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Synopsis

Interviewee’s date of birth. Father was a Customs Officer. He was born in Mosque Street in Civil Service Quarters. Was not admitted into English school as he only went to enroll at age 10. Air raids started after his first year of school. Family moved out to escape air raids. His siblings and family history. Family moved to Hai Lam Suah, then to Tekka area.Japanese Army was incensed by heavy casualties suffered when invading from Johore. Father witnessed a beheading at Sixth Avenue.

Worked at a factory near his house where he was paid three dollars a day. Melted down scrap aluminum to manufacture casings for hand grenades. These were delivered to a Japanese underground factory in the Bukit Gombak area. He accompanied the driver on deliveries and was allowed into the Japanese factory as he was young. Description of Japanese grenades. Events on day of Japanese Surrender.

During Sook Ching, family went to Jalan Besar Stadium for inspection. Experience of Sook Ching. Description of two encounters with Japanese. Witnessed naked woman tied to the bridge and severed head hung outside Cathay Theatre.  Saw garbage collectors collecting body parts at Albert Street area which was heavily bombed by the Japanese. Shocked at the carnage. Javanese who came to Singapore in search of jobs congregated near Sungei Road. Many died of hunger and sickness on the street.

He worked in the day and attended a Japanese night school for more than two years. Books and magazines they used in the classes. Did not dare to collect his graduation certificate. Graduates were to go to a Japanese school (Guo Min) at Waterloo Street. Relative’s son who was studying there narrowly escaped being sent to Japan.