Fort Siloso

Fort Siloso was a coast artillery battery, one of twelve coast artillery batteries which made up ‘Fortress Singapore’ at the start of World War Two. Although there are visible remains of some other batteries to be found on Singapore, Fort Siloso is the sole restored battery.

The word ‘Fort’ is something of a misnomer when applied to Siloso, and to all but one coast artillery forts in Singapore. Only Fort Tanjong Katong was built as a stand-alone self-defence gun battery.

Fort Siloso is located on western tip of the island of Sentosa (formerly called Blakang Mati - the Island behind the Dead) which is just south of Singapore Island, with the water between forming Keppel Harbour. Fort Siloso is one of four coast artillery batteries which were constructed on Blakang Mati by the British. The word ‘Siloso’ means ‘Jealous Person’, and is from the Philippines.