Wish comes true for author who wanted to meet family of S'porean WWII hero

Daredevil pilot with British air force was inspiration behind a character in her book

- Ian Cheng

British author Onjali Rauf, who set out to get in touch with the family of a Singaporean World War II pilot while on a 10-day visit to the Republic, has fulfilled her goal.

She managed to meet family members of Mr Tan Kay Hai, a decorated daredevil pilot with the Royal Air Force during World War II, on April 30. He had been the inspiration behind a character in her book The Lion Above The Door, published three years ago.

She had wanted to let his family know how much his legacy meant to her, as well as the children who have read her book, and reached out to The Straits Times in a bid to locate them.

After the ST article was published on April 27, she was contacted by members of Mr Tan's family, as well as individuals with stories of other Singaporean heroes and their brave deeds "all wanting to help, all wanting to share", she said.

"Every single heart who has reached out has reminded me of just how deeply wonderful human beings can be and how the desire to share stories with one another, histories with one another, and aid any quest for peoples and truths, burns ever bright," Ms Onjali, who arrived in Singapore on April 21 for a series of speaking engagements with various schools, said of her mission.

Among those who reached out was Mr Tan Thuan Kok, 84, the eldest of Mr Tan Kay Hai's four children.

The pair, along with members of Mr Tan Thuan Kok's family, met for dinner at the NUS Society's Suntec City Guild House on April 30.