19 Sep 1935

Singapore
17 Mar 1937

Singapore
12 Aug 1939

Singapore
  • HMS Eagle began her refitting work at Singapore. ww2dbase [Eagle | Singapore | CPC]
15 Mar 1940

Singapore
  • HMS Eagle arrived at Singapore for repairs for damage caused by the accidental explosion of 14 Mar 1940. ww2dbase [Eagle | Singapore | CPC]
9 May 1940

Singapore
  • HMS Eagle completed her repairs at Singapore and departed for Colombo, Ceylon. ww2dbase [Eagle | Singapore | CPC]
12 Aug 1941

Photo(s) dated 12 Aug 1941
British mechanics assembling Buffalo fighters, Singapore, circa 12 Aug 1941
13 Aug 1941

Photo(s) dated 13 Aug 1941
British Army Lieutenant General Arthur Percival leaving a plane on his arrival to Singapore as the new commander of British forces in Malaya and Singapore, 13 Aug 1941
12 Oct 1941

Photo(s) dated 12 Oct 1941
Buffalo Mark I fighters of Nos. 21 and 453 Squadrons RAAF being inspected by RAF personnel, Sembawang airfield, Singapore, 12 Oct 1941
30 Oct 1941

Photo(s) dated 30 Oct 1941
British Army Lieutenant General Arthur Percival welcoming US envoy Averell Harriman at Sembawang Airfield, Singapore, 30 Oct 1941
8 Dec 1941

Photo(s) dated 8 Dec 1941
The British Navy Office building in Singapore, 8 Dec 1941Battlecruiser HMS Repulse leaving the port of Singapore, 8 Dec 1941, two days before she was to be sunkBritish battleship HMS Prince of Wales leaving Singapore, 8 Dec 1941
20 Dec 1941

Singapore
  • British military personnel at the 101st Special Training School in Singapore began training members of the Malayan Communist Party in guerrilla warfare tactics. ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | CPC]
30 Dec 1941

Photo(s) dated 30 Dec 1941
A British soldier wounded during fighting in Malaya was being put onto an ambulance in Singapore, circa Dec 1941 to Jan 1942
31 Dec 1941

Singapore
31 Jan 1942

Photo(s) dated 31 Jan 1942
British Army Lieutenant General Arthur Percival meeting with war correspondents shortly before the surrender of Singapore, circa late Jan 1942
1 Feb 1942

Singapore
  • Japanese troops reached Singapore, pausing for the following few days to prepare for a landing on the island. Meanwhile, General Arthur Percival announced that "the battle of Malaya has come to an end and the battle of Singapore has started.... Today we stand beleaguered in our island fortress. Our task is to hold this fortress until help can come." ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | CPC]
  • Japanese troops reached Singapore, pausing for the following few days to prepare for a landing on the island. Meanwhile, General Arthur Percival announced that "the battle of Malaya has come to an end and the battle of Singapore has started.... Today we stand beleaguered in our island fortress. Our task is to hold this fortress until help can come." ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 1 Feb 1942
A column of smoke from burning oil tanks rising above the deserted streets of Singapore, Feb 1942; note General Post Office in foreground, now Fullerton Hotel Singapore
2 Feb 1942

Singapore
5 Feb 1942

Singapore
  • Japanese troops attacked the Pulau Ubin island to the northeast of Singapore, drawing British troops to move to that region; the actual attack would come from the northwest three days later. Out at sea, passenger liner Empress of Asia, with reinforcement for Singapore aboard and fallen behind from fellow BM12 convoy members, was attacked and sunk by 9 Japanese aircraft; although the loss of life was small (16 killed), all the weapons and equipment aboard her were lost; 1,804 survivors were rescued by Australian sloop HMAS Yarra. ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | CPC]
  • Japanese troops attacked the Pulau Ubin island to the northeast of Singapore, drawing British troops to move to that region; the actual attack would come from the northwest three days later. Out at sea, passenger liner Empress of Asia, with reinforcement for Singapore aboard and fallen behind from fellow BM12 convoy members, was attacked and sunk by 9 Japanese aircraft; although the loss of life was small (16 killed), all the weapons and equipment aboard her were lost; 1,804 survivors were rescued by Australian sloop HMAS Yarra. ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | CPC]
6 Feb 1942

Singapore
9 Feb 1942

Singapore
  • During the day, Japanese troops captured Tengah airfield at Singapore while behind the front 10,000 additional troops arrived at the beachheads. At 2100 hours, the Japanese 4th Imperial Guard Regiment landed at Kranji in northern Singapore, but the attempt was driven off by Australian 27th Brigade's heavy machine gun and mortar fire before the Australians fell back in anticipation of another landing. ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | CPC]
  • During the day, Japanese troops captured Tengah airfield at Singapore while behind the front 10,000 additional troops arrived at the beachheads. At 2100 hours, the Japanese 4th Imperial Guard Regiment landed at Kranji in northern Singapore, but the attempt was driven off by Australian 27th Brigade's heavy machine gun and mortar fire before the Australians fell back in anticipation of another landing. ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | CPC]
10 Feb 1942

Singapore
  • Australian 22nd Brigade misunderstood an order and withdrew past the Jurong Road in northern Singapore, thus exposing the flanks of neighboring Indian troops, forcing the entire Allied line to shift further south. Meanwhile, the British Royal Air Force withdrew the small number of aircraft from Singapore to prevent Japanese capture. After sundown, Japanese troops captured the Bukit Timah heights which overlooked Singapore and hosted two reservoirs of fresh water. ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | AC, CPC]
11 Feb 1942

Singapore
  • Battle of Bukit Timah: Japanese 5th Division attacked British, Commonwealth, and Chinese (Dalforce irregulars) troops along the Choa Chu Kang Road at Bukit Timah Hill in Singapore. Supported by 50 tanks, Japanese troops halted the Allied counterattacks and took the hill. After the battle, to avenge their casualties, the Japanese troops massacred Chinese civilians living in a nearby village. ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | CPC]
12 Feb 1942

Singapore
  • Before dawn, British cruiser HMS Durban, destroyer HMS Stronghold, destroyer HMS Jupiter, transport Empire Star, and transport Gorgon departed Singapore with British Royal Navy personnel for Batavia, Java, Dutch East Indies; they would be attacked and damaged by Japanese aircraft en route. Meanwhile, on Singapore island, Japanese troops made conservative probing attacks in western Singapore as the Allies slowly withdrew into the city. ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | CPC]
13 Feb 1942

Singapore
  • Japanese troops pushed the 55th Brigade of the British 18th Division out of its position which controlled the last fresh water reservoir in Singapore for the British. Arthur Percival's senior staff members persuaded him to request permission to surrender. At 1830 hours, a large convoy of 44 ships departed Singapore with evacuees; a few of these ships would be attacked and sunk by Japanese aircraft. ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | CPC]
14 Feb 1942

Singapore
  • Despite being wounded, Adnan bin Saidi continued to retire from his forward position in Singapore. When his position was finally taken by Japanese troops, he was tied to a tree and bayoneted to death. ww2dbase [Adnan bin Saidi | Singapore | CPC]
  • While Japanese troops penetrated the lines manned by the 1st Malay Brigade at Singapore and reached the Alexandra Barracks Hospital, where 323 hospital staff and patients would soon be brutally massacred, Archibald Wavell rejected Arthur Percival's request to surrender Singapore. ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | CPC]
15 Feb 1942

Singapore
  • With Winston Churchill's permission, Arthur Percival decided to surrender Singapore. A delegation bearing a white flag was dispatched at 1130 hours, but it was turned back by the Japanese, who requested Percival to surrender in person, which Percival complied at 1715 hours. At the Ford Motor Factory at Bukit Timah, Percival signed the surrender document at 2030 hours, making the biggest capitulation in British militay history official. ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | AC, CPC]
Photo(s) dated 15 Feb 1942
British Army Lieutenant General Arthur Percival and his party carrying the United Kingdom flag and a white flag on their way to surrender Singapore to the Japanese, 15 Feb 1942, photo 1 of 2Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita and British Lieutenant General Arthur Percival discussed surrender terms at the Ford Motors Factory, Bukit Timah Road, Singapore, 15 Feb 1942British Army Lieutenant General Arthur Percival and his party carrying the United Kingdom flag and a white flag on their way to surrender Singapore to the Japanese, 15 Feb 1942, photo 2 of 2
16 Feb 1942

Singapore
  • The Sook Ching massacre began in Singapore during which somewhere between 5,000 (Japanese estimates) and 100,000 (Singaporean estimates) ethnic Chinese civilians were killed during the following 3 weeks. ww2dbase [Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 16 Feb 1942
Japanese Type 95 Ha-Go tanks parading through Singapore, Feb 1942Japanese troops marching through Fullerton Square, Singapore, circa Feb 1942
17 Feb 1942

Singapore
  • Japanese occupation administration at Singapore sent 3,000 British civilians to Changi prison and 50,000 British, Australian, and Indian captured troops to Selarang Barracks. Some of the captured Indian troops were taken to hear Captain Mohan Singh at Farrer Park, who attempted to persuade them to collaborate with the Japanese. ww2dbase [Changi Prison and Selarang Barracks | Invasion of Malaya and Singapore | Singapore | CPC]
10 Apr 1942

Singapore
  • Naka arrived at Seletar Naval Base, Singapore. ww2dbase [Naka | Singapore | CPC]
28 Apr 1942

Singapore
  • Naka departed Seletar Naval Base, Singapore and arrived at Keppel Harbour, Singapore. ww2dbase [Naka | Singapore | CPC]
29 Apr 1942

Singapore
  • Naka entered the drydock at Keppel Harbour, Singapore. ww2dbase [Naka | Singapore | CPC]
6 May 1942

Singapore
  • Irako departed Singapore for Yokosuka, Japan with destroyer Hatakaze in escort. ww2dbase [Irako | Singapore | CPC]
2 Jun 1942

Singapore
  • Naka exited the drydock at Keppel Harbour, Singapore. ww2dbase [Naka | Singapore | CPC]
3 Jun 1942

Singapore
30 Aug 1942

Singapore
  • Over 20,000 British and Australian prisoners of war at the Selarang prisoner of war camp in Singapore refused to sign a pledge promising they would not attempt to escape. The Japanese rounded up these uncooperative prisoners of war, placed them in the central plaza, and denied them food, water, and medical treatment. Four prisoners who had previously attempted to escape were executed in front of the group to set an example. ww2dbase [Changi Prison and Selarang Barracks | Singapore | CPC]
4 Sep 1942

Singapore
  • After seeing several comrades die from dysentery without medical attention, the commanding officer of the protesting prisoners of war at Selarang prisoner of war camp in Singapore gave the order to abandon the protest against the Japanese demand that they pledge to not make any attempts to escape their imprisonment. ww2dbase [Changi Prison and Selarang Barracks | Singapore | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 4 Sep 1942
Allied prisoner of war signing a pledge not to make escape attempts, Selarang Barracks, Changi, Singapore, circa 4 Sep 1942
29 Dec 1942

Singapore
  • Raizo Tanaka was transferred to Singapore to recuperate from combat wounds suffered on 12 Dec 1942. ww2dbase [Raizo Tanaka | Singapore | CPC]
20 Feb 1944

Singapore
  • Shokaku departed Singapore for Lingga, Dutch East Indies. ww2dbase [Shokaku | Singapore | CPC]
  • Shokaku departed Singapore for Lingga Roads, Dutch East Indies. ww2dbase [Shokaku | Singapore | CPC]
1 Mar 1944

Singapore
  • Shokaku moved alternately between Singapore and Lingga, Dutch East Indies throughout the month of Mar 1944. ww2dbase [Shokaku | Singapore | CPC]
  • Shokaku moved alternately between Singapore and Lingga Roads, Dutch East Indies throughout the month of Mar 1944. ww2dbase [Shokaku | Singapore | CPC]
4 Apr 1944

Singapore
  • Shokaku returned to Singapore naval arsenal. The Third Fleet's flag was transferred ashore. ww2dbase [Shokaku | Singapore | CPC]
  • Shokaku returned to Singapore naval arsenal. The Third Fleet's flag was transferred ashore. ww2dbase [Shokaku | Singapore | CPC]
14 Feb 1945

Singapore
4 Jun 1945

Singapore
  • Japanese hospital ship Hikawa Maru arrived at Seletar, Singapore. ww2dbase [Hikawa Maru | Singapore | CPC]
5 Jun 1945

Singapore
  • Japanese hospital ship Hikawa Maru departed Seletar, Singapore. ww2dbase [Hikawa Maru | Singapore | CPC]
18 Aug 1945

Singapore
  • At the headquarters of the Japanese 7th Area Army in Singapore, General Seishiro Itagaki informed his lieutenants and colonial administrators that Japan had surrendered. He ordered the men to maintain public order and to plan for the transition of power when the British colonial administration would arrive. He also ordered the construction of an internment camp in Jurong in western Singapore for Japanese civilians, who would wait there until repatriation. ww2dbase [Seishiro Itagaki | Japan's Surrender | Singapore | CPC]
20 Aug 1945

Singapore
  • The Singapore-based Japanese newspaper Syonan Shimbun announced the surrender and reproduced the transcript of the Imperial Rescript. ww2dbase [Singapore | CPC]
30 Aug 1945

Singapore
  • The first of the 6,000 Japanese civilians in Singapore began to move into the newly completed Jurong Interment Camp. ww2dbase [Japan's Surrender | Singapore | CPC]
3 Sep 1945

Singapore
  • British doctors parachuted into Singapore ahead of a Royal Navy fleet. ww2dbase [Singapore | AC]
4 Sep 1945

Photo(s) dated 4 Sep 1945
General Seishiro Itagaki signing surrender documents aboard HMS Sussex at Singapore, 4 Sep 1945
5 Sep 1945

Singapore
  • British and Indian troops entered Singapore where they liberated 33,000 prisoners of war. Japanese civilian administration leaders gathered at the City Hall to present them the extensive briefings they had prepared in the last two weeks to assist in a smooth transition of power, but the British refused to acknowledge them. ww2dbase [Singapore | AC, CPC]
6 Sep 1945

Singapore
  • The newly returned British colonial administration of Singapore demolished the memorial for Subhas Chandra Bose, an Indian nationalist leader who collaborated with the Japanese during the war. Elsewhere, the Japanese civilian administration leaders were marched, on foot, to the Jurong internment camp in the western side of the island. ww2dbase [Singapore | CPC]
12 Sep 1945

Photo(s) dated 12 Sep 1945
Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten delivering an address at the Municipal Building, Singapore, 12 Sep 1945, photo 1 of 2; note William Slim, Raymond Wheeler, and Keith ParkLouis Mountbatten reading surrender terms to Japanese representatives at the surrender ceremony at Municipal Building, Singapore, 12 Sep 1945Louis Mountbatten at the surrender ceremony, Municipal Building, Singapore, 12 Sep 1945, photo 1 of 2Louis Mountbatten inspecting British Royal Navy Guard of Honour outside the Minicipal Building, Singapore prior to the surrender ceremony, 12 Sep 1945
See all photos dated 12 Sep 1945
21 Oct 1945

Singapore
  • 7,000 workers at the harbor in Tanjong Pagar, Singapore staged a strike, demanding higher wages and protesting against the shipment of weapons from Singapore to Indonesia to be used against nationalist forces. ww2dbase [Singapore | CPC]
13 Jan 1946

Singapore
  • A funeral service for Lim Bo Seng was held at the City Hall of Singapore. ww2dbase [Lim Bo Seng | Singapore | CPC]
21 Jan 1946

Photo(s) dated 21 Jan 1946
Accused Japanese war criminals on trial at the Supreme Court of Singapore, 21 Jan 1946, photo 1 of 3Accused Japanese war criminals Sadaichi, Nakamura, Shoxo, Jinichiro, Majoto, Tamotsu, Mesami, Ken, Ryuichi, and Tadasu on trial at the Supreme Court of Singapore, 21 Jan 1946Accused Japanese war criminals on trial at the Supreme Court of Singapore, 21 Jan 1946, photo 2 of 3Accused Japanese war criminals on trial at the Supreme Court of Singapore, 21 Jan 1946, photo 3 of 3
See all photos dated 21 Jan 1946
14 Mar 1946

Photo(s) dated 14 Mar 1946
Japanese Army Lt Nakamura being led to the scaffold where he would be executed by hanging for beheading an Indian soldier at Pulau Island near Singapore during the war, 14 Mar 1946
17 Oct 1947

Singapore
  • SB No. 125 (formerly landing ship No. 108) and another SB ship (formerly landing ship No. 110) were surrendered to the United Kingdom at Singapore. ww2dbase [No. 101/103-class | Singapore | CPC]
2 Jun 1953

Photo(s) dated 2 Jun 1953
Two Royal Australian Air Force Avro Lincoln heavy bombers flying over Sembawang naval base, Singapore, 2 Jun 1953

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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