DE SOUZA, Benedict
Japanese Occupation of Singapore,
Accession Number 000329
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 17
Total Reels
- Low Lay Leng
Interviewer
- 08:12:50
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 17
Metadata
- 2 Nov 1983
Recording Date
- 00:29:34
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Reminiscences of childhood. Father's death. Stayed in Labuan with relatives. Returned to Singapore for studies. His various jobs. Joined Royal Army Medical Corps when war was imminent. Type of training given. His experiences in army. Events before arrival of Japanese. His experiences during fighting. Disbanded after British surrender.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 17
Metadata
- 2 Nov 1983
Recording Date
- 00:29:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
His brother evacuated from Malacca; sent to India by company. Family stayed in Shell Company premises. Returned to house in Anthony Road. Worked as grasscutter; other part-time jobs to supplement income. Decided to go to Bahau.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 17
Metadata
- 10 Nov 1983
Recording Date
- 00:29:33
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
His attempts to join British Army. Recruitment procedure for Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). Anticipation of his role. Training and allowances in RAMC. His promotion after training. Malaya Field Ambulance and its operations. Formation of Rickshaw Unit; purpose and composition of this unit. Events when fighting began. Relationship amongst members of RAMC. Privileges enjoyed by other ranks.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 17
Metadata
- 5 Jun 1984
Recording Date
- 00:29:00
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Headquarters of Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) in Tanglin Barracks. His routine during training period. What they learnt during and after training. Account of field exercises. His experiences in cookhouse work. Various sections of Malaya Field Ambulance. Details of manpower. Received training in British Military Hospital at Alexandra Road.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 17
Metadata
- 14 Jun 1984
Recording Date
- 00:29:52
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Purpose of forming Malaya Field Ambulance. How they felt about prospect of going to war. Recalled first bombing raid of Singapore; atmosphere after air raid; instructions given. Period he spent with Malay Regiment in Tanjong Penjuru. Returned to base camp. Why they evacuated to Museum Building. Given option to disband. What they heard later about instructions given to Japanese troops about their behaviour.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 17
Metadata
- 14 Jun 1984
Recording Date
- 00:28:46
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Events on day of British surrender. Their reaction to surrender. His impression of Japanese soldiers. Fate of other Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) members. How they spent their time after British surrender. British prisoners of war ( POWs) given clean-up work. Why he was slapped. Japanese used spies to detect ex-servicemen. No call-up of ex-servicemen. Sister's family interned before leaving for England. Japanese treatment of various communities.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 17
Metadata
- 10 Jul 1984
Recording Date
- 00:29:27
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Japanese could not distinguish different races in early period. Advice on how to avoid beri-beri. Description of their diet. Food ration system. Given rations by Japanese friends. Food situation during Japanese Occupation. Cultivated vegetables to supplement food. Living conditions. Propaganda film on fall of Singapore; admiration for Japanese soldiers.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 17
Metadata
- 24 Jul 1984
Recording Date
- 00:29:37
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
How Japanese tried to promote their language. Details of his grasscutting job during Japanese Occupation, his colleagues and their backgrounds. Ration and salary as grass-cutter. Interrogated by police for finding bullets.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 17
Metadata
- 24 Jul 1984
Recording Date
- 00:29:30
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Responsibilities of Health Department. Became overseer in charge of picking empty receptacles. His job as an oiler. Relationship amongst colleagues. Working with children to pick empty receptacles. His black market activities; how he got involved and way he operated.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 17
Metadata
- 31 Jul 1984
Recording Date
- 00:29:52
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Why he chose Sungei Road for black market acitivities. His sources for getting goods. Details of black market operation in Sungei Road. His black market customers. Popular black market items. Never lost money on black market deals. When he stopped his black market activities.
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