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Civilian War Memorial

Civilian War Memorial

The Civilian War Memorial is a heritage landmark that was built in memory of the 50,000 civilians who were killed during the Japanese occupation of Singapore during the Second World War. The tall structure, located on Beach Road, was unveiled to the public on February 15, 1967.

On the same date each year, a memorial service is held at the site; attended by former servicemen and families of the victims.

Civilian War Memorial, History, Park & Japanese Occupation, Singapore

The memorial’s design was conceived by Leong Swee Lim; a renowned architect in Singapore, from the Swan and Maclaren firm. A design competition was held in March 1963, and Leong’s design won first place and is one of his many noteworthy contributions to architecture in Singapore.

The structure was constructed following the 1962 discovery of civilian mass graves in many locations throughout Singapore. Over 40 of the mass graves were from Siglap’s Valley of Death. A chamber beneath the structure contains exhumed remains of the victims housed in 606 urns.

The memorial is comprised of four tapered columns around 68 meters in height, which symbolise the four cultures in Singapore – Chinese, Indian, Malays, and Eurasians – merged into one. It also symbolises harmony among all races. For this reason, it is an important symbol of the suffering of Singapore’s primary ethnic groups, and those who passed away and are buried here.

A big bronze urn engraved with small lion heads throughout it is found atop a pedestal within the columns; it is a symbol of the remains of those who passed and are buried beneath. Parkland surrounds the memorial, as well as a shallow body of water, which gives it a serene and sobering atmosphere. The structure is also sometimes referred to as the “chopsticks memorial” because it resembles chopsticks.

The Civilian War Memorial was declared a national monument in 2013. Its tall, striking design enables it to be visible from several areas within Singapore’s central business district.

About the author

Michael Jones

Michael created and runs the Singapore Travel Hub website, as well as the Holiday Point travel brand that incorporates a network of 16 location based travel information and attraction websites around Australia, Asia, and around the world.

With 25+ years of online experience and a passion for travel (having visited Singapore many times and experiencing a lot in the country), Michael not only researches and writes content for the website, he also tinkers behind the scenes with the website functionality & design.

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