The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Linoleum (or rubber) floor covering from the board room of the Ford Company of Malaya. This was the original covering at the time of the surrender and, according to Warrant Officer Balsillie who arranged the gift, marks made by the Japanese to indicate where the signing participants were to sit were still visible circa 1964.
This simple piece of linoleum floor covering relates to one of the most significant events from the Second World War, the surrender of Singapore to the Japanese.
On the afternoon of 15 February 1942, in the board room of the Ford Motor Company of Malaya in Bukit Timah Singapore, the surrender of all British and Commonwealth forces to the Imperial Japanese was signed. This act was the single largest military defeat of the British and Australian forces in history.
The fall of Singapore had immense military, political and social impacts on Australia. The effects of this are still felt in Australia over 70 years after the surrender. Four days after the surrender the first of almost 100 Imperial Japanese air and naval raids on mainland Australia commenced with the first massive bombing raid on Darwin.
This linoleum was originally underneath the iconic 'Singapore surrender table', where after the surrender and occupation of Singapore by the Japanese it was marked by them to indicate the positions of the respective Japanese and British surrender delegations. This included the main two personalities at the surrender, that being General Yamashita of the 25th Army and General Percival of Malaya Command.
It was recovered after the war by the work and initiative of Warrant Officer Balsillie. It was legally signed over to the Memorial from the Ford Motor Company along with the wooden surrender table in 1964.
Jack discusses collecting various relics for the Australian War Memorial, including when he went to see the Surrender Table at the Ford Factory in Singapore. A transcript of this recording may be avai
Six legged wooden table, made from teak. The table top is 32 mm thick, made from 20 abutted planks of wood, constructed in two layers, screwed together and supported by a box frame reinforced with a
Six legged wooden table, made from teak. The table top is 32 mm thick, made from 20 abutted planks of wood, constructed in two layers, screwed together and supported by a box frame reinforced with a
Report on the Japanese surrender at Singapore 12 September 1945 by Brigadier J.D. Rogers Director of Military Intelligence AMF to General Sir Thomas Blamey. Brigadier Rogers was the official Australia
At 10.30 hours on 12 September 1945, a parade was held outside the Municipal building in Singapore. After inspecting the troops, Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Commander SEAC, went into the building
SINGAPORE. 1942-02-15. BRITISH TROOPS SURRENDER TO THE JAPANESE IN THE CITY AREA, AFTER THE UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER OF ALL BRITISH FORCES FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL INVASION OF MALAYA AND SINGAPORE ISLA
Singapore February 1942, shows street scene with abandoned motor vehicles. British light trucks driving through streets. Australian troops marching in a column watched by Japanese soldiers. Close ups
Instruments of Surrender signed in Tokyo and at other places in the Pacific Region by the Japanese commanders on the cessation of war. Oversize folder 2 of 4 - consists of: (1) Instruments of Surre
