Fall of Singapore

15 February 1942 – a day that changed history. On this day, Lieutenant-General Arthur Ernest Percival, General Officer Commanding of Malaya Command, the Allied army which defended Malaya and Singapore during World War II, made the decision to surrender to the Japanese 25th Army at the Battlebox in Fort Canning Hill.
 
The Fall of Singapore was, as Prime Minister Winston Churchill described, "the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history." 

The surrender that took place at the Ford Factory in Bukit Timah came after 70 days of brutal fighting in Malaya and Singapore, and it heralded the start of three and a half years of military occupation.


The Fall of Singapore Commemoration Ceremonies are held as a symbol of reconciliation and peace. It honours the sacrifices of all military personnel who had fought in Malaya and Singapore, and civilians who had lost their lives during the War and subsequent military occupation.
 
Even as we remember those who fought in the war, it is also equally important for Singapore to reflect on the contributions of those safeguarding its security today. The Ceremony will help create a culture of remembrance and respect for the men and women of the Singapore Armed Forces and the Singapore Civil Defence Force who don the uniform to protect Singapore today.