THE BATTLEBOX STORY

The Battlebox bunker entrance.

Managed as a museum by Singapore History Consultants Pte Ltd (SHC) from 2014
to June 2023, the Battlebox is a former WWII British underground command
centre in Fort Canning Hill. It was built in 1936 as part of the headquarters of
Malaya Command, the army which defended Malaya and Singapore in WWII. It
was inside the Battlebox that the British made the momentous decision to
surrender Singapore to the invading Japanese on 15 February 1942.

SHC relaunched the Battlebox on 13 February 2016, after two years of painstaking
restoration and curation works. Through new galleries, exhibits, video
presentations and guided tours, the restored underground command centre
unveiled the true causes behind “the worst disaster and largest capitulation in
British history”.

During the 9 years, the Battlebox was supervised by SHC’s experienced research and curatorial team and operations department. Daily operations were managed by a dedicated team of specially-trained Docents, Visitor Services Officers, and Volunteers - all led by an experienced Director.

In less than one year after the official launch, SHC overcame significant challenges to make the Battlebox a world-class institution with international recognition and standing.

It was visited by hundreds of thousands of local and international tourists, students, military personnel, and VIPs such as politicians, military commanders, and royalty. They learned not just the story of the Battlebox and the lessons of how Fortress Singapore capitulated in just 70 days, but also the broader story of Fort Canning Hill, and the role the hill played in the history of Singapore over 700 years.
​

The Surrender Conference Room in the Battlebox, the room where the decision to surrender to the Japanese in World War II was made.

The Battlebox’s TripAdvisor ratings spoke for themselves. It was the #1 museum in Singapore from 2016 to 2022, the #6 museum in Asia in 2018, and the Top 1% of attractions worldwide.

OUR TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS

Nine years ago, the Battlebox was at risk of disappearing into the dustbin of history; nine years on, SHC believes the Battlebox’s legacy will live on as an indispensable part of Singapore’s heritage.