Civilian War Memorial gazetted as Singapore’s 65th national monument

SINGAPORE - The Civilian War Memorial has been gazetted by the National Heritage Board (NHB) as Singapore’s 65th national monument.

NHB has gazetted it yesterday (Aug 15) in commemoration of the historically-significant day and to symbolise the impact the war had on the people of Singapore. The Second World War in the Asia-Pacific region ended on Aug 15, 1945.

The intention to gazette was first announced by Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), Lawrence Wong, at the 46th Memorial Service for Civilian Victims of the Japanese Occupation on Feb 15.

Dedicated to the civilian victims of the Japanese Occupation, the Civilian War Memorial was unveiled by then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on February 15, 1967.

It is the only memorial in Singapore that commemorates civilian war victims, and holds great historical, social and architectural significance.

The NHB said the Civilian War Memorial is also of great national importance as “it stands witness to an important chapter in the Singapore story, and pays tribute to the sacrifices of our forefathers”. CHANNEL NEWSASIA