Singapore Remembers

Singapore commemorates the 60th anniversary of war’s end

The Singaporean government and tourism board have produced a commemorative programme starting in March and ending on 12 September 2005 to mark the 60th anniversary of the surrender to the allies of the Japanese occupation forces. RSA Review Editor Paul Harrison was invited to Singapore to gain an insight of the programme and visit the historical sites that are now a part of that country's World War Two history. This is the first of three reports on the commemorations.

For those who have served in post-war Singapore, the most visible signs of its occupation during WWII were the bullet-pocked walls of the old defence establishments, the memorial on the padang to the many thousands of Chinese civilians murdered by the Japanese, the Changi murals, and the Kranji war cemetery.
In recent years, the Singaporean government has embarked on an intensive programme to record this part of their history with the restoration of several WWII defence sites including the extensive use of interactive displays. There is also much memorabilia housed in a replica of the Changi prison chapel not far from its original site.

The restored 6-inch gun at the Labrador Park battery.		Familiar to those who have served in Singapore, the impressive Kranji War Cemetery sits on ground that was fiercly fought over during WWII.

Watched by several hundred school children, three Singaporean Armed Forces veterans move forward to place their wreath at the foot of the impressive memorial to the Singaporean civilians who died during the occupation of the island by the Japanese 1942 - 1945.		Enrance to the "Battle Box" at Fort Canning. This was the underground Headquarters for the British Forces in Singapore, and where General Percival GOC, finally agreed that Singapore could no longer be defended.

Within Singaporean primary and secondary school syllabi, emphasis has been placed on students learning about this period of their country's history, and the clever use of the various historical sites for geography and mathematics classes encourage the learning process.

On 15 February 2005, there was a major civil ceremony at the National War Memorial in the central business district of Singapore city. The impressive monument comprises four arches extending skywards, and commemorates all the civilians killed during the war years. Members of the local government, foreign dignitaries, religious sects, and groups representing the 1200 schools in Singapore observed with reverence the laying of wreaths at the monument. Many Singapore veterans, some from WWII, also attended the service. Colonel Martin Dransfield, New Zealand Defence Adviser to Singapore, represented New Zealand.

The civil ceremony kicked off a rolling programme of commemorations, the second being the opening of the tunnels at Labrador Park, a defence artillery installation dating back to the 1840s, overlooking the approaches to Keppel harbour. Within the 16-hectare park, a 1930s 6-inch quick firing gun has been restored on its original mounting. A series of the old tunnels housing the shells and propellants has been refurbished and are open to the public. Around the respective displays, well-appointed signs inform the visitor on the weaponry and the role it carried out during the frantic defence of Singapore in 1941-42.