New Year during the Japanese Occupation

My Paternal Grandfather was a remarkable filial son.

This is one of the stories about him.

Sarawak was attacked by the Japanese on Christmas Day, 25th Dec 1941.

新年 - During the first new year during the Japanese Occupation of three years and 8 months, my paternal grandfather was already feeling the pinch of the stressful war. Being a praying Christian (He was very much influenced by Rev James Hoover) he only had a small chicken for the whole family of three generations.

The Japanese soldiers had come around to collect as many chickens and ducks from the Foochow who lived near Sibu. That that new year, Grandfather lost many of the chickens which were big enough for the table.

My great grandfather was already sickly but they family continued to thank God for His blessings especially during the Chinese New Year.
Japanese Soldiers in Sibu 1942.

That new year on 15th February 1942  the family shared a small chicken cooked with a lot of soup and sweet potatoes.

The family welcomed the Year of the Horse in a quiet and solemn manner.

The following year, Great Grandfather passed away and not long after that Grandmother Wong passed away because of a miscarriage. 1943 was an extremely sad year for our family in Pulau Kerto.