Pioneer soldier cleared WWII undersea mines and led Hotel New World rescue efforts

Until his retirement in 2018, Winson Wong, now 79, kept his roles as a pioneering member of the SAF’s bomb disposal and naval diving units relatively hush.

ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Published Sep 12, 2026, 06:00 PM

Updated Sep 12, 2026, 06:01 PM

Winston Wong was a pioneering SAF soldier who cleared WWII sea-mines and led a dangerous 1978 mission to defuse a 272kg unexploded bomb in Bangladesh.

He led rescue efforts during the 1986 Hotel New World collapse, coordinating survivor evacuations amid distress and rubble.

Post-9/11, Wong trained Singapore's Bomb and Explosive Investigation Division, later volunteering as a heritage storyteller and supporting his daughter's vintage store.

SINGAPORE - For years, Winston Wong’s family only knew him as a former captain in the army who was calm and reserved.

Until his retirement in 2018, Wong, now 79, kept his roles as a pioneering member of the SAF’s bomb disposal and naval diving units relatively hush.

His was an illustrious career, from sweeping war relics and explosives to leading a mission to dispose of a heavy, active bomb in Bangladesh.

After graduating from the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI) in 1968 and bomb disposal and mine clearance diving courses in the UK in 1970, the combat engineer’s first missions involved neutralising hidden sea-mines and bombs from World War II.

“When Singapore developed with a lot of excavation and building of houses, they discovered a lot (of unexploded devices). There were sea-mines also laid during the war. Some were not very active, but still very dangerous because we have international sea lanes,” added Wong.

In the 1970s, remnants of sea-mines were uncovered across the sea channel to the Keppel Harbour area, he said.

Wong spoke to The Straits Times on Sept 11, two days before he was to speak to the public about a critical Bangladesh mission that he led in 1978 to safely get rid of an unexploded bomb near an industrial estate in Joydebpur, north of Dhaka.

Winson Wong’s diving belt (top, in black), among other tools he used when he was in the naval diving unit. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Winson Wong’s diving belt (top, in black), among other tools he used when he was in the naval diving unit.

On Sept 13, the military veteran will present on one of the SAF’s earliest overseas missions at the Military Hobby Fest in SAFRA Toa Payoh.

In April 1978, the Bangladesh government wrote to Singapore’s Ministry of Defence – seeking assistance to remove a 272kg aerial bomb.

The explosive was probably dropped during the Indo-Pakistan war, but it did not detonate, said Wong.

The following month, Wong, already a captain, led a team of four to neutralise the bomb over a gruelling three days.

“For some reason, there was maybe a dent somewhere which caused the explosive chain to not align, so the firing process was not complete. But it could still be dangerous because any jarring movement could align it back,” he explained.

The explosive was buried inside a 2m deep crater that was submerged in water because of monsoon rains.

Three weeks before the Singapore team arrived, protective sandbag walls were set up to shield a factory from the bomb, while water was pumped out before a tent was set up over the bomb to prevent further flooding.

Akin to performing a surgery, the explosive was X-rayed during the mission to find out why it had malfunctioned.

A hardening liquid was then injected into the pistol’s cavity to block its mechanism, making it safe to unscrew the pistol. The detonator was then extracted. The bomb, which was powerful enough to flatten half of the factory, was defused.

Recounting this mission from his home using neatly filed photos and detailed sketches, Wong said the operation was as close to a war setting as he had ever experienced.

“This was like a soldier going to war. My mission was to make bombs safe... We hadn’t fought any war, so we didn’t know how good the soldiers were. This was a direct test,” he said.

Wong pointing to a younger picture of himself. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Wong pointing to a younger picture of himself.

But just a few years later, he did not expect to be in the middle of a disaster zone back home in Singapore.

It was March 15, 1986, and Wong – who had been seconded to the Singapore Civil Defence Force – received a phone call from a colleague. Hotel New World had collapsed, and Wong was called upon to help in the rescue efforts.

The six-storey building crumpled to the ground in less than a minute, killing 33 people. Seventeen people were eventually rescued.

Hotel New World crumpled to the ground in less than a minute, killing 33 people. Seventeen people were eventually rescued. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE

Hotel New World crumpled to the ground in less than a minute, killing 33 people. Seventeen people were eventually rescued.

PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE

“Your mission is to go into the tunnel and evacuate people trapped. Around the perimeters, you see relatives in distress... praying for their (loved ones’) survival,” he said.

The rubble-ridden site had to go silent at times so that seismic detectors could pick up tapping sounds from survivors.

“All they could do is use a stone and tap... (It was a) very difficult situation because some were trapped, bleeding. (We used) whatever methods to go in and make contact to talk to them to keep them alive.”

The rescue operations lasted about a week.

Wong received the Public Service Medal in 1986, after leading rescue efforts at Hotel New World, and also received the 1980 Public Administration Medal. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Wong received the Public Service Medal in 1986, after leading rescue efforts at Hotel New World, and also received the 1980 Public Administration Medal.

MINDEF’s homegrown bomb disposal expertise developed from Wong’s batch, and after the 9/11 terrorist attack in the US, the Singapore Police Force wanted a trainer to develop its Bomb and Explosive Investigation Division under the Criminal Investigation Department.

Wong was approached to lead the training as their domain expert on explosives. One of his important lessons was on conducting post-blast investigations – a post-mortem of sorts to identify the cause of the blast, identify the weapons used and residue left behind, and find the culprits.

Simulations were carried out at the Home Team Academy.

Wong was later transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs to expand the training to more Home Team agencies until he retired in 2018.

These days, he volunteers as a heritage storyteller at The Barracks Hotel Sentosa, sharing with visitors what his old office looked like when the island was known as Pulau Blakang Mati.

He was among the first batch of officer trainees at the School of Field Engineers on the island. The bomb disposal and naval diving units were set up at Fort Siloso.

An avid collector for decades, he also helps his younger daughter Rebecca Wong run a vintage store in Commonwealth, near their home.

Wong with a figurine of a naval diver. An avid collector for decades, Wong helps his younger daughter run a vintage store. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Wong with a figurine of a naval diver. An avid collector for decades, Wong helps his younger daughter run a vintage store.

Rebecca Wong, who is in her late 40s, said the Pioneer Generation like her dad would consider their nation-building roles as just a job.

She added: “To them, it’s not really a big thing... Our army is now so powerful, and we are a rich country. We can afford weapons and the latest technology. But we all started with nothing.”

Shabana Begum is a correspondent, with a focus on environment and science, at The Straits Times.

现年 79 岁的黄永生 (Winson Wong) 在 2018 年退休之前，一直对他在新加坡武装部队拆弹部队和海军潜水部队的先驱成员身份保持相对低调的态度。

ST 摄影：AZMI ATHNI

发布于2026年9月12日下午6:00

更新于2026年9月12日下午6:01

温斯顿·黄是一位具有开拓精神的新加坡武装部队士兵，他曾清除二战时期遗留的水雷，并于 1978 年率领一支队伍执行了一项危险的任务，拆除了孟加拉国一枚 272 公斤重的未爆炸炸弹。

1986 年新世界酒店倒塌事故中，他领导了救援工作，在灾难和废墟中协调幸存者的疏散。

9/11事件后，黄先生培训了新加坡的炸弹和爆炸物调查部门，后来又志愿担任文化遗产故事讲述者，并支持女儿的古董店。

新加坡——多年来，温斯顿·黄的家人只知道他是一位冷静内敛的前陆军上尉。

现年 79 岁的黄在 2018 年退休之前，一直对他在新加坡武装部队拆弹部队和海军潜水部队的先驱成员身份保持相对低调的态度。

他的职业生涯辉煌灿烂，从清理战争遗物和爆炸物到领导在孟加拉国处置一枚重型未爆弹的任务。

1968 年从新加坡武装部队训练学院 (SAFTI) 毕业后，1970 年在英国完成了炸弹处理和水雷清除潜水课程，这位战斗工兵的第一个任务是清除二战遗留的隐藏水雷和炸弹。

黄先生补充说：“新加坡发展过程中，由于大量的挖掘和房屋建设，发现了许多（未爆炸的装置）。战争期间也埋设了水雷。有些水雷的爆炸威力不大，但仍然非常危险，因为我们有国际航道。”

他说，上世纪 70 年代，在通往吉宝港地区的海峡对岸发现了水雷残骸。

黄在9月11日接受了《海峡时报》的采访。两天后，他将向公众讲述他在1978年领导的一项重要的孟加拉国任务，该任务旨在安全清除达卡北部乔伊德布尔工业区附近的一枚未爆炸炸弹。

图为黄永胜（Winson Wong）在海军潜水部队服役时使用的潜水腰带（上图，黑色部分），以及其他一些工具。（海峡时报摄影：AZMI ATHNI）

温森·王（Winson Wong）在海军潜水部队服役时使用的潜水腰带（上图，黑色部分）以及其他工具。

9月13日，这位退伍军人将在新加坡武装部队老兵协会大巴窑分会举办的军事爱好节上，介绍新加坡武装部队最早的海外任务之一。

1978 年 4 月，孟加拉国政府致函新加坡国防部，请求协助移除一枚 272 公斤重的航空炸弹。

黄先生说，这枚爆炸物可能是在印巴战争期间被丢弃的，但没有爆炸。

次月，已经是队长的黄带领四人小组，经过三天艰苦卓绝的努力，成功拆除了这枚炸弹。

他解释说：“由于某种原因，可能某个地方有凹痕，导致爆炸链无法对齐，因此引爆过程没有完成。但这仍然很危险，因为任何剧烈的晃动都可能使其重新对齐。”

爆炸物被埋在一个2米深的弹坑内，由于季风降雨，弹坑被淹没在水中。

在新加坡团队抵达前三周，人们竖起了沙袋防护墙来保护工厂免受炸弹袭击，同时抽干了积水，并在炸弹上搭起帐篷以防止进一步的洪水。

就像做手术一样，任务期间对爆炸物进行了 X 光检查，以找出其发生故障的原因。

随后，一种硬化液体被注入手枪弹膛，堵塞了其内部机构，这样就可以安全地拧下手枪。之后，引爆器被取出。这枚威力足以夷平半座工厂的炸弹被成功拆除。

黄先生在家中用整理好的照片和详细的草图回忆了这次任务，他说这次行动是他经历过的最接近战争环境的一次。

“这就像士兵上战场一样。我的任务是确保炸弹安全……我们之前没有打过仗，所以不知道士兵们的水平如何。这是一次直接的考验，”他说。

黄先生指着一张自己年轻时的照片。（海峡时报摄影：阿兹米·阿特尼）

黄指着自己年轻时的照片。

但仅仅几年后，他却没想到自己会身处新加坡的灾区之中。

那是1986年3月15日，被借调到新加坡民防部队的黄先生接到同事的电话。新世界酒店倒塌了，黄先生被召集去协助救援工作。

这座六层楼房在不到一分钟的时间内坍塌，造成3​​3人死亡。最终有17人获救。

新世界酒店在不到一分钟的时间内坍塌，造成3​​3人死亡。最终有17人获救。图片：联合早报资料图

新世界酒店在不到一分钟的时间内坍塌，造成3​​3人死亡。最终有17人获救。

照片：联合早报档案

“你们的任务是进入隧道，疏散被困人员。在隧道周围，你们可以看到焦急的亲属……他们正在祈祷亲人能够平安无事，”他说。

废墟遍布的现场有时不得不保持安静，以便地震探测器能够探测到幸存者的敲击声。

“他们只能用石头敲击……情况非常艰难，因为有些人被困住了，还在流血。我们用尽一切办法进去与他们接触，和他们交谈，以挽救他们的生命。”

救援行动持续了大约一周。

黄先生因领导新世界酒店火灾救援工作，于1986年荣获公共服务奖章，此前他还曾于1980年荣获公共行政奖章。（海峡时报照片：阿兹米·阿特尼）

黄先生因领导新世界酒店的救援工作，于 1986 年获得公共服务奖章，并于 1980 年获得公共行政奖章。

新加坡国防部本土的炸弹处理技术是从黄的培训班发展而来的。在美国发生 9/11 恐怖袭击后，新加坡警察部队希望聘请一名培训师来发展其刑事调查部门的炸弹和爆炸物调查部门。

黄某作为爆炸物领域的专家，受邀负责此次培训。他教授的重要课程之一是爆炸后调查——类似于事后分析，旨在查明爆炸原因、识别所用武器和残留物，并找出肇事者。

模拟训练在主队青训营进行。

黄后来被调往内政部，负责将培训推广到更多内政团队机构，直到 2018 年退休。

如今，他在圣淘沙兵营酒店担任历史故事讲述志愿者，向游客们讲述他以前的办公室在圣淘沙岛被称为布拉康马蒂岛时的样子。

他是岛上野战工兵学校首批军官学员之一。炸弹处理部队和海军潜水部队都设在西罗索堡。

作为一名狂热的收藏家，他收藏了几十年，同时还帮助他的小女儿 Rebecca Wong 在他们家附近的 Commonwealth 经营一家古董店。

黄先生手持一尊海军潜水员雕像。作为一名资深收藏家，黄先生数十年来一直帮助小女儿经营一家古董店。（海峡时报摄影：阿兹米·阿特尼）

黄先生手捧一尊海军潜水员雕像。作为一名资深收藏家，黄先生几十年来一直帮助小女儿经营一家古董店。

40多岁的Rebecca Wong表示，像她父亲这样的建国一代会把他们参与国家建设的角色仅仅看作是一份工作。

她补充道：“对他们来说，这其实不算什么大事……我们的军队现在非常强大，我们也是一个富裕的国家。我们买得起武器和最新技术。但我们当初都是一无所有。”

沙巴娜·贝古姆是《海峡时报》的记者，主要关注环境和科学领域。