The 15th of February 2026 will mark the 84th anniversary of the Fall of Singapore. The date in 1942, marked an inauspicious start to year of the horse for members of the Chinese population, who would be subject to unimaginable atrocities in the weeks ahead. Fear and uncertainty, a lack of food, disease, poor nutrition, poor living conditions and a lack of vaccines were to be features of the three and the half years of occupation for those who remained. Used to a charmed life, Europeans civilians who remained, would be deprived of their freedom and their dignity.
Living in relative peace and with much improved living conditions, those dark days now seem a distant past, which makes it more important for us to be reminded of them, and take lessons from them. The annual Battle for Singapore programme, which is organised by the National Heritage Board and which takes place around the 15th of February every year, offers us an opportunity to do just that. This year’s programme will feature a tour by Dr John Kwok that will involve a boat ride to Sisters’ Islands that will impress on participants the sea as a route of evacuation.
The naval evacuation of (mostly European) civilians, many women and children, who remained in Singapore until the proverbial eleventh hour, had a disastrous outcome. It is something that I will also touch on during a tour that I am leading for the Singapore Navy Museum by Defence Collective Singapore, Naval Volunteer Reserve WW2 Tour (see below). This will also address the role that volunteers and merchant shipping played in the evacuation, some of the interesting personalities involved, and also some of the accounts of survivors, along with identifying one of the sites at which the evacuation took place.
There is another tour that I will also be doing that is related to the first landings of the Japanese 5th Division in the vicinity of Cashin House. Amongst the things I will share are the accounts of the men involved on both sides.
Bookings for tours open on 12 February 2026 at 12 pm.
More information on the Battle for Singapore programmes for 2026 including registration links can be found at:
https://www.nhb.gov.sg/what-we-do/our-work/sector-development/museum-roundtable/2026-battle-for-singapore
BSG 2026 Tours that I will be involved in
Naval Volunteer Reserve WW2 Tour
Registration Link: https://sg60culturepass/battle-for-singapore-2026—naval-volunteer-reserve-ww2-tour
Date(s): 21, 28 February and 8 March 2026
Time: 2.00pm – 4.30pm
Price: Adult Ticket – $15 | Student Ticket (age 7-18 years) – $8
Meeting Point: Raffles City MRT
This bus tour explores spaces featured in Singapore’s early defences such as the significance of names like Fullerton and Battery Road, the development of the harbour and its importance to Singapore, the development of the volunteer forces in general, shipping (and the Straits Steamship Co — which provided many of the evacuation ships) and also the site of the SSNVR (Straits Settlements Naval Volunteer Reserve) and stories of the evacuation. This is a foot trail programme, and the participants will be covering the following spots: Battery Road (volunteer units / Fort Fullerton), Ocean Financial Centre and Collyer Quay (shipping, harbour, Clifford Pier), Telok Ayer Market Area, Singapore Navy Museum.
This programme is presented by Singapore Navy Museum by Defence Collective Singapore.
Note: Children under age 7 will not be permitted on the tour.
Cashin House: Witness to Invasion
Registration Link:https://bsg26cashinhouse.peatix.com
Date: 28 Feb 2026
Time(s): 9.00am – 10.30am | 11.00am – 12.30pm
Price: Free-of-Charge, with registration
Meeting Point: Sungei Buloh Visitors Centre
Join heritage veteran Jerome Lim on a trip to the sensitively reconstructed Cashin House. Located at Lim Chu Kang Nature Park, the site witnessed some of the first landings of the invading Japanese forces. Learn about the perspectives of men on the opposing sides as they engaged in battle, and about the area’s historical landscape. This programme is presented by NHB in collaboration with NParks and Mr Jerome Lim.
Note: Participants are advised to arrive 20 – 30 mins prior to the start of the programmes’ time.
The Long and Winding Road 
Hi Jerome,
This page is still password protected. When will the tickets be released for booking?
Corrine
Hello Jerome, I have followed your interesting articles and photos for years and thank you very much! I’m a member of the Malayan Volunteers Group and put together their quarterly newsletter, Apa Khabar. Would you mind if I inserted your article and tour information in the newsletter?
Our members are scattered all over the world but regularly visit Malaysia and Singapore and might like to take one of your tours. They have lived in Asia and were often involved in the war. My father was at the Fall of Singapore, escaped, but landed in POW camp for three and a half years. After the war he returned to KL, where I grew up. Regards, Sally https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Capt-Mick-Jennings/a/3979 [image: image.png]
Hello Sally, thank you for your message — and for following the blog. I would be most happy for you to insert the article etc.
Jerome