TAN Lee Kheng
Japanese Occupation of Singapore,
Accession Number 003503
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 5
Total Reels
- Jesley Chua Chee Huan
Interviewer
- 04:08:15
Total Running Time
- Teochew
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 5
Metadata
- 21 Apr 2010
Recording Date
- 00:57:27
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Citation/reproduction requires written permission from the source
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Born in 1927, China. Left China for Johor to look for father in 1937. Why father went to Johor. Interviewee was third in the family. Father subsequently came to teach in Sembawang, Singapore. Mainly Teochews and Hokkiens lived there. Father was invited by the village headman to teach Chinese. Interviewee’s family lived near the school. Home facilities. Market in the area. Usual food they took in the past. Recites part of the Buddhist scripture mother used to recite to her. Interviewee hardly go anywhere when young. Mother would sew her New Year attire. Bought shoes from Sembawang. Mother reared chickens at home. Produced their own chicken feed
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Reel/Disc 2 of 5
Metadata
- 5 May 2010
Recording Date
- 00:55:33
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Citation/reproduction requires written permission from the source
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Had shrimp or meat omelets at home. How they used to pack their eggs for sale. Ate broken eggs. Had to protect chickens from eagles. How they cure chickens blinded by mosquitoes and sick chickens. Symptoms of sick chicken. How they process coconut oil. Coconut oil was also used to treat tummy upset. Family also kept ducks. Saw crocodile in Sembawang seaside. Duck’s feet went soft when sick. Origins of the name ‘Mandai’. Mandai Road. Interviewee’s village headman and his family. Village transportation. Father did not allow interviewee to go out for opera. Amount of angpow money in the past. Common medications and herbs they used in the past for various ailments such as headache, fever, diarrhea. Nose bleed and cough.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 5
Metadata
- 5 May 2010
Recording Date
- 00:55:49
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Citation/reproduction requires written permission from the source
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Description of interviewee’s house. They had an air-raid shelter built within their compound. Description of their air raid shelter which could house 70-80 people. Interviewee got married during Japanese Occupation around the age of 15. Why she lived in husband’s compound before marriage. Females made themselves ugly during the occupation. Her close encounter with the Japanese. Stories of girls abused by Japanese. People saw headless spirits in six milestone after the war. Her village was saved from the Japanese. Family saved some rice before the war. Ate mainly sweet potatoes and tapioca. Kuehs ( pastries) she made during Japanese Occupation. Various ways of eating tapioca. How she cooks bamboo shoots. Ate sweet potato leaves. Fruits and vegetables they had. How she cook some of the vegetables
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Reel/Disc 4 of 5
Metadata
- 2 Sep 2010
Recording Date
- 00:56:12
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Citation/reproduction requires written permission from the source
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Japanese killed one of their pigs every three days. Family had workers to rear their pigs. How they cook pig’s head. Interviewee bought old mattress cover to make clothes. Itinerant hawker repairing and selling clogs. Itinerant dentist. Incident during Japanese Occupation where a married woman was killed because she refused to marry a Japanese. Their fears. Interviewee’s husband was unharmed but his lorry was taken away by the Japanese. Husband destroyed his debt book during the war. Heard about a Japanese camp deep inside her village. Javanese in loin cloth stole their salted fish. Saw Caucasian soldiers bullied by the Japanese. There was robbery shortly after the Japanese surrendered before the British took over.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 5
Metadata
- 2 Sep 2010
Recording Date
- 00:23:14
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Citation/reproduction requires written permission from the source
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Husband was a contractor for the Caucasians. Husband used to teach people how to rear pigs. Her husband’s name. Location of her house near Mandai Road. Interviewee’s family was resettled and moved to Bukit Panjang in 1987. Mentioned feelings towards resettlement. Why she moved to Verde Walk.
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