Well done on the upgraded website. It’s very impressive. In particular I appreciate being able to use the index of names, so helpful in cross-referencing.
Very best wishes – we look forward to seeing photos of many of the exhibits/collection. Thank you to all the staff helping those relatives and researchers who live so many miles from Singapore.
Great to see the Website up again. Fabulous pictures and graphics. My father Basil, (BMB), O’Connell was a civilian internee there in the jail itself. I am a bit confused about ‘Sime Road’. Unlike most civilians and military personnel for the first week or so after the surrender, he and other European police officers seemed to be of no interest to the Japanese so he decided that, for their own safety, they should ‘intern themselves’ behind barbed wire and wait to be found. So he was not in the march out to Changi from the city centre and did not take part in the reputed iconic singing of ‘There’ll always be an England’ as they marched through the gates! Myth or reality?
During WWII, Sime Road (a place)had an British army camp which then occupied by the Japs. So when Changi Camp was in a way been filled. Some prisoners from Changi were transferred to Sime Road Camp. By the way,Sime Road was named after Scotsman John Sime, who came to Malaya in 1909 and founded Sime, Darby & Company. . Mun
My father was a warder at Changi jail before the war, and then the Japs put him in the jail when Singapore Fell.. His name was John McCall and we were living at Outram Road when the war started, and Dad was a warder at that jail.
Do you have any records of him. or photos of the houses that were in a line in front of the jail where we used to live.
When I visited Changi in 1967 we were guided by a warder who had been there during the war and stayed on after becoming a warder again. I don’t think the dates are right. I have no name, but I do have a photo of this gentleman should it be relevant. Julian Beavan 13.12.15
Firstly congratulations on the way you have presented what is a very difficult topic with sensitivities involved.
Can I say that I was very disappointed to arrive and be told that you no longer offer the guided tours as advertised on your web page. I also note that other customer not 5 minutes after me had the same complaint.
My main complaint is not that the tours where not offered that is just disappointing, the fact that us still on your web site is what the complaint is about.
My sincere apologizes that you were enable to take the in-house tour yesterday. Unfortunately, when you came it was lunch time and due to a shortage of staff at weekends one of our tours was suspended. As stated on the website, the tours are available but as always, it is subject to staff availability
Regards,
Hugh McMenamin,
Assistant Manager,
The Changi Museum.
A brilliant exhibition- a must see if you are visiting Singapore.
Once you are done, in about 90 minutes, you can get a very good meal at the museum restaurant, outside.
I followed this up with a visit to the veterans cemetery, which is wonderfully kept. A great day out.
Very interesting and thought provoking visit to the museum today. My late Uncle was a POW in Changi Prison in 1942 so we were very pleased that we had the opportunity to visit.
What an absolutely fabulous museum. A must to visit when in Singapore. Staff-all are exceptionally helpful and friendly. It’s not a huge meseum but the content and presentation is oustanding and we were surprised that almost 2 hours had elapsed when we had finished.
THanks to all for an absolutely wonderful experience. My Uncle was with the 2/19th, and spent time at Changi and on the Thai-Burma railway, and you were able to allow me and my partner to expereince what they went through. Tears flowed fro them and their memories. Thanks again.
We have a very informative and engaging guided tour carried out by Mr Sha. He makes history come alive. He is very knowledgeable and speak well to engage my secondary students of different nationalities. Thank you for this guided tour. As a teacher, I must declare this is the best guided tour I have ever had. Even my colleague and I have learnt so much from you.
Hi,
I was among the signed up participants for the Changi museum tour dated 6 June 2015. I would like to congratulate the tour guide, Shahrul for making my second visit to the Changi museum the most touching and memorable one. Even though I’m a Singaporean and I was amazed on how much I do not know our history as far as the WWII is concerned. My colleague and I were very impressed by Shahrul’s professionalism and how he is so committed and devoted in his job. Thank you Shahrul. Thank you Changi Museum for making this trip a meaningful one in my life.
My father, Captain Roger Beavan IAOC was interned in Changi and on Thai-Burma Railway from February 15th 1942 until September 1945. I have visited Changi Goal as it was and the Museum twice. I was based in Singapore as a Royal Marine with 40 Commando in Dieppe Barracks in 1967 to 1968.
My father kept a diary for every day of his imprisonment and it is in perfect condition and I intend to publish it as it is with all the papers I have – post cards (6), articles, documents and newspaper cuttings of the day.
He survived through keeping occupied, helping others and by strong faith. He had a mosquito net, a lilo, a tube of toothpaste (lasting 3 1/2 years), a table and a clean shirt for his release so he would look respectable as a British Officer!! I doubt the shirt lasted!!
On my last visit on 31st July 2015 I met with Sharul and I cannot speak highly enough of this charming and helpful “Guide”. Nothing was too much and his knowledge and interest was fantastic. I cannot praise him enough. I also spoke with Francis Li the senior Researcher. John Cooper was on leave unfortunately.
When and if I manage to get this diary published I will be very happy to donate a copy of it to your wonderful museum which has to be one of the best in the world. There is so much content and information contained in a relatively small building. I recommend everyone visits this museum when in Singapore. It is a very humbling experience.
Many, many thanks for your kind hospitality, Sharul. I shall be in touch.
On this the 70th Anniversary of VJ Day. We felt we had to post a message on this site. We have never forgotten the time we visited the museum and also our visit to Kranji Memorial. It was a very thought provoking and incredibly moving experience. Which we will never ever forget.
This should not be called the “forgotten war” it must always be remembered.
Today I visited Changi museum and like many I am the granddaughter of Leonard Charles Hutchings and his sons, my two uncles Brydon and Nevis Hutchings My grandfather was a director of Robinsons as Singapore fell and his two sons joined the British army to be captured as The Japanese took Singapore They died while under hard labour ? on the Death Railway My grandfather survived and like many returned home to England weighing 40 kilo at 6 ft 2 in tall. My mother and grandmother were lucky to be on the last ship leaving Singapore that sailed to Vancouver Canada. As it was for so many they waited for his return and for many years after the war finished they waited for Brydon and Nevis to return, they never came home.
I remember my grandfather as he returned to Singapore post war and continued to work for Robinsons from London He did not tell me a lot but I asked lots of questions and he always said that the prisoners got a lot of well meaning locals into trouble by asking them to bring them food. He felt this was wrong as they often lost their lives as did their families as reprisals from the Japanese occupiers Similarly he felt trying to escape caused many death under horrendous circumstances as the Japanese punished those left behind.War time brings the best and worse out in those involved but I never heard him express hatred of the Japanese He died young at 54 from the results of severe starvation but was lucky to get to come home
He learnt Dutch in the ‘Changi University, and was able to teach other prisoners to read and write English and speak Malay
time is running out to find anyone who may have known him
Who knows how accurate my recollections are! But I have a small stamp book he made while interned
please contact me on this email if you have any more stories to share
I emigrated to Australia with my family in 1990
We always look forward to visiting the Museum and will be returning to Singapore the last week in February 2016. Good to see that you will be adding an On Line shop to your website.
My late father NX35419 Allan Howard Bye 2/19 Inf Battalion was a prisoner at Changi and also Great World PoW Camp. He went to death railway in 1943 and Japan in 1944. I will be visiting Thailand,Malaya and Singapore in October.
I will be travelling to Singapore in February 2017 for the 75th anniversary of the Fall of Singapore as a mark of respect to my late father, AEH Bulford of the 4th battalion of the SSVF. He was captured on 18 February 1942 and spent some time both at Changi and Sime Road prison camps. From there he was sent to Batu Lintang camp at Kuching until his liberation in 1945. I look forward to visiting this Museum and maybe finding some information about Dad and his time as a POW.
I am a Japanese. I visited here 2nd DEC 2016.
The display here stung my heart,cuz I Japanese.
The sad history and reflection under the war.
And the element which becomes the foundation of the founding of a country in Singapore.
I hope peace and must never repeat tragedy.
I thank for this opportunity, and thank you.
A very moving experience visiting Changi Museum. There is a lot o be learned about the plight of both the people of Singapore and the soldiers who tryed to defend it.
Plus this is s great website and your collection of books is outstanding. Enjoyed my visit.
Good to see the new site up and running.
Thank you for your comments. We will be working hard on adding the Online Shop and of course the Virtual Museum over the next year.
Well done on the upgraded website. It’s very impressive. In particular I appreciate being able to use the index of names, so helpful in cross-referencing.
Very best wishes – we look forward to seeing photos of many of the exhibits/collection. Thank you to all the staff helping those relatives and researchers who live so many miles from Singapore.
Great to see the Website up again. Fabulous pictures and graphics. My father Basil, (BMB), O’Connell was a civilian internee there in the jail itself. I am a bit confused about ‘Sime Road’. Unlike most civilians and military personnel for the first week or so after the surrender, he and other European police officers seemed to be of no interest to the Japanese so he decided that, for their own safety, they should ‘intern themselves’ behind barbed wire and wait to be found. So he was not in the march out to Changi from the city centre and did not take part in the reputed iconic singing of ‘There’ll always be an England’ as they marched through the gates! Myth or reality?
During WWII, Sime Road (a place)had an British army camp which then occupied by the Japs. So when Changi Camp was in a way been filled. Some prisoners from Changi were transferred to Sime Road Camp. By the way,Sime Road was named after Scotsman John Sime, who came to Malaya in 1909 and founded Sime, Darby & Company. . Mun
As a direct descendant of Australian POW at Changi I found the museum enlightening, harrowing and inspiring all in equal measures. Lest We Forget.
My father was a warder at Changi jail before the war, and then the Japs put him in the jail when Singapore Fell.. His name was John McCall and we were living at Outram Road when the war started, and Dad was a warder at that jail.
Do you have any records of him. or photos of the houses that were in a line in front of the jail where we used to live.
Kind Regards
Mary
When I visited Changi in 1967 we were guided by a warder who had been there during the war and stayed on after becoming a warder again. I don’t think the dates are right. I have no name, but I do have a photo of this gentleman should it be relevant. Julian Beavan 13.12.15
Firstly congratulations on the way you have presented what is a very difficult topic with sensitivities involved.
Can I say that I was very disappointed to arrive and be told that you no longer offer the guided tours as advertised on your web page. I also note that other customer not 5 minutes after me had the same complaint.
My main complaint is not that the tours where not offered that is just disappointing, the fact that us still on your web site is what the complaint is about.
Rob
Dear Rob,
My sincere apologizes that you were enable to take the in-house tour yesterday. Unfortunately, when you came it was lunch time and due to a shortage of staff at weekends one of our tours was suspended. As stated on the website, the tours are available but as always, it is subject to staff availability
Regards,
Hugh McMenamin,
Assistant Manager,
The Changi Museum.
A brilliant exhibition- a must see if you are visiting Singapore.
Once you are done, in about 90 minutes, you can get a very good meal at the museum restaurant, outside.
I followed this up with a visit to the veterans cemetery, which is wonderfully kept. A great day out.
Thank you Jeffrey – glad you enjoyed the visit
Very interesting and thought provoking visit to the museum today. My late Uncle was a POW in Changi Prison in 1942 so we were very pleased that we had the opportunity to visit.
Website certainly adds value – well done!
What an absolutely fabulous museum. A must to visit when in Singapore. Staff-all are exceptionally helpful and friendly. It’s not a huge meseum but the content and presentation is oustanding and we were surprised that almost 2 hours had elapsed when we had finished.
THanks to all for an absolutely wonderful experience. My Uncle was with the 2/19th, and spent time at Changi and on the Thai-Burma railway, and you were able to allow me and my partner to expereince what they went through. Tears flowed fro them and their memories. Thanks again.
We have a very informative and engaging guided tour carried out by Mr Sha. He makes history come alive. He is very knowledgeable and speak well to engage my secondary students of different nationalities. Thank you for this guided tour. As a teacher, I must declare this is the best guided tour I have ever had. Even my colleague and I have learnt so much from you.
Hi,
I was among the signed up participants for the Changi museum tour dated 6 June 2015. I would like to congratulate the tour guide, Shahrul for making my second visit to the Changi museum the most touching and memorable one. Even though I’m a Singaporean and I was amazed on how much I do not know our history as far as the WWII is concerned. My colleague and I were very impressed by Shahrul’s professionalism and how he is so committed and devoted in his job. Thank you Shahrul. Thank you Changi Museum for making this trip a meaningful one in my life.
My father, Captain Roger Beavan IAOC was interned in Changi and on Thai-Burma Railway from February 15th 1942 until September 1945. I have visited Changi Goal as it was and the Museum twice. I was based in Singapore as a Royal Marine with 40 Commando in Dieppe Barracks in 1967 to 1968.
My father kept a diary for every day of his imprisonment and it is in perfect condition and I intend to publish it as it is with all the papers I have – post cards (6), articles, documents and newspaper cuttings of the day.
He survived through keeping occupied, helping others and by strong faith. He had a mosquito net, a lilo, a tube of toothpaste (lasting 3 1/2 years), a table and a clean shirt for his release so he would look respectable as a British Officer!! I doubt the shirt lasted!!
On my last visit on 31st July 2015 I met with Sharul and I cannot speak highly enough of this charming and helpful “Guide”. Nothing was too much and his knowledge and interest was fantastic. I cannot praise him enough. I also spoke with Francis Li the senior Researcher. John Cooper was on leave unfortunately.
When and if I manage to get this diary published I will be very happy to donate a copy of it to your wonderful museum which has to be one of the best in the world. There is so much content and information contained in a relatively small building. I recommend everyone visits this museum when in Singapore. It is a very humbling experience.
Many, many thanks for your kind hospitality, Sharul. I shall be in touch.
Kindest regards,
Julian Beavan
On this the 70th Anniversary of VJ Day. We felt we had to post a message on this site. We have never forgotten the time we visited the museum and also our visit to Kranji Memorial. It was a very thought provoking and incredibly moving experience. Which we will never ever forget.
This should not be called the “forgotten war” it must always be remembered.
Lest we forget
Today I visited Changi museum and like many I am the granddaughter of Leonard Charles Hutchings and his sons, my two uncles Brydon and Nevis Hutchings My grandfather was a director of Robinsons as Singapore fell and his two sons joined the British army to be captured as The Japanese took Singapore They died while under hard labour ? on the Death Railway My grandfather survived and like many returned home to England weighing 40 kilo at 6 ft 2 in tall. My mother and grandmother were lucky to be on the last ship leaving Singapore that sailed to Vancouver Canada. As it was for so many they waited for his return and for many years after the war finished they waited for Brydon and Nevis to return, they never came home.
I remember my grandfather as he returned to Singapore post war and continued to work for Robinsons from London He did not tell me a lot but I asked lots of questions and he always said that the prisoners got a lot of well meaning locals into trouble by asking them to bring them food. He felt this was wrong as they often lost their lives as did their families as reprisals from the Japanese occupiers Similarly he felt trying to escape caused many death under horrendous circumstances as the Japanese punished those left behind.War time brings the best and worse out in those involved but I never heard him express hatred of the Japanese He died young at 54 from the results of severe starvation but was lucky to get to come home
He learnt Dutch in the ‘Changi University, and was able to teach other prisoners to read and write English and speak Malay
time is running out to find anyone who may have known him
Who knows how accurate my recollections are! But I have a small stamp book he made while interned
please contact me on this email if you have any more stories to share
I emigrated to Australia with my family in 1990
We always look forward to visiting the Museum and will be returning to Singapore the last week in February 2016. Good to see that you will be adding an On Line shop to your website.
My late father NX35419 Allan Howard Bye 2/19 Inf Battalion was a prisoner at Changi and also Great World PoW Camp. He went to death railway in 1943 and Japan in 1944. I will be visiting Thailand,Malaya and Singapore in October.
I will be travelling to Singapore in February 2017 for the 75th anniversary of the Fall of Singapore as a mark of respect to my late father, AEH Bulford of the 4th battalion of the SSVF. He was captured on 18 February 1942 and spent some time both at Changi and Sime Road prison camps. From there he was sent to Batu Lintang camp at Kuching until his liberation in 1945. I look forward to visiting this Museum and maybe finding some information about Dad and his time as a POW.
I love the museum!
I am a Japanese. I visited here 2nd DEC 2016.
The display here stung my heart,cuz I Japanese.
The sad history and reflection under the war.
And the element which becomes the foundation of the founding of a country in Singapore.
I hope peace and must never repeat tragedy.
I thank for this opportunity, and thank you.
A very moving experience visiting Changi Museum. There is a lot o be learned about the plight of both the people of Singapore and the soldiers who tryed to defend it.
Plus this is s great website and your collection of books is outstanding. Enjoyed my visit.