After 12 years of history lessons in the classroom, I thought I knew all there is to know about World War II and the Japanese Occupation. But a recent trip to the Memories at Old Ford Factory, also known as MOFF, proved me very wrong.

Unlike other National Heritage Board (NHB) museums which are situated in the city, MOFF is located away from the hubbub at Upper Bukit Timah Road, a stone’s throw from Bukit Timah Hill. Unknown to many, the present MOFF was once the Ford Motor Factory – the first Ford vehicle assembly plant in Southeast Asia, and also the place where the British surrendered to the Japanese in 1942.

Upon arriving at MOFF, the first thing that caught my eye was the large-scale ‘snakes and ladders’ board game at the entrance.

With 44 colourful picture boxes portraying various aspects of life during the Japanese Occupation – one for each of the 44 months Singapore was under Japanese rule, it proved a good starting point for visitors, especially school children.

Next up was MOFF’s main gallery titled ‘Syonan Years: Singapore under Japanese rule (1942 – 1945)’. Filled with photographs, artefacts, newspaper articles and oral history accounts dating back to the period of the Japanese Occupation, the main gallery was indeed a vast treasure trove of history.

Nothing short of comprehensive, you can discover just about everything concerning life during the Japanese Occupation. Uncover the gory details of the Sook Ching massacre – the brutal killing of the Chinese by the Japanese military between 18 February and 4 March 1942. In fact, the term ‘Sook Ching’ in the Chinese language refers to ‘a purge through cleansing’. Learn also about the lives of the prisoners-of-war (POWs) during the Japanese Occupation, and how all students were forced to pick up the Japanese language in schools.

My favourite exhibit was definitely the Talking Map.

Visitors are encouraged to track the route taken by the Japanese during their invasion of Singapore. Press any of the 41 buttons to listen to true oral accounts of those who survived the war – their feelings about the Japanese Occupation and how they coped with life back then.

It was also interesting to learn how the people struggled with sky-high inflation and almost worthless currency (banana money anyone?) during the Occupation years. Moving and poignant, the oral accounts certainly struck a chord with me. They were so real that I found myself feeling for the survivors and the countless ordeals they had to endure. Indeed, history is best learnt and relived through personal anecdotes and candid accounts.

There’s so much more to see and experience at MOFF. However, for those who can only afford a short visit, here’s my personal take on the must-sees:

1. The Surrender Chamber – The exact room in which the British surrendered to the Japanese!

2. History in Numbers – An interactive tic-tac-toe game to test your knowledge of the Japanese Occupation. You can even choose to compete with one of your friends.

3. Syonan Garden – See in person the various types of crops – rice, tapioca, etc – harvested during the Japanese Occupation. These crops were used to battle hunger, malnutrition and diseases.