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70 years ago in Singapore....


February 15, 1942 was the day the British surrendered Singapore to the Japanese during World War II.

This photo, is probably taken in 1930, is one of the many stories of the innocent lives that ended prematurely during the war . My grandfather Yeo Tiang Hoon was 8 years old (left). His older brother, Yeo Tiang Hock, 10  (right) at the time this photo was taken, was one of 25,000 and 50,000 ethnic Chinese in Singapore and Malaya who were rounded up by the Japanese during the occupation of Singapore.

Mr Yeo Eng Kiat, my great-grandfather,  was about 30 when this photo was taken. He paassed away in 1972 at a age of 77. 

One of the stories I heard was that Mr Yeo Tiang Hock stood in front of his uncle and took the shot for his uncle. This uncle apparently made it alive to tell the tale.

Mr Yeo Tiang Hoon celebrated his Chinese 90th birthday in December 2011.

Comments

Peter Pak said…
Dear Aaron, i read this article with interest. I suspect that Yeo Eng Kiat is the son of Yeo Lock Gee. Would you have information on this? Appreciate if you can email me. I am not a descendant but we found the tomb of Yeo Lock Gee's mother and am trying to draw the connections..
Rojak Librarian
http://mymindisrojak.blogspot.sg/

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