History's Secret Heroes - Series 4: Sybil Kathigasu and the Price of Compassion

About this episode

Why did a midwife risk her life to help the resistance during the Japanese occupation of Malaya? The remarkable story of how Sybil Kathigasu, with the help of her husband, secretly treated wounded soldiers and aided the guerillas. With historian and filmmaker Tim Doughty, Coco Bently, Kathigasu’s granddaughter and Law Siak Hong, cultural activist and heritage conservationist. Helena Bonham Carter shines a light on extraordinary stories from World War Two. Join her for incredible tales of deception, acts of resistance and courage. A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Producer: Lorna Reader Executive Producer: Paul Smith Written by Alex von Tunzelmann Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts