Synopsis:

75 years on from the fall of Singapore, rediscover this watershed event through a special international exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore. Hear first-hand accounts from witnesses to war: ordinary men and women whose lives were upheaved by the outbreak of hostilities in Singapore in 1942. The exhibition presents the complexities of the events that led to the fall of Singapore, paying homage to the extraordinary courage and tenacity with which these men and women bore their circumstances.

Featuring artefacts from 10 overseas museums such as the Australian War Memorial and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Witness to War will also explore how Singapore's fall was a part of a wider campaign waged by the Japanese Empire across the Pacific. These overseas artefacts, many of which have never been displayed in Southeast Asia before, highlight a shared regional history.

The exhibition will also feature a dedicated family activity space for young audiences aged 7 to 12. Witness to War will be presented alongside an array of programmes that include an international conference on 4 – 5 September, film screenings, talks and guided tours.

Join us this September, as we remember 1942.