Year 1945

Lord Mountbatten in Singapore

Wednesday, 12th September 1945

The city commemerates the end of the war and Japanese rule in Singapore with Admiral Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander of the Southeast Asia Theatre, arrived in Singapore. Admiral Mountbatten later read the Japanese surrender address on the steps of the City Hall in front of the Padang. Lord Louis Mountbatten acted as the British High Command in Singapore from 12 September 1945 to 1 April 1946. Sir Shenton Thomas was the Governor of the Straits Settlements during the same period.


The Straits Times Restarted

Friday, 7th September 1945

The Straits Times extends hearty greetings to its readers on resuming its publication. The last issue of this Staits Times was on the 14 February 1942, the day before the fall of Singapore. Due to printing difficulties, the restarted newspaper has one two pages and costed 10 cents.


The British Arrived

Wednesday, 5th September 1945

The British warships arrived at the Tanjong Pagar docks and troops of the 5th Indian Division took over Singapore.  All over the town, there was cheering and rejoicing. The mood was tumultuous but jubilant.


Japan Officially Surrendered

Sunday, 2nd September 1945

The surrender of the Empire of Japan on September 2, 1945 brought the hostilities of World War II to a close. Earlier on August 6, 1945, the United States Army dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima and another atomic bomb was drop on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. The combined shock of these events caused Emperor Hirohito to intervene. Hirohito gave a recorded radio address to the nation on 15 August 1945 where he announced the surrender of Japan.


Allied planes dropping leaflets

Thursday, 30th August 1945

The Allied planes were flying low, dropping leaflets telling the people to wait for the arrival of the liberation forces. As the news spread and added to the general state of confusion and disorder, people in town started to go wild with many hunting down informers and collaborators, locals who had betrayed their own during the Occupation. In the bedlam, the various races also began fighting one another.


Japanese General Gathers His Soldier

Saturday, 18th August 1945

General Itagaki, commander-in-chief of the 7th Area Japanese Army, ordered all officers and civil officers to his headquarters in Raffles College. He warned them to remain passive and not cause trouble. And to prepare themselves for the coming of the British. They were ordered to build for themselves a concentration camp in Jurong. The Japanese community in Singapore had kept the news to themselves as they prepare to leave Singapore.


End of WW2 in Singapore

Wednesday, 15th August 1945

On 15 August 1945 at 12 noon, the Japanese Forces surrendered unconditionally to the Allies bringing an end to the East Asian front of World War II. In Singapore, Japanese troops laid down their arms. The surrender comes after the atom bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagaasaki on the 6th and the 8th of August, 1945.