The Trench of Death - Chen Cheng Yean , massacre survivor

"They took us to Bedok. There was a hill where they had pillboxes facing the sea. They had three or four trenches there. But before we were taken down to that place, they took all our belongings - pens, watches, everything they took. There were about 90 of us. We were tied with our hands behind our backs. Then we were put on lorries. But when we alighted from the lorry, we were still with our hands behind our backs. in the open, they pushed us down to the trench and they asked us to stand.

Everyone was scared and don't know what would happen. But most of us thought we were going to die already, they were going to shoot us. The order came and then they just shoot. Bang! The second time they shot, bang! up to about three times. So all those who died would fall down.

I was hit on my knee. Suddenly, I remember that I am still alive. So when the first man dropped dead, I followed him. Then the third man covered me on top. To make sure all were dead, they gave a third fire. Another ten rounds, bomp-bomp-bomp, like that , finished. Then they had no time so they just covered the trench with planks. And then they went to the next group. They finished the whole thing in about 20 minutes' time. Everything ended."

Another Narrow Escape - Lan Khong Kon

"The people were taken to the seaside at Bedok. Their hands were tied up and after they had been shot dead, their bodies were thrown into the sea nearby. This relative of my friend was very fortunate because when the Japanese were firing at them, the bullets did not hit him and he fainted because he was so frightened. At about nine or ten o'clock that night, he was woken up by the tides. He realised that he was lying among dead bodies and he was the only one alive. he tried and succeeded in freeing his hands. He then swam home. He was living in Changi area at that time."