Reflecting on Singapore's history via photos

[Cecil Lee]

1950’s era bungalows.

One has become a clan association building. While another a temple.

Lau Clan General Association 

Nearby

+++

Tong Teck Thng Vegetarian Temple

[Cecil Lee]

Former Golden mile complex enbloc sale in 2024

[Cecil Lee]

Raffles Town Club lease expires in October 2026.

Will be redeveloped for housing purposes.

[Cecil Lee]

The Britannia Club & also Former NCO Club

Completed in 1952, this Spanish-tiled club-house (originally the Britannia Club) provided recreational facilities for British servicemen and their Allied counterparts in Singapore. It had a large swimming pool and offered members a view of the sea. In 1974, it became the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) Corps Club, after the British military withdrew from Singapore.

The club was known for its SAF Enterprise Superstore which offered daily necessities for the NCOs and their families at affordable rates. Following the NCO Corps' restructuring. the club was renamed "SAF Warrant Officers and Specialists Club" in 1994. It remained here until 2001.

Former People’s Defense Force II PDF HQ building

[Cecil Lee]

A Pictorial History of Nee Soon Community @ Photos mounted / arranged at Fernvale Community Centre

[Cecil Lee]

Singapore's World War II Hero Major-General Lim Bo Seng (1909 to 1944)

Major-General Lim Bo Seng (1909 - 1944)

Lim Bo Seng was bom in China, the 11th child and first son of wealthy businessman Lim Loh. He arrived in Singapore in 1917, He studied at Raffles Insttution and later at the Liniversity of Hong Kong, In 1930, he married Gan Choo Neo and they had 8 children, one of whom died in Infancy:

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Lim was active in the Nanyang Federation's resistance activities. On 1 February 1942
Lim and other Chinese community leaders left Singapore for India where they recruited and trained hundreds of secret agents, mainly Malayan Chinese, for the Sino-British guerrilla group, Force 136.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Lim was active in the Nanyang Federation's resistance activities. On 1 February 1942.
Lim and other Chinese community leaders left Singapore for India where they recruited and trained hundreds of secret agents,
mainly Malayan Chinese, for the Sino-British guerrilla group, Force 136.

The first Force 136 agents were deployed in May 1943 in Operation Gustavus to establish an espionage network in Malaya and Singapore. Lim retumed to Malaya in November 1943. Unfortunately Operation Gustavus failed, Lim was captured on
25 March 1944 and taken to the Kempeitai headquarters for interrogation. He was subsequently imprisoned at the Batu Gajah Gaol in Perak.

Despite severe torture, Lim refused to divulge any information. Incarcerated in appalling conditions, he fell ill with dysentery towards the end of May 1944 and died in the early hours on 29 June 1944. He was buried behind the Batu Gajan Gaol compound in an unmarked spot.

In December 1945, alter the war ended, Lim's widow travelled with her eldest son Lim Leong Geok to bring her husband's remains back to Singapore. A funeral service was held on 13 January 1946 at City Hall and Lim's remains were brought to MacRitchie Reservoir where he was buried with full military honours. He was posthumously conferred the rank of Major-General by the Chinese Nationalist Govemment. 

Lim's original grave marker was a simple wooden cross, This was to have been replaced by something grander and permanent from as early as 1948 but funds were not available. In June 1952, the Lim Bo Seng Memorial Committee raised sufficient funds to
replace the simple cross with the current concrete structure.

On the 10th Anniversary of his death in 1954, a memorial was unveiled at the Esplanade Park to commemorate Lim Bo Seng.

 

[Cecil Lee]

Related: