In honouring the spirit and commitment of those who rose from the depths of adversity, the Museum inspires future generations to come and deepen their appreciation of the heroic and inspirational stories that unfolded in Changi during the war. The Changi Museum is dedicated to all those who lived and died in Singapore, in particular the Changi area, during the dark years of World War II.

Through documentation of significant events of the Japanese Occupation, the Museum also serves as an important educational institution and resource centre. As for the Prisoners-of-War (POWs) and their families, it is a site that allows for closure of the many emotional scars inflicted by the war years.

Built in 1936, The Changi prison wall holds special memories for many civilians and war veterans incarcerated there during the brutal Japanese occupation between 1942 and 1945. The Japanese kept thousands of Australian, British and other Allied soldiers, as well as huge numbers of local Chinese, in terrible conditions in and around the prison, which was originally designed to house just 600 inmates.

The British built the Johore Battery in 1939 at the start of World War II, as a gun emplacement site consisting of a labyrinth of tunnels. These tunnels were built to store ammunition to support three 15' inch guns, also known as Monster Guns because of their colossal size. They were the biggest and heaviest coastal artilleries and were able to pierce the armour of battleships.

Before Singapore fell into the hands of the Japanese, it is said that orders were sent out to destroy the guns. Tunnels were sealed up after the war.

The Johore Battery remained a secret till April 1991. A replica of the monster gun and 15' inch shell is now located at Johore Battery, Cosford Road – Changi, the place where runners will run past at this year’s Yellow Ribbon Run 2010!