MOSBERGEN, Rudy William
Japanese Occupation of Singapore,
Accession Number 002983
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 7
Total Reels
- Pitt Kuan Wah
Interviewer
- 02:43:07
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 7
Metadata
- 19 Sep 2005
Recording Date
- 00:28:26
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Recollection of Japanese fishermen living in Queen Street near his home and why there were not many. Communication with them. Internment of Japanese fishermen just before the war. Impression of "Little Japan". 10-cents store, K Baba store, Japanese photo studios and dentist clinic. Why Eurasians did not boycott Japanese stores. Recollection of first air raid in the city and its aftermath. Father was an Anglophile who criticised Japanese and believed in British propaganda. Recounted how father was warned by Japanese on his anti-Japan attitude. Beginning to read up on war in Europe. Views on early stages of Japanese agression and Americans' reactions. Father's reactions towards Japanese military advancements in Malaya. Description of air raid shelters at home. British mobilisation of volunteers in defending Malaya and why they were still taken by surprise when Japanese attacked Singapore in December 1941.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 7
Metadata
- 19 Sep 2005
Recording Date
- 00:23:18
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Air raids targeted military installations. Locations where bombs were dropped. Conversion of St. Joseph Institution into Red Cross hospital. Differentiation between bombing and mortar shelling. Recollection of last air raid before the surrender. Family decided not to leave Singapore because of aged grandparents. Recounted near death experience during an air raid around Victoria Street. Situation on the streets just before British surrender. How he got news of British surrender from aunt's husband who was an English soldier. Witnessed several Australian soldiers suffering from battle weariness. First impression of Japanese soldiers. Recalled seeing decapitated head displayed at Cathay. Military's attitude towards looting. Widespread looting occurred immediately after British surrender.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 7
Metadata
- 19 Sep 2005
Recording Date
- 00:27:08
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Recounted how two Chinese boys did not go for mass screening. Parents reported to Singapore Recreation Club for Eurasian mass screening. Eurasians married to Europeans were given armband and sent to Sime Road camp before Occupation ended. How family received news about mass screening. Parents did not know what to expect from the screening. How Queen Street house became meeting place for Eurasian Association (EA). Japanese wanted EA to identify leaders whom they can deal with. How Dr C J Paglar became President of the Syonan Eurasian Welfare Association (SEWA) and his role in persuading Eurasian community to go Bahau. Father resisted idea of co-operating with Japanese. Impression of EA meetings on whether Japanese should be involved in EA matters. Why Eurasians did not have to contribute to SEWA. Eurasians' attitude towards downfall of Europeans. Witnessed Governor and civilians walking to Changi Prison.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 7
Metadata
- 19 Sep 2005
Recording Date
- 00:26:01
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Father’s opinions of Syonan Eurasian Welfare Association (SEWA). Father had access to BBC throughout Japanese Occupation. How father came to take charge of registration of Bahau settlers but never went to Bahau. Dr C J Paglar encouraged Eurasian Catholics to go Bahau. Chinese leader Chan assisted Teochew-speaking Priest in running Chinese section. Chinese more accustomed to farming than Eurasians. Recounted a stormy meeting between Bishop and Shinozaki in Bahau. Reason for organising trip to Bahau following unfavourable reports on living conditions. Recounted that a police inspector used to come by registration office to get updates on Eurasian settlers. How father received news from Bahau. Why some people continued to go Bahau despite hearing unfavourable reports about conditions there. Father’s role in registration and recordkeeping. Whereabouts of registration records. Recounted how some brought pianos to Bahau. Ethnicity of settlers in Mukim V and VI not distinct. Land allocation decided before settlers went Bahau.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 7
Metadata
- 19 Sep 2005
Recording Date
- 00:25:57
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Why parents never considered moving to Bahau and only others went. Father kept low profile and avoided Japanese during Occupation. Recounted incident where father was called up by kempeitai. Described route taken to avoid Japanese if needed to go Orchard Road market. His visits to Sungei Road black market. Bencoolen Street market sold mainly vegetables. Japanese stores around house did not open except Ichigoya. Some Japanese were sent to India as prisoners-of-war. Wanted to work in a butai at Fort Canning but parents sent him to St. Anthony Boys' School. Stopped school after a couple of months and helped father to handle errand matters at registration office. Recalled seeing increasing air raids from Allied B-29s in 1944-45, targetting naval base in Sembawang and wharves in Tanjong Pagar. How he came to know about Japanese surrender and his observations on people in streets. During British Military Administration (BMA), pro-Communist individuals took over certain Japanese properties. Heard about reprisals but did not witness any. Last group went Bahau in 1944. Japanese considered farming settlement schemes unsuccessful.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 7
Metadata
- 19 Sep 2005
Recording Date
- 00:23:28
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Father’s role in registration office towards end of Japanese Occupation. Increasing difficulty in getting people to go Bahau. Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) trialed individuals accused of being pro-Japanese in Bahau. Knew about trial after it happened. The death of Bishop Devals and replacement by Hutchinson. Eurasians’ opinions of Dr C J Paglar. Dr Paglar’s prosecution by British and how it was suspended. Response of Eurasians towards prosecution of Dr Paglar. Why Father was invited to the surrender ceremony in City Hall and how grandfather attended surrender ceremony instead. Witnessed victory parade and Japanese working on Padang. Grandfather received certificate for having witnessed surrender ceremony in City Hall. Father was honoured as MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 1952. Aunt was interned at Sime Road Camp in 1945 and why she remained there after Japanese guards had left.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 7
Metadata
- 19 Sep 2005
Recording Date
- 00:08:49
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Emotions experienced when observing surrender ceremony. Father’s attitude towards British colonial masters did not change much after Japanese Occupation. Father not politically inclined. Father became President of Eurasian Association (EA) in 1954. Recounted experience during Maria Hertogh riot.
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