Deep within a quiet neighbourhood, about 22 kilometres from the city centre, lies the Kranji War Memorial, a hillside cemetery that is quite beautiful in its serenity once you get there.
"Their name liveth forevermore". The moment we stepped into the War Memorial, what greeted us were these four words inscribed on The Memorial Stone at the entrance. The memorial honours the men and women from Britain, Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, India, Malaya, the Netherlands and New Zealand who died in the line of duty during World War II.
Under the guidance of Mr Milton Tan, we were officially introduced to the Kranji War Memorial. The Kranji War Memorial is laid out in a geometric pattern of stones spread out on a gently sloping green hill which offers a commanding view across the Straits of Johore to the north and over the hills of Singapore to the south. The Kranji War Cemetery was designed by Colin St. Clair Oakes. The design represents the army, the navy and the air-force services. The vertical element is the conning tower with a star at the top, while the spreading elements are the wings and the walls, symbolic of military formations. Here, 4,465 men and women who have laid their lives during the war rest in peace. Some were even as young as 21 years old.
As we remember those who have laid down their lives to protect the country, the most important lesson we learnt was of the futility of war - the fact that there are no winners, only losers. War should never be glorified. Aggression and violence should never be the means to resolve ideological differences, because in the end, the greatest losers are the innocent ones who sacrifice their lives in war.
Medals for individuals going beyond the call of duty:
Singapore: Order of Temasek (Never been awarded, no outbreak of war since Singapore's independence)
United Kingdom: Victoria's Cross
United States of America: Medal of Honour
Under the guidance of Mr Milton Tan, we were officially introduced to the Kranji War Memorial. The Kranji War Memorial is laid out in a geometric pattern of stones spread out on a gently sloping green hill which offers a commanding view across the Straits of Johore to the north and over the hills of Singapore to the south. The Kranji War Cemetery was designed by Colin St. Clair Oakes. The design represents the army, the navy and the air-force services. The vertical element is the conning tower with a star at the top, while the spreading elements are the wings and the walls, symbolic of military formations. Here, 4,465 men and women who have laid their lives during the war rest in peace. Some were even as young as 21 years old.
As we remember those who have laid down their lives to protect the country, the most important lesson we learnt was of the futility of war - the fact that there are no winners, only losers. War should never be glorified. Aggression and violence should never be the means to resolve ideological differences, because in the end, the greatest losers are the innocent ones who sacrifice their lives in war.
Medals for individuals going beyond the call of duty:
Singapore: Order of Temasek (Never been awarded, no outbreak of war since Singapore's independence)
United Kingdom: Victoria's Cross
United States of America: Medal of Honour