Memory of the World
Singapore - Japanese Occupation of Singapore Oral History Collection
The nominated Japanese Occupation of Singapore oral history collection refers to 361 interviews (1,120 hours) recorded under the Japanese Occupation of Singapore and the Prisoners of War oral history projects conducted by the Oral History Centre, dating 1981 to 2011. The broad array of interviewees gives multiple perspectives of the war from different nationalities and ethnic groups, from British and Australian veterans to local immigrant communities, originally from other parts of the Malay archipelago, China, India, Europe and the Middle East. These oral history accounts have thereby been crucial in helping reconstruct daily life during the years of the occupation. It fills a major gap with regards to historical accounts of the period, due to the fact that the Japanese military administration in Singapore had destroyed their records prior to the Japanese surrender to the Allied Forces.
Photos: © Oral History Centre, Singapore
