Memories at Old Ford Factory

The LAS group who visited Memories at Old Ford Factory on 4 Jul 06

Second from the left: Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

Third from the right: Mr Pitt Kuan Wah , Director of National Archives of Singapore

The group from LAS was so honoured to be greeted and guided by Mr Pitt Kuan Wah, Director of National Archives of Singapore personally.

Mr Pitt shared with us the inside story of restoring the Old Factory, and his personal experience in perserving and presenting the old artifacts for this site. We benefited from his rich knowledge, valuable insight and in-depth sharing on the process of re-creating something from the past for the future generation.

For those who miss this tour, the following sites are good make-ups:

National Archives of Singapore - Memories at Old Ford Factory (MOFF) Website
http://www.s1942.org.sg/s1942/moff/

"Old Ford Motor Factory" from Wikepedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Ford_Motor_Factory


Here is some info I extracted from the Wikepedia:

"The factory is the site of the historic surrender of the British to the Japanese on 15 February 1942, at the end of the Battle of Singapore in World War II. It was here that the meeting between Lieutenant-General Arthur Ernest Percival and General Tomoyuki Yamashita was held and the surrender document signed. Then British Prime Minister Winston Churchill referred to that event as the "worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history"; it was also widely seen as a turning point for anti-colonialism in Southeast Asia."

...

"Behind the museum are tall condominium buildings and a transmission tower. The front of the museum features a Chinese calligraphy sculpture (和平 or Peace), storyboards that recounts the battles fought during the Malayan Campaign and history of Bukit Timah as well as a granite rock carved with a statement from a decree by Tang Taizong, urging visitors to 'Take History As A Lesson'."

"Memories at Old Ford Factory was officially opened by Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean on 16 February 2006. The museum had free admission during its first year of opening."

For more details, read the full text: "Old Ford Motor Factory" from Wikepedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Ford_Motor_Factory


Dexterine Ho