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 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 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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