Everyday people in WWII: New book tells Singapore’s history under Occupation through personal items
Featuring more than 200 objects, the book uses short, visually driven text.
Following the Japanese occupation of Singapore in February 1942, residents were required to carry a pink labour identity booklet issued by the Labour Association, which enabled the military administration to monitor the adult male population and laborers. Amidst this, ration cards, bicycle registration cards, and permits for purchasing essentials like condensed milk became commonplace.
Simultaneously, the Japanese military police issued registration certificates to Chinese immigrants, subjecting Chinese men aged 18 to 50 to inspections where a stamp determined their fate. Those who "passed" were released, while others were taken to mass execution sites during the Sook Ching massacre. This book, "Remembering Syonan: 80 Objects From Occupied Singapore," published today, highlights personal items from this period.
Co-authored by Benjamin Seet and Dominic Tan, the book showcases artefacts from Seet's 2024 collection donated to the National Library Board. Unlike traditional historical accounts, this book focuses on the everyday lives of ordinary people, offering a unique perspective on life during the Occupation. A testament to this is a widow's report, expressing the only word she could muster: "difficult."
Her family's story is represented in the book alongside her husband's registration certificate and appeal committee form. Another item is a metal disc, believed to have been worn by three-year-old Loke Hin Teng, who may have been separated from his family during the bombings. Featuring over 200 objects, the book uses visually driven text to bring history to life, with many of the artefacts never before exhibited.
A cloth pass, bearing the inscription from Mamoru Shinozaki, the Welfare Department head, and identifying a local Chinese resident, is a rare artifact granting protection during the Sook Ching massacre. The post-war rally held on August 25, 1963, demanding compensation from Japan, is also represented by a unique invitation, marking one of the largest public gatherings in Singapore's history.
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