Battle for Singapore 2025
In commemoration of the 83rd anniversary of the Fall of Singapore, NHB and MR members have partnered academics, heritage enthusiasts, and interest groups to organise a series of public events to remember Singapore's experiences during World War II (WWII). The events will include guided tours, talks, and exhibitions, which will highlight both familiar and lesser-known stories and places of Singapore during WWII.
Between 15 February to 2 March 2025, Battle for Singapore 2025 encourages participants to explore and engage with Singapore's wartime past; to hear the testimonies of veterans, ask new questions about Singapore's survival and resilience, and find deeper appreciation of the significance of this period in our history. In this year's edition, the signature programme will involve visits to multiple sites.
All programmes require prior registration, which opens on 11 February 2025, 12.00pm via https://bsg2025.peatix.com.
LIST OF PROGRAMMES BY PROVIDER
National Heritage Board
Date(s): 15, 16, 22, 23 February and 1, 2 March 2025
Time(s): 6.00pm – 7.30pm (90 mins)
Price: $25 per pax
Meeting Point: Fort Siloso, Sentosa
This immersive tour takes you through the historic fortifications and strategic areas of Fort Siloso, where you'll learn about the pivotal events leading to the fall of Singapore during World War II. As dusk falls, hear stories of the soldiers and civilians as they prepared for the war in Singapore and explore preserved areas of the fort that once played a crucial role in defending the city. A moving tribute to the resilience and perseverance of those who endured the darkest days in Singapore's history.
This tour is presented in partnership with the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC)
About the Guide(s):
Dr John Kwok, a professional historian and has been part of the Battle for Singapore initiative since 2014. His research has helped to uncover the history of many war heritage sites in Singapore like Marsiling Tunnels and Attap Valley Bunker. In previous Battle for Singapore programmes, he conducted war heritage tours at the Former Admiralty House, Former View Road Hospital, and Fort Connaught in Sentosa.
Saifullah Kamaludin, a history enthusiast who has been with Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) since 2007. Over the years, he has channelled his passion into his profession, contributing to the repository of knowledge on Sentosa’s rich heritage and bringing fresh perspectives and insights to the Sentosa story. Aside from managing the operations of Recreational Nodes, Saifullah has also developed and conducted a wide range of tours and outreach programmes for SDC, harmonising the education and conservation efforts within Sentosa in the process.
All Things Bukit Brown
Under Occupation by Catherine
Date(s): 15 February 2025
Time(s): 9.00am – 11.30am (2.5 hrs)
Price: Free upon registration
Meeting Point: Bus Stop 41161 located on Lornie Highway towards MacRitchie Reservoir
Stories from the graves—a recounting of the events leading up to the Japanese invasion of Singapore, from surrender to post-war reckoning. This tour will offer insights into the history and significance of Bukit Brown, with a focus on the people who lived through these turbulent times.
About the Guide(s):
Led by Catherine Lim, a founding member of all things Bukit Brown, with a deep interest in WWII, revolution, women in Bukit Brown, and the rites and rituals of honoring the dead.
Remembering WW2 by Fabian
Date: 16 February 2025
Time: 9.00am - 11.30am (2.5 hrs)
Price: Free upon registration
Meeting Point:Platform at Hill 1 via Lorong Halwa into Bukit Brown Cemetery
Join Fabian Tee and learn about the narrow escapes, the brutality of the Japanese war machine, and the David and Goliath fight to the bitter end — just some of the unending stories that make up Bukit Brown Cemetery’s history.
About the Guide:
Led by Fabian Tee, a docent at the Sun Yat San Memorial Hall & the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Voices of the Past at Bukit Brown by Bianca
Date: 22 February 2025
Time: 9.00am - 11.30am (2.5 hrs)
Price: Free with registration (Session is limited to 20 pax)
Meeting Point: Platform at Hill 1 via Lorong Halwa into Bukit Brown Cemetery
Join Bianca to learn about stories of shipwrecks, heroes, and victims in WWII. The tour will cover Hills 1, 3, and 4, including the new Voices monument.
About the Guide:
Led by Bianca Polak, of Dutch origin, living in Singapore for 25 years. She is a licensed tour guide and has been conducting heritage tours in Bukit Brown cemetery for over a decade. She’s passionate about telling stories of migrants and maritime history.
Battle of Bukit Brown and Mount Pleasant by Beng Tang
Date: 23 February 2025
Time: 8.30am - 11.45am (3 hr 15 mins)
Price: Free with registration (Session is limited to 20 pax)
Meeting Point: Bus Stop B41141 on Adam Road, after Adam Drive
A tour of one of the last relatively intact battlefield sites in Singapore, following the course of the battles from 11–15 February 1942 between elements of the Japanese 5th Division and the British 18th Division, ending at the final front line on the day of surrender.
About the Guide:
Led by Beng Tang, a volunteer nature and heritage guide who leads tours on the history of WWII and the biodiversity of Bukit Brown. All Things Bukit Brown is a group of volunteers recording the heritage, habitat, and history of Bukit Brown and its surrounding areas.
Bukit Brown Memorial Tour - Remembering the Victims and Its Heroes by Peter Pak
Date: 1 March 2025
Time: 9.00am - 12.00pm (3 hrs)
Price: Free with registration (Session is limited to 25 pax)
Meeting Point: Platform at Hill 1 via Lorong Halwa into Bukit Brown Cemetery
Join Peter Pak on an exploration of Bukit Brown Cemetery. Learn about tragic events, such as the sinking of a ship that killed women and children, betrayal leading to a hero’s delayed burial, and stories of resistance ambushes and Chinese leaders forced to collaborate with the Japanese during WWII.
About the Guide:
Led by Peter Pak, a volunteer guide for All Things Bukit Brown and a blogger known as Rojak Librarian.
Walking Tour from Botanic Gardens to Adam Park with Attention to No. 11 Adam Park by Claire Leow
Date: 1 March 2025
Time: 8.30am - 11.00am (2.5 hrs)
Price: Free with Registration (Session is limited to 15 pax)
Meeting Point: Botanic Gardens MRT Exit A
This tour describes the last days of the Fall of Singapore with fierce battles from Bukit Timah and the fight to cut off the water supply to the city. It links sites such as Botanic Gardens, Raffles College, Trinity College, Adam Park, Sime Road, and Bukit Brown in the context of the war. You will also learn about No. 11 Adam Park, a site of resilience and dignity with connections to Bishop John Leonard Wilson of St Andrew’s Cathedral and the Changi Chapel.
Led by Claire Leow.
Adam Park: From Home to Battlefield by Simone Lee
Date: 2 March 2025
Time: 9.00am - 11.30am (2.5 hrs)
Price: Free with registration (Session is limited to 20 pax)
Meeting Point: No. 7 Adam Park
Civilians, soldiers, and prisoners of war—hear their stories through a house-by-house account of life before, during, and after the fall of Singapore.
About the Guide:
Led by Simone Lee, a volunteer guide for All Things Bukit Brown. Simone is passionate about social history and education, and her signature walks include "Ladies of the Straits Settlements" and "Back to School(s)."
Changi Chapel Museum & Reflections at Bukit Chandu
Cashin House: Witness to Invasion
Date(s): 15 and 22 February 2025
Time(s): 9:00am – 10:30am | 11.00am - 12.30pm (90 mins)
Price: Free with registration(Each session is limited to 15 pax)
Meeting Point: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Join heritage veteran Jerome Lim on a trip to the sensitively reconstructed Cashin House, located at Lim Chu Kang Nature Park. The site witnessed some of the first landings of the invading Japanese forces during World War II. Learn about the perspectives of men on opposing sides as they engaged in battle, and explore the area’s historical landscape.
About the Guide:
Jerome Lim, who blogs on The Long and Winding Road in an attempt to capture his experiences of Singapore in a constant state of flux. The site, on which Jerome also celebrates Singapore’s heritage through photographs, was twice awarded the Singapore Blog Award’s Best Photography Blog. For more information, please visit: https://thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.com.
Can Singapore be Defended?
Date(s): 22, 23 February and 1, 2 March 2025
Time(s): 10.00am - 12.30pm | 2.00pm - 4.30pm (2.5 hrs)
Price: $5 per pax (Each session is limited to 25 pax)
Meeting Point: Battlebox, Fort Canning
Step into the past and uncover the gripping story of the Fall of Singapore in 1942. Journey through the Battlebox, Fort Canning Centre, and National Gallery Singapore as we relive the struggles of wartime defence and draw powerful connections to our present-day efforts in safeguarding our nation.
Presented by Defence Collective Singapore, together with the Battlebox, Fort Canning Centre and National Gallery Singapore.
About the Guide:
Dr John Kwok, a professional historian and has been part of the Battle for Singapore initiative since 2014. His research has helped to uncover the history of many war heritage sites in Singapore like Marsiling Tunnels and Attap Valley Bunker. In previous Battle for Singapore programmes, he conducted war heritage tours at the Former Admiralty House, Former View Road Hospital, and Fort Connaught in Sentosa.
WWII Guided Tour Through Second World War Toys
Date(s): 15 February - 2 March 2025
Weekday Time(s): 2.30pm - 3.30pm | 4.30pm - 5.30pm (60 mins)
Weekend Time(s): 11.30am - 12.30pm | 2.30pm - 3.30pm (60 mins)
Price: $38 per pax
The 'WWII Guided Tour Through Second World War Toys' programme examines how toys were used to normalize war, encourage war efforts, and celebrate war achievements across both Allied Forces (Britain, France, USSR & USA) and the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy & Japan). The museum's Second World War collection features figurines of iconic war heroes, collectibles of Sikh soldiers who fought during the Battle of Singapore in 1942, propaganda toys, and a focus on fighter planes and battleship toy models that have left a lasting legacy.
The tour includes an engaging trivia session that uncovers little-known facts and strategies used by both the Allies and Axis. Specially curated for this programme, limited pieces of a 'M-40' Gun Motor Carriage Collectable Toy, modeled after the iconic American self-propelled artillery vehicle, will be available for purchase as a memorabilia piece.
Purchase tickets online: https://www.ticketing.emint.com/tours/secondworldwartour
Day Zero
Date: 15, 16 February and 1 March 2025
Time: 10.30am - 12.30pm (2 hrs)
Price: $5 per pax (Each session is limited to 35 pax)
Relive the fear and chaos upon first contact with Japanese invasion forces. Discover how poor leadership and miscommunication led to the collapse of western Singapore. This bus tour will take you through significant sites related to the Japanese invasion, including Sarimbun Beach Landing, Sungei Buloh Visitor Centre, and Singapore Discovery Centre (SDC).
About the Guide(s):
Led by Dr John Kwok, and/or Veteran Guides, together with SDC SIngapore Story Guides.
The Naval Volunteer Reserve and WW2
Date: 16 February 2025
Time(s): 9.00am - 11.30am | 2.00pm - 4.30pm (2.5 hrs)
Price: $5 per pax (Each session is limited to 30 pax)
Did you know that the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has its origins in the Straits Settlements Naval Volunteer Reserve (SSNVR)? Hear about the SSNVR's formation and its base right at the very spot that the RSN’s Ensign was hoisted for the first time, and also its role and its resources during the Second World War. The story of the RSN and how it has grown into the vital force that it now is, will also be shared through a visit to the Singapore Navy Museum.
Walking Tour:
9am / 2pm
Meet at Raffles Place MRT -> Battery Road (volunteer units / Fort Fullerton) -> Ocean Financial centre and Collyer Quay (shipping / harbour / Clifford pier) -> Telok Ayer Market area (SSNVR)
Bus:
9.45am / 2.45pm Telok Ayer Market pick-up
-> 10.30am / 3.30pm arrival at SNM
-> 11.20am / 4.20pm SNM pick-up
-> 11.40am / 4.40pm Expo DTL MRT station drop-off
Led by Jerome Lim
Singapore Air Force Museum Feature Tour: War over Singapore
Date(s): 15, 16, 22, 23 February and 1, 2 March 2025
Time(s): Varies (2.5 hrs)
Price: $5 per pax (Each session is limited to 20 pax) - kindly note that this tour is only open to Singaporeans / PRs.
Exclusive guided tour access to the heritage spaces of Tengah Air Base, which came under the control of the Japanese and became Yamashita's first command centre during WW2. The tour continues at the Singapore Air Force Museum (SAFM). Led by Dr John Kwok or Veteran Guides from the Singapore Air Force Museum SAFM guides
15 Feb (10am; 11am; 1pm)
22 Feb (9am; 11am; 1pm)
16 Feb, 23 Feb, 1 Mar, 2 Mar (9am; 10am; 11am; 1pm)
Bus Tour:
Yew Tee MRT pick-up -> Tengah Air Base -> SAFM drop-off
Twin Tour – Changi Chapel and Museum & Changi Prison Complex
Date: 22 February 2025
Time(s): 9.00am - 12.00pm | 10.00am - 1.00pm (3 hrs)
Price: $21.80 per pax (Each session is limited to 20 pax)
Meeting Point: Changi Chapel and Museum
Explore both the Changi Chapel and Museum (CCM) and the Changi Prison Entrance Gate, Wall, and Turrets—a National Monument of Singapore. This tour offers exclusive access to these monuments, allowing you to discover Changi Prison's past. Through a guided visit, you'll gain insights into the experiences of prisoners of war during the Japanese Occupation from 1942 to 1945, with a complementary docent-guided visit to the CCM.
Sustenance & Sacrifice: The Wartime Food Story
Date: 15 Feb 2025, Sat
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Price: $5/pax (Limited to 40pax)
Venue: Singapore Discovery Centre
Overview:
Watch how MasterChef Singapore judge, Chef Damian D'Silva, reimagines simple WWII-era ingredients into meaningful dishes, while artist Julia Tay brings stories of survival to life, with vibrant illustrations inspired by our forefathers' ingenuity.A brief food tasting session will take place after the demonstration.
Re-enactment by River Valley High School Students at the Former Ford Factory
Date: 15 February 2025
Time: 2.00pm - 3.30pm (1.5 hrs)
Price: Free with registration (Session is limited to 20 pax)
Join River Valley High School students, passionate history enthusiasts, as they guide you through a special re-enactment and tour at the Former Ford Factory, focusing on the Battle of Singapore. The student-led tour will take you through the museum’s exhibits, sharing the perspectives of both the Japanese and British forces during the battle. This tour features re-enactments and storytelling, offering a closer look at the battles fought in Singapore.
Register online: https://form.gov.sg/679c4f2243736111907dc63a
Guided Tour by Docents of the Former Ford Factory
Date: 15 February 2025
Time(s): 11.00am - 12.30pm [EN] | 3.30pm - 5.00pm [EN] | 11.30am - 1.00pm [CN] (1.5 hrs)
Price: Free with registration (Each session is limited to 20 pax)
Join us for a guided tour of the Former Ford Factory, a key site in Singapore’s WWII history. Learn about the Battle of Singapore and the dramatic events leading to the British surrender on 15th February 1942.
Explore exhibits featuring personal accounts, wartime artifacts, and the challenges faced during the battle. Our in-house docents will share insights into the battle’s impact on Singapore and its people, providing a deeper understanding of this pivotal moment in history.
Register online: [Onsite] English Guided Tour of Former Ford Factory on 15 Feb 2025, 11am | https://form.gov.sg/679c439ddd4157c04a255ba6
[Onsite] English Guided Tour of Former Ford Factory on 15 Feb 2025, 3.30pm | https://form.gov.sg/679c498b98976a2ac2b41d2c
[Onsite] Mandarin Guided Tour of Former Ford Factory on 15 Feb 2025, 11.30am | https://form.gov.sg/679c4c2704e420ac00ba9b21
A Soldier’s Kit – Field Rations during World War Two
Date: 15 February 2025
Time(s): 10.00am - 11.00am* | 11.30am - 12.30pm** (60 mins)
Price: $21.80 per adult-child pair | $10.90 per pax
*For families with children aged 7 and above
**For participants aged 16 and above
Explore a soldier’s kit featuring actual items from World War Two as well as replicas from the collection of Alvin’s Bunker. Learn about what soldiers in the 1940s ate, how they groomed themselves, and the design and evolution of ration and hygiene kits from past to present, with examples from the armed forces of different countries. Each participant will also receive their own mini World War Two ration pack.
Led by Alvin Lee of Alvin’s Bunker
Resilience in Adversity – A Docent-Guided Tour and Hand-bound Notebook Workshop
Date: 23 February 2025
Time(s): 10.00am - 11.30am | 11.00am - 12.30pm (1.5 hrs)
Price: $15 per pax
Amid hardship and deprivation, the internees of Changi Prison during World War Two found inventive ways to improve their lot. Faced with major shortages of shelter, food, and daily products, they worked together to scavenge materials and produce a variety of items, from soap and vitamin supplements to prosthetics and toothbrushes. Learn more about their extraordinary creativity and resilience through a docent-guided tour featuring actual items belonging to former internees, including a hand-stitched notepad made by Sergeant John Ritchie Johnston out of old prison records. Be inspired by their ingenuity and create your own hand-bound notebook using upcycled materials in a guided craft session after the tour.
Former Japanese Soldiers: Their Memories of the Malayan Campaign and Fall of Singapore
Date: 27 February 2025
Time: 7.30pm - 8.30pm (60 mins)
Price: $5 per pax
How did the Japanese soldiers remember the invasion of Malaya and Singapore, and what were their post-war fates? Many of those who survived the war were deeply impacted by their involvement in that violent period of history. Some even disagreed over how certain events should be approached and perceived. Dr. Ling Xi Min will share insights into the Japanese veterans’ varied, complex, and often ambivalent reflections on the Malayan campaign, as they grappled with the loss of their comrades and the uncomfortable legacies of the atrocities their army inflicted on the local population.
Location: National Museum of Singapore, Gallery Theatre
Heritage Chat on Sport in Syonan: The Role of State Shinto and Sport in Integrating Singapore into the Japanese Empire (1942–45)
Date: 28 February 2025
Time: 6.30pm - 7.30pm (60 mins)
Price: Free with registration
During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, military and civilian officials used a combination of State Shinto and sport to assist in culturally assimilating Singapore into Japan’s Empire. A massive sports complex was planned to be located at Singapore’s State Shinto shrine, the Syonan Jinja, which was partly modeled on Japan’s Meiji Shrine. The shrine regularly held events that mixed the rituals of State Shinto with athleticism. Participation in sport was seen as a way to assimilate local populations into an imperial identity, united under the Japanese Emperor.
Join Professor Kevin Blackburn from the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technology University and Dr. Nick Aplin, Deputy Director of Sport Heritage, Sport Singapore, as they share their expert insights.
Location: Yan Kit Pool Heritage Gallery
Resistance in Singapore
Date: 21 February 2025
Time: 7.00pm - 8.30pm (1.5 hrs)
Price: Free with registration
This session highlights the distinct networks of resistance within Singapore, focusing on Indian POWs and local civilians, as well as the role of key locations like the Radio Station, Cathay Cinema, Indian National Army Headquarters, and POW camps. Explore how information was passed through various civilian groups (Malay, Chinese, Indian, Eurasian) and their role in resisting Japanese forces. The talk concludes with the story of war hero Inspector Boudweyn, emphasizing the significance of resistance within the local context.
This programme is led by Gautam Hazarika and moderated by Liviniyah Parthipan.
Location: Indian Heritage Centre, Activity Space
Seeking Justice: Singapore War Crimes Trials 1946
Date: 26 February 2025
Time: 6.00pm - 7.30pm (1.5 hrs)
Price: $5 per pax
The first-ever war crimes trials were held in Nuremberg from 1945–1946, targeting senior Nazis for atrocities committed during World War II. Following this, war crimes trials were also held in Tokyo and Singapore. In commemoration of the 83rd Anniversary of the Battle for Singapore, Haw Par Villa is organizing a talk on the Singapore War Crimes Trials. Join Gautam Hazarika as he delves into an exploration of the trials through official transcripts and photographs.
Location: Haw Par Villa, Rise of Asia Museum Auditorium
Purchase tickets online: https://hpvroamtalk-bsg2025.peatix.com/
Archives Invites: Dr Gary Lit – The Terrors and Nightmares of the Japanese Occupation: Recollections, Reflections, and Retrospection
Date: 27 February 2025
Time: 7.00pm - 8.00pm (60 mins)
Price: Free upon registration
Given the recency of the anniversary of the Fall of Singapore and the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, this talk offers an opportune moment for reflection on the most tumultuous period in Singapore’s history. Dr. Gary Lit will unveil some of the dark legacies and uncover hidden truths of that turbulent period. Among other topics, the speaker will shed light on the nightmarish Sook Ching conducted by the Japanese Army, providing a voice to those who suffered under the Japanese Occupation.
Register online: https://form.gov.sg/679c7cd6b53fe038b3f0d0a2
Led by: Dr. Gary Lit Ying Loong, a retired academician from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), is an international speaker and visiting professor at universities in Asia and Europe, including Ukraine, Germany, and Vietnam. His research focuses on Force 136 and MPAJA activities, including his recent discoveries of wartime bases in the Kinta Valley. He has contributed to various regional newspapers and holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne.