Tan Chong Tee

Tan Chong Tee

Tan Chong Tee (Left) with Lim Bo Seng (Right)
Born 15 Oct 1916
Singapore
Died 24 November 2012 (aged 96)
Singapore
Other names Lim Shu,
Tan Tien Soong
Known for Force 136
Spouse(s) Lee Shao Meng
Relatives Tan Chong Mao
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Tan.

Tan Chong Tee (simplified Chinese: 陈崇智; traditional Chinese: 陳崇智; pinyin: Chén Chóngzhì; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tân Tsông-tì; 15 Oct 1916 – 24 November 2012) was a Singaporean resistance fighter in World War II.

Early Life

Tan was born into a Chinese family with ancestry from Fujian at his family residence along Shrewsbury Road (in present-day Novena) in British colonial Singapore.

Tan was a badminton player during his youth, and was also a contemporary of the badminton great Wong Peng Soon. Tan was one of the few players to have defeated Wong in competition.[1]

World War II Resistance

When the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937, Tan participated[2] in anti-Japanese activities such as boycotting Japanese goods and fund-raising to support the war effort in China.

Tan lost touch with his family in 1942 after the Japanese invaded and occupied Singapore. He then joined Force 136, a branch of the British military organisation Special Operations Executive, where he met and befriended Lim Bo Seng. Tan took part in Operation Gustavus but was captured in 1944 by the Japanese when the operation failed. He spent the next 18 months in captivity[3] and was subjected to torture by the Japanese, who attempted to force him to reveal the identities of his fellows in Force 136. He was released after the Japanese surrender in 1945,[4] which ended the war. Tan's elder brother, Tan Chong Mao, and their mother, were killed during the Sook Ching massacre during the Japanese occupation of Singapore.[1]

Post-War Years

Tan wrote an autobiography FORCE 136: Story Of A WWII Resistance Fighter (ISBN 981-3029-90-0),[5] which was translated by Lee Watt Sim and Clara Show, and published in 2001 by Asiapac Books as a comic book.

Demise

Tan passed away in Singapore on 24th November 2012, aged 96. However, no news reports have been made about his demise.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Guay, Ee Ling. "Tan Chong Tee". National Library Board. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "World War II [ Tan Chong Tee ]". Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "LIM BO SENG - MY HERO, MY FRIEND". Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Singapore’s James Bond". Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "War hero Tan Chong Tee?". Retrieved 9 January 2015.

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