Commemoration at Kranji

We Will Remember Them

The place came to life this morning. From a far we could see tour buses and cars filling up the grass patch of a make shift parking lot just outside the cemetery. 645am, daylight was sparingly being introduced to the darkened skies. Sailors dressed in their smart white uniforms ushered visitors onto the lawn where white chairs were lined facing the memorial.

Most of the seats where already filled by Seven. Veterans from all over the world gathered here yet again for another ceremony, each year their ranks getting thinner and thinner. Today, the 12th of September marks the 60th Anniversary of the end of the war when the Japanese formally surrendered to the Allied forces in Singapore in 1945.

I told myself that I had to witness this event, for this might just be the last major commemorative event for WWII as veterans get older and older with each passing year.

Here are 15 photographs that best tell the story...

Dawn: Two Navy contingents stand at ease as the ceremony is about to commence

They came from afar:

This veteran, like many others, made it to the ceremony on wheelchairs and walking sticks.


A prayer for all faiths:

Various religious leaders were engaged to say silent prayers for the dead.


Standing up:

Twice, the congregation had to stand up, once for the minutes' silence and once for the National Anthem at the end of the dedication.


Dipping the flag:

As the national Anthem of Singapore was being played.

Kudos to the RI choir for their beautiful rendition of the Majulah Singapura


At Attention:

Navy orderlies flanking the rows of the memorial walls during the proceedings, they were called to attention before marching off.


Stars: I wonder what stories he has to tell

War Heroine:

Elizabeth Choy (2nd from left) with news reporter Pek Siok Lian (on her right)


Overwhelming: A young man looking at the names of the dead

Medals galore:

They caught me taking a picture of them and they promptly posed for me.


Right about here: Two women veterans looking for the grave of a friend perhaps...?


Salute: A lone soldier pays his respects


The story behind the name:

School children listen intently to their tour guide tell the story of the men of Operation Rimau, a failed mission to sink Japanese ships in the Singapore Harbour.


Planting Crosses:

This veteran was planting commemorative wooden crosses infront of this row of graves. I didn't ask him how he knew those men but I noticed they were all from the Royal Artillery


Leaving the past behind:

Beyond the gate is the hustle and bustle of modern Singapore, a veteran steals a moment to have a smoke.

For The Fallen

They went with songs to battle, they were young,
straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow,
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them,

ALL: We will remember them.