Colonial Singapore: Archaeological vs. Historical Records The Fort Serapong Case Study LIM CHEN SIAN BSBA (Finance), BA (Archaeology) A thesis in submission for the degree of Master of Arts Southeast Asian Studies Programme National University of Singapore 2007 Acknowledgments It is astonishing the amount of debt one accumulates while undertaking archaeological work in an environment like Singapore. Hopefully in one way or other I have been able to repay my many debts and return the favours. Those whom feel that I have not I do apologise and perhaps I may only be able to do so in the afterlife. In no order of importance, but heading the list because he is the de facto ‘Director General of Archaeology’ in Singapore and my supervisor whom I suspect cannot be gladder to have me out of his hair. Most grateful thanks to Professor Dr. John N.Miksic, who provided me with innumerable opportunities, essentially allowing me to run my own projects and show, probably unheard of anywhere else in the world for a graduate student to be calling the shots, bargaining with government officials, land owners for permits and sponsorship. It has been half a decade since I started out as a volunteer at the Old Parliament House dig in October 2002. Hopefully, we have made some progress on the archaeological front since then. My sincere thanks also to ‘General’ Dr. E.Edwards.McKinnon for his constant humor; Gary Brown (and his staff at Pre-Construct Archaeology United Kingdom) for the professional advice and friendship; Dr. Chua Ai Lin for her highly animated intellectual and ideological debates; Margaret Wong for being Margaret Wong; Chong Yuan Jian for being the fairy godmother; and of course my parents who by default have to put up with me over the last three decades. This thesis could not have been completed without the truly motley field crew of the Fort Serapong Archaeological Research Project to which the main thrust of this thesis is directed. The crew never once failed to come through even at the most exhausting moments; lugging the 1 ton generator up the hill daily; fighting off hornets, snakes and monitor lizards; cutting back the jungle growth which would put to shame a platoon of gardeners; never once complaining excavating in the rain through 2m of rock-hard clay just because I wanted to know what lay beneath; and never failing to be excited at each little discovery be it a piece of button or a landmine; and not one ever complained that it was beneath their station to embark on the most manual of labour, almost everyone in the crew picked up the machete and the shovel for jungle clearing and excavation. The Serapong field crew members are: Peter W.Stubbs, the fortifications enthusiast and researcher whom I first visited Serapong with in 2005; Dr. Yeo Kang Shua, our architectural historian who provided me with many answers to my inexhaustible list of queries and for driving our old beat up pickup truck; Aaron Kao, our renowned chainsaw operator and illustrator; Chua Ai Hua, our conservator who painstakingly gathered every crumb of artifact from the midden; Wee Sheau Theng, our seamstress and videographer; 2 Lim Tse Siang (and his large number of fans), who doggedly did everything he was told without ever questioning; Tong Zi Ming and Lim Shu Xian, who are forever cheerful and always zipping around with energy (if only all college students are like you three); Omar Chen, my senior in archaeology and ace field craftsman; Mok Ly Yng, our mapping and surveying consultant; Daniel Hii, our autocad specialist and animator; Ung Ruey Loon, our star photographer; and Margaret Wong, our part time pickup truck driver. Other volunteers and ‘staff’ on the Serapong Project include Octocon, Rachel Alltimes, Reg Low, Eu Khim, Foo Shu Theng, Noel Hegaldo Tan, Mr. Chew the excavator operator, and Mr. Foo, retired government surveyor who kindly donated his time and tools. Special and grateful thanks must be accorded to Daniel Hii and Yeo Kang Shua for the stupendous computer aided design work on the plans and sections found within this thesis. Although this thesis is as much the effort of the field crew, the interpretations herewith are entirely mine and any errors are indubitably mine alone. Additional thanks are also due to the following people and institutions for making the Serapong Project happen: At Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC); Alvin Chia; Juliana Yeo; Alvin Lim and the Fort Siloso staff members; Bernie Teo; Gunjit Singh; and Gerald Metzer. Although not with SDC, a special note of thanks to Derek Potter who was one of the principal instigators of this project, and it was through his networking that it all happened. In the United Kingdom: Royal Engineers Library; Royal Air Force Library; National Archives United Kingdom (Public Records Office); British Library; Palmerston Forts Society (David Moore); Fortress Study Group (Charles Blackwood); Royal Asiatic Society; Royal Institute of British Architects; Institute of Chartered Engineers; National Maritime Museum; Major Alan Harfield; and Dr. Susan Sutton. In Singapore: National Archives of Singapore; The National Library Board Lee Kong Chian Reference Library (Ibu Azzizah, Tim Pwee, Alex Ong, Ang Swee Leng and the other gang of reference librarians and assistants); National University of Singapore Central Library (Tim Yap Fuan); SAFTI Military Library; National Museum of Singapore Library (Ng Ching Huei); Department of Geography Map Library (Ms.Sayaka); MINDEF Heritage Branch (Major Singh, Madam Lisa); National Parks Board Centre for Biodiversity (Dr.Geoffry Davis); ‘Battle Box’ Fort Canning (Fort Canning Country Club); and ‘Secret Tunnels of Labrador’ (Singapore Trolley & Tours). 3 At the National University of Singapore: Lee Foundation for their Scholarship Grant 2003 and 2004; and Professor Reynaldo Illeto for supporting my tuition waiver in 2005; the secretaries of Southeast Asian Studies Programme, Lucy Tan, Rohani J and S; Asia Research Institute for timely research assistantships to stave off bankruptcy. Anthony Reid and Geoff Wade who I suspect bemusedly and kindly took me in for perhaps no other reason than that in Singapore archaeology is an orphaned discipline. The secretaries of Asia Research Institute who never question any of my many requests and instead cheerfully provided all I asked for. Albeit I have seen little of them over the past several years, others from the realm of Singapore archaeology, Andy Cowan, Mok Meifeng, and Cheryl-Ann Low to whom I should record my thanks for their company and friendship in my earlier years. I am also indebted to my archaeological seniors Uncle Shah Alam Mohd. Zaini and Dr. Kyle Latinis, as well as the Singapore based Dutch conservator Mijnheer R. Stulemeijer who in their own way shown me a lot about anthropological approaches to life at large when I first entered the discipline in Singapore. As they say in official circles on the island, “we wish you well in your future endeavours”, and I sincerely hope that you find what you are looking for. It may seem strange, but often a kind sympathy expressed is all the support one can asked for in this lonely discipline. More importantly all of you have somehow allowed me to run things my own way and essentially do what I wanted for better or for worst. Again my thanks. 4 Table of Contents Acknowledgements 2 Table of Contents 5 List of Illustrations 7 List of Maps and Plans 9 Abstract 10 1. Introduction 1.1 Historical Archaeology 11 1.2 Archaeological Research in Singapore 12 1.3 Objectives of Thesis 13 1.4 Case Study in Colonial Archaeology: Fort Serapong Archaeological Research Project 14 1.5 Archaeological & Historical Background 15 1.5.1 Pre-European Contact 15 1.5.2 Early Colonial Period: Cartographic References to Pulau Blakang Mati and Mount Serapong 17 1.5.3 Colonial Military Occupation 22 1.6 Objectives of the Project 28 1.7 Archaeological Methodology 29 2. Mount Serapong in the 19th Century 2.1 The Archaeological Sequence Phase 1: Natural & Topography 31 2.2 The Archaeological Sequence Phase 2: Flag Staff Station c.1833 – 1845 35 2.3 The Archaeological Sequence Phase 3: Infantry Redoubt 1878/9 – 1885 36 2.4 The Archaeological Sequence Phase 4: Coastal Defence Fort 1885 – 1907 37 2.4.1 Cartridge Stores 39 2.4.2 8 inch Gun Emplacements 40 2.4.3 Casemates & Magazine 41 2.4.4 Other Features 43 3. Mount Serapong in the Early 20th Century 3.1 The Archaeological Sequence Phase 5: First Upgrading of the Fort 1907/8 – 1936/7 56 3.1.1 9.2 inch Gun Emplacement – Spur Battery 58 3.1.2 Position Finding Cells 59 3.1.3 9.2 inch Gun Emplacements – Serapong Hilltop 60 3.1.4 Casemates & Magazine 63 3.1.5 Communication Trench 64 3.1.6 Battery Command Post 64 3.1.7 Serapong Hill Road 66 3.1.8 Infantry Posts 66 3.1.9 Latrine (Block 6B) 68 3.1.10 Water Catchment Slope, Drainage, Storage Tanks, and Pump Room 69 3.1.11 Unknown Brick Structure – Possible Shrine 70 5 4. Mount Serapong in the Pre-War Period 4.1 The Archaeological Sequence Phase 6: Second Upgrading & Modifications 1936/7 – 1942 89 4.1.1 6 inch Gun No.1 Emplacement, Magazine, and Duty Personnel Rooms 91 4.1.2 6 inch Position Finding Cell 93 4.1.3 6 inch Gun No.2 Emplacement, Magazine, and Duty Personnel Rooms 93 4.1.4 6 inch Battery Command Post Complex 95 4.1.5 Observation Post 97 4.1.6 Barracks/Dining Hall/Stores, Kitchen, and Bathrooms 97 4.1.7 Fort Connaught Battery Command Post 99 4.1.8 Blakang Mati Command Center & Generator Room 100 4.1.9 Unknown Structure – Cantilevered Building 103 4.1.10 Unknown Structure – Possible Washing /Decontamination Facility 104 5.