Singapore, a bustling modern metropolis located just south of the Malay peninsula, is now a thriving city-state with a vibrant successful economy which has made it one of the most affluent nations of the world. A cosmopolitan city with the ethnic Chinese, Malays, Indians and people of many other origins making up the population, Singapore is a true melting pot where different traditions meet and influence each other.
Singapore has experienced an eventful and tumultuous history, which commenced with the establishment of a trading post on the site by the British East India Company under the leadership of Sir Stamford Raffles. Due to its strategic position on international waterways, with the passage of time Singapore developed into a crucial military and commercial hub of the British Empire.
During World War II Singapore was a major bastion for British and Allied forces and due to its strategic location overlooking the south-east Asian region was the target of a major Japanese attack from sea, land and air. Massive numbers of Japanese forces converged on the defenders and although Allied forces outnumbered the attackers, the Japanese superiority in strategy, technique and attacking power overwhelmed the Allied forces.
The Singapore Battlefield Tour takes visitors through all the historical World War II sites enabling them to gain an intimate understanding of these momentous events. The tour brings to light the true atmosphere at the time of the fall of the ‘Gibraltar of the East’ as Singapore was known. Taking into consideration the strategic importance of Singapore, the numerical advantage of the defenders and their consolidated position it may be difficult to comprehend how the Allied forces in Singapore could have capitulated. This and many other questions are answered by the Battlefield Tour.
The tourist guides are friendly and knowledgeable and provide a wealth of pertinent information about the background of these events. Major historical sites on the tour include the Alexandra Hospital, the World War II gun battery (also known as the Labrador battery), the Kranji War Cemetery and Mount Faber.
One of the finest luxury hotel Singapore has to offer, the Raffles Hotel Singapore provides lavish accommodation, delectable dining and service of a premier standard. This superb Singapore hotel is a truly memorable experience, satisfying the expectations of the discerning traveler.
