Mubin Sheppard


Abdul Mubin Sheppard was a Malaysian World War II veteran and prisoner of war, renowned historian and academician.

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 in 1928; a year after passing his qualification examination exam in London. He eventually became attached to the country and its people during his posting there.

World War II

He served as a Company Commander in the 1st Battalion, Federated Malay States Volunteer Force from 1941 until 1942 with a rank of Captain, in which he became a prisoner of war during the Second World War. 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.
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. One year later, he became the first director of the then-Federation of Malaya's own national museum; 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.

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.

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."
He was the founding father of the Malaya Association of Youth Clubs, a youth association inspired by the National Association of Boys' Club.

Honours

Among the honours and awards he has received including:

Honours of the United Kingdom