Fort Siloso
Pasir Laba
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Pasir Laba 6-Inch Battery Before Overhead Cover Was Built
LEFT: Arc of fire for the Battery. This shows that how the overhead cover restricted the arc.
The Pasir Laba Battery was not the first gun battery in Singapore to engage the Japanese during the Malayan Campaign, but it was the first to engage on the night of 8/9 February 1942 when Japanese forces landed on Singapore.
From Faber Fire command War Diary
“On the night of Feb 8th/9th . P. Laba Bty had calls from 44 IND Inf Bde and the AIF (Australian Imperial Force) for Night harassing fire, on to all likely embarkation places between SUNGEI PENDAS and T. TUAN on the southern JOHORE COAST. ...... The O.C. P. Laba immediately answered these calls with the only gun (No 1) which could bear up the JOHORE Straits to the North, the overhead covers being cut away to pursuit of this”.
The No.1 Gun fired 40 Rounds up to 0430hrs. At 0630 hrs, The Battery Commander informed Fire Command (Faber) that the area was being dive-bombed and that the Japanese were shelling the area north of the battery.
“At about 0715 hrs the enemy battery increased Range, and began shelling the Fort, heavily. Between 0715 hrs and 0815 hrs the O.P. was hit twice, both Gun emplacements were hit several times and the overhead cover of the No 2 Gun was in a very demolished state and according to Capt Asher No 1 Gun could not be fired except in the greatest emergency.”
At about 0745hrs, permission was requested to prepare the Battery for demolition as 44th Infantry Brigade were withdrawing. Permission was granted. Capt. Asher and Lt. Senior were involved in laying charges and laid theirs in the No.1 Magazine. A demolition party commanded by Lt, Finch, Siloso was sent to Pasir Laba to help out, arriving at 1230hrs. Further help was requested and a party from Labrador was sent arriving at 1830hrs with fresh demolition charges. With the arrival of this party, Lt. Finch was, “able to complete the demolition of the Guns, Magazines, Lights and Stores". The R.E. Destroying the lights (Searchlights) and stores. According to Lt. Finch and Bdr Cherington this Fort was fully denied to the enemy by 1830hrs on Feb 9th.”
The No. 1 Gun (left) and No.2 Gun (right) photographed in 1946
Aerial photograph of Pasir Laba. Date unknown.
Pasir Laba on Google Earth.