NEN Gallery

The soldier (Bernard) arrived in Singapore two days before it fell to the Japanese. On December 8, 1941, the Japanese had arrived in the city of Kota Bahru in British Malaya (present day Malaysia). Within a matter of two months, the Japanese had conquered Malaya. On 8 February 1942, they crossed the Causeway and entered into the British colony of Singapore. Eventually, they gained full control of both Malaya and Singapore. Bernard along with the other soldiers was captured and sent to Changi prisoner of war camp. He died of Diphtheria (which along with typhus and cholera killed many soldiers) whilst labouring on what was known as the Death railway.