July

by Hla Min

Updated : July 2025

Background

• Fifth month in the old Roman Calendar; Had 30 days. The month was given an extra day and renamed in honor of Julius Caesar.
• Seventh month in the Gregorian Calendar; Has 31 days

My father’s birthday

• Born on 1st July
• Passed away in his 80s
• See posts : “Phay Phay” & “Let Oo Saya”

Men on the Moon

• Apollo 11 Mission
• Eagle (Lunar Module) landed in Tranquility Bay on the Moon on July 20, 1969
• Neil Armstrong (Mission Commander) was the first to land on the moon
• Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin (Lunar Module Pilot) was the second to land on the moon
• Michael Collins (Command Module Pilot) circled the Moon and waited for his crew mates to return from the Moon
• I wrote a poem “Men on the Moon”. A copy was sent by Mr. Hall (Information Officer, USIA) to NASA. The poem was published in the Guardian.
  

US Independence

• 4th of July

Martyrs’ Day

• July 19, 1947
• Bogyoke Aung San, six ministers, a Secretary and a bodyguard were assassinated

• Nine Arzanis were gunned down on July 19, 1947.
• Eight perished that day.
• Sao San Htun passed away at the hospital a day later.

• Bogyoke Aung San — passed away at the tender age of 32
  Children : U Aung San Oo, Aung San Lin (GBNF), Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
• Thakin Mya — Considered as Deputy Prime Minister
• Deedoke U Ba Cho — Grand children : Dr. Khin Hla Cho, Daw Khin Myint Cho
• Mahn Ba Khaing — Daughter : Daw Myint Myint Khaing
• Mong Pawn Sawbwa Sao San Htun — passed away in the hospital on July 20, 1947; Son : Sao Hso Holm
• U Ba Win — Bogyoke’s elder brother; Son : Dr. Sein Win
• U Razak — Sons : U Tin Myint, U Hla Kyi
• ICS U Ohn Maung — Sons: U Tin Maung Thein, Francis, Dr, Min Min
• Yebaw Maung Htwe

There are books (e.g. “Who killed Aung San?” and “Eliminate the Elite” by Kin Oung) and documentaries (e.g. “Who really killed Aung San?” by BBC program) about the fateful event.

Dark days in July 1962

• According to the newspapers, 17 died on July 7, 1962.
• Ko Aung Khin was stuck by a stray bullet as he was returning from RUBC to his home in Windermere Road. He was listed as the 17th victim.
• The celebration of the 7th July in 1963 ended with the closure of Universities with the exception of the Faculties of Medical & Engineering.

• The revered Student Union was demolished on July 8, 1962.

Posts

• 1960s
• Calendar
• Dark Moments
• Holidays
• Months