A hero faces many different challenges. For Mr Lim Bo Seng, back then when Singapore and China were attacked by the Japanese soldiers, he did not just stood aside to watch but participated actively in activities organised to boycott Japanese goods and raise funds for the Chinese army. He even recruited and trained hundreds of secret agents through intensive military intelligence missions from China and India and set up the Sino-British guerrilla task force Force 136 in mid-1942 together with Captain John Davis. When passing through checkpoints, he claimed to be a businessman to avoid identification by the Japanese. If it was me, I may have just thought for myself and cared for my own safety.

When the operation that he worked on failed, he did not give up. He continued to work secretly with other people, in hope that he will be able to defend the country. However, when the fisherman that Force 136 had requested to use his boat for communications was caught by the Japanese, he betrayed the Force 136 and this caused Lim Bo Seng to be captured by the Japanese. He was taken in for interrogation, but he refused to provide the Japanese with any information about Force 136 despite being subjected to severe torture. Instead, he protested against the ill-treatment of his comrades in prison. He fell ill with dysentery and was bedridden by the end of May 1944. Despite knowing that he will die soon, he still held on to the secret and did not leak out anything regarding the force. He rather chose to sacrifice his own life in order to achieve peace for the country.

Wow, I am amazed with how selfless Mr Lim Bo Seng was! Despite all the harsh conditions that were given to him, he continued to keep mum about Force 136 and remained firm about not surrendering to the Japanese. One could easily tell that he was really loyal and patriotic even though he may not be a Singaporean. He did not spare a thought for himself, but selflessly cared for the others’ safety, especially towards fellow Singaporeans. He possessed many qualities of a hero, such as reliable, caring, fearless, considerate, selfless and loyal. He helped to improve people’s lives and change the country towards the better. He did not commit crimes but always empathised with others and put them before him. Despite being a senior rank official, he still remained humble and has many good leadership qualities. He was able to accept the task of setting up a force secretly, and even though he faced many enemies and still got captured and tortured badly, he remained loyal to the country by not telling them about anything relating to Force 136. Although it was sad to hear that he had passed on, his death made people realize the importance of defending the country. He also made people realized that how Singapore was so small and weak that it could be easily defeated by other big countries like Japan, and that how other big countries like British could not protect us and that we need to have our own military defence system to defend our own country. Since it is our own country, we cannot always rely on others, but have to stand as an independent country that is able to defend ourselves.

Thank you Mr Lim Bo Seng, for all your sacrificial towards the safety of our people! We will never forget how you suffered to make Singapore a safe country it is now, and we will never forget how caring and doting you are as a father of 7 children. Thank you Mr Lim Bo Seng! You are truly Singapore’s hero!