Changi Chapel and Museum

🖼 We've seen countless pictures of POWs, but how about one of children? 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Meet Mary Angela Bateman, an art teacher among the thousands confined in Changi Prison during WWII. Through a series of poignant watercolour paintings, she captured daily life within the prison walls, offering a rare firsthand account.

Among her collection is this unique portrayal of children at play, shedding light on a facet of Changi rarely documented in photos and art. 🎨

What else did she paint? Find out when you visit our museum! Plan an unforgettable trip at go.gov.sg/visit-ccm.

📌 Free admission for Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents

Photo:
1. Mary Angela Bateman, "Changi Prison" ("Child at Play"), 1942–1945, Collection of National Museum of Singapore

Meet the adorable Changi Rabbit! 🐰

Did you know that even during hardship, prisoners in Changi made toys for children?

This charming toy rabbit belonged to Jennefer Davidson, one of the few babies born in Changi Gaol during World War II. Her mother, Daphne, a civil servant who burnt confidential documents before the war, crafted it along with a pair of white and blue shoes for Jennefer while they were interned in Changi Prison and Sime Road Camp.

Daphne's husband, POW James Davidson, crafted a rattle from tin and wood at Changi Prison Camp's workshops.

Lest we forget the resilience of families during challenging times and the joy found in simple treasures like this rabbit!

Want more stories like this? Plan an unforgettable visit at go.gov.sg/visit-ccm.

📌 Free admission for Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents

Photos:
1) Replica of British Changi quilt, 2003, Collection of National Museum of Singapore
2) Caucasian man, 1920s, Collection of National Museum of Singapore
3) Thread, 1950s-1960s, Collection of National Museum of Singapore
4) Pink Embroidery Thread, 1950s-1960s, Collection of National Museum of Singapore

Behind every stitch of the Changi Quilt lies a story of love and longing. 🧵

This Father's Day, we honour the sacrifices made by fathers separated from their families during times of war, from POWs to civilian prisoners.

This tile was crafted by former civilian POW Mary Lowe, who was 18 years old when she was imprisoned. Her work bears witness to a daughter's unwavering affection for her father, a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. 👨‍👧⚓

Let us pause to reflect on the enduring bond between father and child, woven into the fabric of history.

Photo:
Replica of British Changi quilt, 2003, Collection of National Museum of Singapore

that behind the seams of the Girl Guide Quilt lies the remarkable story of Elizabeth Ennis? 🎀

Hailing from Edinburgh, Scotland, Elizabeth Ennis was a nursing sister and Captain of the 4th Singapore Company of Girl Guides. She married a doctor, Captain Jack Ennis, just 4 days before the Fall of Singapore.

In Changi Prison, she continued her nursing duties. She also established a covert Girl Guide Company with fellow internee Trudie van Roode, recruiting 20 girls from 8 to 16 years old. Guiding activities were conducted discreetly to evade suspicion from Japanese guards - they suspected hand signs and patches were secret signals!

Lady Thomas, wife of the former Governor of Singapore and commissioner for guides, was also imprisoned at Changi. She was invited preside over the enrolment ceremony for Elizabeth's company.

As a nursing sister and guide, Elizabeth uplifted spirits and nurtured hope amidst wartime adversity.

Learn about more inspiring stories like hers at our museum! Plan an unforgettable visit at go.gov.sg/visit-ccm.

1) Red Cross brassard, 20th century, Australian War Memorial
2) girl guide quilt, Changi, Far East Civilian Internee, 1943, Imperial War Museums
3) The Girl Guides Association in Britain, 1914-1918, Imperial War Museums
4) THE ROYAL AIR FORCE IN THE FAR EAST, 1945-1946, Imperial War Museums

Did you know that there were also children who were imprisoned in Changi Prison Complex?

Swipe to learn more about how they lived.

Living conditions tore families apart – after turning 12, children were sent to prison blocks based on their gender – girls stayed at the women’s prison with their mothers, while boys were sent to the men’s.

Food shortages led to desperate measures. Some mothers sold precious jewellery and did chores for the Japanese prison guards to get extra rations for their children. Some children were said to have done manual labour for the Japanese, such as farming.

Despite the harsh conditions, hope endured. From homemade toys to secret Girl Guide Groups, resilience and creativity flourished within the prison walls.

Stay tuned for more intriguing insights into these extraordinary stories. Plan an unforgettable visit at go.gov.sg/visit-ccm.

📌 Free admission for Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents

Photos:
1. Leslie Cole, British Women and Children Interned in a Japanese Prison Camp, 1945, Imperial War Museums
2. CHANGI AREA, SINGAPORE. 1945-10-02. A GENERAL VIEW OF CHANGI GAOL., 1945, Australian War Memorial
3. A vegetable garden in Selarang, 1942-1943, Australian War Memorial
4. girl guide quilt, Changi, Far East Civilian Internee, 1943, Imperial War Museums
5. Mary Angela Batemean, "Changi Prison" ("Child at Play"), 1942–1945, Collection of National Museum of Singapore

🧵 Little Lives, Big Stories: Childhood in Changi 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Join us this June as we shed light on the remarkable tales of resilience and courage from the youngest inmates of Changi Prison.

As we welcome the June school holidays, embark on a journey through history with your family and discover the extraordinary experiences of young civilian internees in wartime Singapore.

Stay tuned for heartwarming stories and captivating insights! 📖

🎉 That's a wrap for our International Museum Day content series! 🎉

Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey through the stories and artefacts that make Changi Chapel and Museum so special.

But before we dive into our next adventure, we'd love to hear from you! What was your favourite moment from our celebration, and what stories would you like to see us explore next?

As we enter the June school holidays, get ready for a brand new series highlighting the childhood experiences of young civilian prisoners at Changi.

Bring the whole family to CCM this June and discover something new together. Stay tuned for more updates and events!

See you at the museum! 🏛️✨

Docents share a plethora of stories in the tours they guide. But do they have any favourites?

We've asked docent Talia Webb to share hers:

"One of the great things about being a docent at Changi Chapel and Museum are the stories behind our artefacts on display. And the way we can bring them to life to visitors to connect with them.

Picking just one was very hard! A story that I love to share is that of Australian Private A.C. Smith, or more specifically his shirt which was signed by 30 of his mates at the completion of basic training in 1940.

When you look closely in the bottom right-hand section of the shirt you can see a poem Private Lewer wrote.

Such wit and bravado! Full of optimism of the presumed adventure they were about to embark on. However, this never eventuated. The 2/30th Battalion served in Malaya and then ended up as Prisoners of War when Singapore fell.

During the next 3½ years of the war, Private Smith and the other soldiers of his Battalion were sent to labour camps in Singapore, the Thai-Burma Railway, Borneo and Japan. Sadly, of the 30 mates who signed the shirt, only 22 survived the war.”

Have you gone on a tour at our museum? Visit go.gov.sg/guided-tours-at-ccm for more information!

Happy International Museum Day! 🎉

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our visitors for making our museums vibrant and thriving heritage sites. Your support and enthusiasm keep our stories alive. We also want to express our gratitude to our dedicated teams who work tirelessly to bring history to life every day.

As a token of our appreciation, we're offering free entry today!

Come join us and experience the wonders of our museums! Plan your visit via the link in bio.

We're just 3 days away from International Museum Day!

Step into the past with free admission to Changi Chapel and Museum and Reflections at Bukit Chandu this coming Saturday, 18 May 2024.

Plan an unforgettable visit to our museum at go.gov.sg/visit-ccm.

We asked Layla, our friendly Visitor Services Officer, about her favorite story at the museum. She shared with us the remarkable tale of Private George Aspinall, who secretly photographed his experience with a folding Six-20 Kodak Brownie in Changi.

Why did it stand out to her? This is what she said:
"He bravely snuck the camera in, even though he knew it was prohibited and the punishment he would receive if caught. He was determined to take photos secretly of the living conditions [in Changi], hoping that one day the whole world will know what actually happened. These pictures serve as living proof and tell a thousand stories of the POWs' living conditions.

The amazing part is how he preserved the camera from humidity and processed the pictures. [These photos are] so precious for the POWs' families to see and for the world to learn from this history."

Say hello to Layla next time you visit the museum! Plan an unforgettable visit today at go.gov.sg/ccm-visitor-information.

🌸 Celebrating Mother's Day at Changi Chapel and Museum! 🌸

What better artefact to feature than the Changi Quilt, made by female civilian internees in Changi Gaol? 🧵 It's not just a quilt; it's a symbol of resilience and love. Each stitch carries the survival and sentiments of these women, many of whom were mothers longing for their families.

Take a closer look at these quilt tiles - many depict childhood items, representing the families they cared for within the prison walls. Some women even gave birth to their children in captivity, their maternal love enduring through the darkest of times. 💕

This Mother's Day, we honour the strength and love of all mothers, especially those who endured the challenges of war. From all of us at CCM, Happy Mother's Day! 🌷

Photos:
1. Embroidered ‘Australian Changi Quilt’, Female Internees, Changi Prison, 1942, Australian War Memorial
2. Replica of British Changi Quilt, 2003, Collection of National Museum of Singapore

Enjoy free admission to Changi Chapel and Museum and Reflections at Bukit Chandu this coming International Museum Day on 18 May 2024!

Plan an unforgettable visit to our museum at go.gov.sg/visit-ccm.

🏛️ This May, we're celebrating International Museum Day all month long with a special content series across and !

Join in our series of fascinating stories about our museum - straight from the hearts of our dedicated team.

Introducing the Prisoner of War Post - a mailing system regulated by the Japanese Red Cross.

During imprisonment in Changi, contact with the outside world was scarce. The Prisoner of War Post was infrequent and heavily monitored - four months post-Singapore's fall, internees were allowed to send mail under strict regulations, a stark reminder of their defeat and suppression.

Hidden messages were prohibited, but POWs cleverly conveyed information through subtle references. Simple symbols like a "V" for victory were written amidst health assurances.

Transit and delivery of mail were often delayed, so letters from loved ones were cherished - they encouraged POWs to persevere, confident that they will return home once the war was over.

Want to learn more? Plan an unforgettable visit to our museum at go.gov.sg/visit-ccm. As we conclude this month's series, stay tuned for May's content!

Photos:
1. Postcard addressed to Private Leslie Alfred Willis sent via Prisoner of War Post, 1944, Collection of the National Museum of Singapore
2. Card to Pte John Sharp Duncan from his wife, 1945, Collection of the National Museum of Singapore
3. Letter from Ross Neil to J. Naiff, BCS, 1943, Collection of the National Museum of Singapore
4. Letter from Mrs M. Wallin to Edward William Wallin, 1943−1944, Collection of the National Museum of Singapore

Imagine you’re one of 52,000 Prisoners of War (POWs) recently imprisoned in Changi. Since Singapore's capitulation on 15 February 1942, the few hundred military rations that remained were consumed within ten days.

What would you eat for the next three years?

Under the Japanese rationing system, food supplies were next to nothing. However, rice emerged as a staple. Initially unfamiliar with its preparation, POWs soon mastered it, crafting inventive dishes like tarts and pies, which were called "doovers."

To supplement a meagre diet, POWs scoured their surroundings for sustenance, consuming anything edible - from fish they caught and insects in the rice to vegetables they grew. They even resorted to flowers like amaranths. Swipe to see a day’s menu.

Want to learn more? Plan an unforgettable visit to our museum at go.gov.sg/visit-ccm.

Photo:
1. Meal time at Changi, 1943, Australian War Memorial
2. Leslie Cole, Singapore: The cookhouse, Changi Gaol. British POW's prepare their main meal of rice., 1946, Imperial War Museums
3. SINGAPORE, STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. 1945-09-10., 1945, Australian War Memorial
4. CUTTING UP A GOAT IN THE BRITISH BATTALION COOKHOUSE., 1939-1945, Australian War Memorial
5. To-Day's Menu, 1942, Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore

📚✨ Celebrating at Changi Chapel and Museum!

From handmade booklets documenting wartime reads at Changi Prison Camp to our extensive selection of books at our museum shop today, our shelves hold stories of resilience and hope.

From accounts of wartime events to former POWs' diaries and more, let's cherish the privilege of reading these tales in a time of peace. 📖✨

What can you read at Changi? Plan your next visit to our museum at go.gov.sg/ccm-visitor-information and find out more!

Photo:
1. Booklet titled Books read in Changi by Albert Riley, 1942-1945, National Museum of Singapore

What was life like at Changi Prison Camp?

When POWs were first imprisoned, Staff Captain Gibby Inglefield commented that “[POWs suffered from] utter depression, of failure, or wasted energy and useless loss of life.” In this bleak environment, POWs found themselves grappling with the weight of surrender and confinement.

Initially, physical labour provided a distraction from their dire circumstances. Yet, as time passed, it became clear that more was needed to boost morale. Amidst the despair, creative solutions emerged - POWs established "Changi Universities", which offered lectures. They also set up workshops, or the "Changi Industries", where they made makeshift items from cups to prosthetics. Theatres sprung forth and the POWs enjoyed frequent performances by their talented fellowmen.

These offered much-needed mental stimulation and a glimmer of hope in the face of adversity.

Stay tuned throughout the year to learn more about these fascinating stories.

PhotoS:
1. Changi, Singapore. September 1945. View of the kitchen at the Changi prisoner of war (POW) camp, 1945, Australian War Memorial
2. Changi trailer party carrying logs, 1942, Australian War Memorial
3. Changi, Singapore. September 1945. Three released prisoners of war (POWs) from the Changi camp at Singapore in the surgical ward, 1945, Australian War Memorial
4. Grass extract shed, Changi camp, 1942-1943, Australian War Memorial
5. A large crowd is entertained by an AIF concert party at Changi prisoner of war (POW) camp, 1942, Australian War Memorial

Dive deeper into wartime history at Changi Chapel and Museum. 🕊️

Enrich your museum experience with our Free Public Guided Tours. Led by our knowledgeable docents and Museum Volunteers, uncover more fascinating stories beyond the museum labels!

Alternatively, explore our museum with Temi, an interactive robot by your side. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, allow our Temi to take you on a journey through the eyes of a Prisoner of War.

Register your interest at go.gov.sg/guided-tours-at-ccm today and embark on a journey of discovery.

How were POWs and civilian prisoners detained in Changi?

Civilian prisoners - 3000 men and 400 women and children - were packed into cells in Changi Gaol, separated by gender. Each cell was 1.8m by 2.4m.

Meanwhile, POWs were crammed into nearby barracks. Though the barracks were heavily damaged from previous shelling, like Selarang Barracks, POWs had nothing to repair them with. On the prison camp grounds, POWs also made makeshift shelters and pitched tents for cookhouses.

By early 1944, civilians were relocated to Sime Road Camp. With many POWs returning from the Thai-Burma Railway, around 5000 were moved to Changi Gaol, while another 12,000 POWs stayed in "100-metre huts" that were constructed by the Japanese nearby. Though only made to fit 200 men, around 250 stayed in each hut.

Want to learn more? Plan your visit to our museum at go.gov.sg/visit-ccm

Photos:
1. Australian prisoners of war in the Changi Gaol, 1945, Australian War Memorial
2. SINGAPORE, STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. 1945-09-15. LOOKING WEST OVER THE PRISON AREA OF THE CHANGI GAOL, 1945, Australian War Memorial
3. Mary Angela Bateman, Drawing titled "Ladies' Dormitory", 1942-1945, National Museum of Singapore
4. CHANGI, SINGAPORE, SEPTEMBER 1942-1945. SELERANG BARRACKS, CHANGI PRISON, 1942-1945, Australian War Memorial
5. TWO OF THE " LUCKY ONES " WHO GOT A PLACE ON THE VERANDAH. LEFT TO RIGHT, 1942-1945, Australian War Memorial
6. Mary Angela Bateman, Drawing titled "Sime Road Camp", 1942-1945, National Museum of Singapore
7. SINGAPORE, STRAITS SETTLEMENTS, 1945-09-20, 1945, Australian War Memorial

What's the difference between Changi Prison Camp and Changi Gaol?

Built in 1936, Changi Gaol was a civilian prison at Upper Changi Road North that originally had a capacity of 600 prisoners. During the war, it was overcrowded with 3000 civilians, including women and children.

Meanwhile, over 52,000 POWs were imprisoned at nearby army barracks. This would be known as Changi Prison Camp, which extended to Changi Village.

Stay tuned for more historical insights to enhance your museum experience! Visit today at go.gov.sg/visit-ccm.

Photos:
1. Changi Prison, 1920s-1940s, Collection of The National Museum of Singapore
2. The exterior of Changi Prison, 1958, Collection of The National Museum of Singapore
3. Mary Angela Bateman, Drawing titled "Old Ladies Room", 1942-1945, Collection of The National Museum of Singapore
4. AIF AND BRITISH POW, SELARANG BARRACKS, CHANGI, SINGAPORE. 1942-09-04, 1942, Australian War Memorial
5. Changi Air Base was only established in 1946 as RAF Changi, 1947, RAFSA Collection, Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
6. SELARANG, SINGAPORE, 1970, Australian War Memorial
7. Escape compass: Lieutenant A Y Ellerman, 2/29 Battalion, 1939-1945, Australian War Memorial

“It was a mixed reaction of relief from all the bombing and shelling… And there was shame. Shame. There’s the British Empire surrendered. Impregnable fortress gone.”
- Dr Constantine Constantinovich Petrovsky, Malaya Field Ambulance

When Singapore fell to the Japanese, over 52,000 Allied soldiers and 3000 civilians marched to Changi as Prisoners of War. Battered, ashamed and fearful for what was to come, Changi would become their "home" for the next three years.

Unveiling a new content series this month: Life in Changi Prison Complex. We'll delve into the intricate world of this historic complex, which housed both civilians and POWs during WWII. From their living quarters to their daily routines, we'll uncover the more human facets of life behind bars.

Photo:
1. Mary Angela Bateman, Painting titled "The Sentry Tower", 1942-1945, Collection of National Museum of Singapore

Changi Chapel and Museum wishes you a blessed Good Friday. 🕊️

Meet Reverend Eric Cordingly, a military chaplain with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. He was posted to Singapore just days before its fall. Soon after becoming incarcerated as a POW, he built St. George's Church, ensuring that POWs had a safe space for worship and respite.

Throughout the Japanese Occupation, he rebuilt the church four times - thrice in Changi and once at the Thai-Burma Railway. The chapel you see at our museum is a re-creation of the churches he would have built.

In every version of the church, the iconic Changi Cross, crafted from a 4.5 Howitzer shell case by Sergeant Harry Stogden, has always graced its altar. Today, it rests in our museum, a symbol of hope and resilience.

Lest we forget. Plan your visit to our museum today at go.gov.sg/visit-ccm.

Photo:
1. Photograph of Reverend Eric Cordingly in St George's Church, 2000s, Collection of National Museum of Singapore

🌟 As we wrap up our series on unsung heroines of WWII, we hope these stories shed light on their incredible contributions. Yet, countless tales remain untold and we can't wait to uncover more.

Here are some cards from Changi Chapel and Museum that honour the memories of some fantastic women in our visitors' lives.

Do you have stories or memories of remarkable women in WWII? Share them with us in the comments below! Let's continue honoring these inspiring figures and preserving their legacies. 💫

During WWII, Singapore's unsung heroes, the air raid wardens, worked tirelessly to keep our skies safe. They conducted bomb sweeps and ensured that lights were off across the country at night, thwarting enemy aerial attacks.

Today, as we observe Earth Hour, let's turn off our lights for an hour. Let's continue to do our part in protecting this planet just as the air raid wardens did protecting us. 🌍💡

Photo:
1. Air raid wardens dousing an incendiary bomb in Singapore's central city square at a weekly demonstration to make Singaporeans bomb conscious, 1941 or 1942, Library of Congress

📚 Dive into the gripping narrative of 'House on Silat Road', a story based on the wartime experiences of Madam Si Hoe S.S., a 90-year old female survivor of WWII and author of this book.

Explore the resilience of an ordinary Singaporean family as they navigate daily life during the Japanese Occupation. With over 40 captivating illustrations by Lim An-Ling, this book offers a vivid journey through history.

Available now at the our museum shop. Want to learn about other survivors? Plan your visit today at: go.gov.sg/visit-ccm!

Photos:
1. Picture of the Si-Hoe family, early 20th century, supplied by author
2. Si-Hoe S. S., 2016, supplied by author

Meet Mary Seah, the "Angel of Changi" whose story remains largely untold.

Appalled by the harsh conditions at Changi Prison Camp, Mary risked her life to smuggle food and supplies to Australian POWs. When the Japanese discovered what she had done, they punished her severely - she was beaten and forced to stand in the sun. This only stopped when she treated a Japanese guard for facial sores. Following this, she continued to aid the Australian POWs. In 1967, she moved to Brisbane, and on Australia Day in 1996, she was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia.

Let's bring her incredible legacy out of the shadows.

Photos:
1. Mrs. Mary Seah ... Angel of Changi ..., 1961, State Library Victoria
2. Allied Prisoners of War (POWs) working in the outdoor cookhouse near Roberts Hospital, 1942-1945, Australian War Memorial
3. Selarang Barracks square as seen from the northern end, 1945, Australian War Memorial

This International Women's Day, let's remember the unsung heroines of World War Two in Singapore. 🕯️

Join us as we shine a light on their lesser-known stories of resilience and courage amidst adversity.

Stay tuned for our series highlighting their remarkable wartime contributions throughout this month.

The Battle for Singapore 2024 just ended, but our journey continues!

Join us at the museum and commemorate the heroes of WWII by making your own poppies, designed by Pei-Per Flower. Add them to our hanging installation by the Chapel.

Plus, don't miss the chance to experience the mesmerizing Dancing Poppies art installation by Florence Ng, adorning our museum entrance until 17 August.

Complete a picture with stamping stations in the museum. Present both postcards from CCM and RBC at the visitor experience counter to redeem a $5 Grab Voucher till 10 March.

Visit www.go.gov.sg/ccm-bsg24 to find out more!

🚌 Not sure where to start your journey for this year’s Battle for Singapore programmes and activities? 🚌

Take a ride on our free shuttle service for a hassle-free weekend this month. Need more convenience? We heard you! Our shuttle service will also stop at Tampines and Harbourfront train stations.

Plus, enjoy free admission for all to Changi Chapel and Museum on 15 February 2024.

Visit go.gov.sg/bsg24-free-shuttle-service for more information!