The document, written on two pieces of red rice paper, was dated to the 23rd day, 6th month of the Yiyou year (1945). It is a list of 63 names of the ordinary folk who contributed in cash and kind (old clothes) to three children (one boy, aged 13 and two girls, aged 11 and 9) who were orphaned during the Japanese Occupation period. Before the war, the family was living along Tank Road. Their father, Sim Teow Kwang, was working with the Foreign Exchange Department of OCBC Bank. When Singapore fell, Mr Sim was taken away in February 1942 by Japanese soldiers, who had gathered all residents from Tank Road, River Valley Road and Clarke Quay at River Valley Road, where Liang Court is situated today. A few months later, on 8th September 1942, Mrs Sim passed away due to an illness. Many of those who contributed to the fundraising effort (comprising extended family members, neighbours and friends) had Sim as their family name. The record served as material proof of community self-help during this darkest chapter of Singapore’s history.
