Factsheet – Other Activities

NHB. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, will officially open the WWII Interpretative Centre at 31K Pepys Road on 15 Feb 2002. Called Reflections at Bukit Chandu, its six galleries will showcase the historical context of the Battle of Pasir Panjang in relation to other battles fought in in 1942. The Centre will also highlight the role of the Malay Regiment and the heroism of its men in defending Singapore against the Japanese forces. For more details, please refer to TOTAL DEFENCE DAY 2002: OPENING OF REFLECTIONS AT BUKIT CHANDU, A WWII INTERPRETATIVE CENTRE AT 31K PEPYS ROAD.

Examples of activities organised by the museums under NHB in conjunction with Total Defence Day are a mini-display on Total Defence at the Singapore History Museum, an exhibition of rare sketches drawn during the Japanese Occupation at the National Archives of Singapore foyer, and a showcase of stamps related to the war at an exhibition on the 60th anniversary of the fall of Singapore at the Singapore Philatelic Museum. In addition, NHB and ACT 3 have collaborated on the production of a Total Defence-related performance for schools. Heritage Services Division of NHB will also launch a new publication, Singapore's 100 Historic Places. Please refer to TOTAL DEFENCE DAY 2002: ACTIVITIES UNDER NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD (NHB) for details.

STB. On 15 Feb 2002, BG (NS) George Yeo, Minister for Trade and Industry, will officially launch the Johore Battery site. The Johore Battery, built in 1939 by the British, is a underground labyrinth of tunnels that used to store ammunition for 15-inch guns during WWII. Through on-site interactive displays, the Johore Battery will tell the story of the British defence of Singapore in the face of the Japanese invasion. Leveraging on the proximity to , the preservation of the Johore Battery, which is spearheaded by STB, will provide a more meaningful learning experience for visitors (for more details, please refer to Annex H). Heritage Services Division of NHB will also mark

1

Johore Battery as a historic site at its launch on 15 Feb 2002 (please refer to TOTAL DEFENCE DAY 2002: ACTIVITIES UNDER NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD (NHB) for details).

STB has also facilitated an exclusive visit to for the former prisoners-of-war (POWs) and their families on 14 Feb 2002. In addition, STB has worked with other agencies and institutions in Singapore on a week-long programme of special activities to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the fall of Singapore. These include visits to WWII battle sites such as Labrador Park and . Please refer to TOTAL DEFENCE DAY 2002: ACTIVITIES FACILITATED BY (STB) TO COMMEMORATE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF FALL OF SINGAPORE for details.

NUS. From 15 to 17 Feb 2002, the Department of History at the National University of Singapore will host an international conference, Sixty Years On — The Fall of Singapore Revisited. This will be the largest gathering of eminent professional historians ever assembled to reflect on the WWII Malayan campaign and the fall of Singapore 60 years ago. Scholars from Singapore, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada and USA will present and discuss the latest research on a wide variety of issues related to the following questions: Why did war come to Malaya and Singapore, and why did Singapore fall as and when it did? In addition, an exhibition for Total Defence Day, describing the university’s contribution to Total Defence, will be on display. Please refer to TOTAL DEFENCE DAY 2002: NUS CONFERENCE - SIXTY YEARS ON — THE FALL OF SINGAPORE REVISITED for more details on the conference.

SCCCI. As in previous years, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) will hold a memorial service for the civilian victims of the Japanese Occupation at the War Memorial Park at Beach Road on 15 Feb 2002. The ceremony will be officiated by Mr David Lim, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts and Senior Minister of State for Defence. During the service, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will sound the “all clear” signal to symbolically mark the restoration of peace.

SCDF. From 5 to 22 Feb 2002, SCDF will organise visits for primary and secondary school pupils to its newly-opened Heritage Gallery, which is located at Central Fire Station. The Gallery traces the evolution of fire fighting and civil defence in Singapore through the years via displays of fire appliances, equipment, photographs, and other archival items. It also houses interactive displays that give visitors a chance to experience some of the challenging tasks performed by SCDF personnel, such as rescue, first aid and fire-fighting.

SAFRA. SAFRA National Service Association (SAFRA) will commemorate Total Defence Day for the first time this year with the setting up of a booth along on 15 Feb 2002 to

2 gather pledges from SAFRA members and the public on their commitment to Total Defence.

SDC. Singapore Discovery Centre (SDC) has developed activities such as Total Defence-related quizzes, games, a mini-exhibition, and talks for pupils visiting the Centre from end Jan to 15 Feb 2002.

PA. People’s Association’s (PA) grassroots organisations will organise activities to help residents commemorate Total Defence Day with Social Defence-related activities such as residential block parties to promote racial harmony, and other Total Defence-related activities such as visits to the Heritage Gallery at Central Fire Station and blood donation drives.

More details on the SCCCI memorial service, school visits to SCDF’s Heritage Gallery, SAFRA’s pledge collection event, and activities organised by SDC and PA are attached at OTHER ACTIVITIES IN COMMEMORATION OF TOTAL DEFENCE DAY 2002.

3