There were large parade grounds and playing fields, churches, canteens, theatres and cinemas, tennis and squash courts, swimming pools, bathing beaches and even yacht clubs. This prison, which was designed to hold prisoners, was initially used by the Japanese to house some three and a half thousand civilian internees. Two years later, as the POW population declined to about 12,, the internees were moved to a nearby camp at Sime Road, and the remaining POWs were moved into the Changi Gaol where they were crammed into the gaol cells, as well as into atap huts that they built in the prison grounds.
It was main camp for captured British and Commonwealth Forces, including Australians. The gaol was built to hold a maximum of prisoners. In February 3, civilians were housed in the Changi Gaol. The men noted the austere gaol exterior and iron grills, thinking they were pleased not be staying there and they passed by to Selarang. If a special conference was called, the official party, protected by carrying a flag, would march down the winding road while the Camp waited.
Was it another work party for Thailand, an execution or another concentration in Barrack Square? Nobody would know until the officers returned from the Gaol — the seat of all infamy! All 7, POWs within one month! Surrounding these hills was a thick undergrowth and virgin forest with trees up to feet high.
The name 'Changi' is the native word for the 'Balanocarpus' tree, some of the tallest trees that used to grow on Singapore. By , the only habitation in the Changi region was a small native village, a police station, a couple of bungalows, one being government owned and a small Japanese Hotel with a dubious clientele. Any military protection that was set up by the Government to defend the island during the First World War covered the harbour area only. The strategic importance of Singapore as a military base had been realised by Sir Stamford Raffles, many years previous, but in the early days it was not considered necessary to build fixed defences around the whole island.
As Japan flourished into a powerful nation in the Far East, Stanley Baldwin made the decision to build a gigantic Naval Base on the north coast of the island. It was thought, quite wrongly as it turned out, that any possible attack would come from the sea and the possibility of a land attack from the north was ruled out.
In the overall scheme of things it was decided that Changi would be the base for the Royal Artillery batteries to cover the eastern approaches to the Johore Straits.
In the Army Council sent a commission of three officers, headed by Major General Webb Gillman to prepare a detailed defence scheme and considering that the whole area was virgin swampland and jungle, the task that lay ahead of them was a formidable one,but despite the drawbacks the scheme went ahead.
This included the rough plans of the Changi cantonment a small division of Changi Island which had been prepared previously at the General Headquarters, Fort Canning, the previous year. Blueprints were prepared for two main barrack areas which were later to become known as Kitchener and Roberts Barracks and in no time at all work on clearing the ground commenced.
One very important aspect was to drain the mangrove swamps and destroy the ever present malarial mosquitoes as it was essential that they could not breed within half a mile of any of the living and working areas. Snakes were the second most dangerous hazard and were a constant danger until eliminated.
The initial clearing was started by two supervisors and eighteen labourers, but as land was cleared and temporary living accommodation and pathways laid down, more workers were able to be brought in. By December the first four officers married quarters on Fairy Hill Point were almost complete, followed by similar quarters on Battery Hill.
The first three years in the evolution of Changi saw it rise up from the swamps and the foundations of its future development were well and truly laid. Thought was even given to the horticultural enthusiasts. Many of the large stately trees were left standing and worked around, other flowering trees and shrubs were established and although Changi was first and foremost a Military base it also became an area of great beauty.
Unfortunately by the middle of all work on Changi came to an abrupt halt. Although the defence of Singapore was becoming increasingly urgent in the face of Japan's growing urge to become more powerful than its neighbours, back in England the political and economic situation demanded that money being spent on Singapore defences be cut. However, with a change in Government and Japan's intentions growing stronger, the work on Changi continued again in Between when the India Barracks were built and the work continued in earnest and by most of the barracks, married quarters and officers mess were completed.
In a new site was selected to house a full battalion of infantry at Selarang about a mile from the Roberts Barracks and in the next two years the whole of Selarang Barracks was established and became the home of the Gordon Highlanders.
Also built in in Changi village was a new civilian jail to house up to civilian prisoners - this jail was to feature very dramatically when Singapore fell to the Japanese six years later. A week before the capitulation on 15th February , the Japanese were occupying Palau Ubin, overlooking Changi and heavy bombardment was exchanged.
But defeat was inevitable and within hours of the surrender the Japanese decided that the Changi area and all the barracks would become one huge prison of war camp. It is not widely known that the civilian Changi Prison was not used initially to house the thousands of servicemen who became military POWs. Instead it was the surrounding area outside Changi and the nearby barracks that became the home of the dejected and disheartened prisoners.
Camp rations and supplies were supplemented by the opportunities that work parties provided for both theft and trade. For a time even a university operated inside the AIF camp. However, most prisoner activities suffered after May when large work parties began to be sent out of Changi to work on projects such as the Burma-Thailand railway.
In February there were around 15, Australians in Changi; by mid less than 2, remained. In May all the Allied prisoners in Changi, now including 5, Australians, were concentrated in the immediate environs of Changi Gaol, which up until this time had been used to detain civilian internees. In this area 11, prisoners were crammed into less than a quarter of a square kilometre: this period established Changi's place in popular memory.
Rations were cut, camp life was increasingly restricted and in July the authority of Allied senior officers over their troops was revoked. Changi was liberated by troops of the 5th Indian Division on 5 September and within a week troops were being repatriated. After the war Changi Gaol once again became a civilian prison, while the Changi military area was repaired and redeveloped for use by the British garrison. Following the withdrawal of British troops in the area was taken over by the Singapore Armed Forces and still has one of the main concentrations of military facilities on the island.
Roberts Barracks remains in use but the original buildings at Selarang were demolished in the s.
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