The National Heritage Board (NHB) said in a news release on 15 February that Fort Siloso at Sentosa is not a national monument of Singapore.
It is the 74th national monument of Singapore and was officially gazetted on 15 February, which is also Total Defence Day, the day that Singapore fell to the Japanese in 1942.
Director of the Preservation of Sites and Monuments, Jean Wee, said that the Fort is symbolic of every effort we take as citizens in defending our nation.
Here is a snippet of their statement
In commemoration of its role in the Battle for Singapore which marks its 80th anniversary this year, Fort Siloso was officially gazetted on Total Defence Day (15 February).
The National Heritage Board (NHB) made known its intention to gazette Fort Siloso on 17 January 2022.
The site was accorded immediate protection as a proposed National Monument, following the amendments to the Preservation of Monuments Act in 2021.
NHB then engaged with key heritage stakeholders and also welcomed public feedback on the
proposed monument.
As a gazetted monument, Fort Siloso will continue to serve as a social and community space enjoyed by Singaporeans, as well as a tourist attraction.
During the Battle for Singapore (8 – 15 February 1942), Fort Siloso played a critical role in the nation’s defence as one of the two known busiest batteries on Pulau Blakang Mati.
When Japanese troops were deterred by the seaward fortifications and invaded Singapore by land from north Malaya, Fort Siloso’s guns were turned towards the mainland instead to help support the ground forces defending Singapore from the invasion.
Its guns also destroyed the oil refineries at nearby Pulau Bukom and Pulau Sebarok to prevent the Japanese from using them.
The Fort also served as a Prisoner-of-War camp for Australian and British soldiers during the Japanese Occupation, and later for Japanese soldiers after their surrender.