Complex sentence: Shortly before World War II, it was moved to the city of Surat Thani on the banks of the Tapi river, but when the Japanese invaded Thailand on December 8,1941, the building caught fire in the battle for the city and was destroyed.
Split into simpler sentences: Shortly before World War II, it was moved to the city of Surat Thani on the banks of the Tapi River. When the Japanese invaded Thailand on 8 December 1941, the building caught fire in the battle for the city and was destroyed.