Shipwrecks between Singapore and Indonesia: Human Dimensions of WWII Maritime Archaeology

CHAN Sze Ching Carine1*, M. Fauzi Hendrawan2, NG Jian Cheng Michael3, and Dineshram Sukumar4

Between December 1941 and 15 February 1942, more than sixty maritime vessels evacuated Singapore, heading for various locations around the Indonesian peninsula. Many never arrived at their final destinations, sunk by Japanese enemy fire or otherwise. As submerged Second World War (WWII) cultural heritage, these shipwreck sites contain valuable evidence on the last months of maritime activity before Southeast Asia fell completely to the Japanese. They convey human stories of wartime hope, resilience, and survival, but also commemorate the courage, peacekeeping, strength, and war efforts of the fallen. As these vessels carried not just Western, but also Southeast Asian civilians, crew and personnel, they form part of Southeast Asia’s shared regional WWII maritime history too. Beyond the historical dimension, over time these shipwreck sites have taken on new social, environmental, political, and economic significance to local communities. Many of these shipwrecks have become integral parts of local ecosystems and sources of livelihood for local coastal communities. Yet, many of these limited and non-renewable maritime heritage sites are at substantial risk of looting and damage due to inadequate protection and preservation and improperly regulated salvaging operations. Besides losing valuable heritage and archaeological evidence, these operations also risk damaging the environment, ecosystems, and livelihoods that depend on these sites. Hence, through presenting a few case studies, this paper is a call to action to identify, geo-locate, and research the history and communities around shipwrecks between the waters of Singapore and Indonesia before it is too late.