CHIA Ah Tee
Japanese Occupation of Singapore,
Accession Number 003550
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 14
Total Reels
- Jesley Chua Chee Huan
Interviewer
- 12:48:57
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 14
Metadata
- 21 Jul 2010
Recording Date
- 00:55:19
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Born in 1920. Lived in Tanjong Pagar when young. Interviewee is a second- generation Singaporean. Shops in Tanjong Pagar area. Mentioned shop selling Teochew porridge to rickshaw pullers. Food sold in coffeeshops then. Seaside along Tanjong Pagar. Shed for sailing boats along Tanjong Pagar seaside. His leisure activities. Food sold during wayang performance. Description of opium dens found mostly in South Bridge Road. Exotic food in Chinatown. His favorite food. Food at home.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 14
Metadata
- 21 Jul 2010
Recording Date
- 00:54:17
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Was looked after by aunt until school going age about 6. Reasons why. Lived with aunt near Crawford Street. Childhood memories of Tan Kah Kee factory fire nearby. Interviewee was left to himself as aunt as busy with her business. Only saw his parents for the first time when he returned home about the age of 6. Learnt values and discipline on his own. Did not play with his brother, 2 years his junior. Father supplied workers to shipping companies. His Japanese primary school teacher. How he was punished by his teacher in primary two. Attended church to learn English. Sister was born in China. Went to Bethesda Church near Singapore General Hospital. Why he believes in Christianity but refuses to be baptized. Illustration of his answered prayer in US. Mentioned his Sunday school activities. Another illustration of his answered prayer. Mother was a Buddhist. Few students from his school went to RI ( Raffles Institution. )Why he got interested in Sports in secondary school. Sports he took part in. His school grades.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 14
Metadata
- 27 Jul 2010
Recording Date
- 00:55:33
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
His school in RI Visit to National Museum. Mickey Mouse Club. Popular movies in those days. Recalled visiting the cinema in-between his examinations. Museum exhibits that attracted him. Mentioned National Library, Bras Basah Road. Popular chicken rice stall. Tan Quee Lan Street was brothel area. Brothels near Maxwell Road Market. Comparison between the prostitutes in these two areas. His impression of one of his school teachers.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 14
Metadata
- 11 Aug 2010
Recording Date
- 00:55:06
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee had no girl friend before being match-made to wife. Interviewee’s relationship with a Japanese who used to bring him round during patrol duties. Interviewee would give rice to some in need. He had the stamp of his Japanese officer in charge of supplying labor. Interviewee kept a low profile during the war. They obtained Indian laborers from Singapore Harbor Board. Interviewee subsequently took over the recruitment of laborers. Elaboration on his efforts to recruit laborers from the islands. Father asked uncle to look after his estate in Palau Bakau. Elaborated on his short stay in Lavender Street before British surrender. Interviewee’s pay. The Japanese loaned interviewee a car to fetch his niece. Why interviewee brought his niece to Singapore from Indonesia. Interviewee . His friendship with a Japanese General in Fort Canning.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 14
Metadata
- 11 Aug 2010
Recording Date
- 00:53:49
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
How one of interviewee’s friend was arrested by the Japanese. Interviewee attended free Japanese school in Tanjong Pagar. Learnt Japanese on the job and did self study. There was a laborer’s camp near SJI ( St Joseph’s Institution). Read about Yamashita’s gold. His typical day. The Japanese round up people queuing up for cigarettes and sent them away. Saw Indonesians in rags. Saw them cutting rats and boiling them in cigarettes tins. Saw Indian soldiers raiding shop in Change Alley. Interviewee’s British bosses disappeared when the Japanese came. The British civilian trunks were still in their office when the Japanese came.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 14
Metadata
- 20 Aug 2010
Recording Date
- 00:53:59
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
His pay during Japanese Occupation. Mentioned the Japanese general’s bungalow in Fort Canning. Interviewee’s wife took care of the family when he was busy. Elaboration on the temporary camp for laborers. There was only one bus in Tanjong Pagar in the early days. Bus was divided into classes. Interviewee could feel gust of wind from his window in Choon Guan Street when the British bombed the nearby ships. Mentioned Palau Semakau populated by mostly Teochews and Malays. His recollection of visiting a high class café patronized by Japanese. Mentioned names of some cinemas. Used to urinate into milk cans bought into cinema when young. Movies screened in those days. How he saved someone from being captured by the Japanese. Rumors in the market about Japanese general wanting to buy lipstick.
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