A+British+woman+living+in+SingaporeBlock+D+Sem+II+2011

__ //**A British woman living in Singapore**// __ ** Name**: Melissa Huxley **Age:** 35 **Gender:** Female **Occupation:** Shopkeeper of a clothes store **Appearance:** A brunette with brown eyes, sharp nose and a fair complexion. I love to laugh, joke and smile. **Location:** Singapore, Singapore **Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits:** I am a very loud and outgoing person. I feel most comfortable talking to people and I spend most of my time and relieve my stress by talking.However, sometimes, I appreciate some time alone. My most successful accomplishment is that I have started an international retail store based in the U.K. **Family:** Mother, Father, Sister (all live in the U.K) **Education:** Graduated with a linguistics degree from a university in the U.K. **Languages you speak:** My mother tongue is English. Because I can easily pick up languages, I have also picked up some Chinese and Mandarin phrases along the way I came to Singapore. **Your main concerns at this time and in life:** I have only recently moved to Singapore. Hence, my greatest concern is if my brand will be successful in such a foreign city, and if I will be able to adjust to the different social scene in Singapore.

**Day 1 (December 5th, 1940)** Dear Diary,

Today, I woke up to the shouts and screams of young men and women on the streets. I got up and with sleepy eyes, walked towards to the window to listen to what they were making such a fuss about. But even before I took a few steps, I heard "JAPAN INVADES SINGAPORE". I could not believe what I was hearing. I rushed outside and knocked on the door of my neighbor, William McQuillien. His housemaid, Ms.Han opened the door and carefully explained to me that Japan bombed Singapore last night by the HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Repulse and four destroyers - Force Z. The fort that was attacked was literally blown to pieces and nothing survived. Although I was always aware that something would happen like this, I never imagined that they day would come. Numbed by the sensation and heat of the people around me, I went back home and started to panic. Where would I go? What about my shop? What about my friends, my family back in Britain? What about //me?//My head was filled with questions and thoughts that led to no end. After a few seconds, I decided that I had no choice but to stay in Singapore. In times of war, there was no way that I could get back to Britain, and even so, I couldn't take the risk of flying among military aircraft. I also decided that I would have to claim my deposit from my store's back account as I was sure that no one would be interested in buying fancy clothes at the moment.

A few days ago, I received a letter from my dear friend Natalie Moline, a French woman in Indochina. She wrote about her concerns of the Japanese threatening Vietnam to take away its resources. As the owner of a rubber plantation, she is desperately worried about her industry and her future. It breaks my heart to see that my only friend abroad has to suffer under the Japanese.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">As a young, single woman, I have no one to depend on here in Singapore. Back home, I have a family and friends, and I yearn to go back. However, I must cope with the situation and deal with it the best I can. God will lead me towards light and I'm sure that he will take good care of me. In the meantime, I will write a note to my family back in Britain, explaining the situation and informing them that I'm okay. They must be greatly worried for me. When the war ends and when things get better, the first thing I must do is to return back to my family.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Meanwhile, it is such a relief that I have at least one companion - William McQuillen, my new friend. As a British officer, he is the only one that I can rely on and he insures me everyday that things will get better. However, to my despair, just a few days ago, his father, Josher McQuillen and Christina Hamilton passed away. Since then, I haven't been able to contact him and rumors say that he has turned mad over the incident. Once a diplomatic and rational officer, I fear that he will turn into a heartless soldier, which will lead to his own demise.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Day 2 (February 2nd, 1942)﻿** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Dear Diary,

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Despite what I had hoped would happen, things are much much worse than I thought it would be. Ms. Han has been captured and killed by the Japanese army, just because she is a descendant of the Han Chinese. In an attempt to kill all those who were linked to the Chinese during the Second-Sino Japanese War, the Japanese government has ordered its army to kill all descendants of the Han Chinese and capture all Malays and Indians in Singapore.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">I have tried to contact the British government, but they have ignored my messages as they are very busy at the moment. I also tried contacting the British Embassy in Singapore, but failed. As a British citizen, I am deeply disappointed at the lack of support the British government is supporting me with, and this should change. At first, I thought that I would be able to cope with the situation, but I don't think I can stand it anymore. Every night, I go to sleep under the clashes and explosions coming from above. It is sad to think that I have become used to the cries and mournings of one over losing their friend or relative.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Over the past week, I have surely learnt that there is more to war than fighting. Merely reading news stories of war breaking out has never felt close to my heart until now. Even in a week, hundreds of innocent people have died, and many can no longer properly eat, speak or move at the loss of their loved ones. Although I've tried to contact my family back home, I couldn't as the post office shut down the day war broke out.<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">I was told that William, after being shocked at his parent's and his housekeeper's death returned back to Britain. Oh why oh why didn't he take me as well?

<span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: center;">**Day 3 (February 5th, 1941)** <span class="s1" style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Dear Diary, I am awfully sorry that I haven't had the chance to return to you in due time, but it was all for the disastrous events that unfolded right after my last entry. Singapore, initially under Britain's control has completely surrendered under the Japanese and we are held in chains by the latter. The bombings of factories, stations and homes nearby no longer frighten me and after seeing so many of my neighbors, friends and associates die or blown up into pieces the last few weeks, I no longer am afraid of my own death. But, my only concern lies in my family and friends back in Britain. By day, my mind goes numb and my heart freezes, imagining all the pain that they have to go through, worrying about me. <span class="s1" style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Today, I witnessed the most horrendous and terrible event in my life - the Alexandra Hospital massacre. While I was on my way to visit the local store, from far away I could see a horde of Japanese soldiers marching towards the hospital. At first, I thought they were approaching the hospital to demand for medical equipment, but soon, they started firing their guns and bayonets. Frightened, I hurriedly entered the little store and decided to wait until the soldiers leave the hospital and back to their fort. 30 minutes later, I saw the most frightful scene I have ever set my eyes on - weak and dying patients, still in their hospital garments - being forced to walk through the streets, barefoot. Just when I was about to realize what was happening, I saw an old man stumble. A second later, a Japanese soldier shot him in the head. What was this? Why did the Japanese army have to kill the harmless patients? Why? As the patients continued to march, many who lacked the strength fell down to the ground, and consequently, were shot to their death.Later, the store keeper told me that the patients were sent on to the Siam-Burma Death Railway by Hell Ships. After this incident, I quickly wrote to my dear friend Leona White, a nurse in Hawaii who always wanted to work abroad - particularly in Singapore. I warned her of the massacre, the situation of the hospital in Singapore and how tens of nurses and doctors died in the process. I hope that she makes the right decision and doesn't come to Singapore. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">I cannot believe it; life in Singapore is pure, damn Hell. The actions of the Japanese, the corpses around me, the bombings and destructions of nearby buildings.. all this sickens me to death.The Japanese government has built the Chani Prison, a prison that detains many Australian and British people. Additionally, I have lost contact with my one and only true friend in Singapore, [|William], I no longer know of his whereabouts, let alone if he is alive or not. The war is killing us; if I am not blown up by one of the Japanese's bombs, I will surely die going crazy.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Day 4 (February 20th, 1942)** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Dear Diary,

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Today, Singapore finally surrendered to the Japanese. Many name the fall of Singapore the "worst disaster" or the "largest capitulation" in British history, but honestly, I don't want to hear a damn word about anything that has to do Japan. I'm exhausted. I'm disgusted, outraged and horrified at the situation. Sure, I thank God for sparing my life and not letting me come to harm but I cannot bear to live while all those around me are dead.The incident at the hospital scared the life out of me. The last plea of the old man and the viscous and merciless glare of the Japanese soldier right before he shot the old man haunts me day and night. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Although I presume that the bombings and attacks will come to an end, I only see the future as the beginning of a nightmare for Singapore. Already, many Europeans in Singapore - labeled P.O.W’s (Prisoners of War) - have been sent to various camps, such as the Chani Prison, Selarang Barracks and the Sime Road Camp. As a British woman, I fear that very soon, the soldiers will come knocking on my door to send me to one of these prison camps. If I am relatively lucky, then I may be able to stay in Singapore. However, I know that I will be given gruesome jobs - burying the dead, cleaning up the city, etc. Many Indians and Malays and especially the Chinese have been killed under Japanese rule. Also, new rules have been implemented: we have to bow to any and all Japanese officers that we see, we need to learn Japanese and we are limited from viewing Western movies, newspapers or books. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Just to take my mind off things, I took a short walk to the city center and saw the Japanese Rising Sun Flag being hoisted over the tallest building in Singapore, the Cathay Building. Seeing the Singaporean flag being replaced with this sickening flag once again brought tears to my eyes and I deeply shuddered with contempt and hatred. Additionally, now I am under the orders to address Singapore as Syonan-to, the new name of Singapore.

While I was going back home, I saw a little Singaporean high school student being dragged into a military truck by a [|Japanese soldier]. At first, I didn't realize what was happening, but suddenly, his sweaty hands were all over her body and I screamed with horror. Fearing what might happen next, I kicked him in the face. Amused by my weak kicks, he chortled an evil laugh and slapped me in the face. I fell to the floor and right before I fainted, I felt his disgusting body next to me and the little girl. After I woke up, I saw that my body was filled with bloody bruises, and my ankle and arm was broken. However, the young girl and the Japanese soldier could no longer be found in sight.

<span class="s1" style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Although I am grateful that I don’t have to live under fear of my house being bombed or being attacked with a bayonette, I no longer feel the need to go on if we are to live under such horrible conditions. Having to succumb to those who have brought us so much pain, anguish and sorrow breaks my heart. I can no longer bear to be under the control of the Japanese. Singapore is not even my home country; why do I, a British citizen have to suffer? I do not know what may come but I will die trying to go back to Britain rather than stay in Singapore.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Sources** <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">1. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/fall_of_singapore.htm <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> 2. http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/p/World-War-Ii-Battle-Of-Singapore.htm

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Singapore