choice, however, will not only affect the whole team, the blame will be primarily on the leader. This brings us to Adnan bin Saidi and how he was considered a hero from his actions.
Adnan bin Saidi, (1915 - 14 February 1942), was a Malayan soldier of the 1st Infantry Brigade which fought the Japanese in the Battle of Singapore. He is regarded by Malaysians and Singaporeans today as a hero for his actions on Bukit Chandu.
Opium Hill or Bukit Chandu in Malay was named after an opium-processing factory located at the foot of the hill. This was also where C Company of the Malay Regiment made their final stand against the Japanese attack. Opium Hill was a key defence position for two important reasons. It was situated on high ground overlooking the island to the north; and secondly, if the Japanese gained control of the ridge, it gave them direct passage to the Alexandra area. The British army had its main ammunition and supply depots, military hospital and other key installations located in the Alexandra area.
Adnan led a 42-strong platoon from the Malay Regiment in the defense of Singapore against the invading Japanese. They were holding part of the defenses of Bukit Chandu. He and his men would take the brunt of the Japanese assault. The Malaysians had very little ammunition, few heavy weapons, they were impossibly outnumbered, and they had absolutely no hope of receiving any type of reinforcements or resupply.
It wasn’t long before the Japanese made contact, beginning their attack by shelling Opium Hill with more mortars and artillery. Once the defenders’ positions had been sufficiently blown up, the Imperial Infantry began their assault up the ridge. Armed with little more than their service rifles, the Malay troops valiantly tried to fight off the Japanese onslaught, but soon were overpowered. Eventually the tide of Imperial troops broke through the Malaysian ranks and the two forces fell into brutal hand-to-hand combat. Then, Adnan bin Saidi ordered his men to fix bayonets and charge the enemy head-on. Company C jammed their bayonets on the ends of their rifles, and rushed forward at the Japanese, impaling anybody they came. The tactic worked – the Japanese lines were broken and the survivors were driven back down Opium Hill to regroup.
From this, we see his situation. Most commanders would have despaired in those circumstances. With little man, little ammunition and poor weapons, chances of fighting against the Japanese and even surviving the first onslaught was extremely slim. However, Abdul didn’t give up. He bravely stood his ground when he and his troops were outnumbered. When the Japanese troops broke through their ranks, he demonstrated his leadership and ability to think fast by devising a plan to break the lines of the Japanese and force them to with draw.
From that encounter, we can see him fulfilling the conditions to be a hero. He showed great determination and perseverance in the face of the enemy, and he also prevailed by showing his leadership abilities and worked with what little he had to defeat the Japanese. He succeeded beyond anyone’s expectations and proved himself a true hero.
Group 2
Theodore
Siew Han
Nicholas
Jet
Hashen
Samuel
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