Oral History Recordings
SAF veterans/NSmen recount their experiences in historical events in Singapore (e.g., Japanese Occupation and 1964 Racial Riots) and the SAF (e.g., early days of the SAF, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations). Their experiences can help the young understand challenges and adversity, fear and courage, disappointment and hope, determination and resourcefulness - the stuff that Singaporeans are made of.
If you would like to find out more about the oral history recordings, please write in to Nexus@defence.gov.sg.
Featured Oral History Recordings
Racial Riots – Abdul Samad
"Even in this madness, there are isolated pockets of racial harmony… I know of Chinese shopkeepers in the Malay kampongs... The Malay neighbours tell them, towkay you don't worry, if anybody come and disturb you, we will look after you, don't worry."
- MAJ (Ret) Abdul Samad on his experience during the period of Racial Riots
Operation Thunderstorm – WKF
"Many of them [Vietnamese refugees] came in very bad shape, with war wounds, bullet wounds, rotting wounds, and smelly flesh. It was quite a depressing sight"
- LTC (Ret) Wong Ko Foon on Operation Thunderstorm in 1975
Collapse of Hotel New World – AC
"Nobody was allowed to go in. As a commander, I thought we might not be able to rescue the lady if we don't go in. So I told the engineer, "Okay, you don't allow anybody to go in, can I go in myself?" Then the engineer told me "It's at your own risk, you carry on. So I had to crawl in and assess the situation."
- COL (Ret) Andrew Chng on the Collapse of Hotel New World
Early days of SAF
"Pioneer means the first batch, everything is dependent on you, you are the leaders and you got nobody to look forward to ask for advice."
- LTC (Ret) Chan Seck Sung as the pioneer batch of Officer Cadets
Operation Flying Eagle
"I remember when I first flew in, Meulaboh, the disaster site, from the aircraft. You can see the destruction, the number of buildings which were totally destroyed by the tsunami. Where once there were houses, villages, there were now all just empty fields."