My day at Kranji War Memorial

.Was not quite a day...more like an hour. But still managed to take quite a few pictures.

As in the case of the Botanic Garden's trip, it started to rain, so I had to cut short my trip. But thankfully I managed to get all the shots I wanted.

Dedicated to the men and women from United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, India, Malaya, the Netherlands and New Zealand who died defending Singapore and Malaya against the invading Japanese forces during World War II, it comprises of the War Graves, the Memorial Walls, the State Cemetery, and the Military Graves.

The War Graves is the final resting place for 4,458 allied servicemen in marked graves laid out in rows on maintained and manicured lawns. Over 850 of these graves are unidentifiable. The Memorial Walls inscribes over 25,000 names of allied servicemen whose bodies were never found, spread over both sides of 12 columns of the war memorial itself.

A small cross by the side of one of the gravestones.


A pretentious arty shot


Someone laid some flowers at this.


A red poppy next to the name. You can find quite a number of those around the various memorial walls. Probably placed by friends or relatives.


Not quite Sao Paolo, but the closest thing we have here in The Tiny Red Dot.


"THEY DIED FOR ALL FREE MEN" Lest we forget...


Some of the tomb stones found there.


In the 'safe' is the guest book where all can sign their names or write tributes. On the left in that cabinet are books listing the names of all the people who are found at the memorial.


A closer look at the Cemetery and Memorial Register...


And a look inside at the Visitor Book.




The final resting place of Singapore's first President, Yusof Ishak.


The headstone of Singapore's 2nd President. One of only 2 graves at the expansive lawn State Cemetery site.


The arches that greet you as you approach...
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Kranji War Memorial is I feel, a very special place. It is a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life. And it is such a well maintained and clean garden. Everytime I go there I am left with a greater appreciation for all those that made our way of life possible. Every headstone there belongs to someone's son or daughter, husband or wife, child or parent. All died for a cause they believed in, so that people like us may someday be able blog about it. Makes you realise how much had been sacrificed.


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