11^th November is Remembrance Day. It is named by King George V to commemorate the end of World War I (WWI). Every year on a Sunday nearest to 11th November, in Singapore, a solemn occasion is held to honour the soldiers who sacrificed selflessly in WWI. This year it happens to be on actual day itself. An observance ceremony was held last Sunday, 11^th November 2007, at Kranji War Memorial. Generations of the brave traveled from all over the world to Singapore and those recognizing the sacrifices that were made for the rest of the free men were gathered at the cemetery which comprises of 4,458 allied servicemen. The War Cemetery comprises of burials from WWI, WWII and Malayan Campaign. The War Memorial represents the three branches of the military; Air Force, Army and Navy. The columns represent the Army, which marches in columns, the cover over the columns are shaped after of the wings of a plane, representing the Air Force, and the thing at the top is shaped after the periscope of a submarine, representing the Navy. The Memorial’s walls inscribe over 24,000 names of allied servicemen whose bodies were never found, spread over both sides of 12 columns of the war memorial itself.The ceremony’s order of service starts off with the arrival of guests and Wreath Layer with the Tanglin Trust School Choir singing “Morning has broken”, “Make me a Channel of your Peace” and “In Flanders Fields”. Speeches made by various representatives followed with minutes of silence were carried out in the act of remembrance. Representatives will then lay poppy flower wreaths at the front of the Memorial wall. Poppy emblem was chosen because poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, and their red colour an appropriate representation of the bloodshed of trench warfare.

In midst of the act of remembrance, the Singapore Armed Forces’ Military Policemen inverted their weapons in demonstration of their utmost respect for those who have sacrificed. Proud to mention, I was actually part of the small contingent who volunteered for last year’s Remembrance Day. Anyway thereafter, the ceremony ended with a “Lest we Forget” and guests saying “We will remember them”. After the Remembrance ceremony, personnel from Changi Museum conducted free guided tours around the cemetery and memorial. However, please note that it is only on this special day that they conduct tours. As for next year’s service it will be dated 9^th November 2008.

For interested visitors, be informed that the state cemetery is just next to the Kranji War Memorial. The burial site of Inche Yusuf bin Ishak and Benjamin Henry Sheares who were the first two Presidents of Singapore. If you are travelling from Kranji to Yew Tee Station, you will be able to see Kranji War Memorial after the Singapore Turf Club.

• Address:
  • 9 Woodlands Road
• Getting There:
  • Take the MRT to Kranji Station (NS7) and take a 5 minute walk to Kranji War Memorial.

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