Serapong 6-Inch BL Battery
Major-General F.W. Barron visited Singapore in 1935 to report on the defences of the island. He first held a meeting, on 26th February, at Fort Canning with senior officers, including the GOC, Major-General E.O. Lewin. At this meeting he outlined the objects of his visit. These included; “Whether the siting of the fixed defences produces the maximum of efficiency.” and “Additional fixed defences required for the 2nd Stage (of the upgrade of defences) and where they should be sited.”. 
On the 11th March he reported to the GOC and senior officers. His report included a recommendation for two additional 6-Inch Close Defence Batteries to be constructed in the Keppel Harbour Area. one of these should be at Pasir Panjang (Labrador) and, “One 6” Battery on SERAPONG Spur, making use of the old 9.2” emplacements and magazines”. The 9.2-Inch BL Battery was to be converted for a 6-Inch BL Gun making use of the old magazines. This was to become the No.1 Gun. The No.2 6-Inch BL Gun Emplacement and Magazine would be built 50 yards (46 meters) north-west of the Spur position. The 9.2-Inch Fire Command Post for the Spur Battery which was 50 yards north west of the new No.2 Gun would be converted to make the Battery Command Post.
An edict issued in 1937 stated that all eighteen 6-Inch BL Guns and six 9.2-Inch BL Guns in Singapore were to have all round traverse. This is how the new Serapong Battery with its Mark VII 6-Inch BL Guns with their Mark II 15° Centre Pivot Mountings was built. The photograph on the left shows the completed Battery. Some time later, as with most other 6-Inch Batteries,overhead semi-circular concrete protection was constructed at the Serapong Emplacements. The emplacements were also modified at the time. When war came to Singapore and Malaya in 1942, all coastal batteries stood ready for a seaborne attack which would never come.
On the 18th January 1942, The Serapong Battery was bombed with the No. 2 Gun and its concrete canopy being damaged. The gun itself was replaced. Other bombs fell elsewhere on Mount serapong and on Fort Connaught. There is no record of the Serapong Guns firing on the advancing Japanese. The location of the battery would have prevented it firing on the Japanese advancing from the west from Pasir Panjang and Kent Ridge, but it would have been possible for it to fire eastwards towards the Kallang area. Even if the guns had taken part in the war, there is little they could have done to repel the Japanese. The ammunition, being mainly AP was totally unsuitable for counter-battery and anti-personnel fire. 
The guns however, did fire shots across the bows of ships which were inadvertently heading into the minefield protecting the harbour. At least one ship sank after straying into the minefield.
On the 14th of February 1942, came the order to destroy the guns for Mount Serapong. The No. 2 Gun destroyed first, being spiked with a gelignite charge at 1200hrs. Later, at 1700hrs its magazine was also spiked, blowing up completely, leaving a large crater and severely damaging the emplacement above and to the left of it. Five men were injured in the blast. The No. 1 Gun remained available for action until the morning of the 15th when it,in turn, was spiked. All equipment in the Battery Command Post was also destroyed.
LEFT: Mount Serapong in 1950. Whilst the No.1 6-Inch emplacement is clearly seen, the devastation from the Japanese bomb and the blowing up on the magazine makes the No. 2 Emplacement more difficult to see.
Some shells did not explode when the No. 2 Magazine blew up and were hurled into the air by the blast. These are still found occasionally and dealt with the the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Teams of the Singapore Armed Forces.
The photos show a shell discovered in May 2006. On the left is how it looked when discovered. It was actually lying against the walls of the Gun Well of the No.2 Emplacement, being discovered when clearing the emplacement during an archaeological survey. How it was missed when the the guns were removed after the war is not known. Never think that anything you may find on Serapong is just scrap metal, it may be lethal. If in doubt, do not touch and call the Park Rangers.