THOMPSON, Arthur Alexander
Japanese Occupation of Singapore,
Accession Number 000143
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 8
Total Reels
- Foo Say Kiat
Interviewer
- 03:19:30
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 8
Metadata
- 29 Mar 1982
Recording Date
- 00:27:29
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Sat for Senior Cambridge Examination on morning after first bombing. Neighbours evacuating further inland; his family remained. Witnessed bus loads of Chinese being shot. Reaction to British surrender. Food rationing started. Why his younger brother did shopping for family. Means of transportation. Internment of his English neighbours. Witnessed Europeans walking to Changi Camp.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 8
Metadata
- 29 Mar 1982
Recording Date
- 00:27:47
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Conditions in Singapore after British surrender. Civil servants re-called to work. No cut in electricity but cut in water supply for few days. Prisoners of war (POWs) brought out from camps to carry on services. Forms of torture in YMCA Kempeitai Branch. Japanese propaganda in newspaper. No restriction to celebration of festivals or religious worship. Sealing of radio. Changes in lifestyle - getting up early to queue for rations.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 8
Metadata
- 29 Mar 1982
Recording Date
- 00:27:27
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Black market system. Ration cards. Food shortage intensified later. His family registered as enemy aliens 2 1/2 years later. He did not work; hid in house. Registered at Chartered Bank in Battery Road. Restrictions given to enemy aliens. Procedure of registration. His view on purpose of registration. Family interned 6 months later at Sime Road Camp. Their reaction. Description of Sime Road Camp.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 8
Metadata
- 5 Apr 1982
Recording Date
- 00:27:46
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Daily diet. Camp organisation and administration. How rations were divided out and cooked. Separate camp for women. Number of internees in camp. How news bulletin was disseminated. Varying rice ration given; dependent on nature of work. Availability of water and electricity. Digging of tunnels. Rumours about usage of tunnels. Accommodation of internees. Males and females allowed to meet once a week.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 8
Metadata
- 5 Apr 1982
Recording Date
- 00:27:38
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Camp discipline. Layout of camp. Work done by internees; divided into various work teams. Medical facilities. Salaries given for work. Coordination of activities. Allocation of people to teams. Used money to buy gula melaka. Not allowed to cook; had to eat it raw. Involved in digging of tunnels. Location of these tunnels in camp.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 8
Metadata
- 5 Apr 1982
Recording Date
- 00:27:29
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Working conditions. No Japanese supervisors in camp. Japanese only concerned with guard duties. Relationship among internees. Work discipline. Japanese punishment for workers leaving camp. Type of work done by women. Concerts held during free time. Other recreational activities. Further elaboration of male and female internees' once a week meeting. Given freedom of worship. Had to bury dead in camp towards end of Japanese Occupation.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 8
Metadata
- 5 Apr 1982
Recording Date
- 00:27:31
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
How they knew of Japanese surrender. No work, loads of food coming to camp. Witnessed Japanese Surrender Ceremony. Scene at Padang. Repatriation of non-residents. The sick rushed to hospital in Bombay by plane. Distribution of letters by Red Cross. Witnessed arrival of Indonesians forced labourers. Conditions labourers were in. Reaction of Japanese to surrender. Japanese POWs made to work. His family stayed back in camp. Rations given on leaving camp.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 8
Metadata
- 5 Apr 1982
Recording Date
- 00:06:23
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Revenge killings. How Japanese Occupation affected people in Singapore.
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