Soon after Stamford Raffles established Singapore as a trading post for the East India Company, one of his first concerns was the defence against Dutch attacks. By mid 19th century, Raffles' plan for a series of artillery forts was belatedly realised by the construction of gun batteries stretching from Katong on the east coast to Fort Canning.

Pasir Panjang Ridge (today's Kent Ridge) overlooks the New Harbour (later renamed Keppel Harbour) that was developed in the second half of the 19th century. A new series of artillery forts were constructed on both sides of the harbour to defend it: Pulau Blakang Mati (today's Sentosa) and Pulau Brani, and more on the coast opposite at Labrador and Mount Faber. The perception of a seaward threat to the harbour carried over into the 20th century, when Japan emerged as the greatest threat. This resulted in the modernisation of coastal guns in the 1920s and 1930s.

By 1941, British commanders calculated that a Japanese attack was more likely to come from the Malay Peninsula, which indeed happened. It was in the vicinity of 31K Pepys Road that the last major battle for Singapore was fought. Supported by the guns of Labrador and Siloso, which had turned from facing seawards to fire inland, soldiers of the 1st and 2nd Battalion Malay Regiment defended the west coast and Pasir Panjang area from 10th to 14th February 1942. The British surrendered Singapore to the Japanese the next day.

Reflections at Bukit Chandu was opened by Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence on 15 February 2002.