The Changi Murals
Block 151

The Changi Murals are five murals of biblical scenes painted by an ex-Prisoner-of-War (POW), during the Japanese Occupation. Painted on the walls of a small room in Block 151, Changi Camp, these murals epitomize the strength of the human spirit and stand as a symbol to all on what can be achieved as long as the spirit is strong even the flesh is weak. They remind us that even in the darkest hour we need to maintain hope. The murals also stand as evidence of our military history before 1965 and the best example from WWII of the heroism, fighting spirit and perseverance of the men who fought for Singapore during the war- men like Lim Bo Seng.

During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, Block 151 was first used as part of Robert's Barrack Hospital's dysentery wing for POWs. At one end on the ground floor in a small room, a chapel, St. Luke's, was set up by the prisoners. This chapel provided spiritual comfort and solace for both the hospital's staff and sick men.

One day, a very sick patient, who was lying in a ward above St. Luke's, heard the hymn singing and was inspired. Later, as thankgiving for his partial recovery, he said he wished to paint a series of religious murals on the walls of St. Luke's. This man was Stanley Warren.

Warren, a British bombardier, started his labour of love in Oct 1942. As he was still weak, he could only work for ten to fifteen minutes each time. When he was tired, he would lay down behind the altar to rest until he was able to carry on again.

The first problem Warren faced was obtaining paints and brushes. However, he managed to find the odd tin of white paint, billiard chalk (which was mixed to make blue), terracotta paint and grey from naval base nearby. As for brushes, he sometimes used human hair or coarse brushes. Due to the lack of paints, Warren used bold strokes and large areas of solid colour.

By Christmas 1942, the first mural "Nativity" (the birth of Christ) was completed. This was followed by "Ascension" (the resurrection of Christ). As Warren did not think that he would live long enough to complete all five murals, he concentrated on painting these two first. This was because if he died before completing all the murals, the "Nativity" and "Ascension" murals would give the chapel an air of completeness and balance. The other murals were painted in this order: "Crucifixion", "Last Supper" and "Saint Luke in Prison".

In early 1944, after the completion of the Changi airfield (constructed by the POWs), the Japanese moved the POWs out of Block 151. The building was converted into an administrative block. Parts of the chapel walls were demolished and the murals painted over with distemper. They remained hidden until after the war.

In 1958, the British Royal Air Force, which was occupying Block 151, discovered traces of colour on the walls whilst cleaning out a storeroom. The walls were scraped down and the murals were uncovered. Three of the murals -- "Ascension", Crucifixion" and "Last Supper" were found to be more or less intact. A search began in the U.K. to find the PW who painted them. A year later, warren was found. He was working as an art master at Sir William Collins Secondary School in London. He was persuaded to come back to Singapore in Dec 1963 to restore his murals.

Warren made two more trips back -- in Jul 1982 and May 1988 to help restore the murals. The 1982 restoration was more intensive and the invaluable assistance given to Warren by the officers and boys of the SAF Boys' School enabled the bulk of the work to be completed.

When asked what he felt about war? Warren replied with deep emotion, "There is no problem that cannot be solved without war…I hope that the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) would never have to find themselves firing the first shot in anger. War is never good."

Stanley Warren died on 20 Feb 1992 in Bridport, England.

If you would like to see the Changi Murals, please call the Public Affairs Department, at +65 676 83058 for more information.

For queries on the murals, please call the Centre for Heritage Services at Tel +65 6768 2296 or Fax +65 6769 0917.

Text courtesy of Lisa Lim