The War Years: 1941 - 1945

The school was converted into a hospital during the battle for Singapore. Battle casualties poured in and every inch of space in the school, even the chapel, was taken up by beds for the wounded. After Singapore fell, schools reopened on 1 April using Japanese as a medium of instruction. The Brothers and teachers went back to school themselves to learn the Japanese language which they would teach to their pupils. Finally, late in 1943, the Brothers were forced to give up teaching. During the Occupation, various areas in the school were converted for a variety of uses. For example, the chapel served as an officers’ mess.

Japanese officers who occupied the school during the war