The Story Of Our Childhood In 1930s Singapore | Let Me Tell You A Story - Part 1/2 | Full Episode

From climbing coconut trees to catching crabs by the sea, the generation who were born in the 1930s and 40s lived in a Singapore completely different from what we know now. As these landscapes disappear and ways of life change, their childhood memories give intimate glimpses into the world of old Singapore.

Hear the true stories of Singaporeans who lived through a bygone era, and the vivid details of how their idyllic childhood was shattered by a war that changed everything. Through their most intimate and personal recollections, ‘Let Me Tell You A Story’ paints a portrait of their coming of age.

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0:00 Introduction
1:57 Our childhoods in a multilingual nation of immigrants
9:45 Too poor to study, not too young to work
16:23 The Japanese invasion of Singapore
21:13 Surviving harsh conditions during the Japanese Occupation
28:34 From wayangs to Japanese propaganda films
34:54 Children found clever ways to survive the Occupation
37:47 Celebrating the surrender of the Japanese
41:14 The desire to be an independent nation

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About the show: These are the stories of the last surviving historians among us. Hear the vivid memories of a time gone by, told by a generation who grew up in a completely different Singapore nearly 100 years ago.
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#CNAInsider #LetMeTellYouAStoryCNA #Singapore #SingaporeHistory

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[Alicealice]

"When an elder dies, a library is burned down". So true...

I'm also amazed how these elders aged >90 are so healthy

[linym]

Listening to the Indian lady speak fluent Cantonese is truly remarkable.

[noranizaazmi]

It is an honour to be able to learn about the past of our elders, even if they’re from neighbouring countries! The opportunity to learn from the ones who lived during times when historical moments had unfolded is a luxury. Thank you for documenting their stories CNA Insider! These stories must be documented for the future, to teach about the atrocities of war and why some people still can’t forgive Japan and what their country has done to us.

[muhdyasirsadon]

Suratman Markasan is a national treasure. His Malay Language and literature are fascinating and mind blowing.

[ragsoh]

Good documentary by CNA. I was smiling when the old aunties and uncles were describing life during the 1930s. Noodle was 1 cent and with egg, it was 2 cents. When it came to my time in 1960s, it was 10 cents for noodle, 5 cents for drinks and 5 cents to take bus. Back then, you talk to real people (unlike now with "fake" social media friends). We played with marbles and climbed trees. Life was so simple and people were happier than they are now. Strange .... with less, we were happier and contented. We ate chicken twice a year. Crab was once a year. Most of my meals consisted of porridge with simple condiments. Those were the days....

[RexCaelestis]

Awesome doc by CNA Insider and The Moving Visuals Co!

Greatly appreciate this because I've always been interested in the stories that our seniors share, especially during the pre-war period. There needs to be a systematic database with all of their stories and experiences recorded, so that our history not as a nation, but rather as a people, will be preserved.

A nation is nothing without its people. History often glorifies powers, principalities and men of eminence, but the people are the core of Singapore's history.

[didicool]

Thank you CNA for this and our seniors for sharing. It leaves me emotional and helps me put my parents and grandparents, families lives in context. As a fourth generation Singaporean we don't often talk about our history, and the traumas in our legacy. To understand ourselves is to understand our past, so thank you for documenting it.

[GLL]

Thanks for all the contribution and hardship that our previous generation goes through. Without you guys, Singapore wont be what she is today.

[mrtienphysics]

1942 - Japanese invaded Singapore. Sook Ching Massacre - 70, 000 in Singapore killed by the Japanese. David Marshall became Prisoner of War, nearly died in the Hokkaido coal mine. Lim Bo Seng set up Force 136 to fight the Japanese, and sacrificed himself in prison. Adnan Saidi died defending Singapore. William Goode taken prisoner by the Japanese and sent to work in Siam on the Burma Railway from 1943 to 1945.

[jiarui]

Being curious over what really happened in the past esp the 1930 to the ww2, something that sometimes books don’t tell you about, my late grandmother does tell me some details but not all, but thanks for this wonderful documentary once again, I learnt from our seniors what happened in the past… an insightful perspective of how they were treated and I’m thankful for what I have now… 😊

[mayda]

Suddenly, my eyes are wet to this episode. My late grandma, my 83 yo mom are one of them. How horrible the war scenes were. They experienced war, being a refugee. Mom remains healthy and strong until today. Her story always be a sad as well as interesting story. Her past has given her the resilient mentality as well as traumas in her future. We learn much from her.

[sockhuanglim]

These real stories told by real people brought tears to our eyes. It is amazing that they live to tell their stories.

[evarlynlee]

Amazingly done! Very insightful to the current generation. Thank you!

[riadihusaini]

00:03 showing old Singapore
01:07 Singapore's history as a bustling port city
02:11 central urban areas and rural kampongs in 1930s Singapore
03:19 Montage of pre-war Singapore life
04:29 recounts parents speaking Malay when they wanted privacy
05:16 Neighbors only knew those in their immediate area
06:44 schools and education in 1930s Singapore
08:17 cultural practices and traditions
09:51 Food and produce markets shown
11:12 Fishermen and fishing practices featured
12:29 Montage of city scenes from 1930s Singapore
14:04 Childhood days ended with Japanese occupation
15:08 Japanese took over everything, residents became refugees
15:56 Details of attending British school before war
17:02 School became army barracks when British army took over
18:34 Japanese occupation montage
19:39 Bomb dropped on doorstep of interviewee's home
20:44 Saw bodies at the morgue after fighting ended
22:15 Announcement of British surrender of Singapore
23:33 Food shortages and malnutrition during occupation
25:27 Japanese took girls by force for comfort women
26:40 Sex slaves recalled as horrible experience
27:51 Determined not to live under Japanese regime
29:00 Interviewee recounts annual Wayang show on street
30:20 Movies were rare entertainment before war
31:15 Japaneses showed propaganda film after taking over
32:25 Forced to bow to Tokyo to honor the Emperor
33:36 Had to sing Japanese anthem at ceremonies
34:47 Flag raising ceremonies held on national day
35:50 Started making and selling food items to earn money
36:57 Some Japanese guards missed their own children
38:02 Heard about bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
39:06 Emaciated prisoners of war discovered after surrender
40:18 Went to see British accept Japanese surrender
41:23 Initial euphoria faded as British struggled themselves
42:39 Merdeka proclamations changed little for people
43:44 Got bullied but had to earn a living under British
44:49 Saw that the British empire could be defeated
45:55 Poor conditions led to diseases after war

[AndromedaAiken]

This is a wonderful documentary. The atrocities of the Japanese and traumas from our past must never be forgotten. These first person accounts are slowly getting rarer as there are less lived experiences. These should all be archived and our children should learn about how we came to be where we are now.

[harryloo]

What a gem. Thank you for the stories of our grand parents!

[ewansariasmara]

I'm part of Singaporean history .
Pulau Belakang Mati Pulau Hantu Pulau Seraya Pulau Bukom Pulau Kusyu etc .
Almost all the traditional panggung wayang are gone and also the primary school .
Now the view has totally changed .
Everything changed .
Cari buah or mandi laut or main guli are gone now .
Jubilee Rd and some kampung village around East Coast Rd is my playground . Pasir Panjang area laa .
No more Pokok Kelapa No more bushes to play police and thieves .

[jaytso]

Till today, Japan as a nation has NOT admitted or shown remorse for the hideous war crimes committed by their troops during WWII

[leeraj]

Well taken documentary..very insightful, especially for the youngsters. My respects n well wishes to the elders whom shared their experiences. God bless!

[rosery]

Thank you. Really appreciate this amazing documentary.