2022年2月15日是新加坡沦陷8 0周年纪念日。对于怡和轩，这个纪念日具有特别的意义。
二战期间陈嘉庚以怡和轩为大本营，领导海外华人声援中国抗日救亡，也以怡和轩为总部，进行保卫新加坡的战斗，为怡和轩历史写下辉煌的篇章。
1928年5月3日，日军占领山东济南，酿成济南惨案。噩耗传来，陈嘉庚即以怡和轩俱乐部的名义，发起组织了山东筹赈会，开启海外华人抗战救亡的运动。
1937年芦沟桥事变，陈嘉庚领导新加坡社团代表在中华总商会召开大会，成立新华筹赈会。陈嘉庚出任主席，办事处设在怡和轩。1938年10月10日，东南亚各地华侨代表假华侨中学召开大会，成立了南洋华侨筹赈祖国难民总会（简称南侨总会），取代了新华筹赈会，总部仍然设在怡和轩。在南侨总会的领导下，海外华人抗日救国的浪潮达到高峰，筹赈运动取得辉煌成就。
1941年12月，陈嘉庚先生（前中）就任新加坡华侨动员总会会长后，与总会其他领导人及英国驻军司令白思华中将（前左）等合影。 （图片来源：陈嘉庚纪念馆）
太平洋战争一爆发，陈嘉庚奉英国驻新加坡总督的委托，正式成立了“新加坡华侨动员总会”，还成立了一支武装部队——星华义勇军，准备进行保卫新加坡的战斗。岂料1942年2月15日，日军一到来，英军即举白旗宣布投降，新加坡沦陷。怡和轩会所为日军占据，来不及逃难的抗日志士，一一被日军杀害。
新加坡沦陷后，日军对新加坡平民进行了一场所谓的“肃清”大屠杀。这场大屠杀始终是新加坡人民的世纪噩梦。
二次大战席卷全球，战火炽烈刻骨铭心。光复后，日军铁蹄所到之地都有民众集体捡拾亲人遗骸，建园立碑纪念遇难者。中华总商会领导各民族挖掘与收集遇难者遗骸，然后在政府的配合下建立了日本占领时期死难人民纪念碑，作为对遇难同胞永远的纪念。
2007年怡和轩与陈嘉庚基金合作成立先贤馆，展现当年陈嘉庚领导侨胞抗日的事迹。2011年6月25日，怡和轩与马来西亚的一些民间团体发起重走滇缅公路的活动，唤起人们对当年远赴云南参加抗日救亡的南侨机工那段悲壮历史的回忆，也让更多不了解这段历史的人对曾经的壮举肃然起敬。2013年3月4日，怡和轩与中华总商会、宗乡总会、陈嘉庚基金联合发起并出资在晚晴园竖立南侨机工纪念雕塑。
无论什么时候，我们都必须铭记历史。虽说如今世界上大部分地区已享有近80年的和平，但环顾四周，地方性冲突一直是此起彼落，大国争端愈演愈烈，战争的隐忧挥之不去。历史告诉我们，居安思危，知危图安，和平应成为每个人的信仰。
作者为怡和轩俱乐部主席
At Times of Peace Be Prepared for The Unknown
By Aw Chye Wee / President, Ee Hoe Hean Club
February 15th, 2022 is the 80th anniversary of the fall of Singapore during World War II. This day is of particular significance for Ee Hoe Hean.
Under the leadership of Tan Kan Kee Ee Ho Hean became the base for the overseas Chinese to support the Chinese Anti-Japanese War during World War II. Ee Hoe Hean was also the headquarters for the overseas Chinese in Singapore to defend Singapore against the Japanese invasion. Tan Ka Kee has thus penned the most glorious pages for the history of Ee Hoe Hean.
On May 3rd, 1928 the Japanese army invaded Jinan in the province of Shandong, China resulting in the notorious incident of the Jinan Massacre. Upon news of the tragedy reaching Singapore Tan Kah Kee mobilized in the name of Ee Hoe Hean the overseas Chinese in Singapore to form the Shandong Relief Fund Committee which marked the beginning of the overseas Chinese’s involvement in the Chinese Anti-Japanese War.
Soon after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in July 1937 Tan Kah Kee convened a meeting at the Singapore Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) where representatives from all Chinese clan associations in Singapore resolved to form the “Singapore Overseas Chinese Relief Fund Committee”(the Committee). The Committee had its office at Ee Hoe Hean and Tan Ka Kee was its chairman. On October 10th, 1938 representatives of various Chinese associations from Southeast Asia met at the Singapore Chinese High School and formed the Nanyang Federation of China Relief Fund (the Federation) to replace the Committee. Under the leadership of the Federation, the overseas Chinese movement to marshall support for the Chinese Anti-Japanese War gained momentum rapidly and the fundraising campaign was a great success.
After the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941 and at the request of the British Governor in Singapore Tan Kah Kee formed the Singapore Overseas Chinese Mobilisation Association with its headquarters at Ee Hoe Hean as well as the Singapore Overseas Chinese Volunteer Army to defend Singapore against the Japanese invasion.
The Japanese army fought its way into Singapore on February 8th, 1942 and the British army surrendered on February 15th, 1942. With the fall of Singapore Ee Hoe Hean was occupied by the Japanese army while all those who were found within the Club premises were killed brutally.
What took place next was the so-called “Sook Qing” operation whereby tens of thousands of civilians were rounded up and killed indiscriminately. This so-called “Sook Qing” massacre remains the nightmare of the century.
The Second World War spread over the whole world and the ravage it caused was unforgettable. Soon after peace was restored wherever atrocities had been perpetrated by the Japanese army, villagers would build common graves and monuments to honor the victims. Together with the representatives from other ethnic communities, the SCCCI took the initiative to locate all mass graves and to excavate the remains of the victims. With the help of the Singapore Government, they built the Civilian War Memorial at Beach Road, Singapore in memory of all the civilians killed during the Japanese occupation.
In 2007 Ee Hoe Hean together with Tan Kah Kee Foundation built the Pioneer Hall where memories of the contributions and sacrifices made by the overseas Chinese in aid of the Chinese Anti-Japanese War were exhibited. On June 25th, 2011 Ee Hoe Hean in conjunction with some civic organizations from Malaysia organized a trip through the Yunnan-Burma Highway which aroused the memories of the Nanqiao Jigong, the volunteers who traveled to China and Burma borders to work as drivers and mechanics in aid of the Chinese Anti-Japanese War. On March 4th, 2013 a sculpture funded by Ee Hoe Hean, the SCCCI, Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, and Tan Kah Kee Foundation in honor of the Nanqiao Jigong was unveiled at the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall at Tai Gin Road, Singapore.
We must remember our history at all times. Though we have enjoyed 80 years of peace after World War II, localized conflicts never seem to have ended. In view of the growing major power rivalry, the looming risk of war cannot be underestimated. At times of peace, we must be prepared for the unknown. Let peace be our faith forever.
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