kranji war memorial

kranji war memorial honours the men from britain, australia, canada, sri lanka, india, nepal, malaya, the netherlands and new zealand who gave their lives for freedom in world war ii.

marked graves of 4,000 servicemen who died during the japanese occupation stand in neat rows on manicured lawns. another 24,000 names of soldiers and airforce men who died but whose bodies were never recovered are inscribed on 12 columns.

kranji war cemetery began as a hospital burial ground during the japanese occupation and became a military cemetery after the war. bodies of servicemen buried in other parts of singapore were exhumed and reburied here.

the place is also the burial ground of Singapore's first two presidents.

i have been to the cemetery twice, late in the evening, prior to my last visit. each time i found the gate closed. now, i have found out that they have opening and closing hours; they open at 7.00 a.m. and close at 6.00 p.m.