Sport in Syonan: Triumph Over Despair - Chapter 10 | Sport in Changi Prisoner of War Camp
Pre-war: Aerial view of the new civilian prison at Changi, which later became the Prisoner-of-War (POW) Camp for allied POWs during the Japanese Occupation. 1936. Source: Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore (Media - Image No: 19980005075 – 0055)
A Sporting Distraction
In captivity, the Prisoners of War (POWs) managed to create a sporting distraction from the brutality of incarceration. One which reinforced their sense of toughness and resilience.
As most of the captives were brought up with a British Empire perspective on sport, it was not surprising that the major team games that might link British and Australian soldiers together were cricket and football. What was surprising was that some Japanese guards were drawn into the fascination of childlike play with footballs and cricket balls.
POW Playing Grounds
There were three main playing grounds for games. One near Selarang Barracks, which was occupied by Australians. One near the Roberts Barracks, which was occupied by the British. And one near the India Lines, which was occupied by British and Dutch POWs.
The Australians played Aussie Rules from the start of captivity and the British kicked a soccer ball around. There was a hidden message behind these games: it remained, as in times of peace, as a way to prove oneself. Still strong and fit.
The game that most symbolized the ailing British Empire was cricket. Thus it was no surprise that a cricket Test series would be initiated. Among the POWs were a significant number of first-grade Australian cricketers and county cricketers from England. It seems that the Australians were the dominant force!
Serious Play
There was rugby (both League and Union varieties), boxing and basketball, but football was the most enduring even though it adopted a particularly aggressive form. It was the only game that’s survived a ban that had been imposed as a result of over-zealous play.
If the Aussies dominated the cricket and rugby, then the Brits called the tune with soccer. Most of the games were played on their ‘turf’. They played their games in the early evening after tea.
“The POWs not only had a well-organised soccer league, but they also played competitively in the more physically violent contact games of Australian Rules, rugby league and rugby union.”
“The players and officials took the game and its rules very seriously. They even had rules regarding the ‘transfer’ of players from ‘club’ to ‘club’.”
“Green (steward of Victorian Australian Rules team) described how when he was at Selarang Barracks, ‘Max Street, a friend of mine, persuaded me to go to the hospital area to play football for “Melbourne”. I was given three bowls of rice for transferring’.”
- Quote from ‘The Sportsmen of Changi’ by Kevin Blackburn
The infamous Death Railway constructed during the Japanese Occupation. 1942-1945. Source: National Archives of Singapore (Media - Image No: 20050000103 – 0011)
Related Articles
Related Topics
Recent Events & Programmes
Related Articles
Related Topics
Related Topics
[BlogPost 164749641842 NSG 2024 Netball: Senior Div Girls League 3 Preliminary Round 2, BlogPost 163985727414 Beyond the Field: Exciting Sports Careers for Non-Athletes, BlogPost 164438712123 NSG 2024 Badminton: Senior Div Girls Quarter-Finals, BlogPost 164238055490 Evergreen Aleksandar Duric Still Making Headlines at 53, BlogPost 164170080646 NSG 2024 Rope Skipping: Junior Div Girls Freestyle Team Finals, BlogPost 162884973666 Move and Rest Better With Data From Your Own Body, BlogPost 163393049482 Life Comes Full Circle For Serangoon Garden Secondary School's Fahrish Khan, BlogPost 163258797651 Making Golf a Sport for All, BlogPost 162512222328 NSG 2024 Sepaktakraw: Senior Div Yuhua Primary School vs Qihua Primary School, BlogPost 162233592997 Gritty Lions Suffer Loss to China, BlogPost 162089384371 On Your Mark, Get Ready, Go Running, BlogPost 161670652697 Lions' Excellent Showing Against China, BlogPost 161435270031 Ogura Optimistic for Exciting Clash against China, BlogPost 161127614758 The Future of Basketball in Singapore: Why 3x3 is Here to Stay, BlogPost 161033673012 The Active Lifestyler's Guide to the New ActiveSG Delta Sport Centre, BlogPost 161128356680 Grand New Champions Crowned at WTT Singapore Smash 2024, BlogPost 160844835218 NSG 2024 Table Tennis: C Div Boys Pool Round, BlogPost 160210745115 NSG 2024 Basketball: Senior Div Girls Tampines Primary School vs Frontier Primary School, BlogPost 159881180544 Whirlwind Return to Women's Football, BlogPost 159633541417 Singapore Smash to Elevate a New Legacy, BlogPost 158983580420 NSG 2024 Rugby: B Div Damai Secondary School vs Peirce Secondary School, BlogPost 159003960202 SFA Fiesta: Kicking off 2024 to a Roaring Start, BlogPost 158830735126 NSG 2024 Football: B Div Girls Preliminary Round Meridian Secondary School VS Bowen Secondary School, BlogPost 158536989718 Team Nila Volunteers Recognized At Awards Ceremony, BlogPost 158270107806 NSG 2024 Hockey: B Div Boys Preliminary Round Raffles Institution VS St. Hilda Secondary School, BlogPost 157966862615 NSG 2024 Floorball: B Division Preliminary Rounds Kick Off!, BlogPost 157562433712 What Is Safe Sport?, BlogPost 157559446197 Sengkang Secondary: Cultivating Well-Rounded Footballers, BlogPost 157368261167 New National Training Centre for Cricket at West Coast Ground, BlogPost 155340164987 Active Ageing with Joey Bonifacio, BlogPost 155930815517 Inaugural Singapore Youth League kicks off from 24th February 2024, BlogPost 155340164727 Bukit Canberra : the Coolest Spot in the North, BlogPost 155368905255 How Padang Fandi Inspired Ayden to Chase his Dream, BlogPost 154755572826 Ageing Backwards with Elizabeth Cheang, BlogPost 154094657315 Running For Fitness, BlogPost 153318636178 Excitement Builds for FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024, BlogPost 153198644247 World's Top Four Confirmed for 2024 HSBC Women's World Championship, BlogPost 149413941770 Cultivating Your Kids’ Interest in the Outdoors, BlogPost 149413941163 Making Sport More Appealing for Our Kids, BlogPost 149412549409 Solo Or Team Sport – Choosing the Best for Your Child, BlogPost 151197478798 Former Lions Stalwart Baihakki Khaizan Sheds Light on New Accreditation to Elevate Grassroots Football and Youth Development, BlogPost 80703591291 New Year, Fitter You! Here are the top 3 workouts for the New Year, BlogPost 81171151456 7 Reasons Why Sports are Great for Children’s Mental Health, BlogPost 80542065330 17 Best Yoga Classes & Studios in Singapore [+ Rating & Prices], BlogPost 149404351798 From Brush to Lens: A Student's Journey in the World of Art and Sports Photography, BlogPost 149402825063 The Benefits of Active Parenting, BlogPost 149397832009 Sweden Claim 9th Straight Gold at the Women's World Floorball Championship, BlogPost 149397831449 Lion City Sailors Win 2023 Singapore Cup, BlogPost 148511324266 Pitch Perfect with Jonathan Teo, BlogPost 148511724402 Seniors: Increase your flexibility bit by bit with these stretches]