Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British politician known chiefly for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the great wartime leaders. He served as prime minister from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. A noted statesman and orator, Churchill was also an officer in the British Army, a historian, writer and artist. To date, he is the only British prime minister to have received the Nobel Prize in Literature, and the first person to be recognised as an honorary citizen of the United States.
During his army career, Churchill saw military action in India, the Sudan and the Second Boer War. He gained fame and notoriety as a war correspondent and through contemporary books he wrote describing the campaigns. He also served briefly in the British Army on the Western Front in the First World War, commanding the 6th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers.
At the forefront of the political scene for almost fifty years, he held many political and cabinet positions. Before the First World War, he served as President of the Board of Trade, Home Secretary and First Lord of the Admiralty as part of the Asquith Liberal government. During the war he continued as First Lord of the Admiralty until the disastrous Gallipoli Campaign caused his departure from government. He returned as Minister of Munitions, Secretary of State for War and Secretary of State for Air. In the interwar years, he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Conservative government.
After the outbreak of the Second World War, Churchill was again appointed First Lord of the Admiralty. Following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain on 10 May 1940, he became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and led Britain to victory against the Axis powers. Churchill was always noted for his speeches, which became a great inspiration to the British people and to the embattled Allied forces.
After losing the 1945 election, he became Leader of the Opposition. In 1951 he again became prime minister, before finally retiring in 1955. Upon his death, the Queen granted him the honour of a state funeral, which saw one of the largest assemblies of statesmen in the world.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
History Blog (Group 6) 2IT
Elizabeth Choy Su-Mei nee Elizabeth Yong a.k.a. Yong Su Mei (b. 29 November 1910, Kudat, Sabah - 14 September 2006, Singapore), a Hakka from North Borneo, noted for being a war-time heroine during the Japanese occupation and the only woman member in the Legislative Council in 1951. She also posed as an artist's model for the famed sculptress, Dora Gordine, who did two works of her entitled Serene Jade and Flawless Crystal. She worked as a teacher and became the first principal of the Singapore School for the Blind. She was also known for her qipaos and bangles, for which she was nicknamed "Dayak woman of Singapore".
Early life
Elizabeth was born in Kudat in British North Borneo (today Sabah). Her great-grandparents had been assisting German missionaries in Hongkong and their work had brought them to North Borneo. There, the Yong family set up a coconut plantation. Her father had been the eldest in a family of 11 children and after completing his early education in China with some English education in North Borneo, he gained employment as a civil servant. Marrying the daughter of a priest from a well-respected family in North Borneo, he was transferred to Jesselton and later promoted to District Officer and moved on to Borneo's interiors in Kalimantan. Elizabeth was looked after by a Kadazan nanny and acquired Kadazan as her first language.
Education
Later, Elizabeth's father was posted to Tenom where there were no educational facilities, so Elizabeth and her siblings were sent back to Kudat where her paternal grandfather ran the village school, teaching in Chinese. Her higher education was taken at St Monica's School between 1921 to 1929, an Anglican missionary boarding school in Sandakan. Because the teachers could not pronounce Chinese names, she adopted the English name Elizabeth. In 1925, she and her aunt Jessie became the first girls to sign up in North Borneo's inaugural Girl Guides Company. By 1927, she was teaching the lower standards even whilst she was studying.
In December 1929, she came to Singapore to further her studies at the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus at Victoria Street. She shone academically, obtaining the Prize of Honor in her first year of school in December 1930. She resided with her fourth uncle at Selegie where he ran a music shop, the original T. M. A. at High Street. The untimely death of her mother in 1931 and the onset of the Great Depression placed upon her the burden of raising her six younger siblings. Thus she forwent a college education, even a possible scholarship, to start work so she could finance the education of her younger siblings.
Japanese Occupation
During the Japanese Occupation, she worked as a canteen operator with her husband at the Mental Hospital which was renamed Miyako Hospital (the predecessor of Woodbridge Hospital) where patients from General Hospital had been moved to. They secretly brought food, medicine, money, messages and even radios to British internees. Unfortunately, they were caught by the Japanese and Elizabeth was arrested on 15 November 1943, following her husband's arrest on 29 October a few weeks earlier. Believing their activities were related to the Double Tenth incident, she was interrogated by the Kempeitai but she never admitted to being a British sympathiser. She was released only after 200 days of starvation diet and repeated torture. Her husband was released much later.
England years
After the war, Elizabeth was invited to England as a celebrated war heroine noted as the only female local to have been incarcerated for such an extended period. She went there as part of the privileged few who were invited to Britain to recuperate from the war but her stay extended three more years, totalling four years there. In her first year, she was invited to meet Queen Elizabeth. In her second year, she took up Domestic Science at Northern Polytechnic and in her third year, she taught at a London Council School. Intent on studying art but without the finances for this venture, Elizabeth resorted to posing for art instead. The famed sculptress, Dora Gordine, made two sculptures of her - Serene Jade" and Flawless Crystal. Elizabeth gave her copy of Serene Jade to her daughters who, in turn, donated it to the Singapore Art Museum. Her copy of Flawless Crystal sits in an art gallery in Leicester, Britain.
Politics
She returned to Singapore in December 1949 and was persuaded to stand for elections in December 1950 for the West Ward or Cairnhill constituency under the banner of the Labour Party, founded in 1948 by V. J. Mendis. However, she lost in the 1951 City Council Elections, to the Progressive Party representative, Soh Ghee Soon. However, she was nominated into the Legislative Council in 1951, becoming the only woman member there. She served for a full five-year term. As a member of the Legislative Council, she represented Singapore at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953. She later stood for elections in Queenstown but bowed out from politics thereafter, believing she could do more for the country as a teacher.
In the 1950s, she joined the women's auxiliary of the Singapore Volunteers Corps, and was instrumental in expanding the organisation when she recruited many of her friends and colleagues.
She hit the headlines in early 1998, when she included a nude photograph of herself at a local art exhibition
Career
1933 : Became a teacher at C. E. Z. M. S or Church of England Zenana Mission School (currently, St. Margaret's school)
1935 : Transferred to St. Andrew's Boy's School, probably the only untrained teacher at that time.
1949 : Began a stint as an artist's model, when she was 39 years old and was working in London. She posed for the famed sculptress, Dora Gordine, who did two works of her entitled Serene Jade and Flawless Crystal.
1950? : Returned to Singapore as Senior Assistant, or Deputy Principal at St Andrew's School.
End 1953 - beginning 1954 : Conducted a lecture tour of Malaya in the US and Canada at the request of the Foreign Office in London. Prior to the tour, she took time to visit Malaya to get a better understanding of the country. At that time, it was in the throes of Emergency.
1956 - 1960 : Became the first principal of the Singapore School for the Blind.
1960 - 1974 : Returned to St Andrew's Junior School and promoted to Deputy Principal in 1964.
Family
Husband: Choy Khun Heng (b. Hongkong - ), whom she married on 16 August 1941, the brother of the fiancé of an old school friend. It was a double wedding held in conjunction with her brother, Kon Vui's wedding. Khun Heng worked as a book-keeper at the Borneo Company before the war.
Daughters: Bridget Wai Fong (b. 1950), Lynette Wai Ling, Irene Wai Fun, actually her niece. All were adopted in the 1950s.
(Information taken from Infopedia)
Elizabeth Choy was considered a war hero as she made sacrifices that benefitted the people who were attacked during WW2. Also, she had the bravery to refuse telling the Japanese the truth even when they tortured her, made her suffer and gave her pain. Her act was very admirable and most people would not have sacrificed themselves just to protect something else. However, she protected not just something else, but her country, her nation, her home. Elizabeth Choy is a war hero that will always be remembered, admired and respected.
By: Group 6(2IT)
Nadine Ng(12)
Shuxuan(13)
Xue Xiao(23)
Wan Ting(25)
Shi Ying(26)
Early life
Elizabeth was born in Kudat in British North Borneo (today Sabah). Her great-grandparents had been assisting German missionaries in Hongkong and their work had brought them to North Borneo. There, the Yong family set up a coconut plantation. Her father had been the eldest in a family of 11 children and after completing his early education in China with some English education in North Borneo, he gained employment as a civil servant. Marrying the daughter of a priest from a well-respected family in North Borneo, he was transferred to Jesselton and later promoted to District Officer and moved on to Borneo's interiors in Kalimantan. Elizabeth was looked after by a Kadazan nanny and acquired Kadazan as her first language.
Education
Later, Elizabeth's father was posted to Tenom where there were no educational facilities, so Elizabeth and her siblings were sent back to Kudat where her paternal grandfather ran the village school, teaching in Chinese. Her higher education was taken at St Monica's School between 1921 to 1929, an Anglican missionary boarding school in Sandakan. Because the teachers could not pronounce Chinese names, she adopted the English name Elizabeth. In 1925, she and her aunt Jessie became the first girls to sign up in North Borneo's inaugural Girl Guides Company. By 1927, she was teaching the lower standards even whilst she was studying.
In December 1929, she came to Singapore to further her studies at the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus at Victoria Street. She shone academically, obtaining the Prize of Honor in her first year of school in December 1930. She resided with her fourth uncle at Selegie where he ran a music shop, the original T. M. A. at High Street. The untimely death of her mother in 1931 and the onset of the Great Depression placed upon her the burden of raising her six younger siblings. Thus she forwent a college education, even a possible scholarship, to start work so she could finance the education of her younger siblings.
Japanese Occupation
During the Japanese Occupation, she worked as a canteen operator with her husband at the Mental Hospital which was renamed Miyako Hospital (the predecessor of Woodbridge Hospital) where patients from General Hospital had been moved to. They secretly brought food, medicine, money, messages and even radios to British internees. Unfortunately, they were caught by the Japanese and Elizabeth was arrested on 15 November 1943, following her husband's arrest on 29 October a few weeks earlier. Believing their activities were related to the Double Tenth incident, she was interrogated by the Kempeitai but she never admitted to being a British sympathiser. She was released only after 200 days of starvation diet and repeated torture. Her husband was released much later.
England years
After the war, Elizabeth was invited to England as a celebrated war heroine noted as the only female local to have been incarcerated for such an extended period. She went there as part of the privileged few who were invited to Britain to recuperate from the war but her stay extended three more years, totalling four years there. In her first year, she was invited to meet Queen Elizabeth. In her second year, she took up Domestic Science at Northern Polytechnic and in her third year, she taught at a London Council School. Intent on studying art but without the finances for this venture, Elizabeth resorted to posing for art instead. The famed sculptress, Dora Gordine, made two sculptures of her - Serene Jade" and Flawless Crystal. Elizabeth gave her copy of Serene Jade to her daughters who, in turn, donated it to the Singapore Art Museum. Her copy of Flawless Crystal sits in an art gallery in Leicester, Britain.
Politics
She returned to Singapore in December 1949 and was persuaded to stand for elections in December 1950 for the West Ward or Cairnhill constituency under the banner of the Labour Party, founded in 1948 by V. J. Mendis. However, she lost in the 1951 City Council Elections, to the Progressive Party representative, Soh Ghee Soon. However, she was nominated into the Legislative Council in 1951, becoming the only woman member there. She served for a full five-year term. As a member of the Legislative Council, she represented Singapore at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953. She later stood for elections in Queenstown but bowed out from politics thereafter, believing she could do more for the country as a teacher.
In the 1950s, she joined the women's auxiliary of the Singapore Volunteers Corps, and was instrumental in expanding the organisation when she recruited many of her friends and colleagues.
She hit the headlines in early 1998, when she included a nude photograph of herself at a local art exhibition
Career
1933 : Became a teacher at C. E. Z. M. S or Church of England Zenana Mission School (currently, St. Margaret's school)
1935 : Transferred to St. Andrew's Boy's School, probably the only untrained teacher at that time.
1949 : Began a stint as an artist's model, when she was 39 years old and was working in London. She posed for the famed sculptress, Dora Gordine, who did two works of her entitled Serene Jade and Flawless Crystal.
1950? : Returned to Singapore as Senior Assistant, or Deputy Principal at St Andrew's School.
End 1953 - beginning 1954 : Conducted a lecture tour of Malaya in the US and Canada at the request of the Foreign Office in London. Prior to the tour, she took time to visit Malaya to get a better understanding of the country. At that time, it was in the throes of Emergency.
1956 - 1960 : Became the first principal of the Singapore School for the Blind.
1960 - 1974 : Returned to St Andrew's Junior School and promoted to Deputy Principal in 1964.
Family
Husband: Choy Khun Heng (b. Hongkong - ), whom she married on 16 August 1941, the brother of the fiancé of an old school friend. It was a double wedding held in conjunction with her brother, Kon Vui's wedding. Khun Heng worked as a book-keeper at the Borneo Company before the war.
Daughters: Bridget Wai Fong (b. 1950), Lynette Wai Ling, Irene Wai Fun, actually her niece. All were adopted in the 1950s.
(Information taken from Infopedia)
Elizabeth Choy was considered a war hero as she made sacrifices that benefitted the people who were attacked during WW2. Also, she had the bravery to refuse telling the Japanese the truth even when they tortured her, made her suffer and gave her pain. Her act was very admirable and most people would not have sacrificed themselves just to protect something else. However, she protected not just something else, but her country, her nation, her home. Elizabeth Choy is a war hero that will always be remembered, admired and respected.
By: Group 6(2IT)
Nadine Ng(12)
Shuxuan(13)
Xue Xiao(23)
Wan Ting(25)
Shi Ying(26)
Monday, July 19, 2010
Hero? - Gennie Lim , Valerie Koh , Teh Wenqi , Ranchel Liew , Rachel Ng
What makes a hero?
Whenever the word hero is mentioned, everyone thinks about that comic book superhero that fights crime in movies or comic books, the one that always saves the day. But superheroes are merely a fantasy, they don't exist in the real world ! So, what is a hero then?
In the grim reality of this cruel world, people still stick to tradition , to be a hero, you have to be strong, have superhuman qualities that others don't possess, you have to be different.
But, A hero is an everyday person that can change the world.
It could be big, with great impact, or so small, and subtle that no one can notice it at all.
Anyone could be a hero, a police officer, a firefighter, a normal stranger that walks past you, or even you yourself.
A hero doesnt have to earn medals, get commended for what they've done, as long as you've benefited someone, helped someone, they too can be a hero.
Its courage that sets a hero apart from you and i. And courage is something that everyone possesses, just depending on whether they show it or not.
A hero is someone that earns your respect, and makes the world a better place.
And who fits the aforementioned criteria?
Lim Bo Seng, Singapore's very own hero, a world war 2 anti-japanese resistance fighter.
Born as the first male in the family to a wealthy businessman who owned a biscuit and brick manufacturing company,
In 1917, he came to Singapore at the age of 16 to study at Raffles Institution under the British Colonial Government. He later furthered his studies at The University Of Hong Kong.
During the Second Sino-Japanese war, Lim participated actively in activities organised by the Nanyang Federation to boycott Japanese goods and raise funds for the Chinese army.
On 01 February, Lim left Singapore and travelled to Sumatra with other Chinese community leaders and made his way to India later.
He recruited and trained hundreds of secret agents through intensive military intelligence missions from China and India.
He set up the Sino-British guerrilla task force Force 136 in mid-1942 together with Captain John Davis.
In May 1943, Lim sent the first batch of Force 136 agents to Malaya to conduct the operation codenamed Gustavus.
The operation aims to establish an espionage network in Malaya and Singapore to gather military intelligence about the Japanese forces to aid the British in planning their re-capture of the colonies from the Japanese, codenamed Operation Zipper.A Chinese provision shop in Ipoh, Jian Yik Jan, was used as an Allied espionage base. Communications between the agents were done by smuggling messages in empty toothpaste tubes, salted fish and diaries.
Lim arrived in Malaya in November 1943 and used the alias Tan Choon Lim to avoid identification by the Japanese, claiming to be a businessman when he passed through checkpoints.
Operation Gustavus failed before the agents managed to achieve any results.
An unknown communist guerrilla was captured by the Japanese in January 1944 and they revealed the existence of the Allied spy network operating on Pangkor Island.
The Japanese launched a full-scale counter espionage operation on the island and by late March 1944, more than 200 Japanese soldiers had landed on Pangkor Island.
On March 24, the Japanese Kempeitai arrested a fisherman, Chua Koon Eng, at Teluk Murrek on the Perak coast. Chua was working on Pangkor Island when Li Han Kwang of Force 136 approached him and requested to use his boat for their communications.
Chua told the Kempeitai what he knew when the Kempeitai threatened to kill civilians.
Li was later captured by the Japanese and he confirmed Chua's accounts of Force 136 under torture and then began to feign cooperation with the Japanese in order to escape captivity.
Lim was captured by the Japanese under Marshal Onishi Satoru at a roadblock in Gopeng the next day and taken to the Kempeitai headquarters for interrogation and he refused to provide the Japanese with any information about Force 136 despite being subjected to severe torture. Instead, he protested against the ill-treatment of his comrades in prison.
He fell ill with dysentery and was bedridden by the end of May 1944. Lim died in the early hours on June 29, 1944.
He was later buried behind the Batu Gajah prison compound in an unmarked spot.
After the Japanese surrender, Lim's wife, Gan Choo Neo, was informed of her husband's death by the priest of St. Andrew's School.
Gan travelled with her eldest son to bring her husband's remains home later. A funeral service was held on 13 January 1946 at City Hall to mourn Lim's death.
Lim's remains was transported in a coffin to a hill in MacRitchie Reservoir (coordinates: 1°20'31.76"N 103°49'50.60"E) for burial with full military honours.
Lim was posthumously awarded the rank of Major-General by the Chinese Nationalist Government.
Lim Bo Seng risked his life for his people, he lived and sacrificed for the welfare of others.
This, made his stand out. Making him a Hero.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Heroic Figures from World War 2 to Postwar Era (group 1 Jessica, Sharmine, Jingyi, Crystal, Donovan)
What makes a hero?
According to the website, http://www.dictionary.reference.com/, a hero is one of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
But it is not only this factor that makes him a hero. What he needs is also the circumstances that allows him to make the heroic deeds. Danger, Love, Determination, Sacrifices, the factors to make a man a hero.
A hero, saves the day, saves the people, and saves the country. Special circumstance like 'a life is at stake', 'my love is in danger', 'it's my job and I have to acomplish it', 'I have to finish what I have started', triggers him, the man, to make a sacrifice, be it himself , to save the 'country'.
To be termed a hero, one has to face many daunting challenges and overcome them. Many overcome themselves during challenges, they embrace their fears, and do what they feel is right. Even though they know they are putting themselves and even their lives in danger, they still brace themselves and face the challenges. They overcome their deepest fears, mostly themselves, and change their mindsets enabling them to overcome challenges.
War heroes will gladly sacrifice their lives for their country and the people of their country. When the enemy country forces them to betray their country, no matter how they are tortured, they refuse to confess, replying every question with," I don't know." Even though they are even thrown into concentration camps, tortured and are prisoners of war, they grit their teeth and keep mum.
LIM BO SENG- The war hero
Early life
Dr Lim Bo Seng was born in 1909 In 1917, Lim came to Singapore at the age of 16 to study in Raffles Institution under the British colonial government. He went on to further his studies at the University of Hong Kong.
In 1930, Lim married Gan Choo Neo, a Nyonya woman from the Lim Clan association hall of Singapore. They had eight children, one of whom died in infancy.
*Information taken from Wikipedia
Capture and death
Dr Lim Bo Seng was captured by the Japanese under Marshal Onishi Satoru. Lim was taken to the Kempeitai headquarters for interrogation and he refused to provide the Japanese with any information about Force 136 despite being subjected to severe torture. Instead, he protested against the ill-treatment of his comrades in prison. He fell ill and was bedridden by the end of May 1944. Lim died in the early hours on June 29, 1944. He was later buried behind the Batu Gajah prison compound.
After the Japanese surrender, Lim's wife, Gan Choo Neo travelled with her eldest son to bring her husband's remains home later. A funeral service was held on 13 January 1946 at City Hall to mourn Lim's death. Lim's remains was transported in a coffin to a hill in MacRitchie Reservoir for burial with full military honours. Lim was posthumously awarded the rank of Major-General by the Chinese Nationalist Government.
*Information taken from http://www.answers.com/topic/lim-bo-seng
~PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS~
THANK YOU! :)))))
According to the website, http://www.dictionary.reference.com/, a hero is one of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
But it is not only this factor that makes him a hero. What he needs is also the circumstances that allows him to make the heroic deeds. Danger, Love, Determination, Sacrifices, the factors to make a man a hero.
A hero, saves the day, saves the people, and saves the country. Special circumstance like 'a life is at stake', 'my love is in danger', 'it's my job and I have to acomplish it', 'I have to finish what I have started', triggers him, the man, to make a sacrifice, be it himself , to save the 'country'.
To be termed a hero, one has to face many daunting challenges and overcome them. Many overcome themselves during challenges, they embrace their fears, and do what they feel is right. Even though they know they are putting themselves and even their lives in danger, they still brace themselves and face the challenges. They overcome their deepest fears, mostly themselves, and change their mindsets enabling them to overcome challenges.
War heroes will gladly sacrifice their lives for their country and the people of their country. When the enemy country forces them to betray their country, no matter how they are tortured, they refuse to confess, replying every question with," I don't know." Even though they are even thrown into concentration camps, tortured and are prisoners of war, they grit their teeth and keep mum.
LIM BO SENG- The war hero
Early life
Dr Lim Bo Seng was born in 1909 In 1917, Lim came to Singapore at the age of 16 to study in Raffles Institution under the British colonial government. He went on to further his studies at the University of Hong Kong.
In 1930, Lim married Gan Choo Neo, a Nyonya woman from the Lim Clan association hall of Singapore. They had eight children, one of whom died in infancy.
*Information taken from Wikipedia
Capture and death
Dr Lim Bo Seng was captured by the Japanese under Marshal Onishi Satoru. Lim was taken to the Kempeitai headquarters for interrogation and he refused to provide the Japanese with any information about Force 136 despite being subjected to severe torture. Instead, he protested against the ill-treatment of his comrades in prison. He fell ill and was bedridden by the end of May 1944. Lim died in the early hours on June 29, 1944. He was later buried behind the Batu Gajah prison compound.
After the Japanese surrender, Lim's wife, Gan Choo Neo travelled with her eldest son to bring her husband's remains home later. A funeral service was held on 13 January 1946 at City Hall to mourn Lim's death. Lim's remains was transported in a coffin to a hill in MacRitchie Reservoir for burial with full military honours. Lim was posthumously awarded the rank of Major-General by the Chinese Nationalist Government.
*Information taken from http://www.answers.com/topic/lim-bo-seng
~PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS~
THANK YOU! :)))))
Monday, July 12, 2010
History Group Project (group 2)
hero is someone who helps people courageously and not fearing anything while going against all odds. A hero must be someone with a caring heart, a heart that can care for others. This is what my group thinks that what a hero should be like. A hero need not necessarily be someone who achieved what him or her wants or someone that arise from special circumstances. Someone can be a hero just by showing his love for his homeland and courageously overcoming all odds that is in his way. A good example of a hero is Lieutenant Adnan bin Saidi. At the battle of pasir pajang, he encouraged his men not to surrender and instead fight to their death, protecting their homes. His love for his family had driven him to act in such a way. As he wanted his family to live in peace and free from enemies’’ attacks, he fought the Japanese who were invading his homeland them to his death. Thought he did not manage to eliminate the Japanese troop, he did weaken the Japanese army. His courageous act was spread and is now known as a war hero.
like xin ze!!!!
joking(but seriously, he is!!!)
credit: Jeff,Nicholas,Xin Ze,Justin,Yong Jia(Wenqi's)
like xin ze!!!!
joking(but seriously, he is!!!)
credit: Jeff,Nicholas,Xin Ze,Justin,Yong Jia(Wenqi's)
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Group 5: Lim Chin Siong
Group 5: Lim Chin Siong
A hero is an everyday person that can change the world. Usually people think of heroes as people who fight crime in movies or comic books, but those people don’t exist in the real world. Heroes are not only the ones who have achieved what they want to achieve. Some heroes arise from some 'special' circumstances. Lim Chin Siong is one of the hero that changes the history of Singapore. He was the one that co-founded PAP in 1954 with Lee Kuan Yew. He became really poular and was the leader of Chinese workers, trade unions and Chinese middle school students in the 1950s. Lim Chin Siong is considered a hero as he was the one that fought for Singapore's freedom, not Mr. Lee Kuan Yew.
Lim Chin Siong was under-arrested for being blamed for instigating a riot. Chief Minister Lim closed down a Chinese women's group and a musical association. A week later, he banned the Chinese Middle School Union. This causes the locals to be rather unhappy. Undeterred he arrested Chinese student leaders and shut down more organizations and schools, including the Chinese High School and the Chung Cheng High School. Lim Chin Siong could no longer sit down and watch, and so he came to the fore and spoke up for the students. A 12-day stay-in was organised at one of the schools. A mob suddenly started attacking the police by throwing stones and the police then charged towards the mob with batons and tear-gas. The whole riot causes2,346 people to be arrested and more than a dozen Singaporeans killed. Lim Chin Siong was under detention in 1957. Lim Chin Siong did not give up after being detained. He continue to work hard and try to do all his best for Singapore.
Source: http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/articlelimchinsionghistory_part1.html
Below is a short video on Lim Chin Siong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCGLaiKFaX8
A hero is an everyday person that can change the world. Usually people think of heroes as people who fight crime in movies or comic books, but those people don’t exist in the real world. Heroes are not only the ones who have achieved what they want to achieve. Some heroes arise from some 'special' circumstances. Lim Chin Siong is one of the hero that changes the history of Singapore. He was the one that co-founded PAP in 1954 with Lee Kuan Yew. He became really poular and was the leader of Chinese workers, trade unions and Chinese middle school students in the 1950s. Lim Chin Siong is considered a hero as he was the one that fought for Singapore's freedom, not Mr. Lee Kuan Yew.
Lim Chin Siong was under-arrested for being blamed for instigating a riot. Chief Minister Lim closed down a Chinese women's group and a musical association. A week later, he banned the Chinese Middle School Union. This causes the locals to be rather unhappy. Undeterred he arrested Chinese student leaders and shut down more organizations and schools, including the Chinese High School and the Chung Cheng High School. Lim Chin Siong could no longer sit down and watch, and so he came to the fore and spoke up for the students. A 12-day stay-in was organised at one of the schools. A mob suddenly started attacking the police by throwing stones and the police then charged towards the mob with batons and tear-gas. The whole riot causes2,346 people to be arrested and more than a dozen Singaporeans killed. Lim Chin Siong was under detention in 1957. Lim Chin Siong did not give up after being detained. He continue to work hard and try to do all his best for Singapore.
Source: http://www.singaporedemocrat.org/articlelimchinsionghistory_part1.html
Below is a short video on Lim Chin Siong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCGLaiKFaX8
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
History Group project (Group 3)
Heroric figures from World War 2 to Post War Era: Fong swee suan
Definition
First of all, what is a hero?According to Collins dictionary, a hero is a person, typically a man, who is admired FOR their courage or outstanding performances.
Analysing the question
Next the difference between a person who is called a hero because he achieved something that he wanted and through special circumstances, then he raised as a hero? One became a hero because he got what he wanted. Meaning to say that he puts his needs first rather than others, and achieve these needs of his. Does that really make him a hero in other people's eyes? Or the other who became a hero through occasions where people's needs come in first. He puts other people's wants in front of him and achieve it thus becoming the hero in the people's eyes.
For the first scenario, yes, what the "hero" did may have contributed the people. But if his motive is to benefit himself, does it make him a hero?
In our opinion, it is a no. It is the thought of helping the people by achieving something big for them that makes him a real hero. It is the selflessness that the hero is willing to go through for the people. That makes him the hero.
Background:
Then, the british came back after the war after the japanese were beaten. They came back to continue ruling the singapore. The people were unhappy as they thought that the birtish did not protect them from the japanese and now they wanted to come back and take control over again. So, a number people did not like the british thus, they did not like following the british rule and they wanted the british out as they have abandoned singapore. And to try and kick the british out of singapore, they held riots ( unhappy with british rule) and also formed political parties to have power over a part the government system. And this hock lee bus riots are one of the many riots held in singapore.
Then the golden question comes, What kind of tough challenges did Fong Swee Suan go through that made him a hero?
He is the hero in the bus drivers eyes. On april 23, 1955 workers from the Hock Lee Bus company and some chinese students began to go on a strike. They were members of Singapore Bus worker's union (SBWU)- pro communist. They were all protesting about the poor working conditions as they worked long hours with very little pay. In addition they also felt endangered by an enemy union which was supported by the bus company to respond to any labour action by SBWU.
Fong Swee Suan (worked in Hock lee bus company as a secertary but was promoted before the strike) was the one that initiated and led the riot. He was urging all bus companies to organised a sympathy strike if the dispute was not solved. The hock Lee bus company responded by firing the 229 workers under Fong Swee Suan's union.
The dispute inclined, workers went on a hunger strike and picketed the bus terminal, protesting about their working conditions.
However on 12th may 1955, know as the black thursaday, many people were injured and seriously hurt. About 4 people died, 31 injured and 8 of these 31 people suffered serious injury.
But in the end, the strikers were given back their jobs and their pay were restored, thus the strikers proclaimed their victory.
How Fong swee suan sloved the problem was through his several qualities.
1) He was courages
2) He was willing to fight for the people (selfless)
He stood out for the bus drivers, and fought for their better conditions. And this willingness of him shows that he is a very selfless person. He is a hero that raised from special circumstances. He is putting other people's needs infront. The strike was not for him, nor was it for him to benefit from. But it was for the people, which showed how selfless he is in helping those people gain a better life. Because of his courage to organise a strike, that is why the workers can finally have what they deserve as they manage to show the company how unhappy they were.
Even though people died and were seriously injuried, it shows how serious the workers are. Thus giving a notion to the company that they are in their opinion badly mistreated. Therefore, there were given what they deserved, their victory!
With his courage they organised a strike and through strike, it was made clear about wat the workers wanted and thus, what they wanted was given to them.
Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkHHo_A2SAU&feature=related
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hock_Lee_bus_riots
http://aseanpedia.jbdirectory.com/Fong_Swee_Suan
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