Singapore’s War Heritage
Part 5: Changi & PoW Life
Recap: This series details the fall of Singapore during World War II, explaining the dramatic surrender of Allied forces to Japanese command on February 15, 1942, at the Old Ford Factory. This forced surrender, overseen by Lt Gen Percival and Japanese commander Yamashita, resulted in the capture of 130,000 soldiers, marking a pivotal and disastrous moment in British military history and fixing Singapore’s fate for the next three years.
Previous posts in this series:
- Ancient Roots
- British Fortress
- Colonial Defense
- December 1941
- Entry into Malaya
- Fall of Sarimbun
- Gap in Defense
- Heroism of Malay Regiment
- Infantry
- Killings at Alexandra
- Lieutenant Adnan Saidi
- Massacre at the Ridge
- Negotiation at Ford Factory
- Occupation Begins
15/26: Prisoners of War (PoW)
We shall examine the fate of the Allied soldiers who became Prisoners of War after the fall of Singapore—a theme central to the Changi Chapel and Museum today.
On February 17, 1942, the Allied troops were forced to march from Padang, the city’s center, to the Changi prison on the eastern side of Singapore. Without adequate food or water, they were forced to walk 22 km. The fading notion that “the sun never sets on the British Empire” was shattered and disappeared in the dust raised by their march, watched by local people who offered them food and water out of sympathy.
Changi was not just a prison; it was a vast cantonment. British, Australian, and Dutch soldiers were held there, while Indian soldiers were housed in different camps, many of whom later joined the Indian National Army (INA). Beyond the soldiers, the European women and their children, were also held at the Changi jail. Although the facility was built for around 600 people, it housed approximately 3,000.
The contribution of Indian troops often goes unmentioned by local guides. However, the historical truth is complex: on February 17, 1942, the Japanese gathered Indian soldiers at Farrer Park. They orchestrated a division, planning to separate Indian troops from the British and compel them to fight the Japanese. This setup allowed Captain Mohan Singh and the Japanese military to form the Indian National Army (INA), which aimed to liberate India from British rule. For the Japanese, the goal was to eliminate the British and establish a greater global power.
The soldiers faced a difficult choice: some promised allegiance to the British military, while others saw the Japanese as a chance to liberate India. Consequently, around 40,000 Indian soldiers chose to join the INA, while approximately 20,000 opted to remain with the British and endure the hardship of being Prisoners of War.
Indian soliers, those who did not join the INA, were not sent to Changi. Instead, they were locked up in less hospitable camps, such as Seletar and Kranji, and were treated as traitors by the Japanese. The Japanese forces even used them for target practice. Furthermore, thousands of POWs were transferred to distant Pacific islands like New Guinea and Palau as cheap and compulsory labor, where many perished from starvation and disease.
The Indian Medical Corps made exceptional contributions by treating wounded Allied soldiers in Alexandra Hospital, even after being captured themselves.
From Changi and the other jails, POWs were eventually transported to the Thailand-Burma death railway and Japanese mines as forced labor, where many never returned. Those who survived remain living witnesses to this sorrowful history.
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This post is a part of BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2026 http://www.theblogchatter.com/
This 26-post series for the 2026 A2Z challenge explores Singapore’s WWII heritage, from the initial invasion to the liberation of Changi Prison. Using concise storytelling, I try to connect historical lessons of sacrifice and the need for peace all around the world.
