In modern-day independent Singapore, we hardly worry about where and when our next meal was. Even though Singapore has little arable (farming) land, our strong economy and trade relations ensure that Singapore has both a surplus and variety of food.
Yet with the Fall of Singapore in 1942 to the Japanese, food became scare. After all, if the Japanese themselves were rationing food in their home country in 1941, their occupied territories would be worse for wear.
According to stories that my late grandmother told, the first thing that hit her and her family was the lack of food. Instead of the food that was purchased by free market currency that was issued by the British, they could only claimed rations that the new Japanese issued.
She did not have the luxury of choosing her food either. Small volumes of rice was issued, but tastier food like white bread and meat was reserved for the ruling classes. Not only had the citizenry had to grow simple crops like sweet potatoes and tapioca to supplement their diet, my grandmother testified to foraging for rats for meat.
And as the continued, there was less supplies for the Japanese and their occupied territories (including Singapore). The price of a dozen eggs went up from $0.24 in 1941 to $120 in 1945. Imagine paying so much for eggs today!
Although my grandparents would survive the war and rationing would eventually be lifted, they would never take food for granted again. Knowing that our food supply was dependent on our imports, we should be wary that anytime history may repeat itself.
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