Changi Museum

The Changi Museum is built to commemorate all the prisoners-of-war (military and civilian) in Singapore during the Japanese Occupation. It is located very near both the Changi Prison and Selarang Camp that were used to intern the POWs. I live about 2 km away from the museum, and sadly, this is the first time I paid it a visit. (9 Aug 2015, as Singapore celebrates its 50th birthday).

From the outside

The entrance

Changi Chapel - A replica of what the POWs built in the camp. The original is now in Duntroon, Australia.

The original door to a typical cell

 Many did not survive the ordeal in captivity. Many more were taken to Thailand to built the Death Railway. But all found ways to get by. The exhibits show the huge amount of talent among the soldiers. There were many examples of prisoners using rudimentary materials to make tools that are in turn used to make other things. There were many who risked torture and death to make battery operated radio sets that were hidden in the most unlikely places. And then there were those who had such artistic talents that gave others a reason to go on.

Read the note

The ingenuity of the POWs

Little things to maintain sanity

Grit

Defiance (with some humour)

Humanity

This mural helps to explain how many went on - Two prisoners struck by Malaria tried to help another with Cholera.

A sketch by an Australian POW

Very moving notes by families of those who suffered as POWs in Singapore, many of whom did not return.

Tsuru by Japanese students (hopefully they did not pray for peace because they felt that they were the victims)