This chronometer belonged to the HMS Bulan, a cable laying ship built in 1924 for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O). Bulan means ‘moon’ in Malay. In 1939, upon the beginning of the Second World War, the Bulan was incorporated into the Malayan Auxiliary Fleet.The Japanese invasion of Malaya in December 1941 led to the Bulan being taken over by the Royal Navy and its crew was replaced by men from the sunken battleships Prince of Wales and Repulse. As Singapore was further threatened by invasion, the evacuation of civilians and some key technicians began in January 1942. The Bulan participated in the evacuation in February 1942, safely bringing refugees from Keppel Harbour to Batavia despite being bombed in the Banka Strait.
