Old Changi Hospital
History
Built in 1930's, together with an A/E opposite the road and several
blocks of commando barracks cum Changi prison nearby, the Old
Changi Hospital (OCH) is situated at Netheravon Road in Changi
villages. It has quite a long and rich history for being the former
hospital of today's modern Changi General Hospital in Simei and Toa
Payoh Hospital equipped with world-class facilities.
With its classical design, one can see that OCH is a typical
replica of buildings built by British Colonial architects in the
early 20's. Surprisingly OCH was not meant to be a hospital when it
was first built (same for the A/E). The British was planning to
have a heavily guarded military location in the east of Singapore.
The site was strategically selected for it is high on top of a hill
overlooking the sea surrounding most of the east side and the south
side of the island. For about 10 years before the war, this
classical 7-storey high building compound was used as military
command quarters and barracks.
During the assault of the Japanese aggression from Malaya in
February 1942, Changi was targeted as one of the first attack
points. In a day or two, it was occupied by the Japanese army
moving from Puala Ubin. Soon after that OCH was converted to a
military hospital where all the wounded soldiers and civilians were
attended to. After the Japanese Occupation ended, it was converted
back to its original self, as a public hospital and later with a
Military ward on the third level.
From February 1997 onwards, OCH was closed for its hospital
operations were replaced by the new Changi General Hospital. It got
isolated and left vacant there since then. According to some
insider sources, the abandoned OCH will remain as it is but it will
be re-open for the 'public' soon during 2005 for the Army Camp or
for the Officer Cadet School (OCS) Trainees.
However, stories about the building being haunted started in the
early 40's. The Hospital itself had 70+ years of rich history when
it survived from the dreadful World War II that took place from
1942 to 1945, witnessing the fall of Singapore and the brutal
tortures towards the prisoners of war (POW) that happened there.
Therefore, seeing spirits of all races and of different nationals
wandering around in the compound would be a common sight.
If you are thinking of visiting the hospital in the hope of bumping
into a spirit of any nature, go with 2 or 3 friends. If you go
beyond that, you will never see it as they are all hiding behind
the window pane or the back of the door WATCHING at you. But of
course, you can go there alone, however you will never find
yourself ALONE.
