Raffles Hotel

Raffles Hotel was taken over by the Japanese on 16th February 1942 and became the hotel used by the Senior Officers Imperial Japanese Forces, having been renamed Syonan Ryokan (Light of the South Inn or Hotel), Syonan being their new name for Singapore.
Local tradition says that the occupying Japanese troops were delayed by a 'last' dance being held in the hotel by British residents enabling staff to bury silverware in part of the Palm Court garden. Another unconfirmed report is that on the surrender of Japan, 300 soldiers committed suicide by ritual hari-kari in the grounds of the hotel after a saki party and also a platoon of soldiers used grenades.

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Source

• Text: Sharky Ward
• Photos: Anthony (Sharky) Ward