Fall of Singapore 80th Anniversary - Kranji War Cemetery

Photo: Singapore History Consultants

On 15 February 2022 at 7.30am, a Commemoration Ceremony honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of Malaya and Singapore took place at Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.

Organised by the Commemoration Committee for the 80th Anniversary of the Fall of Singapore, the Committee seeks to foster a spirit of peace and reconciliation among former combatant nations and comprises the Embassy of Japan, the High Commissions of Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Singapore Civil Defence Force, Sport Singapore, Singapore History Consultants Pte Ltd, and the Battlebox.

Photo: Singapore History Consultants

During World War Two, with the rapid advance of Japanese troops down the Malaysian Peninsular in January 1942, British and Commonwealth forces under the command of Lieutenant General Arthur Percival withdrew to Singapore island on 30-31 January.

On the 8^th February Japanese units landed on the beaches near Kranji, advancing quickly and savagely overcoming the thinly spread resistance. After the capture of the water supply, low ammunition and no hope of relief, Percival surrendered to the Imperial Japanese army on 15 February.

Over 80,000 Allied troops were captured, many of them dying in captivity building the infamous Burma-Thailand railway while the civilian population especially the Chinese community endured a brutal occupation.

After the war, the small war cemetery established by wartime prisoners at Kranji expanded incorporating the fallen from other military cemeteries across the island and became a permanent war cemetery. Kranji War Cemetery and the Singapore Memorial were designed by Colin St Clair Oakes.

For more information visit the CWGC blog The Battle of Singapore 80 years on.

Photo: Singapore History Consultants