"Jack Black, Fred Johnston,
Doc Wilson and Dick Henderson were able to give detailed
information of World War II scenes since they were all on
the Ps.O.W. Working Parties on the isle, but named from
early times as “Blakang Mati" interpreted "behind death",
having notoriety arising from the fact that pirates out of
Singapore would attack ships, which sailed behind it, to use
the narrow passage between it and Singapore; with a
favourable wind the ships made the passage safely, but if
slow moving or if the wind failed they were plundered and
the crew billed.
Jack Black
also says, "About 5˝
years ago I returned for the first time since 1945. Everyone
told me it was impossible to see, as it was, or had been, a
Singapore Armed Forces base. After some difficulty extending
over thirty-six hours, I found Jardine Steps, which were
inside a construction site at the time, engaged a small boat
and headed across the harbour. Miraculously the Army had
moved out and the contractor had not yet moved in. Things
were almost exactly as they were in August 1945. It was one
of the most chilling experiences of my life, as I wandered,
completely alone, expecting at any moment to hear the magic
word "Koorah!!” This trip (Monday, 22 January) is my 3rd
visit; from the ferry I could see that all the bays round on
the harbour side now have retaining walls and are being
filled to make more recreation space. The road system
remains virtually unchanged, as we turned left at the
junction just through the village; on past the wireless shop
(how many stories can be told about that house?) power
station, and down past
"English" and
"Australia House" to the base of
Serapong, 301 ft. high and the highest point on the
island.
"Australia House" is now a smart restaurant or guest
house, complete with swimming pool. The garden area through
to the sea has been cleared of jungle and is now a first
class golf course.
"English House", has the roof partly off. The paint has
been cut back and you can see the old camouflage and bomb
shrapnel marks. Obviously it won't be too long before that
building also becomes flats or a guest house.
The
barrack square, where the Japanese quarters were at the
top of the hill remains virtually untouched and you can
nearly pick out the site of the Jap kitchens and piggery.
Both of course have long gone.
On this day
near the satellite tracking station, which has been erected
there, we came on a colony of monkeys. These were the only
animals we saw in several hundred kilometres of travel in
Malaysia. "Sight of them brought back memories of an old Jap
guard at the waterworks, who used to go on shooting
expeditions against the monks with his .303. It pleased me
greatly to see their descendants and reflect, that those
monkeys must have been survivors too." said Jack Black.
As has been
mentioned, we visited the Coralarium, and then the fort at
Serapong, to which the bus did not go. Extensive
reclamation is going on at this end of the island also.
There is a fine view of Singapore city from there. We were
able to see, where the intrepid Australian frogmen from the
"Krait" had entered the harbour and wreaked havoc with
Japanese ships.
(Source:
Makan No. 248 Special Issue, June, 1979)
