Educational Visit for Secondary 2A & 2B - Memories at the Old Ford Factory (1st & 2nd August 2006)

We went to the visit the Old Ford Factory on the 1st of August for the Sec 2A class and 2nd of August for the Sec 2Bs. When we were there, we were surprised to see a new building and yet it was called ‘old”.

About the Old Ford Factory

This place is significant as it was here on 15 February 1942 at 6.20pm, that Lt. Gen. A.E. Percival of the British Forces in Singapore surrendered to the Japanese Lt.-Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, Commander of the Japanese 25th Army.

It is in this room that the Lt. Gen. A.E. Percival and Lt.-Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, met to sign the surrender document. The chairs we see in the picture were the original chairs sat on by the two generals in 1942.

Learning Points

We learnt many things in class but on the fieldtrip, we saw the many atrocities and also what life was like during the Japanese Occupation. We began to realise that war is very painful.

We saw how people were tortured by the Japanese Kempeitai especially during the “Sook Ching Operations” or cleansing. Life was difficult and countries should never be at war as  innocent lives are being sacrificed - even babies were not spared - for selfish reasons.

Historic Surrender Route

Games and Movies

Historic Surrender Route

Reflections

The war had ended 61 years ago yet it still formed a lasting impression on many people. We left the place with a heavy heart and the visit opened our eyes somewhat.

From the Japanese Occupation and in memory of these events, we must learn to stand firm in the face of enemy advance. If we want peace, we must work for it and we must ourselves defend our country .