Page 37 - Stories from our Grandparents

any things happened
during the World War Two.
Mr Toh Yiew Yong BORN 1930 Mwant to forget what had
People would very much

was thankful and relieved that their days of suffering and torture had come to
By Jadalyn Ang happened. However, I will remember After three long years of suffering, the Japanese finally surrendered. Everyone
Pasir Ris Secondary School my experience during the World an end. However, there was still a lack of food. I decided to quit my current
War as if it happened yesterday. job and find a new one with a better pay. My boss tried to bribe and persuade

My experience during the war was very harsh, just like most people. me to stay in his company by offering me a pay of $100 per month, which was
I was only 10-12 years old, studying in primary school when suddenly, I saw a lot more compared to the other workers who received $50-60 per month.
airplanes flying above. Bombs started dropping from the sky and it led to I still turned down the offer as i felt that other jobs would still have a better
chaos. Many people were running around, trying to get to safety, including pay. In fact, my boss owed me more than $100 but I decided to leave and
me. I ran home from school, as quickly as my legs could carry me in the start a new job. Thankfully i found a new job as a tailor again, better working
search of my family. It was disastrous. A few days later, the schools closed conditions and a higher pay which helped me to provide sufficient food for my
and I could not go to school. My parents could not go to work as well. family. Eventually, after a week or so, there were different parties that called
Everyone lived in fear and terror. Some people, like my friends’ parents, got for election of leadership roles. Most people voted for Mr Lee Kuan Yew to
tortured very badly by the Japanese soldiers in order to keep their family be our Prime Minister. Under his leadership and rule, he led and changed
safe. As people needed food to survive, they decided to look for jobs. Singapore to be a successful nation today.
When Singapore separated from Malaysia and became independent,
I faced many struggles during the war and the main struggle was the
shortage of food. Shops were closed and we did not have sufficient I was happy about it, but scared at the same time. I was happy
money to buy food to feed my family of 6. Thus, at the age of 10, I had that Singapore would not be ruled by Malaysia but instead stand
to look for a job. I looked around to observe what the people were as a country on its own. This could give us the chance to be
doing; they were repairing shoes, packing foods and making clothes. independent and grow as a country. However, I was worried as if
anything happened to us, Malaysia would not be there to help us
I had to learn the required skills to get hired. Fortunately, I got and we would have to deal with our problems on our own. “What
hired by the Japanese as a tailor. They paid me 30 cents per ifs” were constantly replaying in my head and I was worried. We
day. 30 cents at that time was worth more than it is today. I could only hope for the best. Thankfully, Mr Lee Kuan Yew knew
how to run things strictly and handled things well.
would use the money to buy sweet potatoes as they
were commonly sold in the market. Meat and other My childhood life is not the same as compared
kinds of food were less commonly sold. to the children from this generation today. Yes,
World War Two was tough and many people
Furthermore, the Japanese would give out rice to us once or twice a struggled and lives were lost. Apart from that,
month. They would give us a cup full of rice that would last us the whole lessons such as acquiring skills as a tailor,
month, including a few sweet potatoes which i used my salary to buy. working and queueing up early in the morning
Rice was also sold in only limited quantities like 15 grams. My family to receive the rice rationed by the Japanese
could not eat much as my salary was still too low to afford more food for with my friends were unforgettable. They
my family to eat. I would often keep food for my family and go to sleep taught me a very important value called
hungry. Then, I would work the next day to earn some more money. responsibility and appreciating little things
in life.

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