Singapore Battlefield Sites Home Page
City Hall - Memorials Changi Murals Changi Prison Chapel Ford Factory Ft. Siloso Johore Battery Pasir Panjang Battle Kranji Battle Kranji Memorial Labrador Park Transport
For a description of the Battle Box see FORTRESS SINGAPORE, The Battlefield Guide, pp. 84-85, Maj. Yap Siang Yong, Romen Bose, Angeline Pang, Times Books International, Second Edition 1995. Available at most major book sellers in Singapore.
The Battle Box is a high quality, fun and educational look into the inner workings of the British command centre. Exhibits use specially arranged audio and video special effects, high quality animatronics and specially crafted figurines. The setting is 15 February 1942, and you witness a re-enactment of the General Staff discussion regarding the surrender. The Battle Box is located directly behind the Fort Canning Centre. Parking is convenient next to the Centre, on Percival Road. The nearest MRT station is Dhoby Ghaut. The Battle Box web site is at http://www.battlebox.com.sg .
 The Battle Box is the underground bunker complex built by the British for use as a attack proof command center. During the last days prior to the British surrender Lt. General Percival commanded from here. It was here that he and his staff made the fateful decision to surrender. |
 |
 |
Tanglin Barracks was used by the British as a barracks and warehouse facility. Many of the original buildings still survive, albeit in a somewhat modified configuration. Several of the buildings have been converted to small businesses and others are still used for military and civil defense use. The complex is at Dempsy Road, just off Holland Road. You can easily walk around the site, however some locations are clearly marked Off-Limits (the big red sign showing one guy shooting another guy).
 |
 |
St. George Church, originally the barracks church is still in use and is now a gazetted historical site. (Click on the stain glass for a better view.) The church was built in 1911 for use by the troops in the barracks. While I was there taking pictures one of the members of the church told me the stain glass windows were removed and hidden during the Japanese occupation. Unfortunately the person that hid them did not survive the war and a set of windows is still hidden somewhere to this day.
Below are examples of the buildings you can see today.
 |
 |
| Now used by the police. | Off-Limits, looks to be used by the Medical Corps. |
 |
 |
| Soccer Field |
The buildings now house retail shops, for example antique dealers.
 |
 |
| Tanglin Golf Course | Well worn colonial house was overlooking the golf course. Now is gone. |
Copyright © Glenn Griffin 1999, 2000 and 2003. All rights reserved