The disposition of troops in February 1942 before the Japanese attack

A single line in a WWII intelligence document states, “There was a dug-in Bde. HQ on Changi Hill”. This is the only reference to the HQ that I have in my archives. As the 2 Malay Brigade was responsible for the defence of the Changi area, it is safe to assume that the Brigade HQ was for that Brigade. So, where was it?

On Changi Hill were Changi Fire Command and the B.O.P. (Battery Observation Post) for the Johore Battery. Just below the top of Changi Hill is a small concrete building with an observation slot overlooking the eastern Changi area towards the sea. Which of the three buildings is this small one?

Changi Fire Command was a two storey building, so that can be ruled out. The B.O.P. would seem to have been an rectangular building with a radio mast on top of it. The B.O.P. would have needed to be of a size capable of housing all the men and the equipment required to oversee a three gun 15 inch battery. The B.O.P. is recorded as being at a height of 155 feet (47.24 metres) above sea level. A Triangulation Point on Changi Hill marked as being at 150 feet is shown on period maps. The small building is below the top of the hill, and would not have sufficient room for the men and equipment required for the B.O.P. That leads me to conclude that the small building is indeed the Brigade HQ.

Changi Hill

Brigade HQ

Batteries & Defences