Title : Biography & History An Oral History Project on the Japanese Occupation

By : Kwek Jin Foon Janet

Programme : Advance Diploma in Primary Social Studies.

Tutor : Dr Kevin Blackburn

National Institute of Singapore 1 Nanyang Walk Singapore 637616 Date : 15 Oct 2002

My Dad’s life during the Japanese Occupation.

The subject of my oral history interview is my father, Kwek Keng Tee, who was about 18 years old during the Japanese Occupation. The interview was done in Hainanese punctuated with the occasional Malay or English words when I was struck with a Hainanese vocabulary. Dad lived on a farm with his parents and his two younger brothers in Pasir Panjang area. Grandma managed the farm while grandpa ran a coffee-stall business near the beach opposite Tiger Balm Garden. As they were staying in Pasir Panjang, they experienced the beginning of the war. “(1 : pg 11)The Japanese had finally landed near the causeway, and there was fighting in Kranji and Mandai. Before long, it was Pasir Panjang, Bukit Timah and Yio Chu Kang.”

He described the bomb shelter of those days as trenches covered with planks and soil at the top. They were deep enough for man to walk through upright.

The fact of innocent civilians being killed at beaches was evident when my dad mentioned seeing human skulls being washed up at Pasir Panjang Beach but he was not sure where they came from.

Surprisingly, my father liked the life he had during the Japanese Occupation.

Another surprising issue is that most of the Japanese soldiers encountered by my dad were actually Taiwanese. They spoke mandarin and Hokkien.

Dad’s witness of the Cantonese man hung to death for stealing bananas was scary.

When I tried to find out whether the women were abused during the Occupation, I observed that Dad did not want to elaborate much on the subject.

Dad was not so happy when the Japanese surrendered as it meant losing his job with an income of salary and food.

To conclude: As time goes by, we will reach a day when it’s not possible to interview one who have had authentic experience of the war and Japanese Occupation. As the Japanese Occupation occurred more than 60 years ago and before such people ‘perish’ with time, the timing of this assignment is perfect. It gave me the opportunity to keep a record of what my father had to go through. My greatest regret is not being able to interview my grandparents. They must have had a different story to tell.

Footnotes: 1. Escape from Battambang. A personal World War II Experience by Geoffrey Tan.

2. Syonan – My story. The Japananese Occupation of Singapore by Mamoru Shinozaki.

3. Beyond the Empires. Memories Retold by Cindy Chou.

4. The Singapore Story. Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew.

5. SingaporeThe Battle That Changed the World. The enthralling story of the rise and fall of a magical city by James Leasor.

6. Taiwan (third Edition). Nation-State or Province? By John F. Cooper.

7. Living Hell. Story of a WWII Survivor at the Death Railway by Goh Chor Boon.

8. P4 Social Studies Textbook 4B. Discovering our world. The Dark Years by Curriculum Planning & Development Division, Ministry of Education, Singapore.

Bibliography:

1. Cooper, John F. Taiwan (third Edition). Nation-State or Province? Westview Press, 1999.

2. Chou, Cindy. Beyond the Empires. Memories Retold by Cindy Chou. National Heritage Board, 1995.

3. Goh, Chor Boon. Living Hell. Story of a WWII Survivor at the Death Railway. Asiapac Books Pte Ltd, 1999.

4. Leasor, James. Singapore. The Battle That Changed the World. The enthralling story of the rise and fall of a magical city. House of Stratus, 2001.

5. Lee, Kuan Yew. The Singapore Story. Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew. Times Editions Pte Ltd, 1998.

6. Shinozaki, Mamoru. Syonan – My story. The Japanese Occupation of Singapore. Times Books International, 1982.

7. Tan, Geoffrey. Escape from Battambang. A personal World War II Experience. Armour Publishing Pte Ltd. 2001.

Reference:

Curriculum Planning & Development Division, Ministry of Education, Singapore. Social Studies Textbook 4B : Discovering our world. The Dark Years, 1999.

Oral History Transcript

Life during the Japanese Occupation

Q1. How did you know that the Japanese had invaded Singapore?

We heard a siren. An aeroplane dropped a bomb at Pasir Panjang, near the Tiger Balm Garden beach. We ran to an underground bomb shelter.

Q2. What was the shelter like in those days?

It was a dug out tunnel covered with planks first, then soil and grass on top.

Q3. Who dug the tunnel? Could it hold many people and how deep was it?

The British. It was very long, from one hill to another hill, head high; we could

walk through. Not sure how many people could go in.

Q4. Was it safe to stay in Pasir Panjang then?

While the fights were going on, we were told to move away from the area. We

packed some clothes and food and ran to Holland Road. We stayed in

someone’s pig sty for 2 to 3 nights. Then we headed to Tanglin/Orchard area

and stayed in a relative’s work place, a shop, for a few days till the surrender on

Chinese New Year day.

Pg 1

Q5. How did you know about the surrender?

There was a siren. The British Flag was replaced with the Japanese Flag in

Tanglin area. Q6. What happened after the surrender?

We walked all the way back to Pasir Panjang. There was no water to drink. It

was a very long walk.

One day, everyone had to go the Kampong Java to be screened and interviewed.

Better not say that you are studying or working with the British. Could be

captured and be killed.

Q7. How did you know not to say these?

Those who went before us came back and warned us. Those who said that they

were studying, were asked to walk in a line and those who were working for the

British, walked on another line. They never came back. Some were sent to

Thailand or Malaya to dig tunnels or make roads. Many died of swollen feet,

illnesses and starvation.

Q8. Were there any killings in Singapore?

I heard about those who were killed by firing . Some fell into the trenches and

pretended to be dead. They crawled out and escaped in the middle of the night. Once while looking for herbs at the beach opposite Tiger Balm Garden to treat a

relative who was suffering from ‘snake’ – shingles , I saw lots of human skulls

being washed up to the beach. I quickly ran away.

Pg 2

Q9. What was life like during the Japanese Occupation?

I quite like life during the Japanese ‘Hand”.

Q10. How was that so?

A former Japanese Army Officer took over the management of a Rubber

Factory in Pasir Panjang. I worked there as a ‘Mandur’ (supervisor in Malay). I

was given free rice, food and a salary.

Q11. What did the factory make? Were there many workers?

We made tyre tubes. There were many pretty Teochew ladies working there.

I worked there till the Japanese surrendered.

Q12. What happen to your ‘Japanese Boss’ after the Japanese surrender?

He cried and the British captured him to do odd job.

Q13. Did you continue to work in the Rubber Factory?

No, the British took over the factory and I went back to work in our farm.

Q14. Did Grandpa continue with his coffee stall business during the Japanese

Occupation?

Yes, his stall was near the beach. One day, some Japanese soldiers, they were not real Japanese, they were

recruited overseas Chinese, sold stolen sugar and cigarettes to your grandpa.

After that, they sabotaged your grandpa by reporting to the Japanese officers.

Pg 3

The officers went to the coffee stall to check for smuggled goods. Your

grandpa was taken away and beaten on the shoulders with logs. He came

back with swollen shoulders. He could have been killed by firing if the

officers were nasty.

Q15. How did grandpa got his big toe crooked?

One day, your Grandpa, grandma and myself were standing near the Pasir

Panjang hill where firing took place. A ‘bomb’ from a big gun exploded near

us. Your Grandpa injured his thigh and toe. He was bleeding badly.

Q16. Was he sent to hospital?

No, there’s no money. He self medicated and bandaged the wounds himself.

After a long time, he recovered.

Q17. Did you all have enough food to eat during the Japanese Occupation?

It wasn’t a problem. We had our own farm.

We also got lots of rice because of me working for the Japanese and everytime I

worked overtime, I received extra rice. I could also collect rice with my

Identity Card. Pg 4

Q18. Were women ill-treated?

The Japanese soldiers ‘disturb’ the women while their husbands were tied up.

Young ladies had to hide in the ceilings of their houses to avoid being captured

by the Japanese.

Q19. Since you were staying in Pasir Panjang area, have you heard of a Singapore

Malay Officer who fought bravely against the Japanese?

No, we were told by the British government to leave the place. We went to

Holland Road area.

Q20. You once mentioned that a Japanese Soldier slapped you and caused your ear

to go deaf. What happened?

One day, the man who collects human waste in buckets accidentally spilled

some shit at the entrance of a sentry post. People were asked who did it and I

was one of those who refused to reveal the culprit So I was slapped very hard in the face. It was very painful. After that, I became partially deaf on the

left ear.

Q21. Why didn’t you reveal the culprit identity?

The poor man could have been killed. They hung a Cantonese man who was

doing building work for the Japanese by the neck till he died for stealing

bananas from someone’s backyard.

Pg 5

Q22. Do you hate the Japanese?

No, they were not pure Japanese soldiers. Most of them were Taiwanese.

Q23. How did you know that they were Taiwanese?

They were speaking in Mandarin and Hokkien.

Q24. Were you glad that the Japanese surrendered?

I like those days during the Japanese Occupation. As a Japanese worker, I was

also given an arm band for easy travelling. Your grandpa once used it to go to

town by bicycle to buy provision as there was no name on the band. It was a

great privilege.

Thanks Dad, that was interesting. Pg 6