A Walk To Remember
SINGAPORE – For 70-year-old Mary Pereira, visiting the only known existing pre-war civilian air raid shelter yesterday “brought closure to a lot of things”.
After all, Ms Pereira was born in the shelter during World War II while her mother was seeking refuge from an air raid. Incidentally, her father – who was serving with the civil defence force then – died in another air raid just hours earlier.
“It made me realise what my mother may have gone through … it embodies the whole picture of what my family experienced and it means so much to me to come back here again,” the lawyer said.
For Ms Pereira’s brothers Eddy and Andrew, who were then between four and five years old, their memories remain hazy of that night on Jan 21, 1942, when the siren sounded for an air raid. The only recollection they have is of a pitch-dark shelter lit by kerosene lamps and children huddling over a fire of sweet-smelling roasted bananas.
For the Pereiras, the underground shelter is worth a visit even for those who have no direct ties to its history.
Ms Pereira said: “This will let them know about the past and be more appreciative of their current circumstances.”
The public can do so now as the air raid shelter, located at Block 78, Guan Chuan Street, in Tiong Bahru estate, will be open for free public tours throughout February. The event is part of the National Heritage Board’s (NHB) efforts to mark the 70th anniversary of the fall of Singapore to the Japanese. The tours will be held twice every Saturday, taking between 20 and 25 people each time.
The shelter, which was opened to the media yesterday, offered glimpses into a slice of Singapore history, where about 100 civilians would climb down a ladder to seek safety between the uncovered brick walls of the 1,500-sq-m shelter whenever a siren sounded. The three original entrances to the shelter have since been sealed and what remain are spacious unfurnished rooms with graffiti – dating back to the 1960s – on the walls.
The NHB will be organising other activities to mark the 70th anniversary, including an exhibition showcasing artefacts and art pieces on the Japanese Occupation, a walking trail that presents information related to the war and sessions where war survivors recount their experiences.
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