Year 1981

Major Events

Japanese Military Officer Hanged

Thursday, 26th June 1947

The British authorities in Singapore held a war crimes trial for the perpetrators of the Sook Ching Massacre. Seven Japanese officers including Lieutenant-Colonel Masayuki Oishi were charged with the execution of the massacre. Oishi received the death penalty and was hanged.


Singapore became separate Crown Colony

Monday, 1st April 1946

Singapore became a separate Crown Colony with a civil administration headed by a Governor. Sir Franklin Charles Gimson was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Singapore from 1 April 1946 to 20 March 1952. He abolished the military government which was set up by Lord Mountbatten and reinstalled the colonial civil government.


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.


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.


Japanese Operation Sook Ching

Wednesday, 18th February 1942

Many Chinese were ordered to assemble at various centres for screening by the occupying Japanese Imperial Army in Operation Sook Ching - A massacre that claimed about 50,000 lives. Operation Sook Ching was a systematic extermination of perceived hostile elements.


Japanese Bombers Pounded Singapore

Sunday, 8th February 1942

Japanese Bombers begin drop bombs in populated area throughout the island. Massive damage was caused by a Japanese air assault. Many civilians were killed in these air raids.


Amelia Earhart In Singapore

Monday, 21st June 1937

Miss Amelia Earhart, 40-year-old American aviation pioneer, and her navigator Mr Fred Noonan left at 6:15am for Bandung (Java, Indonesia) from Kallang Airport in her plane named "Electra" to continue their 1937 Round The World Flight.


Amy Johnson Landed At Seletar

Thursday, 1st May 1930

200 people gathering at the Seletar Aerodrome to welcome the arrival of Miss Amy Johnson, age 27, in her de Havilland Gypsy Moth aircraft en route to Australia. Amy became the 1st woman aviator to fly solo from England to Australia.


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