Description
Object description
Malaysian civilian announcer with Radio Malaya in Singapore, Malaya, 1941-1942; clerk with Japanese Police Training School in Singapore, Malaya, 1943-1944; civilian in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Malaya, 1921-1940: family circumstances; education. Recollections of period as radio announcer with Radio Malaya, Singapore, Malaya, 1940-1942: background to her obtaining her job as radio announcer; move of studio to Cathy Building, late 1941; observing blackout; father's role translating war news; working conditions in broadcasting station; role as radio announcer; reasons for evacuation of family home in government quarters; reaction to Imperial Japanese Army landing at Kota Bahru.
REEL 2 Continues: father's arrangement for her sister to return from Malacca; degree of knowledge of Imperial Japanese Army advance; reasons why she stopped work prior to British surrender, 15/2/1942; situation in Singapore, 2/1942; civilian's reaction to imminent arrival of Imperial Japanese Army troops; type of foodstuffs stored; family move to Bussorah Street and then McNair Road; use of air raid shelter; atmosphere after Imperial Japanese Army Air Service bombing raid; British Army troops' disposal of artillery shells and bombs around McNair Road; start of Imperial Japanese Army artillery fire; move back to Bussorah Street; reaction to British forces surrender, 15/2/1942.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of period as civilian in Singapore, Malaya, 1942-1943: return to McNair Road and later to Geylang quarters; Japanese authorities orders to leave Geylang quarters; looted items from family home; renting house in Hertford Road; impressions of Imperial Japanese Army troops; death of uncle in concentration centre; attitude towards contact with Japanese, 1942; father's work for Japanese radio; studying Japanese language with sister; daily paying of respect to Emperor before class.
REEL 4 Continues: character of teachers and students; size of classes; how she and her sister obtained employment; reaction of her father to being employed by Japanese. Recollections of period as clerk with Singapore Police Force Training School in Singapore, Malaya, 1943-1944: cycling to work; duties at school; staff numbers; duties of Malay inspectors and sub-inspectors; origins of recruits; recruit numbers; character and length of training; treatment of recruits who misbehaved.
REEL 5 Continues: relations between Japanese and Malay inspectors; role teaching Japanese inspectors Malay language; impressions of Japanese police inspectors; daily routine in office; relations with her supervisor and other colleagues; salary and rations; family ration cards; obtaining cards; auxiliary police officer's duties.
REEL 6 Continues: Recollections of period as civilian in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, 1944-1945: role preparing Nasi Lemak after resigning job; role of cousins selling Nasi Lemak; effect of food shortages on family diet; commodities sold on black market; nature of celebrations during occupation; living conditions under Japanese occupation; father's special pass; programmes broadcast on radio.
REEL 7 Continues: types of news in Japanese newspapers; reaction to war news; celebration of Hari Raya; story of resignation from Police Training School after its transfer to Kuala Lumpur; hearing of British return to Malaya; Allied bombing of Singapore; family's return to Kuala Lumpur; conditions of journey from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, 7/1945; her impressions of Kuala Lumpur.
REEL 8 Continues: living conditions in Kuala Lumpur; comparison of living conditions in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore; hearing of Japanese surrender, 15/8/1945; reaction of Malays to Japanese surrender; father's return to work under British; living conditions under British Military Administration in Malaya; question of effects of Second World War.