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My grandma’s stories: When the Japanese enemies came
This story tells us about the Sook Ching practice that happened during the Japanese occupation. The Japanese would bring the unknowing victims to isolated beaches, tied their hands together and lined them up in a straight line by the seaside. Taking their rifles, they would fire away and watch the helpless individuals fall down one by one into the sea water. The author's grandfather was already lined up by the seaside but thankfully, due to the missed bullets and the mangled mess of bodies that came crashing down upon him like dominoes falling on each other after the first person, he escaped deadth. He only made his way home after a few days of walking. The author's grandmother didn't experience the Sook Ching, but her experience with the japanese wasn't great too. The Japanese would pull down the girls' pants and rape them, so once they hear that they are around, they would run away. From this, i can see the terror and trauma both the grandfather and grandmother had gone through. The author's grandfather experienced a near death when he was only so young at that time, that must have really left a great impact on him. As for the author's grandmother, not only she has to worry about her life, she also have to worry about getting rape by the japanese, living her life in terror all day.
seejy.wordpress.com -
Mr Thompson
This is a oral interview with Mr Thompson about the things that happened in Singapore after the occupation. During the closing ceremony at the padang, there were people who were celebrating and there were people who were mad at the japanese especially the Chinese who had suffered the most compared to the Malays and Indians. There were people who were scared too, those who were collaborators with the japanese, when the end came and they know they are responsible for somebody's son or father or husband being taken in and being tortured and killed. The food prices were very cheap, very, very cheap. The Japanese military currency notes are no longer recognised by the british too. People after the occupation believed that they should be independent and it's time to rule themselves and not someone telling them what they have to do. They want to do their things, what they think is right, and they do themselves. And when all those british had gone back to their homes, people in singapore could finally take up top posts that were once only allowed for the English. From this, i could see the change in their emotion in the teenagers. Before the occupation, people was alright to be ruled by the British, and it was alright for the Brithish to sort of suppressed them. But after the occupation, the japanese have taught the people that they should get independence and their own power. This led to a change in their mindset as they try to gain independence on their own.
nas.gov.sg -
Mr Ruby William Mosbergen
This source is about a oral interview with Mr Ruby William Mosbergen. In this interview, Ruby Mosbergen talked about the air raids that happened in Singapore during the war. They can expect at least one air raid daily and they had to hide in bomb shelter each time it happens. Mr Ruby Mosbergen was actually excited at that time, he would run around looking at the airplanes where his siblings are all afraid. He moved on to sharing how his father and aunt is related to the Eurasians. The Eurasians Association would hold a meeting in his house everyday and debate for about three to four hours. Mr Ruby Mosbergen has to help take care of his younger siblings and help to serve drinks to his father. From this, i could see that Mr Ruby Mosbergen was a curious teenager before the occupation, where he could do whatever he want, without the need to worry. But after the occupation, he has become more independent mentally, where he would start to help out for his family, and he had became caution is whatever he do or say.
nas.gov.sg -
The Sook Ching
February 15 marks the 75th anniversary of the fall of Singapore. Goh Sin Tub recounts the horrors that many Chinese suffered at the hands of the Japanese in this short story. Goh Sin Tub was only 14 when World War ll happened. His family fled to his Granduncle's house in Philip Street in the centre of town. They were supposed to report to Maxwell Road camp for their screening. His father and his 16 years old brother decided to rush back to their house instead of reporting to camp. Goh Sin Tub was left under his Granduncle's care with his other workers, which was all brought to the camp for the Sook Ching filter the next day. It was an unforgettable experience for him. Here and there, someone would be dragged off and made to squat in a cordoned group below the hot sun under the surveillance of soldiers with guns vigilantly trained on them. As a clueless teenager who had grown up as a sheltered child, Goh Sin Tub stood wide-eyed and quavering like jelly before those Japanese inquisitors. Everyone cleared the Sook Ching filter, except his Granduncle. His brother passed the screening, but his father was picked out. Miraclely, his father escaped the Sook Ching and fled back to Phillip Street with his brother. This story shows how the mental health of teenagers has changed since the japanese occupation. They were living care-free before the war, where they do not have to worry about their lifes every second. But after the war, they have to take note of what they say, how they look, and how they act, if not they might be picked out for the Sook Ching.
nlb.gov.sg
