CHEN Yong 陈勇
Japanese Occupation of Singapore,
Accession Number 003419
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 5
Total Reels
- Jesley Chua Chee Huan
Interviewer
- 04:19:24
Total Running Time
- Mandarin
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 5
Metadata
- 20 Oct 2009
Recording Date
- 00:57:21
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Citation/reproduction requires written permission from the source
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee’s background. How he got interested in Nanqiao Jigong (南侨机工-Nanyang Drivers and Mechanics). How he got in touch with one of his father’s war comrade. Since 2005, interviewee has traveled to many SE Asia countries in search of information relating to Nanqiao Jigong. His father was one of the 144 war survivors who walked from Burma to Kunming during the war. His father’s posting to India. How the Japanese were defeated. Interviewee’s uncle, also a Nanqiao Jigong, committed suicide during Cultural Revolution. Uncle died in his 50s. Why his aunt did not cry when uncle passed away. How father was humiliated during Cultural Revolution. Aunt cried over husband’s death only when the Revolution was over. Story behind interviewee’s nine stitches on his elbow. How his wounds indirectly helped father to escape imprisonment during Cultural Revolution. Overseas Chinese sacrifice their lives for their motherland. Risks faced by Nanqiao Jigong. Interviewee’s visit to father’s old workplace in Malaysia.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 5
Metadata
- 20 Oct 2009
Recording Date
- 00:48:51
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Citation/reproduction requires written permission from the source
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Uncle and aunt met in Singapore. Aunt now lives in Hainan, China. Interviewee’s impression of uncle. Uncle hung himself in prison during Cultural Revolution. Family was not allowed to collect his body for burial. How the accused were dealt with during Cutlrual Revolution. Elaboration on his aunt, who retained her ‘Nanyang’ style. Aunt was a woman of strong character. Elaboration on his father who came to Nanyang at the age of 12. Father was 27 and about to get married when he left for China in 1939. Father fought several battles but suffered most in Korea when his chest was burnt. Father’s almost lost his life when his vehicle overturned during the war. Nanqiao Jigong Nanqiao Jigong (南侨机工-Nanyang Drivers and Mechanics)were ready to die for their country. Interviewee used to make cigarette for his father when young. How family suffered during Cultural Revolution. His father was in the battlefield for 15 years. He was not afraid of war but afraid of Cultural Revolution. How father discipline him. Father burnt his bed once due to smoking. Father’s personality. Table etiquette at home. Family’s living condition during then.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 5
Metadata
- 20 Oct 2009
Recording Date
- 00:41:33
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Citation/reproduction requires written permission from the source
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
His father died in 1985 at the age of 72. Father’s health condition. Mother died at the age of 58 in 1983. Father missed his days in Nanyang. Memories of his father; his character and his favorite food. Interviewee ran the household at the age of 14. How he took care of his parents when they were ill. Mother was about 15 years father’s junior when they married. . Father sent for mother’s daughter to live with them when they got married. Father was generous with his money. Interviewee’s half sister used to take care of interviewee when young. Interviewee is very close to his half sister. Father was a very skillful car mechanic. Elaboration on father’s personality. Why interviewee told his son that they are from Nanyang. How Cultural Revolution affected his family.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 5
Metadata
- 21 Oct 2009
Recording Date
- 00:53:00
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Citation/reproduction requires written permission from the source
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee’s memory of making Mao Tze Tung’s portrait using broken glasses and mirrors when young. Mentioned slogans they used to recite then. Could not understand why his father was different from others when young. Used to think that father was in the wrong. His relationship with his father. Father lived alone in his later years when mother passed away and interviewee was away working. Father died when interviewee was 24. Interviewee managed to get father to live with him shortly before his death. His father died without leaving behind anything except some of his war medals. Why father asked daughter-in-law to use the material meant for him to sew clothes for his grandson instead. Elaboration on family’s living conditions when young. Interviewee never got to live in a concrete house until late 1970s. Father was alone most of his time. Father missed mother when she died. Father’s view of the Communists Party. Interviewee and wife came from very different family background.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 5
Metadata
- 21 Oct 2009
Recording Date
- 00:58:39
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Citation/reproduction requires written permission from the source
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Father’s hot temper could be due to his war experiences. Illustrations of his father’s fiery temper. Circumstances leading to father hitting him even though interviewee is a father himself. Elaboration on how father’s savior, Wu Ya He (吴亚合) helped him during Cultural Revolution. Wu’s opinion of father. Interviewee’s meeting with Wu. His views on the characteristics of descendents of Nanqiao Jigong(南侨机工-Nanyang Drivers and Mechanics). Father’s influence on his marriage. Mentioned Nanqiao Jigong such as Wang Ya Liu (王亚六), Weng Jia Gui (翁家贵)，Huang Feng Ying(黄凤英)who impressed him. Similarities amongst Nanqiao Jigong. Interviewee’s purpose in collecting information on Nanqiao Jigong. His stressed on the importance of peace.
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