Fighting the war underground

Posted by Kimberly under Heritage Sites and Trails, Museums/Heritage Galleries, National History, Reflections, war
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For a nation with such young history, it really is quite comforting to see many museums put in place for people to learn about our past, appreciate our present and look forward to the future. The Battle Box at Fort Canning is one of the few museums here that covers the subject of Singapore during war time.

Tucked in the hillside of Fort Canning, the Battle Box was once an emergency, blast-resistant command centre during the battle of Singapore. It was in this bunker that the British decided to surrender Singapore to the Japanese on February 15, 1942.

Previously used as Lt General Arthur Percival’s Combined Operations Headquarters, it was later occupied by the Japanese after taking it over from the British, who had only moved to the Battle Box just four days before from their previous command centre in Sime Road in the Bukit Timah area.

Linked by a corridor, this underground complex capable of recyling its own air, consists of 22 rooms. There are three filtration units in the bunker that would degas air which could have been poisoned by the enemy. These units also helped to provide a measure of ventilation and re-circulate the air when the bunker was sealed for its secret operations.

Upon walking in through the metal blast doors, the HTV team heard a loud explosion followed by a voice of a British soldier booming overhead from speakers commanding us to shut the door. Taken aback and slightly shaken, that sudden state of panic was rather unsettling at first but certainly helped heighten the war time feel.

Shrouded in dim light, we gingerly made our way to the communications room near by. As a wax figurine slowly worked his way on the switchboard, we learnt other methods such morse code and the telegram were also used in time of war.

Plastered on the walls are posters to remind the soldiers to always be on their guard. A favourite of mine features an image of an attractive and very volumptuous woman smiling coyly, accompanied by the text: “Keep Mum, She’s Not So Dumb”. A rather smart ploy by the enemy to use beautiful women to weasel information out of soldiers, I must say!

Much of the complex is left in its original condition. Scattered documents and tangled wires were left in disarray as though the people were still fervently at work. This is a reflection of the urgency felt during that time of war.

What was most fascinating was the wartime graffiti that lines these walls. These were written by the Japanese solders when they occupied the bunker after taking it over from the British. Most of them were code names for various locations in Singapore - or Syonan-to as we were known then (e.g. Kempeitai: Special Police located at the present YMCA building).

We soon found our way to the planning room which featured a simulated military strategy table. Strangely enough, the air is still laced with tension as we observed wax figurines of British officers plotting war strategies on the map. War involves much planning and these figurines were concentrated on planning sea and air operations in Malaya.

The theme of Singapore’s surrender to the Japanese is apparent at the Battle Box - in British Commanding Officer General Percival’s office, we see him having a meeting with General Keith Simmons on the issue. However, the highlight of the bunker had to be the actual room where the British made the crucial decision on the significant morning of February 15, 1942.

No expense was spared in recreating the atmosphere of that fateful day. The dialogue shared between General Percival and the other British officers were portrayed as accurately as possible, and even the clock that sat at the end of the table is poignantly set to 9.32am. It was a surreal sight.

With food and water supply running low, the British were left with little choice but to surrender unconditionally to the Japanese or face massive civilian casualties with precious litle food or water to sustain the fight. Records mention that the British left Fort Canning at 11.30am on foot and reached the Ford Factory in Upper Bukit Timah Road few hours later to discuss terms of the surrender with the Japanese. At 4.15pm, the British agreed on relinquishing control of Singapore and the Japanese flag was flown in acceptance.

To give visitors a broaders perspective of the war, a small museum is located at the end of the tour. Newspaper clippings, pictures of war atrocities as well as artefacts uncovered during the site excavation are featured.

The HTV team left the Battle Box deep in thought. While we may never fully comprehend the sufferings of the war, museums like the Battle Box serve as a reminder to the people that the freedom that we enjoy today was paid for in the blood of these brave soldiers.

::EDITOR’S NOTE::

Join the HTV team as we discover the war underground at the Battle Box.

If you’re interested in visiting other significant war sites, why not consider War On Wheels? An experiential guided tour, this bus ride and history lesson rolled in one, traces the footsteps of the Japanese Occupation during the war. Two more tours orgqnised by yesterday.sg and the National Heritage Board await! Visit www.museums.com.sg for more details.

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