 |
|
|
|
The
History Pages
Kranji War Memorial
for personnel killed during
the Japanese invasion and occupation of Singapore,
1942-1945.
|
|
|
|
 |
| ../ main
page / history index / kranji memorial |
|
Kranji War Memorial - Singapore |
|
Kranji Cemetery & War Memorial
for the British, ANZAC and Allied personnel killed during
the Japanese Invasion and Occupation of Singapore, 1942 -
1945. The casualties commemorated here died during the battle
for Malaya and Singapore and Indonesia, or who died during
captivity. Many of them during the building of the Death Railway.
Others died at sea while being transported elsewhere to work
as slave labour for the Japanese. Airmen who died in the Far
East war zone are also commemorated here.
• 1939 - 1945
ON THE WALLS OF THIS MEMORIAL ARE RECORDED
THE NAMES OF TWENTY-FOUR THOUSAND SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN
OF MANY RACES UNITED IN SERVICE TO THE BRITISH CROWN
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN MALAYA AND NEIGHBOURING LANDS AND
SEAS
AND IN THE AIR OVER SOUTHERN AND EASTERN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
BUT TO WHOM THE FORTUNE OF WAR
DENIED THE CUSTOMARY RITES
ACCORDED TO THEIR COMRADES IN DEATH
THEY DIED
FOR ALL FREE MEN
|
 |
• Royal Pioneer Corps Graves
|
| In the Far East at
Singapore, the Singapore Memorial bears, on its columns, the
names of over 24,000 soldiers and airmen of the British Commonwealth
and Empire who have no known grave. The airmen whose names are
inscribed on the Memorial died during operations over the whole
of southern and eastern Asia and the surrounding seas and oceans.
The Memorial stands in Kranji War Cemetery. The central avenue
of the Cemetery rises gently from the Stone of Remembrance,
near the entrance, to the Cross of Sacrifice, beyond which flights
of steps lead to a terrace on top of a hill on which the Memorial
stands. Twelve wide columns bear the name panels and support
a flat roof, which gives protection to the inscribed names and
shade and shelter to the visitor. Rising through the roof in
the centre, to a height of 24 metres, is a great pylon surmounted
by a star. . An inscription, "They Died for All Free Men"
is engraved in Hindi, Urdu, Gurmukhi, Chinese and Malay. Kranji
War Cemetery is 22 kilometres north of the city of Singapore,
on the north side of Singapore Island overlooking the Straits
of Johore. |
 |
• The graves by the cross are all
Royal Pioneer Corps graves.
|
 |
• This tower watches over the
peaceful rest of the brave men who
have sacrificed their lives to protect the
country.
|
|
|
• At the top of Kranji
Hill is the Great Winged Memorial. Projecting through the
roof of it is the Singapore Memorial. This reaches
to a height of 80 feet and is surmounted by a Star.
The walls are inscribed the names of over 24,000
men and women who have no known grave.
These names include that of a man who has been
named as a traitor, and who spied for the Japanese.
The Cross of Sacrifices can be seen in front of the Memorial.
|
|
|
