Travelogue Penang Heritage Trail - The Battle of Penang | War Memorial (Cenotaph)

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Penang Heritage Trail - The Battle of Penang | War Memorial (Cenotaph)
Written by Shirley T   
Sunday, 24 May 2009 05:40
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Located by the sea at Jalan Padand Kota Lama or Esplanade in George Town, Penang War Memorial is a monument erected to commemorate the brave soldiers who sacrificed themselves in The Battle of Penang during World War I.
Penang War Memorial - it is now gated!
Even our forefathers might not recall this event vividly as it occurred too short, just in a day!

Malaya as it was called then was not affected much by the Great War but Penang as part of British Straits Settlement and a strategic harbor was occupied and heavily used by Allied naval and merchant vessels.


Early morning on 28 October 1914, Penang harbour was caught by a surprise German naval attack. SMS Emden led by
Korvettenkapitän (Lt. Commander) Karl von Müller which was sent on a solitary raiding mission, pretended to be a British cruiser HMS Yarmouth by rigging a false smoke stack when entering Penang port.
In honor of the brave soldiers in World War I
Once they had entered the harbor and raised their German naval ensign, it was too late for any Allied warships to respond. First torpedo was fired at a Russian protected cruiser - Zhemchug. She sank after massive explosion and 89
crews were killed with 143 wounded. The second torpedo attacked a French destroyer Mousquet which happened to had just returned from patrol. Forty four (44) French soldiers including her commander Lt. Théroinne were killed and 36 survivors (3 crews later passed on due to injuries) were picked by Emden. Then, they were transferred to British steamer Newburn vessel and sent to Sabang Sumatra occupied by then neutral Dutch of East Indies.
Next to The War Monument was another Cenotaph to The Unsung Heros
The life of Emden did not last long. Ten days later, she was being sunk in The Battle of Cocos at Indian Ocean.

Getting there?
Click here for Google Map. Alternatively, if you are putting up in Geoge Town, hop on the free shuttle bus (CAT) provided by Penang State Government.

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