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Synopsis :

A two-part docu-drama presented by Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) Current Affairs Division to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the fall of Singapore to Japan on 15 February 1942. SBC Current Affairs looks at the Japanese invasion of Singapore, the sufferings and horrors from Singaporeans' perspective.  The programme features 16 persons - 12 Singaporeans, two British and two Japanese - who share their personal accounts and comments of the events. To tell the story, the programme creates re-enactments of all the events or insert footages from various broadcasting stations and archival organisations. 6 of the 10 persons sharing their stories are also played out by artistes.

Part I, titled 'Days of Fire' recounts events leading to the fall of Singapore in chronological sequence. The story starts off with a Rememberance Day ceremony for the war of 1939-1945, attended by survivors, families and friends.
Programme proceeds to recount Japan invading China and Indo-China, and the highlights include:
a) Nanking massacre in China. b) July 1941 Indo-China taken.  c) 1940 - Japan pact with Germany and Italy. d) December 1941 - 'British Empire in the Far East seems distant'.  e) 7 December 1941  - Japanese bomb Pearl Harbour, its Prime Minister announces Japan is at war with US and the British Empire.

Events directly related to fall of Singapore unfold:
1) Japan in Malaya at Kota Bharu - 7 December 1941 - one hour before it attacks Pearl Harbour.
2) Japan's bombers heading towards Singapore, Britain's 'Gibraltar of the East', the 'so called impregnable fortress'. Comments on first air raids from Vernon Palmer and Chang Teh Cheok in Mandarin.
3) Before the first bomb on Singapore - life at work or leisure - per normal for Singaporeans & British. Comments from: 2 British forces war veterans - Roy 'Blackie' Blacker and Frederick Chandler;
a) Singaporeans with different views, example  Teong Wah Chin in Mandarin, who joins a team which actively supports the war in China against Japanese.
b) Singaporeans even more active, such as Neo Thiew, organising Chinese guard force to fend off Japan. His son, Neo Ah Lark explains in Mandarin about family moving to brother, Neo Thiam Hock's house, but subsequently suffer a tragedy.
c) Still others continue to 'live in a world of their own'. Wong Maan Shing relates fleeing to Singapore from China with engineer huband. Teong Wah Chin recalls in Mandarin the sirens sounding during his wedding with Tan Ah Seng.
4) Japan advancing southwards - not hindered, no opposition from the British whose navy ships and RAF planes attacked by Japan. From December 17 1941 to 31 January 1942, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Johore Bahru fall to Japanese troops. By early Februrary, Yamashita's general force is ready to invade Singapore. While British troops retreat to Singapore, blowing up the Causeway behind them. Major Teruto Kumitake - adviser to General Yamashita before the war -  in Japanese recalls his task gathering of vital information for ground attack.
4) Singapore under siege - Japanese attack by land, destroying communication lines, bombs exploding, people killed, turning the city into 'a rage of blazing flame'. As full horrors of war hit home - local people are horrified, fearful and many try to take flight. Vernon Palmer remembers his mother and aunt are killed by a falling bomb right before his eyes, just a day before the family leaves Singapore.
5) December 1941 - British form several groups to fight the Japanese. Chang Teh Cheok, one such volunteer, in Mandarin explains he is still ready to defend Singapore and with Wu Jing Min at Kranji, they kill the first batch of Japanese coming in by dinghies.
6) Japanese main target is Lim Chu Kang breaking through shore defences with 13,000 troops. Major Teruto - in Japanese explains little resistance  except at Mandai, Bukit Ttimah and Tengah Air Base.
7) Battle at Opium Hill (or Bukit Chandu) - 'One of the most courage battles of  the whole Malayan campaign', hill is defended by the Malay Regiment. Lietuenant Adnan Saidi, one of its leaders. Abbas Abdul Manam, one of survivors, recalls in Malay the battle, the last few hours with Adnan on February 13, and Adnan fighting the last onslaught on 14 Feburary.
8) Same afternoon as last battle at Opium Hill, Neo Thiew's family at Neo Thiam Hock's house is massacred by contingent of Japanese army. Neo Thiam Hock relates what happens in Hokkien. His brother Neo Ah Lark in Mandarin explains how he plays dead, survives and flees with a maid to safety.
9) British High Command - Colonel Percival and his men meet in bunker at Fort Canning to decide fate of Singapore and accepts advice to capitulate. On hearing about Britain's surrender, Chang Teh Cheok and a few men collect what they can and head for Beach Road Jetty. They catch the last boat out of Singapore as they have the petrol for the boat man.
10) Britain surrenders - Singapore falls. 15 February 1942, Percival and his contingent arrive at Ford Factory at 6:30pm to discuss surrrender terms. Colonel Ichiji Sugita, an officer then recalls in Japanese leading the contingent to meet General Yamashita, also the contrasts between both groups. Percival signs the surrender agreement as the sun sets, and 'Singapore no longer belongs to the British Empire'.
11) Reaction to British surrender from: two British forces veterans - Roy ;Blackie' Blacker and Frederick Chandler. Abbas Abdul Manam - in Malay asking why a need to surrender and feeling anger over it. Vernon Palmer, a shock to him. Chang Teh Cheok explaining in Mandarin why they give up and shedding tears when he hears the news.

Part I ends with Chang Teh Cheok and his compantion on the boat heading to their destination, according to the commentary, is India. The commentary adds 'Singapore is to remain under many days of darkness; the nightmare had just begun'.
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Part 2 titled 'Days of Darkness' depicts life during the Japanese Occupation - the brutality and the sufferings the man-in-the-street, the civilians have to endure. Events are detailed in chronological order.

1) The Japanese call for mass screening of all Singapore Chinese men between 18 to 50 years old two days after their tanks roll into the city. This screening 'the start of tragedy of massacre' is the Japanese 'plot of systematic elimination' targetting Chinese intellecutals, communists, local volunteers and secret society members. A few lucky ones cheat death to recount their experiences, including: Chang Yek Bian and Chuang Uming, a teacher, both in Mandarin; Wong Shaan Ming in English.
2) Methods of massacres include shooting the men in the back at the beach or river. Or the men are forced to dig a big hole, then shot and buried in that hole. Takeshi Kawai, Japanese interpreter during the mass screening - in English - recounts a similar incident in Taiping, Malaya. Numbers massacred - Japanese put the figure at 6,000, but in 1947 the Appeals Committee for Singapore Chinese Victims Massacred by Japanese  estimates it is nearer 50.000.
3) Women living in fear of being taken away and raped. Japanese force every household to take the census mainly to catch the girls. Tan Ah Seng and Tan Peck Siok in Mandarin remember their experiences.
4) Japanese ambition is to create Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, with Singapore as the 'nerve centre in Southeast Asia'.  Singapore is renamed Synonan to - 'Light of the South'. The Japanese build Shonan Shinto in memory of their battle dead to boost the image of the Japanese army. Teong Wah Chin repeats in Mandarin some Japanese statements - 'Japan is No 1 and Singapore Chinese  must follow them.
5) The Chinese are ordered to form the Oversea Chinese Association, with Dr Lim Boon Keng as first president. They have to donate $50 million to show their loyalty to the Japanese, but need to borrow from Yokohama Bank to make up the required amount to present to General Yamashita. Lam Yoon Chong in Mandarin recalls Dr Lim telling him he is forced to be president and wonders how the association arrive at the contribution amount for each household.
6) The Japanese want the Chinese to learn their culture and spirit, including Malay officers at the police academy. Neo Ah Lark in Mandarin recalls as a boy learning Japanese and singing Japanese songs. Teong Wah Chin in Mandarin remembers two most important sentences Japanese want Singaporeans to learn and his reluctance to learn them.
7) Anti-Japanese activities increase after fall of Singapore. Chew Lee Ngoe in Mandarin and Chua Tai Chian in Hokkien share their experiences. Chua is pushed into the water repeatedly, a lit cigaretter pushed into his face and beated by a wooden rod. His wife secures his release after bribing some Japanese.
8) Singaporeans not involved in anti-Japanese activities may still be punished by the Japanese for
not bowing properly. Vernon Palmer once is made kneel for two hours on gravel on the roadside  for failing to bow properly at a sentry point.
9) Japanese do not have sufficient food supplies for the local people. Food is distributed according to size of household. Tan Ah Seng - in Mandarin talks about how her family overcomes the shortage of food and having no milk for her baby.
10) Battle of Midway - from 3 June 1942 - is a turning point for the Pacific War - Japan's naval strength is destroyed, in 3 days, losing 243 fighters and 4 aircraft carriers.
11) China and Britain organise  Force 136, an underground resistance group. April 1944 Chang Teh Cheok returns to Malaya with fellow fighter, Chin Chee Seong to work with Malayan resistance force. Chang - in Mandarin recounts reaching shore in Lumut to meet up with the Malayan side and Malayan Communist Party Secretary-General Chin Peng. He hears other 136 men have started their anti-Japanese activities in Malaya.
12) End 1944 - Allied  B29 bombs counter attack on Japanese and targetting military structure in Singapore and harbour too. Reactions from Vernon Palmer and Abbas Abdul Manam.
13) August 1945 - US drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and another on Nagasaki. 15 August - Japan surrenders unconditionally. Major Teruto Kumitake in Japanese explains the atomic bomb provides Japan with the chance to surrender.
14) In Singapore, 120,000 Japanese troops give up their weapons, and wait in Changi prison camp. Local population jubilant. Reaction of  Neo Ah Lark explaing in Mandarin, and Abbas in Malay to news of surrender.
15) 12 September 1945 - ceremony of Japanese surrender at City Hall officiated by Admiral Lord Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander for Southeast Asia. Vernon Palmer remembers the ceremony but no General Yamashita, and only his aide to sign the surrender document. He recalls Radio Malaya giving BBC all the support in personnel and logistics.
16) 3 May 1946 - war crimes trials in Tokyo conducted by Allied Far East Military Tribunal in Tokyo. Prime Minister Tojo and seven others sentenced to hang, 16 sentenced to jail for life. 9 October 1945 - General Yamashita goes on trial in Manila, and sentenced to hang on 7 December 1945.
17) 10 March 1947 - war crimes trial in Singapore at Victoria Memorial Hall. 135 prisoners are found guilty and executed in Changi Prison. Reactions from Chang Teh Cheok, Tan Ah Seng, Teong Chin Wah - all in Mandarin; Major Teruto - in Japanese - 'not sure if Japanese action right or wrong, only unbiased historians can make final judgement'; Vernon Palmer saying 'after 50 years can forgive, but very difficult to forget'.
18) Commentary rounds off with: when the war ends after 3 years, 8 months, a 'new chapter and a new spirit of Asia' open to 'unshackle the chains of colonialism and Singapore is moving forward on the road to independence'.