Civilian War Memorial at Beach Road gazetted as national monument
Published on Feb 15, 2013 10:38 AM
By Ian Poh
A soldier (centre) bows his head in respect for the civilian victims of the Japanese Occupation in Singapore during World War II
at the memorial service at the War Memorial Park at Beach Road to mark the 70th anniversary of the fall of Singapore
on 15 February 1942. -- ST PHOTO: LIM WUI LIANG
The Civilian War Memorial will be gazetted as a national monument this year, said Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong on Friday morning.
The 67-metre structure along Beach Road near City Hall MRT station was unveiled in 1967 and honours civilians who died during the Japanese Occupation in 1942.
It will be the 65th monument gazetted in Singapore. National monuments are protected by law and cannot be torn down or changed in any major way.
Speaking to reporters at the 46th War Memorial Service at War Memorial Park, held every year on Total Defense Day in memory of victims of the
Japanese Occupation, Mr Wong said: "The trials and sacrifices made by our forefathers...remind us of what it means to be Singaporeans."
