dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə dʒˌæpənˈiːz ˌɑːkjʊpˈeɪʃən ʌv sˈɪŋɡɐpˌoːɹ, hiː sˈɜːvd ɪnðə sˈɪŋɡɐpˌoːɹ ɹɪzˈɜːv ˈɑːɹmi wɪððə ɹˈæŋk ʌv lˈænsbˌɑːmbɚdˈɪɹ.
During the Japanese occupation of Singapore, he served in the Singapore Reserve Army with the rank of lance-bombardier.