SINGAPORE – A new maritime tour launching this month will retrace the harrowing sea route taken by civilians fleeing Singapore in the desperate weeks before the Japanese surrender on February 15, 1942. The “Passages at Last Light: Singapore’s WWII Maritime Evacuation Routes” tour, beginning February 21 and running through March 8, aims to offer participants a visceral understanding of the choices faced by those who sought to escape the impending Japanese occupation.
Organized by the National Heritage Board (NHB) as part of the 2026 Battle for Singapore initiative, the 150-minute tour will depart from the Singapore Maritime Gallery and proceed to the waters surrounding St John’s Island and the Sisters’ Islands. Participants will disembark at the larger of the Sisters’ Islands, though evacuees during the war did not stop there. The visit is intended to provide a closer look at the islands’ strategic role during the conflict and their proximity to the mainland.
Dr. John Kwok, who has led Battle for Singapore programs since 2015, will guide the tours. He highlighted the significance of locations like Serapong Hill on Sentosa, which served as a crucial lookout post for detecting potential naval attacks from the south. “There is no right or wrong answer – it is just your decision at that time,” Dr. Kwok said, reflecting on the difficult choice faced by residents deciding whether to remain in Singapore or attempt to evacuate.
The tour costs $55 per participant, with an early bird rate of $50 available from February 12 to 20. The initiative comes as Singapore marks the 80th anniversary of the fall of Singapore, a pivotal moment in World War II. According to historical accounts, as Japanese forces advanced down the Malay Peninsula, the possibility of evacuation became increasingly urgent for many in Singapore.
The 2026 Battle for Singapore initiative represents the NHB’s first collaboration with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). Beyond the maritime tour, the initiative includes over 30 programs over two weeks, encompassing a heritage trail through Pasir Panjang and a tour of Bukit Brown Cemetery. Other events include a Lego-based activity for younger visitors at Changi Chapel and Museum, where they can recreate iconic WWII sites, and a lecture by historian Jeya Ayadurai on the role of sport during the Japanese occupation.
NHB Director for International and Museum Relations, Goh Chour Thong, emphasized the importance of continuing to uncover and share stories from this period. “Despite the long passage of time since the fall of Singapore, there are still many new stories and perspectives to be shared,” he stated. He expressed hope that the tours would encourage intergenerational conversations about the experiences of those who lived through the war.
Registration for all tours and programs opens at noon on February 12, operating on a first-come, first-served basis. Singaporeans can utilize their SG Culture Pass credits for paid programs. Further details and registration information are available at www.museums.com.sg.
The invasion of Sumatra, which occurred between February 14 and March 28, 1942, was a key component of the broader Japanese campaign in the Dutch East Indies during World War II. The Japanese forces successfully captured the island, establishing a strategic foothold in the region.
