Mubin Sheppard

Abdul Mubin Sheppard PSM DPMS JMN CMG MBE OStJ, born Mervyn Cecil ffrank Sheppard,[1] pen name M. C. ff Sheppard,[2] (21 June 1905 – 11 September 1994[3][4]) was a Malaysian World War II veteran and prisoner of war, renowned historian and academician.

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato'

Mubin Sheppard

PSM DPMS JMN CMG MBE OStJ
Born
Mervyn Cecil ffrank Sheppard

(1905-06-21)21 June 1905
Ireland
Died12 September 1994(1994-09-12) (aged 89)
Burial placeJalan Ampang Muslim Cemetery
CitizenshipMalaysia
Alma materMarlborough College
Magdalene College, Cambridge University
Occupation
OrganizationMalaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society
Notable work
  • The Malay Regiment 1933–1947 (1978)
  • The Adventures of Hang Tuah (1984)
  • A Short History of Terengganu (1949)
StyleHistorical
TitleFirst Keeper of Public Records
Spouse(s)Puan Sri Rosemary Sheppard, Tengku Mariam, Tengku Ismail,
ChildrenLavender Frances Sheppard
Awards
Military career
AllegianceAllied forces
Service/branch Volunteer Reserves
Years of service1941–1945
RankMajor
UnitFederated Malay States Volunteer Force
Commands held1st Battalion, Federated Malay States Volunteer Forces
Battles/warsWorld War II

Life and career

Early life

Mervyn Sheppard was born on 21 June 1905 in Ireland. He obtained his early education at Marlborough College later at Cambridge University. He enrolled in the Malayan Civil Services (MCS) in 1928; a year after passing his qualification examination exam in London. He became attached to the country and its people during his posting there. On 27 January 1939, he married Rosemary Oakeley in St Andrew’s Cathedral, Singapore. Their daughter, his only child, Lavender, was born in October 1941. Their marriage continued until their deaths.

World War II

He served as a Company Commander in the 1st Battalion, Federated Malay States Volunteer Force (FMSVF) from 1941 until 1942 with a rank of Captain, in which he became a prisoner of war during the Second World War.[5] He retired as a Major in the FMSVF in 1945.

Post-WWII

He deciding to stay on his job in the civil service until his total retirement in 1963. He converted into Islam in 1957, taking on the name of Abdul Mubin Sheppard, and undertaking the Haj.

In 1958, he was appointed as the first Keeper of Public Records, whose office would eventually evolve to become the Arkib Negara, or the National Archives.[4] One year later, he became the first director of the then-Federation of Malaya's own national museum;[4] where he had assembled a team tasked with retrieving artefacts covering the many historical eras of Malaya from cities like Lisbon and London to be exhibited there.[6][7]

Death

He died on 11 September 1994 at the Subang Jaya Medical Centre in Subang Jaya, Selangor. He was buried in Jalan Ampang Muslim Cemetery with military traditions and national honours.[8]

Legacy

The Mubin Sheppard Memorial Prize was established under his name in 1996 by the Malaysia Heritage Trust to stimulate students' awareness of "the need to conserve Malaysia's built heritage and to encourage research and writings on various aspects of conservation and preservation."[9]

He was the founding father of the Malaya Association of Youth Clubs (EST. 1954), a youth association inspired by the National Association of Boys' Club.[10]

Honours

Among the honours and awards he has received including:[10][11]

Honours of the United Kingdom

Honours of Malaysia

Malaysian State honours

Bibliography

His works include:

  • Tunku Abdul Rahman; Father of Independence 1957–1970
  • The Adventures of Hang Tuah (1949)
  • A Short History of Terengganu (1949)
  • A Short History of Malaya (1953)
  • The Malay Regiment 1933–1947 (1978)
  • Taman budiman: Memoirs of an unorthodox civil servant (1979)
  • Singapore 150 Years (1982) ISBN 9971-65-092-4
  • Tunku, a pictorial biography, 1903–1957 (1984) ISBN 9679780023

References
  1. "Imperial War Museum, Department of Documents: 1997 Accessions". The National Archives. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  2. SHEPPARD, M. C. ff (1938). "THE TRENGGANU 'RODAT'". Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 16 (1 (130)): 109–114. ISSN 2304-7550.
  3. "Tan Sri Datuk (Dr) Hj. Abdul Mubin Sheppard (1905–1994)". 9 November 2009.
  4. "Profil Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Haji Abdul Mubin Sheppard". National Archives of Malaysia (in Malay).
  5. Moggie, Elizabeth (26 January 2018). "Volunteers also gave up life for the country". The Star. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  6. Noraini Abd. Razak (3 April 2011). "Muzium jadi darah daging". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  7. Rais Yatim. "Kehilangan khazanah budaya Melayu". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  8. "Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Haji Abdul Mubin Sheppard". National Archives of Malaysia (in Malay). Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  9. "Mubin Sheppard Memorial Prize". Badan Warisan Malaysia | Malaysia Heritage Trust. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2006.
  10. "Mubin Sheppard". Veteran MAYC (in Malay). 13 September 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  11. Faridah Abdul Rashid (21 November 2011). "Mubin Sheppard (1905–1994)". The Early Malay Doctors. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  12. "Recommendation for Award for Sheppard, Mervyn Cecil Frank Rank: Captain". The National Archives. 5 December 1946. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  13. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat". istiadat.gov.my.
  14. "DPMS 1982". awards.selangor.gov.my. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
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