History: Background
In the 1800s, Britain was the world
’s great imperial power with colonies across the globe. It really was the “Empire on which the sun never sets”.
In the far east, at the southern tip of the Malaya, just 2° north of the equator, is the island of Singapore. This was a strategically important Imperial possession, ideally located on all the major shipping routes.
Singapore, following the landing of Sir Stamford Raffles, had grown from a practically deserted place of little interest or significance to anybody, to become a busy commercial port. It had also become a very important coaling station for the Royal Navy and merchant ships.
The British Government, being mindful of the important commercial and strategic values of Singapore, decided to modernise the existing defences of the island. A possession of such value to the Realm demanded good defensive systems.
Since the last update of the defences, more powerful and longer ranging weapons had been developed, not only by Great Britain, but by countries which were considered to be potential enemies. Following surveys, it was concluded that it would be wiser to construct several new coastal artillery forts than to modernise the older existing ones. Many of these older forts were located in a poor fire position, and were not realistically capable of being enlarged. Indeed, Fort Canning was said to be more suited to controlling the civil populace than providing defence for the harbour.
New coastal artillery forts could be sited to take advantage of more powerful weapons with a greater range than the old forts' armaments. The surveys located several sites which were deemed suitable for the proposed new forts; on Singapore Island itself, on Pulau Brani (Brave Island), and on Blakang Mati. New, well armed forts constructed in these locations would be ideally situated to protect the western and eastern approaches to the strategically important Keppel Harbour.
This pre-Second World War aerial view of Blakang Mati and Pulau Brani shows the location of new coastal artillery forts built on these islands. These forts with the exception of Mount Imbiah and Fort Teregah, were all updated throughout their service lives.
Fort Teregah was abandoned during the early 20th Century and Mount Imbiah in the late 1930s. The remainder, with the exception of Siloso were not re-used after the Second World War.
All of these forts were not forts in the true sense of the word. Only one true fort was ever built on Singapore and that was Fort Tanjong Katong.
Only Fort Siloso has been preserved. Substantial remains of others can be found, but some are not accessible to the public.
Land reclamation and development has changed Pulau Brani and Sentosa, with Brani so changed that it is practically unrecognisable from its original shape. The land to the right of Fort Connaught has been reclaimed, and a marina and housing is being built there.