| Place | Asia: Singapore |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | AWM2019.404.2 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Heraldry |
| Physical description | Tin |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Singapore |
| Date made | c 1940s |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
The Great World amusement park souvenir tin: Ron Pilkington, British Army
Description
Rectangular hinged cigarette tin printed with colour images of 'The Great World' amusement park on the obverse and reverse. The inside of the tin is gold coloured and is printed with 'WITH BEST/ COMPLIMENTS/ FROM/ THE GREAT WORLD/ SINGAPORE' in black.
History / Summary
This tin was used by British soldier, Ron Pilkington, a prisoner of war in Changi, Singapore to keep his cigarette paper collection. The tin is a souvenir of an amusement park called 'The Great World' in Singapore. It was located at the crossroads of Kim Seng, River Valley and Zion Road. The park was popular with soldiers stationed in Singapore before the Japanese invasion.
In March 1942 it became the site of a camp for Australians and British prisoners and housed around 1500 prisoners of war. In December 1942 some of the prisoners moved to shacks behind the park to make way for Japanese soldiers, who turned the site into a gambling den.