SINGAPORE MEMORIAL

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28217, 4 March 1957, Page 9

SINGAPORE MEMORIAL

Unveiling On Saturday (Rec. 10 p.m.) SINGAPORE, March 2. High-flying jet fighters flashed in the tropical sunlight today in tribute as hundreds of silent mourners thronged Kranji War Cemetery for the unveiling of the Singapore memorial. , Sir Robert Black, Governor of Singapore, unveiled the memorial to “the glory of God and in honour of free men.” To a roll of drums, soldiers of different ranks and races pulled aside the huge Commonwealth flags covering the inscriptions on the grey-pillared memorial. Women from England and Australia bowed their heads in tears along with grieving Malay, Indian, Ghurka, and Chinese relatives of those who died in the South-east Asia theatre of World War 11.

Site of Battle This giant stone memorial towers above the. wind-swept hills of North Singapore on the exact spot where Australian troops fought against the Japanese assault early in 1942. Women standing in prayei clutched photographs or treasured keepsakes of husbands, fathers, and sons killed in battle or captivity. Many wore medals and war decorations on costumes and summer frocks. The Singapore memorial, honouring 24,000 men and women of the Commonwealth land and air forces who lie in unknown graves, was bright with Malayan flowers as service representatives laid scores of wreaths. Representatives of British Com-! monwealth countries, including Mr R. L. Harry, Australian Commissioner, and Mr Foss Shanahan, New Zealand Commissioner in South-east Asia, also laid wreaths.