The Students War Memorial Bursary supports medical undergraduates, carrying forward a legacy of courage, sacrifice and service.
Some legacies begin not with triumph, but with tragedy.
On 14 February 1942, a young medical student was killed during the Japanese shelling of Tan Tock Seng Hospital. At his funeral, 10 more students lost their lives in a subsequent round of bombardment. In the aftermath of this tragedy, their medical college peers came together to establish the Students War Memorial Fund in 1947. It was their way of honouring the fallen, not just in name, but through action.
Today, more than 80 years on, that spirit of solidarity lives on through the Students War Memorial Bursary. Awarded each year to medical undergraduates facing financial difficulty, the Bursary is both a memorial and a lifeline.
Among its most recent recipients is Dr Matthias Enrui Thummachai (Medicine ’25).
“It is my greatest privilege to have received the Students War Memorial Bursary,” wrote Dr Thummachai in a thank-you letter to donors of the Bursary. “It fills me with humility to know that I am receiving this Bursary in honour of my predecessors.”
Grateful for the financial aid received from the Bursary, Dr Matthias Thummachai hopes to pay it forward in his service to the community.
For Dr Thummachai, the Bursary allowed him to fully commit to his final year of medical school. With long hours in the wards and the weight of the MBBS exams, the support meant he could stay focused without the added stress of financial strain. “It is only because of your great generosity that I am able to enjoy the same opportunities as my classmates,” he added. “For this, I’m immensely grateful.”
Throughout his journey, Dr Thummachai has remained grounded in the ideals behind the Bursary: sacrifice, service and solidarity. These values shape the kind of doctor he hopes to be.
“I endeavour to become a skilled and empathetic doctor who can advocate for my patients, to empower them to take ownership of their health and journey with them in life,” he shared. “All while keeping in mind the vital goal of giving back to the community that has lifted me up and championing those who are less fortunate in whatever way I can.”
Keeping The Spirit Alive
From the wreckage of war, a new tradition of care, commitment and community was born. The Students War Memorial Bursary stands as a powerful reminder that legacies are not just monuments of the past, but also acts of compassion that continue to shape lives. Each new recipient of the Bursary carries forward the memories and aspirations of the 11 young students who never had the chance to finish what they started.
As the notes of that early Medical College Union sub-committee meeting explained: “We truly hope that the same spirit of camaraderie continues to burn in the hearts of all members of the union.”
And in students like Dr Thummachai, we can see that this spirit is well and truly alive.
You can continue to carry this legacy forward. Make a gift to the Students War Memorial Fund and support the next generation of healers.
