This year marks 70 years since the fall of Singapore in World War II and the National Library saw the launch of a couple of related exhibitions earlier this week.

4 Days in February and Images of Internment at the National Library

4 Days in February: Adam Park the Last Battle presents the result of an archaeological excavation that took place last year. The excavation uncovered the remains of the Cambridgeshire Regiment’s battle at Adam Park from 12-15 February 1942. There, Japanese and British forces fought for control for the pumping station that supplied water to downtown Singapore.

Images of Internment is a collection of sketches and paintings by William Haxworth, who later became Singapore’s first superintendent of traffic police. He was a prisoner at Changi, and during his time he sketched many scenes of his surroundings and other prisoners.

Otterman writes about the Opening Ceremony on Wednesday here. You can read my post about both exhibitions here.