Deep within a Singaporean forest lie the Kay Siang Bunkers. These aren’t your typical bunkers. They are a trio of sturdy structures built by the British in the 1940s. Their purpose was to safeguard ammunition and supplies. Double doors reinforced their defense against attacks. Imagine the weight of those doors the sounds of bolts sliding into place.
These bunkers likely supported the nearby Buller Camp. This was a British military camp. It stood near the Alexandra Road area. This area suffered heavy damage during World War II. A fire engulfed the Normanton oil depot. This was a desperate attempt to halt the Japanese advance. The smoke however choked nearby villages instead. The Japanese occupation resulted in brutal massacres. The bunkers’ wartime role remains a mystery.
After the war the bunkers were forgotten. Nature reclaimed them. In the 1950s the Singapore Improvement Trust demolished Buller Camp. Villages farms and swamps were cleared. A new housing estate Queenstown was built. Margaret Drive became the main road of Princess Estate. Yet the Kay Siang Bunkers endured untouched silent witnesses to history.
The area around the bunkers changed. Schools such as Hua Yi Government Chinese Middle School Tanglin Girls’ School Strathmore School and Kay Siang School appeared. Students may have explored the bunkers. Townsville Institute later occupied Hua Yi’s site. It had a stadium near the bunkers. The campus later housed the Movement For The Intellectually Disabled. By the late 2000s new HDB flats Skyparc replaced much of the campus.
Across Kay Siang Road stand pre-war colonial houses. The British likely built them in the 1930s. Today they are exclusive residences. The Kay Siang Bunkers stand as a poignant reminder. They remind us of Singapore’s wartime past and its resilience. Remember though that these aged structures may be unstable. Approach with caution and respect. Explore safely.