ESPLANADE

承前启后的新月

伊丽莎白女王步道

林谋盛纪念碑

WAR

 MEMORIAL

和平纪念碑/

世界大战

阵亡战士

纪念碑

纪念碑

Background

of

Lim Bo  Seng

LITTLE RED DOT

一长条走道叫海滨公园，以前叫伊丽莎白道。

这块地是填海的。

为 纪 念 英 国 ⼥ 皇 伊 丽 莎 ⽩ ⼆ 世 的 加 冕。

是早期的沙爹俱樂部所在地。

林 谋 盛 烈 ⼠ 纪 念 碑：林 谋 盛 在 第 ⼆ 次 ⼤ 战 中 加 ⼊ 抗 ⽇ 活 动 和 ⽇ 军 对 抗。纪 念 塔 为 ⼋ ⻆ 形 中 国 宝 塔 式 建 筑 ， 塔 脚 四 周 各 有 ⼀  只 铜 狮 守 护 。纪念碑而已不是坟墓。

Stories From Syonan To Singapore

Lim Bo Seng -Singapore’s indefatigable war hero

Background of Lim Bo Seng

Lim Bo Seng’s life story reflects his unwavering patriotism and resilience. Born in Fujian, China, Lim moved to Singapore at 16 and attended Raffles Institution, where he was a classmate of Yusof Ishak, Singapore’s first president.¹⁶¹ He later dropped out of the University of Hong Kong to take over his family’s businesses, including a biscuit and brick manufacturing company.¹⁶² A successful merchant, he held prominent positions in several organizations, such as the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Singapore Hokkien Association.¹⁶³ A father of eight, Lim also organized fundraisers and protests in the 1930s to support anti-Japanese efforts.¹⁶⁴

When Japanese forces invaded Malaya in December 1941, Lim was appointed head of labour services for the Overseas Chinese Mobilisation Council.¹⁶⁵ He gathered 10,000 men to construct defences and destroy the Causeway to impede the Japanese advance. As Singapore fell, Lim made the difficult decision to leave the island, escaping by sampan to India while his family stayed behind for safety.¹⁶⁶ In India, he joined Force 136, a British-led resistance network, recruiting Chinese agents to gather intelligence.¹⁶⁷ However, betrayals within the group led to the arrests of many members, including Lim, who was captured while working with the British to expand the intelligence network in Malaya.¹⁶⁸

In captivity at Batu Gajah Gaol, Lim was starved, tortured, and ultimately succumbed to malnutrition, dysentery, and mistreatment at the age of 35.¹⁶⁹ Despite his suffering, he shared his rations with fellow prisoners and remained steadfast, refusing to divulge information to the Japanese.¹⁷⁰ After the war, his remains were repatriated to Singapore and buried with full military honours at MacRitchie Reservoir.¹⁷¹ His wife, Gan Choo Neo, managed to protect their family by moving between hideouts, including St. John’s Island.¹⁷² Lim’s legacy as a patriot and war hero endures, symbolised by the memorial that bears his name.

Funeral Service for Lim Bo Seng

On the 13^th of January 1946, the steps of the Municipal Building would host the funeral ceremony of the late Major-General Lim Bo Seng.⁶⁴ Having suffered at the hands of the Japanese military police in Perak, where he was held at Batu Gajah Gaol, Lim succumbed to malnutrition, dysentery, and torture at the age of 35 in 1944, reportedly having been “reduced to a bag of bones”.⁶⁵ His remains were initially buried in a mass grave near prison grounds, but in December 1945 his widow Gan Choo Neo travelled up to retrieve her husband’s remains. Lim was thus exhumed and returned to Singapore for reburial at Macritchie Reservoir.⁶⁶

Lim Bo Seng Memorial

The Lim Bo Seng Memorial honours the bravery and sacrifice of war hero Lim Bo Seng, a key

figure in Singapore’s World War II history. In 1946, a committee was formed in response to a promise made by British authorities at Lim’s funeral at MacRitchie – to support the construction of a memorial to the late war hero.¹⁵³

Colonel Chuang Hui Chuan would take up chairmanship of the newly established Lim Bo Seng Memorial Committee, whose task was to fundraise and work with the colonial government to turn the proposed memorial into reality.¹⁵⁴ Chuang Hui Chuan had previously worked alongside Lim in fundraising and anti-Japanese activities, and had served as the deputy head of the secretive Force 136 during the war.¹⁵⁵

Initial proposals to build a memorial at the grave’s location in MacRitchie were rejected by the British for reasons of size and inclusivity – what would have been a grand Chinese memorial with features that enabled mourners to offer incense and perform Chinese mourning rituals would look markedly different when the memorial was eventually built.¹⁵⁶

The British eventually accepted the committee’s sixth proposal, by which time the committee was publicly frustrated with the process of working with the British government. The memorial would be given a space in Esplanade Park, and would be significantly reduced in size and features.¹⁵⁷

This new memorial to Lim could be directly compared to the grander Cenotaph a stone’s throw away – an attempt by the colonial powers to retain control over war narratives and memoryscapes, to ensure that local narratives would not trump the existing hold that the British had on the colony.¹⁵⁸

Ng Keng Sian, Singapore’s first overseas-trained architect, designed the memorial that was ultimately accepted and realized.¹⁵⁹ He would blend traditional Chinese motifs with modern materials, drawing from Chinese nationalist architecture in the monuments’ bronze roof and four lion statuettes.¹⁶⁰

Lim’s business acumen put him in good stead to manage and grow his father’s businesses. As a result he also became a prominent merchant. On top of this, Lim served in key positions in a number of associations such as the Singapore Contractors Association, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Singapore Hokkien Association.

Lim married teacher Gan Choo Neo in 1930.She bore him eight children, one of whom died at a young age. He was a loving father, taking his children to High Street on weekends to read and buy books at Ensign Bookshop before adjourning to Polar Cafe for cake and ice cream.

When war broke out in China, Lim stepped forward and took on an active role in resisting Japanese advances, earning himself a distinguished place in history as one of Malaya’s foremost war heroes. But his anti-war efforts required great sacrifice. When Singapore fell to the Japanese, Lim found himself having little choice but to separate from his beloved family.

Clandestine missions
Lim’s anti-war efforts, where he organised fundraisers and protests, began in the 1930s, before the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese war.

In December 1941, Japanese troops infiltrated Kota Bharu in Malaya in an amphibious attack. Alarmed, the British called on Lim to help bolster Singapore’s defence infrastructure. As head of Labour Services of the Overseas Chinese Mobilisation Council, he gathered 10,000 men to erect defences, run key services for the population, and blow up the Causeway — a means in which the Japanese could storm Singapore.

With the Japanese on Singapore’s doorstep, arrangements were made for Lim and his family to leave for their safety. However, with the Japanese sinking evacuating vessels, Lim made the call to have them stay on in Singapore, choosing instead to leave their side.

In a diary entry dated 11 February 1942, just days before the fall of Singapore, Lim wrote that the decision to separate pained him greatly. “To leave the dear Mrs behind at the mercy of the enemy would go very hard against my own conscience. On the other hand, to remain with the family in the event of enemy occupation, would not in any way improve the situation but my presence may even make their lot very much harder.”

He added that his children were "too stupefied to realise what was happening” as they kissed him goodbye. “I shall never forget the tear-stained faces as long as I live. If there is anything I could do to make up for what they were then going through, I shall not spare myself to carry it out.” It was the last time he would see them. .

Lim left soon after by sampan, observing in his diary that the sky was lit up by enemy fire in three directions — Pasir Panjang, Serangoon and Bukit Timah. By morning, Singapore was “enveloped in a pall of smoke”.

Lim eventually found his way to India, joining Force 136, a secret service unit established by the British and Chinese governments to recapture Singapore.He was responsible for recruiting Chinese espionage agents who could blend in with locals to gather intelligence.

Upon completion of their training, teams from Force 136 boarded a Dutch submarine from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to re-enter the Japanese controlled territory of Malaya. Lim was among them. While in Malaya, Force 136 attempted to collaborate with the area’s main resistance movement, the Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army. It also set up a covert network to gather intelligence.

Later, following some blunders and a betrayal, information was divulged to the Japanese which led to the arrests of Force 136 agents. Lim, who had left the group’s Bukit Bidor camp to raise funds and expand its intelligence network, was also arrested.

Lim was mercilessly starved and tortured for information by Japanese military police at the Batu Gajah Gaol where he was incarcerated. They failed to break him. Despite his own plight, Lim shared his meagre food rations with fellow prisoners. Compatriots who witnessed his last days in prison said he had been "reduced to a bag of bones".He eventually died of malnutrition, dysentery and torture at 35. Wrapped in a tattered blanket, he was taken away in a wooden cart and buried in a mass grave near the prison grounds.

A hero’s return
In Singapore, the Japanese who were baying for blood, were successful in hunting down and killing eight of Lim’s relatives living at 855 Serangoon Road — a compound comprising three houses built by Lim Loh. Lim’s wife, however, managed to outwit them, moving her family from one hideout to another. At one point, she even sought refuge at St John’s Island.

Following his unceremonious burial in Batu Gajah, Lim’s remains were brought back to Singapore.After a funeral at City Hall, he was laid to rest with full military honours on a hill overlooking MacRitchie Reservoir where he used to court his wife. He was posthumously awarded the rank of major-general by the Chinese Nationalist government in 1946.

Lim Bo Deng funeral
Lim Bo Seng's wife Gan Choo Neo on the far right in black during his funeral service at Macritchie Reservoir. (Image from the Tham Sien Yen Collection courtesy of the National Archives of Singapore)

On the 10th anniversary of his death, a memorial built in his honour was unveiled at Esplanade Park. It is the only World War II memorial in Singapore dedicated to an individual. It was gazetted a national monument in 2010 alongside two other structures in the park.

In 2016, Lim’s personal diary which he left behind for his heartbroken wife, resurfaced. One entry reads:

“You must not grieve for me. On the other hand, you should take pride in my sacrifice and devote yourself to the upbringing of the children. Tell them what happened to me and direct them along my footsteps.”

英雄归来

在新加坡，嗜血的日本人成功追捕并杀害了林谋盛的八名亲属，他们住在实龙岗路 855 号——一座由林乐建造的由三栋房子组成的建筑群。然而，林谋盛的妻子设法战胜了他们，将家人从一个藏身处转移到另一个藏身处。有一次，她甚至在圣约翰岛寻求庇护。

在华都牙也草草埋葬林谋盛后，他的遗体被运回新加坡。在市政厅举行葬礼后，他以军人礼仪安葬在俯瞰麦里芝蓄水池的一座小山上，他曾在那里追求妻子。1946 年，中国国民政府追授他少将军衔。

林谋盛葬礼
在麦里芝蓄水池举行的葬礼上，林谋盛的妻子颜珠娘身着黑衣，位于最右边。 （图片来自新加坡国家档案馆提供的谭先燕收藏）

在他逝世十周年之际，滨海公园为他修建的纪念碑揭幕。这是新加坡唯一一座以个人名义修建的二战纪念碑。2010 年，它与公园内的其他两座建筑一起被列为国家纪念碑。

2016 年，林先生留给心碎妻子的私人日记再次浮出水面。其中一条日记写道：“你一定不要为我悲伤。另一方面，你应该为我的牺牲感到自豪，并致力于抚养孩子。告诉他们发生在我身上的事情，并引导他们追随我的脚步。”

Cenotaph

Situated at Esplanade Park along Connaught Drive, the Cenotaph stands as Singapore’s only war memorial dedicated to honouring those who sacrificed their lives during the two world wars.¹⁸⁹

It was unveiled on 31 March 1922 by the Prince of Wales, who later became the Duke of Windsor and King Edward VIII.¹⁹⁰

The Cenotaph is constructed from local granite and rises nearly 18 meters high; Bronze tablets inscribed with the names of World War I casualties adorn the memorial.¹⁹¹ The five original steps leading to the structure are etched with the years of the war: 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, and 1918.¹⁹² At the pinnacle lies a sarcophagus, adorned with bronze lion-head handles, symbolizing courage, below it, a laurel wreath enclosing a crown represents victory and the British Crown Colony.¹⁹³

The front of the memorial bears the inscription “The Glorious Dead,” accompanied by the years 1914 to 1918.¹⁹⁴

On the reverse side, a solemn tribute to World War II soldiers reads: “They died that we might live,” inscribed in English, Malay, Chinese, and Tamil.¹⁹⁵ While no individual names are listed for World War II casualties, the extended steps added in 1951 display the years 1939 through 1943.

 The remaining war years, 1944 and 1945, are engraved at the base of the monument.¹⁹⁶

History

The Cenotaph was initially constructed as a tribute to the 124 men from Singapore who perished in action during World War I.¹⁹⁷ Designed by architect Denis Santry of Swan & Maclaren, it was inspired by the Whitehall Cenotaph in London.¹⁹⁸ The foundation stone was laid on 15 November 1920 by Sir Laurence Nunns Guillemard, then Governor of the Straits Settlements.¹⁹⁹

 The ceremony was attended by notable figures, including M. Georges Clemenceau, the then French Premier, and Major-General Sir D. H. Ridout, who commanded the Straits Settlements troops.²⁰⁰

The memorial’s unveiling took place on 31 March 1922, led by the Prince of Wales during his tour of Malaya, India, Australia, and New Zealand.²⁰¹

Among his entourage was Lord Louis Mountbatten, who would later return to Singapore after World War II as the Supreme Commander of Southeast Asia to oversee Japan’s surrender.²⁰²

Between 1922 and 1941, annual memorial services, including religious ceremonies and military processions, were held at the Cenotaph to honour fallen World War I soldiers.²⁰³ These events ceased during the Japanese Occupation but resumed after 1945, with World War II casualties also being commemorated.²⁰⁴

By 1963, Remembrance Day services were held at both the Cenotaph and the Kranji War Cemetery (now the Kranji War Memorial).²⁰⁷

Today, Remembrance Day in Singapore is primarily observed at the Kranji War Memorial.²⁰⁸

 The Cenotaph -They died that we might live

The Cenotaph, located at Esplanade Park along Connaught Drive, is the only war memorial in Singapore that commemorates the sacrifice of individuals who died in the two world wars. It was first unveiled on 31 March 1922 by the Prince of Wales (later Duke of Windsor and King Edward VIII).2The war memorial was gazetted as a national monument on 28 December 2010, together with two other structures at Esplanade Park – the Lim Bo Seng Memorial and Tan Kim Seng Fountain.

History
The Cenotaph was first erected as a memorial in honour of the 124 men from Singapore who died in action during World War I. It was designed by architect Denis Santry of Swan & Maclaren, and modelled after the Whitehall Cenotaph in London, England.

The foundation stone was laid on 15 November 1920 by Sir Laurence Nunns Guillemard, then governor of the Straits Settlements, in the presence of M. Georges Clemenceau, then premier of France, and Major-General Sir D. H. Ridout, the general officer commanding the troops of the Straits Settlements.

The memorial was unveiled on 31 March 1922 in a ceremony by the Prince of Wales during his tour of Malaya, India, Australia and New Zealand.Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was part of his entourage as aide-de-camp, would return to Singapore after the end of World War II as Supreme Commander of Southeast Asia to accept the Japanese surrender.

From 1922 to 1941, annual religious ceremonies and military processions were held at the Cenotaph as part of memorial services to remember the fallen soldiers of both world wars. Armistice Day on 11 November was commemorated for World War I soldiers until 1941, before the Japanese Occupation, when the memorial services ceased.

Memorial services resumed after 1945, and the fallen soldiers of World War II are remembered as well. Since 1946, this commemoration has been known as Remembrance Day.

In 1950, the government approved an extension to the base of the structure to commemorate those who died during World War II.The extension was completed in 1951.

In 1963, the Remembrance Day service was held simultaneously at the Cenotaph and Kranji war graves cemetery (Kranji War Memorial today).

 In Singapore, Remembrance Day continues to be commemorated at the Kranji War Memorial.

The ANZAC Day has also been commemorated at the Cenotaph.

Description

The Cenotaph is made of local granite and nearly 18 m high. Bronze tablets on the memorial bear the names of the individuals who perished in World War I. Each of the original five steps leading up to the monument bears the war years, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917 and 1918.

The Glorious Dead-WW1

Crowning the structure is a sarcophagus with bronze lion’s head handles. Below it is a bronze medallion consisting of a laurel wreath of victory enclosing a crown, to which the soldiers had rallied. The crown is also a symbol of the crown colony. Lower down is the inscription “The Glorious Dead”, and below the inscription are the years 1914 to 1918.
 

They died that we might live  WW2

On the reverse side, though no names are listed to commemorate the World War II casualties, the phrase “They died that we might live” is inscribed in the four official languages: English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. The extended steps added in 1951 bear the war years 1939 to 1943 in succession, leaving the remaining years of the war, 1944 and 1945, to be inscribed on the base of the monument.

There are 14 pylons on both sides of the stone structure showing the names of famous World War I battles, with each battle surmounted by a laurel wreath.

The Cenotaph is a simple, stately structure, wrought with just a hammer and chisel.

Planning and Construction

Singapore would experience rapid growth amidst modernizing projects in the 1950s and 1960s, as the nation sought to achieve decolonialisation and independence for itself.²²¹ As an unintended result of the many residential and industrial construction projects carried out throughout the island, mass graves were discovered in Siglap by accident in February 1962.²²² The area in Siglap off Jalan Puat Poon came to be known as the “Valley of death”.²²³ The Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry would convene a committee to uncover more mass graves.²²⁴ Relying on information obtained from the public, including war survivors and witnesses, the committee would eventually uncover and exhume 2 more mass graves on Changi Road and 40 more mass graves in Siglap.²²⁵

The discovery and exhumation of these remains would be the beginning of a healing process for the Chinese community, who were anxious that the spirits of their loved ones would not find peace in the afterlife.²²⁶

 A long-held Chinese Taoist belief was that those who suffered violent deaths and did not receive ritual offerings of food at their graves would eventually turn into ‘hungry ghosts’.²²⁷

Indeed, when the monument was unveiled in 1967, the crowd in attendance consisted various religious leaders from various faiths as well as the many families of the dead, especially mothers of the deceased.²²⁸

Civilian War Memorial

The Civilian War Memorial is a monument dedicated to civilians who perished during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore (1942–45). It is located on a parkland, along Beach Road, opposite Raffles City.

The memorial’s structure comprises four tapering columns of approximately 68 m high. These columns symbolise the merging of four streams of culture into one and the principle of unity of all races. It resembles two pairs of chopsticks, so it is affectionately called the “chopsticks” memorial. Since its unveiling on 15 February 1967 (exactly 25 years after Singapore fell to the Japanese), ex-servicemen, families and others gather at the memorial every year on 15 February to commemorate that fateful day.

History
During World War II, Singapore fell to the Japanese forces, who occupied Singapore from 15 February 1942 to 12 September 1945.

On 21 February 1942, the Japanese carried out a military operation aimed at eliminating anti-Japanese elements from the Chinese community in Singapore. The operation, which came to be known as “Sook Ching”, lasted two weeks, during which Chinese males between 18 and 50 years old were summoned to various mass screening centres. Those suspected of being anti-Japanese were then executed.

The number of those taken away and massacred has been an unknown. Immediately after the war, investigation conducted in Tokyo on the Sook Ching operation produced the figure of around 5,000, while Kempeitai (Japanese military police) reports indicated 6,000. The Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SCCC), on the other hand, reported a figure of 40,000 during post-war reparation claims from the Japanese.

Discovery of human remains
On 24 February 1962, an article in The Straits Times, “Mass war graves found in Siglap’s ‘valley of death’”, reported the discovery of five separate war graves in Siglap. The graves contained the remains of civilian victims massacred by the Japanese army during the Japanese Occupation.

The human remains were first uncovered during sandwashing operations in an area off Siglap Road. After subsequent investigations by a SCCC team comprising Ng Aik Huan, Toh Keng Tuan and Lam Thian, five mass graves were located. The discovery prompted the chamber to make a public call for information on other such graves in Singapore.

Further investigations uncovered 40 more mass war graves, off Evergreen Avenue in Siglap. Another two were found at the 10.5 milestone along Changi Road, where Ng claimed that more than 1,000 people were machine-gunned and buried.

Proposal for a civilians grave and monument site
On 28 February 1962, the SCCC formed a committee to undertake the exhumation of the discovered war graves and reburial of the remains. The chamber also asked the Singapore government for a piece of land for the reburial and to erect a memorial, as well as to seek compensation from the Japanese government for the massacre of civilians during the Japanese Occupation. However, reparation could only be sought through the British government since Singapore’s foreign affairs were still in the hands of the British.

On 14 March 1962, then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew announced in the legislative assembly that the Singapore government had asked the British government to seek amends and atonement from the Japanese government, in connection with the massacre committed by the Japanese during the war.

Lee also announced that a park and memorial would be built at Siglap for those massacred by the Japanese during the war, if the Japanese would make compensation.

The Civilian War Memorial project
On 13 March 1963, the Singapore government announced that it would set aside 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) of land along Beach Road, opposite Raffles Institution, for the building of a memorial and park to commemorate the civilian victims massacred during the Japanese Occupation. The remains from the discovered mass graves would be cremated and the ashes placed in the park. The cost of constructing the memorial was estimated at $750,000. The government would pay half of the construction cost by matching public donation on a dollar-to-dollar basis.

Days later on 19 March, the SCCC set up a Memorial Building Fund Committee to raise funds for the construction of the memorial. A public meeting was then convened on 21 April. Attended by more than 1,000 representatives from 509 societies in Singapore, including those from the Malay, Indian, Ceylonese and Eurasian communities, the meeting raised more than $100,000. Further donations received after the meeting amounted to $30,000.

Ground-breaking ceremony
On 15 June 1963, a gathering which included representatives from the Inter-Religious Organisation and members of the consular corps witnessed Lee performing the ceremony of “turning (or breaking) the sod” to lay the foundation for the memorial.

In conjunction with the ground-breaking ceremony, a one-week exhibition was held at the Victoria Memorial Hall, which showcased 25 designs for the memorial, received in a competition held earlier in March. Architectural firm Swan and Maclaren won the best design, which originally comprised a rectangular raised platform enclosing a vault in which the ashes of victims would be placed. A total of 12 parallel sets of concrete fins were to be built above the rectangular platform to form a 30-metre high archway.19 However, the design had to be amended when the original plan of cremating the remains had to be changed to reburial, out of respect for the different religions. The design for the memorial was thus revised to the present one, which comprises four tapering columns. It was designed by Leong Swee Lim of Swan and Maclaren.

Unveiling of memorial
The memorial was completed in January 1967 at a cost of approximately $500,000.21 Before its completion, a ceremony was held on 1 November 1966, during which 606 urns containing the remains from the mass graves were interred on either side of the memorial podium.

The memorial was officially unveiled by Lee on 15 February 1967, which was the 25th anniversary of the fall of Singapore. In his speech, Lee said, “We meet not to rekindle old fires of hatred, nor to seek settlements for blood debts. We meet to remember the men and women who were the hapless victims of one of the fires of history. This monument will remind those of us who were here 25 years ago, of what can happen to people caught completely unaware and unprepared for what was in store for them. It will help our children understand and remember, what we have told them of this lesson we paid so bitterly to learn”.

Before Lee unveiled a plaque and laid the first wreath on behalf of the government and the people of Singapore, prayers were said by leaders of the Inter-Religious Council representing Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh and Zoroastrian faiths. A three-minute silence followed the laying of the wreaths. The event was attended by many families of the dead, especially the mothers.

Description
The memorial was built on a burial chamber which houses 606 urns containing the remains of thousands of unknown civilians exhumed by SCCC from the discovered mass graves.

The monument’s structure comprises four tapering columns of approximately 68 m high, representing four streams of culture merging into one.26 Within the columns and resting on top of a pedestal is a large bronze urn with small lion heads all-round, symbolising the remains of the dead buried beneath.27 The base of the monument is surrounded by a shallow pool of water, giving it an atmosphere of serenity.

Surrounding the memorial is a parkland, which was laid out three years after the memorial was erected.

Annual commemoration
Since the memorial was officially unveiled, commemorations, ceremonies and services have been held there every year on 15 February to remember civilians who were killed during the Japanese Occupation.

Total Defence Day is also marked annually on 15 February to commemorate the fateful day in 1942 when British forces surrendered Singapore to the Japanese.

The memorial was gazetted as a national monument on 15 August 2013.

This year in 2025 is the 58th edition -anniversary .

日本占领时期死难人民纪念碑

它建于 1967 年，高 68 米，是为纪念二战时期死难的平民而建。

四根白色立柱象征着新加坡的四大种族，体现了不同种族在日占时期所共同承受的磨难。纪念碑不仅仅是为了缅怀死者，更是为了提醒世人战争的残酷及新加坡社会在战后重建中所展现的团结精神。

新加坡平民战争纪念碑是一座纪念新加坡日治时期（1942-45 年）遇难平民的纪念碑。纪念碑位于莱佛士城对面的美芝路旁的公园内。纪念碑由四根约 68 米高的锥形柱组成。

这些柱子象征着四大文化流派的融合和各族团结的原则。纪念碑的形状类似于两双筷子，因此被亲切地称为“筷子”纪念碑。

自纪念碑于 1967 年 2 月 15 日（新加坡沦陷 25 周年）揭幕以来，退役军人、家属和其他人每年都会在 2 月 15 日聚集在纪念碑前，纪念那个决定性的日子。

历史
第二次世界大战期间，新加坡沦陷于日军手中，日军于 1942 年 2 月 15 日至 1945 年 9 月 12 日占领新加坡。

1942 年 2 月 21 日，日军发动军事行动，旨在从新加坡华人社区中清除反日分子。该行动后来被称为“肃清行动”，持续了两周，期间 18 至 50 岁的华人男性被传唤到各种大规模筛查中心。那些被怀疑反日的人随后被处决。

被带走并被屠杀的人数不详。战争结束后，东京对肃清行动的调查得出的数字是约 5,000 人，而日本宪兵队 (日本宪兵队) 的报告则显示有 6,000 人。另一方面，新加坡中华总商会 (SCCC) 在战后向日本索赔时报告的数字是 40,000 人。

发现人类遗骸
1962 年 2 月 24 日，《海峡时报》刊登了一篇题为“实乞纳‘死亡之谷’发现集体战争坟墓”的文章，报道了在实乞纳发现五个独立的战争坟墓。这些坟墓里埋葬着日军占领期间被日军屠杀的平民受害者的遗骸。

这些人类遗骸首先是在实乞纳路附近地区的洗沙作业中发现的。随后，由 Ng Aik Huan、Toh Keng Tuan 和 Lam Thian 组成的 SCCC 小组进行了调查，找到了五个集体坟墓。这一发现促使该商会公开征集新加坡其他此类坟墓的信息。

进一步的调查在实乞纳常青大道附近发现了 40 多个集体战争坟墓。在樟宜路沿线 10.5 英里处发现了另外两个，Ng 声称有 1,000 多人在那里被机枪射杀并埋葬。

提议设立平民墓地和纪念碑
1962 年 2 月 28 日，新加坡中华总商会成立委员会，负责挖掘已发现的战争墓地并重新安葬遗骸。商会还要求新加坡政府划出一块土地，用于重新安葬和建立纪念碑，并要求日本政府就日治时期大屠杀平民作出赔偿。然而，赔偿只能通过英国政府，因为新加坡的外交事务仍由英国人掌控。
1962 年 3 月 14 日，时任总理李光耀在立法议会宣布，新加坡政府已要求英国政府就日本人在战争期间犯下的大屠杀向日本政府寻求补偿和补偿。
李还宣布，如果日本人愿意赔偿，将在实乞纳为战争期间被日本人屠杀的人们建造一个公园和纪念碑。

平民战争纪念碑项目
1963 年 3 月 13 日，新加坡政府宣布将在莱佛士学院对面的美芝路沿线划出 4.5 英亩（1.8 公顷）的土地，用于建造纪念碑和公园，以纪念日治时期被屠杀的平民受害者。发现的万人坑中的遗骸将被火化，骨灰将放置在公园中。纪念碑的建造成本估计为 750,000 美元。政府将以等额公众捐款的方式支付一半的建设成本。

几天后的 3 月 19 日，新加坡华人商会成立了纪念碑建设基金委员会，为纪念碑的建设筹集资金。随后，4 月 21 日召开了一次公开会议。会议吸引了来自新加坡 509 个社团的 1,000 多名代表参加，其中包括马来人、印度人、锡兰人和欧亚人，会议筹集了 10 多万美元。会议结束后，又收到了 3 万美元的捐款。

奠基仪式
1963 年 6 月 15 日，宗教间组织代表和领事团成员在场，见证了李光耀主持“翻土（或破土）”仪式，为纪念碑奠基。

奠基仪式的同时，维多利亚纪念堂还举办了为期一周的展览，展示了 3 月初举行的竞赛中收到的 25 份纪念碑设计方案。建筑公司 Swan and Maclaren 赢得了最佳设计，最初包括一个矩形凸起平台，围绕着一个墓穴，将受害者的骨灰安放在其中。矩形平台上方共计建造了 12 组平行的混凝土翼板，以形成 30 米高的拱门。19 然而，出于对不同宗教的尊重，原计划将遗体火化改为重新埋葬，因此不得不修改设计。纪念碑的设计因此修改为现在的样子，由四根锥形柱子组成。它是由 Swan and Maclaren 的 Leong Swee Lim 设计的。

纪念碑揭幕
纪念碑于 1967 年 1 月竣工，耗资约 500,000 美元。21 竣工前，于 1966 年 11 月 1 日举行了一场仪式，在纪念台两侧安放了 606 个装有万人坑遗体的骨灰瓮。

纪念碑于 1967 年 2 月 15 日由李光耀正式揭幕，当天是新加坡沦陷 25 周年纪念日。李在演讲中说：“我们聚在一起不是为了重燃仇恨的旧火，也不是为了寻求血债的和解。我们聚在一起是为了缅怀那些在历史之火中不幸牺牲的男男女女。这座纪念碑将提醒我们这些 25 年前曾在这里的人，对于那些完全没有意识到、没有做好准备的人来说，会发生什么。它将帮助我们的孩子理解和记住我们告诉他们的这个我们付出惨痛代价才学到的教训。”

在李揭牌并代表新加坡政府和人民敬献第一个花圈之前，代表穆斯林、佛教、基督教、印度教、犹太教、锡克教和琐罗亚斯德教的宗教间理事会领导人进行了祈祷。献花圈后进行了三分钟的默哀。许多死难者家属参加了此次活动，尤其是母亲们。

描述
纪念碑建在一个墓室上，墓室里有 606 个骨灰瓮，里面装着 SCCC 从发现的集体坟墓中挖掘出的数千名无名平民的遗骸。

纪念碑的结构包括四根大约 68 米高的锥形柱子，代表四股文化潮流合二为一。26 在柱子内部，底座上放着一个巨大的青铜瓮，四周都是小狮子头，象征着埋在下面的死者的遗骸。27 纪念碑的底座被一个浅水池包围，给人一种宁静的氛围。

纪念碑周围是一片公园，是在纪念碑建成三年后规划的。

年度纪念
自纪念碑正式揭幕以来，每年 2 月 15 日都会在那里举行纪念、仪式和服务，以纪念在日本占领期间遇害的平民。
每年 2 月 15 日也被定为“全面防卫日”，以纪念 1942 年英军向日本投降新加坡的那个决定性的日子。
2013 年 8 月 15 日，该纪念碑被列为国家纪念碑。

從洞里往前看和向后看是不同建筑，新和旧的对比。

新的是金沙，旧的是市政区。

 海滨公园
下车点在维多利亚剧院侧面
下车带贵宾们过去可以选择从五丛树下的路进去或者丛林谋盛纪念碑那边的路进去，下面以从五丛树下五路进去
大家好，我是你们今天的导游，我叫***，大家可以叫我**，请允许我点一下人数，好的，全员到齐，现在开始我们今天主题，殖民遗产之旅的第三个景点，海滨公园
海滨公园始建于1943年，1991年进行了重修。它位于新加坡最繁华的区域之一，周边环绕的是康乐通道。这个公园每年都有不计其数的游客来访。这里有许多纪念碑和地标式建筑，如印度国民军纪念碑、阵亡纪念碑、伊丽莎白女王步道和陈金声喷泉以关闭在装修。每年，春到河畔迎新年，也就是华裔农历新年，都会在这里举行。

1.海滨公园的前身——五丛树脚，名称来自闽南语，是五株树下的意思。这五棵树就是青龙木。由于它是民间通俗名称，后来在50年代被新建的伊丽莎白女皇道所取代，但五丛树脚还通用于民间，那一年代不论男女老少，从一对对的情侣到拖大拉小的家庭外游，五丛树脚都是大家休闲的好去处。
20世纪80年代末至90年代初，总共有五棵成年青龙木被病菌感染，相等于一年一棵的惊人数量。为了避免病菌的大规模扩散，国家公园局只好把它们移走以杜绝后患。
所以现在大家现在看到的五丛树不是那时侯的五丛树是经过多年的努力，多名来自国家公园局的园艺学家，终于培育出一种能够抵抗病菌的青龙木新品种。值得一提的是，这五棵青龙木是从115棵成功培植的新成员里挑选出来。据报道，国家公园局花了一个月周详计划，再花上一月的时间才将这五棵茁壮的青龙木从比达达利（Bidadari）绿地移植到滨海公园。
土生土长的青龙木，在上个世纪六七十年代被大量的种植，过后又在80年代被病菌大肆侵袭，真可说是走过多少岁月的风风雨雨。
 

2.大家看现在河边很多人在走，跑步的这个步道，就是伊丽莎白女王步道，是一条位于滨海公园（Esplanade park）的海滨步道（Promenade），同样为了纪念英女王1953年登基而命名。

步道在1953年5月30日由陆婉平女士宣布开放使用。

伊丽莎白女王步道是用二战后募捐来的资金填海建造的，募款主要用于修建纪念战争中阵亡的士兵纪念碑和纪念馆
在1970年代，那这条步道是曾经很多人的回忆，这边有个露天美食沙爹俱乐部，是当时很多年轻男女约会的地方，在这边也发生一些有趣故事，有个男的要约了女的来这边相亲，听说她的胃口最多两串沙爹，听了非常满意，第一次约会也真的只是两串沙爹的开销，就觉得女方是经济实惠型，好养活，结婚之后才知道，两串沙爹只是含蓄说话，可是这婚已经结了，这是因为一个误会而成就了一段佳偶。

大家移步往前

3. 林谋盛纪念碑

陆军少将林谋盛 (Lim Bo Seng) 是第二次世界大战中一位新加坡战争英雄，矗立于滨海公园的林谋盛纪念塔是为了纪念这位英雄的丰功伟绩，现在被列为国家古迹。

这位著名的福建商人在日据之前和日据期间领导了多次抗日活动，包括筹集资金支持中国的抗日战争，以及在马来西亚创建情报网。因遭叛徒出卖，他在怡保被日军秘密警察逮捕，入狱后受尽折磨。1944 年 6 月 29 日，林谋盛死于华都牙也监狱 (Batu Gajah Jail)。
中国国民政府追封林谋盛为陆军少将。

1946 年 1 月 13 日，英军将林谋盛遗体带回新加坡，并以军礼将他重新埋葬在麦里芝蓄水池，林谋盛的墓地至今保留于此。1954 年揭幕的林谋盛纪念塔由建筑师黄庆祥设计，纪念塔所在地则由政府划拨。华人社群捐款筹募建筑纪念塔所需资金。

这座 3.6 米高的八边形纪念塔由铜、水泥和大理石建成，是展现华人建筑风格的一件重要作品，也是新加坡唯一一座纪念二战个人英雄的纪念塔。这座纪念塔有三层铜制塔顶，并在塔基安放了四尊铜狮。四面铜制纪念匾用英语、中文、淡米尔语和爪夷文（马来语）记载了林谋盛的光辉一生，请花点时间细读。2010 年 12 月 28 日，林谋盛纪念塔被正式列为国家古迹，同时享此殊荣的还有世界大战阵亡战士纪念碑 和陈金声喷泉。

4. 承前启后的新月
“承前启后的新月”是新加坡滨海堤坝的一项艺术装置或理念表达，象征着新加坡在历史、现在与未来之间的连接。滨海堤坝作为新加坡重要的可持续发展项目，这一象征表达了创新与传统的交融，以及对未来的展望。
•承前：代表新加坡对过去的传承与致敬，包括向建国先驱和历史积淀的尊重。
•启后：体现了新加坡通过科技与环保措施，朝向可持续未来迈进的决心。
•新月是新加坡国旗上的标志之一，寓意国家的新生和希望，反映了一个充满活力的国家不断向前发展的精神, 新月也可以被解读为一轮满月的开始，寓意着无限的可能性和未来的光明。
滨海堤坝是一个多功能的工程设施，同时融合了生态保护与休闲功能。“承前启后的新月”这一理念完美契合滨海堤坝的设计与用途，包括以下几点：
历史的延续：作为新加坡第15个水库，滨海堤坝为水资源管理和防洪提供了创新解决方案，承接了新加坡一贯的城市发展规划精神。
未来的展望：通过可再生能源（如太阳能）和水资源管理技术，滨海堤坝展示了可持续城市生活的样板。
“承前启后的新月”通常被视为滨海堤坝上草坪观景区域的一部分，这里可以俯瞰滨海湾天际线，包括著名的滨海湾金沙、鱼尾狮公园和滨海艺术中心。
这一象征使滨海堤坝超越了工程设施的功能，成为一个代表新加坡精神的文化地标，也是游客了解新加坡过去与未来的窗口。游客在欣赏壮丽景观的同时，也能体会这一理念的深刻寓意。

5. 抗共纪念碑
纪念碑的背景和寓意
1. 背景历史：
• 纪念碑记录了新加坡人民在1948年至1989年期间与马来西亚共产党暴力和颠覆活动作斗争的历史。这一时期，也被称为“马来亚紧急状态”，新加坡和马来亚面对了共产主义的威胁。
• 共产党通过武装斗争试图颠覆政府，推翻殖民统治并建立共产主义政权。这一威胁影响了整个地区的安全与稳定。
2. 寓意：
• 纪念碑旨在铭记那些在冲突中抵抗暴力和颠覆活动的个人和团体，感谢他们为新加坡的独立、民主和非共产主义社会所付出的努力。
• 它提醒后人珍惜新加坡来之不易的和平与繁荣，并反思团结与坚韧对国家发展的重要性。

对游客的解说词
• 开场白：
“欢迎来到滨海公园的这一历史地标——‘新加坡人与马来西亚共产党暴力及颠覆活动之斗争’纪念碑。这是一座向英勇抵抗暴力的无名英雄致敬的纪念碑。”
• 重点内容：
• “从1948年至1989年，新加坡和马来亚经历了一段紧张时期，当时马来西亚共产党发动了一系列暴力和颠覆活动，试图建立共产主义政权。这场斗争中，许多人为了保护国家的和平和稳定而英勇牺牲。”
• “纪念碑特别献给那些抵御暴力、不畏威胁，坚定地为一个民主、非共产主义的新加坡而战的人们。”
• 收尾词：
• “纪念碑不仅是历史的见证，也是对未来的警示，提醒我们珍惜当前的和平与稳定。希望大家通过参观，了解这段历史，并感受到团结与坚持的重要性。”

5. 印度国民军纪念碑

坐落于滨海公园的印度国民军纪念碑建于 1995 年，旨在纪念二战结束 50 周年，是新加坡 11 处二战遗址中的一处。
这里原是印度国民军无名烈士纪念碑遗址，但在战后遭到损毁，如今在原址建立起这座新的纪念碑。
1942 年，在日军帮助下，印度国民军在东南亚组建而成。1942 年 2 月，英军投降，日军怂恿甚至强迫战败的英属印度部队加入印度国民军一起解放印度。
印度国民军最初由莫汉·辛格上尉 (Captain Mohan Singh) 指挥，后来转交给印度独立运动者沙布哈斯·昌德拉·鲍斯 (Subhas Chandra Bose) 负责领导。1945 年日军投降，印度国民军遭到解散。
原有的纪念碑在日军投降之前建于滨海公园 。1945 年 7 月 8 日，鲍斯在滨海公园为纪念碑奠基。碑文是印度国民军座右铭：团结、信念和牺牲。
英军当年返回新加坡后，联军东南亚区统帅蒙巴登勋爵 (Lord Mountbatten) 下令拆除原有的纪念碑。

6. 铃铛
滨海湾公园的铃铛装置是一种艺术和互动装置，通常具有象征意义和寓意。虽然具体铃铛的背景或创作理念可能需要进一步考证，但以下是一个可能的寓意和游客解说词框架：

寓意
1. 和平与和谐：铃铛通常象征着和平、和谐与连接。通过敲响铃铛，游客可以感受到与自然和环境的共鸣，表达对美好未来的祝愿。
2. 互动与反思：铃铛装置可能旨在引导游客驻足停留，与自然互动，并反思个人与环境的关系。
3. 庆祝与祈愿：敲响铃铛也可以被视为一种庆祝或祈愿的方式，将希望和祝福传播开来。

对游客的解说词
• “欢迎来到这片宁静的角落，这里的铃铛象征着和平与和谐。每一次敲响，都是对自然的致敬，对未来的祈愿。”
• “这些铃铛不仅是一件艺术装置，更是邀请游客与环境互动的媒介。您可以轻轻敲响铃铛，感受声音回荡在自然中的瞬间平静与喜悦。”
• “据说，每一个敲响的铃声都带着希望和祝福，传递到世界的每一个角落。请为您的愿望敲响铃铛，与这片美丽的滨海湾连接。”


7. 和平纪念碑/世界大战阵亡战士纪念碑


为 纪 念 第 ⼀ 次 ⼤ 战 阵 亡 的 军 ⺠ 。正 ⾯ 共 有 五 个 梯 级 ， 每 ⼀ 级 代 表 第 ⼀ 次 ⼤ 战 的 每 ⼀ 年 ， 一站1 9 1 4 年⾄ 1 9 1 8 年 ，二战1939年--1945年。碑 盾 刻 有 战 死 者 的 姓 名 。他们舍己为公，因为他们的牺牲我们才得到生存。 碑 柱 直 冲 云 霄 ， 巍 峨 雄 伟 ！
新加坡的世界大战阵亡战士纪念碑，通常被称为 战争纪念碑 (The Cenotaph)，位于市区的滨海艺术中心公园 (Esplanade Park)。这是一个重要的历史遗迹，纪念在两次世界大战中为新加坡和马来亚献出生命的士兵。

建于1922年，最初是为了纪念在第一次世界大战（1914-1918）中牺牲的士兵。

后来在第二次世界大战（1939-1945）后，纪念碑上增加了铭文，纪念在二战中阵亡的士兵。

纪念碑由英国建筑师 Denis Santry 设计，采用了新古典主义风格。
纪念碑顶部刻有铭文 “Our Glorious Dead”，象征对战士们的崇敬与怀念。它的基座上刻有两次大战的年份和阵亡士兵的名字。纪念碑不仅是对在两次大战中牺牲士兵的致敬，还反映了当时新加坡作为英国殖民地的历史背景,它见证了新加坡从战争年代走向现代化发展的历程。
纪念碑周围环境优美，适合步行游览, 每年的重要纪念活动（如退伍军人纪念日）常在此举行。

全天开放，适合白天和晚间参观。
 

政府大厦大草场
大草场，马来语意为“平地”，位于市政区的显著位置。

二战期间，这里曾是欧洲人被关押并被送往樟宜监狱前的聚集地，也是二战结束后举行胜利集会的场地，同时是新加坡国庆阅兵和其他休育赛事的热门场地。

新加坡政府认识到其重要性，已将其列入联合国教科文组织名录的世界文化遗产预备名单。

The Padang in Singapore holds immense historical significance as a venue for key events, including BRTISH pow MARCH TO CHANGI FROM THERE, the Japanese surrender in 1945, the announcement of Singapore's merger with Malaysia in 1963, and the first National Day Parade in 1966. It's now also a national monument, representing Singapore's journey from colonial rule to independence.

Here's a more detailed look at its historical importance:
Colonial Era:
The Padang was established in the 1820s as a recreational field for cricket and other sports, marking its early role as a communal space.
It served as a venue for various events, including celebrations for royal birthdays, jubilees, and coronations.
During the Japanese occupation in World War II, the Padang was used for military parades.
Post-War and Independence:
In September 1945, a victory parade was held at the Padang to commemorate Japan's formal surrender.
The Padang was the venue for the installation of Yusof Ishak as the first Yang di-Pertuan Negara (Head of State) in December 1959.
In 1963, it was at the Padang that founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew announced Singapore's merger with Malaysia.
After separation from Malaysia, Singapore held its first National Day Parade at the Padang in 1966, a tradition that continues today.
Modern Significance:
The Padang remains an important public space, used for national events like the annual National Day Parade.
It continues to function as a key recreation and commemorative space for members of all communities, hosting major sporting events.
On August 8, 2022, the Padang was gazetted as Singapore's 75th national monument, recognizing its historical significance.
The Padang Civic Ensemble, including the Padang and surrounding buildings, has been placed on Singapore's tentative list of Unesco World Heritage Sites.