The Battle Box is located on the hill which is called Fort Canning Hill. This site has seen much history. It was originally called the "forbidden hill" because this land was reserved for sultans who ruled from the 14th - 18th centuries. It would also become the site of Sir Thomas Raffles home, British founder of Singapore. Again, in 1859 new usage would claim the hill when Fort Canning was built (the hill sits overlooking the entrance to the bay). This brings us to the Battle Box during the World War II era.
On December 9, 1941 the same raids which hit Pearl Harbor also assaulted Singapore. By February of 1942 the Japanese has destroyed the water manes and pipes, taken control of the food dumps, and blocked incoming petrol. On February 15, Lt. Gen Percival and his officers decided to surrender because they did not not want the soldiers and civilians to be decimated, even though this went against higher orders. Full surrender was issued at 11AM that day and was done so at the Battle Box.
The bunker itself has been refitted to look as it did at the time and includes human models and elaborate scenes to give visitors a true sense of what life in the bunker looked like. This added a nice element of visualization that one does not get in similar World War II sites such as the bunkers in Normandy.
Part two of History Saturday was spent at Raffles Hotel. This was not owned by Raffles, but rather named after him. It is a true representation of the colonial era - a side of luxury and ambiance that once existed. It opened in 1887, and still operates in grand fashion today. When originally built, it looked upon the ocean separated only by a dirt road. 100s of meters of fill have since increased the shore space so the building no longer has a water perch. Yet a subtle reminder of what once was can be found by looking to the street sign upon which the hotel sits, "Beach Street."
A billiard room, bars, luxury shops, tropical verandas and courtyards make up the posh modern yet historic site. The museum of the hotel (inside the hotel) was particular telling of the land changes and dynamics over time. See pics below.
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