NG Pang Chwee
Japanese Occupation of Singapore,
Accession Number 003008
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 4
Total Reels
- Lim Lai Hwa
Interviewer
- 02:46:04
Total Running Time
- Hokkien
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 4
Metadata
- 22 Jul 2006
Recording Date
- 00:40:21
Running Time
- MP4
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Born in 1926 and came to Singapore in 1937. Japanese had invaded Xiamen by then. He and his mother came to join his father in Singapore. Journey to Singapore via Hong Kong. Early school days. Air raids at Tiong Bahru. Anti-Japanese activities and sang anti-Japanese rhyme. Family circumstances before the occupation. Encounter with driver who joined China resistance. Father drove truck for a living during occupation. 1949 was the harshest year. Father stocked rice before occupation. More description about air raids and the aftermath. Helped his father with transport business during the occupation and after. Father bought him a license. Burning of cars and recruitment of volunteers just before Japanese invasion. How Japanese soldier assaulted fruit seller who asked him to pay. Sook Ching. How young men were tricked into going to Thailand to build the death railway. Discarded arms on the street. Described troops from India and Australia.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 4
Metadata
- 22 Jul 2006
Recording Date
- 00:41:57
Running Time
- MP4
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Schools he attended when he first arrived and their location. Met worker who went to Yunnan as volunteer driver, described the conditions. Anti-Japanese activities before the Occupation. Anecdote of able men captured by Japanese. Saw prisoners being flogged and tortured at Japanese HQ from garage. Location of Japanese HQ near “Ong Ke Suanh” (皇家山). Had a near accident while carrying Japanese officer and was assaulted by Japanese soldiers. Remembered officers Yamakata-san and Ikuchi-san whom he worked for. Also ferried workers from Java to work at rubber plantation near Jalan Boon Lay. Poor living conditions of workers led to casualties. Transported bodies of workers. Family moved to Bukit Ho Swee. Planted their own tapioca and reared poultry. Bombing near Tiong Bahru. Their house was razed during Bukit Ho Swee fire (1961) but nobody was injured. Japanese soldier threatened him with a knife when he refused to drive him.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 4
Metadata
- 22 Jul 2006
Recording Date
- 00:41:57
Running Time
- MP4
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Continued story about Japanese soldier who made interviewee drive him at knifepoint. Cruelty of Korean soldier who beat worker to death (at Havelock Road); had to help dispose of the body. Many Javanese workers starved to death after Japanese left. Heard stories of decapitations at Cathay and Clifford Pier. Recounted how Japanese soldiers who neglected to salute an officer were beaten up. Drove his truck into air raid shelter to stop Japanese from taking it away. Forced to take up night patrol duty. Initially needed a pass to drive around but later restrictions were removed. Could not remember where they refilled petrol. Plight of Japanese after surrender. Sang anti-Japanese song in Chinese.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 4
Metadata
- 22 Jul 2006
Recording Date
- 00:41:49
Running Time
- MP4
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Sang anti-Japanese resistance song. Did not have much entertainment as they did not drive their vehicle. Remembered Maria Hertogh riot. Related incidents where people were asked to kneel naked. Relative’s child passed away from trauma. Related in more detail incident where man was beaten to death on Havelock Road. Clarified details on incident where he was threatened to drive a Japanese soldier. His feelings towards Japanese. More incidents of Japanese brutality. Encounters with gangsters and glad for their eradication after Singapore’s independence. Competition among transport companies and drivers. Why he visited Ford Factory. Comments on Sino-Japanese relations.
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