BaTtLe Of BuKiT TiMaH

On February 20, the Japanese had seized Bukit Timah.  Not only was Bukit Timah the highest point on the island that had good views, but from Bukit Timah there were roads that led straight to the center of the city.

Bukit Timah was a strategically important point for both the Allied troops and the Japanese.
On the night of 10th February 1942, the Japanese troops attacked troops of the Allies. The Allied forces had re-grouped to defend the critical junctions at Choa Chu Kang, Jurong and Clementi Roads leading to Bukit Timah Road.
By dawn of 11th February 1942, the Japanese troops reported to their commander that they had seized Bukit Timah. The road to the city was open.

"On our way home to 7th milestone, we saw many dead bodies, mostly Indian soldiers, lying all over the place. Those soldiers might have been dead for two days. Their dead bodies were so swollen, that they looked like water buffaloes. At least a few hundred Indian, and British soldiers were killed behind the present Ngee Ann Polytechnic."                     
                                                                                    -By Lim Chok Fui (Resident of Bukit Timah)

The Japanese built man-made caves in the jungle hills of Bukit Timah to store supplies and ammunition. These caves are still standing today. These are a few photographs of them.

The bars were installed recently to protect the bats living in the caves from being disturbed by tourists.

Another significant battle was the Battle for Bukit Batok, one of Singapore's bloodiest battle.
 A plaque, located at the base of Bukit Batok, tells the story of the monuments were once on the top of Bukit Batok.

"Two monuments once stood on top of this hill in memory of Allied and Japanese soldiers killed in the battle for Singapore. Built by some 500 Allied POWs in 1942, the Japanese memorial, the Syonan Chureito, was a 40-foot high wooden pylon topped with a brass cone. To the rear was a small hut housing the ashes of Japanese soldiers killed in the Battle for Bukit Timah. The POWs were allowed to build a second monument to honor the Allied dead. This was a 10-foot high wooden cross which stood just behind the Japanese monument. The Syonan Chureito was destroyed by the Japanese before the return of the Allied Forces to Singapore in 1945."

HoMe PaGE              OpeRaTioN SooK ChInG            POWs' ExPeRieNceS      
PrOceSS of OuR ProJeCt         OuR GraTiTuDe          OuR SuBjEcT LiNk