2. Family Background
He was born in Nan'an, Fujian, China, on 27 April 1909 to
Lim Loh, a very rich businessman who owned a biscuit
and brick manufacturing business in Singapore. When he
was a boy, his family and him migrated to Malaya. Lim
came to Singapore in the year 1917 when he was 16 to
study in the Raffles Institution of Singapore under the
British colonial government, and proceed on to further his
studies later in the University of Hong Kong. In 1930, Lim
married Gan Choo Neo who is a Nonya woman in the Lim
Clan association hall of Singapore. They had seven
children. Initially raised as a Taoist, Lim converted to
Christianity after receiving strong European influence.
Each war would have a hero and each country would
have a patriot whose deeds would stand the test of time.
It was sixty one years ago this month, in the dark years of
the Japanese Occupation in Malaya, that such a person
existed. He was Lim Bo Seng.
3. What did he do to help
Singapore
On 11th February 1942, Lim Bo Seng left
his family in the care of his wife. He did
so as to continue his work against the
Japanese in Malaya.
In mid 1942, Lim Bo Seng and the Allied
Supreme Commander, Captain John
Davis, set up the Malayan branch of
Force 136.It s an anti-Japanese group
that operated in the jungles of Malaya
during World War 2.Force 136 secretly
brought in doctors, medical
supplies, food and ammunition for the
soldiers fighting in Singapore and
Malaya.
4. Just before the fall of Singapore to the Japanese on 11th February, Lim Bo Seng left
his seven children to the care of his wife. He went to India where he was trained to
fight in the jungle and later recruited resistance fighters for Force 136. Force 136 was
a special operations force formed by the British in June 1942 to infiltrate and attack
enemy lines. Some local Malays were also recruited into the force. One of his best
friends and students, Tan Chong Tee, also participated actively in anti-Japanese
activities with Lim Bo Seng.
After Lim Bo Seng had organised everything in China and India, he sent the first
batch of Force 136 agents to Japanese-occupied Malaya in 1943 to set up an an
intelligence network in the urban areas in Pangkor, Lumut, Tapah and Ipoh.
According to historical sources, to avoid detection by the Japanese, secret messages
were smuggled in empty tubes of toothpaste, salted fish and even in the Force 136's
members' own diaries. To avoid identification by the Japanese, Lim Bo Seng even
pretended tp be a businessman at checkpoints. He used the alias Tan Choon
Lim.Unfortunately, there were many traitors who led to the downfall of Force 136 and
Lim Bo Seng. Lai Teck, one of Force 136's members who was a triple agent between
Force 136, the British and Japanese, betrayed Force 136 and Lim Bo Seng. He
leaked out valuable information that allowed the Kempeitai to pick up coded
messages from Force 136. This led to the captures of many of the members in Force
136.
5. How he died
He was captured by the Japanese
He was tortured.
In the last days of his life, nobody fed
him water or medicine, only some
porridge. He gave his food to the
(Pows)
In the early hours of June 29, 1944,
Lim's life faded away.
He was buried behind the Batu Gajah
prison compound in an unmarked
spot.
7. What sacrifices did he make
It is sad to know that our hero, Lim Bo
Seng, sacrificed his life in his defence of
Singapore . However, his bravery had
made a major change. He died so that
Singapore and Malaya might be the home
of free people who could once again enjoy
peace, prosperity and happiness. Not only
that, from the war which our ancestors
had gone through, Singapore had learnt to
be strong and tough. Even till today, no
one will forget our war hero, Lim Bo Seng.
8. Lim Boon Seng Memorial
In honour of Lim Bo Seng, the
government of Singapore built a
monument for Lim Bo Seng. It is
located Esplanade Park.
Lim Bo Seng’s efforts were not wasted.
He was a very determined man.
