Wanted: Stories by WWII survivors

DURING his time as a World War II prisoner of war (POW), Singaporean George Prior was lucky to have been spared the brunt of Japanese cruelty.

He was taken by the Japanese to the Thai-Burmese border in 1942, to work on what became known as the "Death Railway". He was only 19.

The Japanese soldiers made him perform satirical songs on a guitar he made out of bamboo. In return, he received food, as well as medical treatment when he suffered from malaria.

"I didn't mind, as long as I got some food," said Mr Prior, who is now 88.

His story is one of many that the National Heritage Board (NHB) hopes to share at events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Singapore.

As part of the programme, NHB is inviting war survivors to come forward to tell their stories. "By connecting with our past, we learn valuable lessons for the future," said NHB chief executive Michael Koh.

In response to overwhelming demand, the NHB has extended its tours of an air-raid shelter in Tiong Bahru to next month. Up to 16 more tours will be added.

NHB has organised a series of events this month that will culminate in a remembrance ceremony at the Kranji War Memorial on Feb 15, the day the British surrender Singapore to the Japanese in 1942.

Guided tours of historical areas like Pasir Panjang Ridge are also being planned.

Details of the tours, dubbed Resilience Walks, will be announced on Feb14. They will be open to public booking from Feb 18. More than 25 schools have already registered for the tours.

"Ours is a nation that is slowly developing a culture of remembrance," said Mr Jeyathurai Ayadurai, director of Changi Museum and Singapore History Consultants.

"Our generation is slowly starting to appreciate and understand this very important history of ours."

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