WONG Lan Eng
Japanese Occupation of Singapore,
Accession Number 000007
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 7
Total Reels
- Low Lay Leng
Interviewer
- 03:11:09
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 7
Metadata
- 28 Sep 1983
Recording Date
- 00:29:56
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:21) Personal and educational background.
(0:01:21) Outbreak of the war interrupted her studies for a year.
(0:06:08) Impact of the war on Raffles College staff and students.
(0:09:53) Why the government issued ration cards.
(0:11:26) How she felt after the first bombing at Pasir Panjang.
(0:13:45) Some family members stayed behind in the family home because they feared looters.
(0:21:55) Houses were searched by the Japanese.
(0:27:26) How she felt when the British had surrendered.
(0:28:28) Reason her father made her dress like a boy.
Personal background. Lived in Niven Road. Educational background. Preparation for war. Locals thought war would be restricted to China. Advice given on air raid safety measures. Japanese attack expected to come from the sea. Issue of ration cards. First bombing in Pasir Panjang. Exodus to countryside. Long siren to signal end of air raid. House search by Japanese. Why they knew British were losing. Masqueraded as boys.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 7
Metadata
- 28 Sep 1983
Recording Date
- 00:29:52
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:01:22) The state of their Niven Road home.
(0:05:23) The Japanese issued directives for schools and offices to reopen.
(0:07:01) A Japanese school for adults called Syonan Nippon Gakun was set up at Queen Street.
(0:08:28) What she learnt there and how the school was run.
(0:10:18) Her impressions of Japanese soldiers.
(0:16:25) Why she studied Japanese language.
(0:18:04) The enrolment system, curriculum and method of teaching in Japanese schools.
(0:24:40) Why speaking Japanese was useful in the workplace.
Family returned to Niven Road. Exhibition of decapitated heads. Reason why she stayed longer in Tampines. Japanese tried to normalise situation soon after occupation. Special school for adults. Impression of Japanese soldiers. Queen Street School. Why she studied Japanese language. Enrolment system, curriculum and method of teaching in Japanese school.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 7
Metadata
- 28 Sep 1983
Recording Date
- 00:29:49
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:11) Elaborated on Japanese school.
(0:08:29) Described the graduation ceremony.
(0:11:04) An advanced teacher training school was set up at Upper Serangoon.
(0:14:20) Why there were insufficient job vacancies.
(0:16:17) She obtained work in the education department, and later on in a commercial company.
(0:19:37) How the Japanese used Fullerton Building and Raffles College.
(0:20:22) Elaborated on the structure and purpose of the education department where she worked.
(0:28:51) Her impressions of the responsibilities of the Japanese personnel in the education department.
More details on Japanese school. Speeches made by students. Teacher training in Upper Serangoon. School recommended jobs to students. Insufficient jobs. Obtained job in Education Department. Recognized guard who used to work in ten cents store. Propaganda Department. Education Department. Copying work done by Japanese. Officer who supervised local religious matters. Responsibilities of Japanese personnel.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 7
Metadata
- 28 Sep 1983
Recording Date
- 00:29:48
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:01:37) Relationship between the locals and the Japanese.
(0:03:04) What working conditions were like.
(0:06:43) Some Japanese personnel used their quota to buy things for local staff.
(0:11:49) Older Malay and Indian local staff worked at a level above theirs.
(0:13:22) Duties of her Japanese bosses, and how they treated the staff.
(0:15:23) Security measures at the office.
(0:20:13) Forced to assemble at the Padang for the visit of General Tojo.
(0:23:38) After the education department was reorganised, she worked at Tsucho Kaisha.
(0:27:17) Kaisha did purchasing for the butai.
Slapping of fellow Japanese. Relationship between locals and Japanese. Daily routine at work. Working conditions - salary, privileges. Limited work for locals because of confidentiality. Security in the office. Visit to Japanese shrine. Forced to assemble at Padang for visit of General Tojo. After re-organisation of Education Department, worked in Tsucho Kaisha. Kaisha did purchasing for butai.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 7
Metadata
- 28 Sep 1983
Recording Date
- 00:29:51
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:07) How Tsucho Kaisha operated.
(0:04:35) Decentralisation of departments was a safety measure against air raids.
(0:06:45) Why the Japanese moved their office away from the city.
(0:09:17) Her impressions of how the Japanese felt towards the end of the Occupation.
(0:13:38) Situation in Singapore towards the end of the Japanese Occupation.
(0:14:50) Local staff were given tools to grow food, and her office arranged for farmers to grow food for the staff.
(0:18:39) Behaviour towards locals improved after news that Tokyo might be bombed.
(0:22:46) System of buying and selling in Kaisha.
(0:28:38) General living conditions outside of work.
How Kaishas commenced operation. Types of goods dealt with by Kaisha. Operational and organisational details of Kaisha. Decentralisation of departments as safety measure against air raids. Situation in Singapore towards end of Japanese Occupation. People left for Bahau. Grow More Food Campaign; company food growing scheme. Japanese demoralised when Japan was bombed and naval commander died. Behaviour towards locals improved. System of buying/selling in Kaisha.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 7
Metadata
- 28 Sep 1983
Recording Date
- 00:28:52
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:03:44) Impact of the Grow More Food campaign on locals.
(0:07:59) Important Japanese events were celebrated.
(0:09:31) Each local household was instructed to make their own Japanese flag.
(0:11:16) There was no official announcement of the Japanese surrender.
(0:15:52) Conditions in Singapore when the Japanese surrendered.
(0:19:47) There was speculation that the British would redeem Japanese currency.
(0:22:21) Recollection of the general situation during the British Military Administration (BMA).
(0:24:46) Types of challenges that schools faced during the BMA.
(0:27:15) Schools where she taught.
Visits from Japanese colleagues. Food situation. Types of entertainment. Celebration of Japanese festivals. Every household instructed to make flag. Preparation by Japanese to leave. No official announcement of Japanese surrender. Japanese continued to guard essential services. Fear that Japanese might blow up Singapore. Speculation that British would redeem Japanese currency. Situation during British Military Administration (BMA) - food, prices, jobs, schools.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 7
Metadata
- 28 Sep 1983
Recording Date
- 00:13:01
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:07) Why she refused to complete the teacher training course.
(0:01:19) She fought to be remunerated for loss of income during the war.
(0:04:24) Her impressions of the British Military Administration (BMA).
(0:05:43) Impact that the Japanese Occupation had on Singaporeans and her.
Reasons for refusing to complete teacher training course. Her impressions of British Miliary Administration. Impact of Japanese Occupation on herself and Singapore. People became more assertive as they knew British were not infallible. Good impression of Japanese educational system.
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