The Kranji Mrt station is a short distance from the Cemetery, approximately 10 -15 minutes away by foot.
Register book (pic taken in 2012)
Duke & Duchess of Cambridge (William & Kate)'s signature (2012)
Duke & Duchess of Cambridge: Prince William & Kate
My last visit was in year 2012 where Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - Prince William & Kate came to visit and pay homage to the war dead at Kranji War Cemetery and Singapore Memorial on 13th Sept 2012 on their official visit. Yes, I even saw them in person among the crowds, that was 5 years ago.
TREE guide Louise giving her talks at Kranji mrt
It was wet and humid Sunday but the drizzling raining wouldn't dampen our spirits and the trail organised by TREE yesterday. Our TREE guide Ms Louise giving talks to all participants before proceed to our journey.
Walking in drizzling rain on the footpath
TREE participants were walking in drizzling rain on a footpath, wouldn't dampen their spirits on the wet and humid in the morning. About 15 mins, we reached at the entrance of Kranji War Memorial.
Aerial View of Kranji War Memorial
Credit: NAS
At the highest point of this hill are a cross and a tall structure. 24,000 heroes lie forgotten at Kranji War Memorial, but they are celebrated and remembered on a day known as Remembrance Day or the date of Armistice Day, which marks the end of the First World War. It is held on the Sunday nearest to 11th Nov or after 11th Nov each year as an anniversary to mark the end of WWI on 11 November 1918.
Map layout of Kranji War Memorial
Courtesy of C'wealth War Graves Commission
On the fateful 9 February 1942, Japanese Imperial Guards breached the British defence of Singapore and landed by the mouth of the Kranji River. Singapore was subsequently ruled by the Japanese from 1942 to 1945 in a period known as the Japanese Occupation. The Kranji War Memorial is a stoic reminder for vigilance despite recent decades of peace and stability in Singapore.
Kranji War Cemetery & S'pore Memorial
Managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the memorial commemorates the contributions of soldiers of the allied forces who lost their lives during the war.
Cross of Sacrifice (taken in 2012)
The Cross of Sacrifice is used for religious ceremonies. Do not sit or stand on it as stated on the signage.
The S'pore Memorial sits amid a huge cemetery of Commonwealth Servicemen. No matter the nationality, rank, religion or service each grave has a similar headstone. The only difference is that Muslim or Hindu Graves (example the Gurkha graves) face away from the Cross of Remembrance/Sacrifice.
Both the Cemetery and the Memorial were designed by Colin St Clair Oakes. The Memorial was unveiled by Sir Robert Black, Governor of S'pore in Mar 1957.
The Singapore Cremation Memorial, which stands immediately behind the Singapore Memorial, commemorates almost 800 casualties, mostly of the Indian forces, whose remains were cremated in accordance with their religious beliefs.
Singapore Memorial taken in 2012
The design structure of S'pore Memorial, it represents the three arms of defence. The columns and rows represent the Army, which stands and moves in columns. The cover over the columns is shaped after the wings of a plane to represent the Air Force. The shape at the top is modelled after the sail of a submarine to represent the Navy.
Singaporeans as well as tourists can spend hours wandering through the rows and rows of headstones - each one holding a tragic tale. The regiments squadrons and ships represented tell the tale of the WWII in the East.
Star-topped central pylon
The largest is the Singapore Memorial, with its huge star-topped central pylon that rises to a height of 24 metres. This memorial bears the names of more than 24,346 Allied soldiers and airmen killed in Southeast Asia who have no known grave. 
Participant gathered near the tree and a plaque
Operation Jaywick
Credit: R.A. Navy
The 'cast-iron' plaque sign indicated the words...In Sept 1944, S'pore was still under Japanese Occupation, 23 British and Australian members of Services Reconnaissance Dept. / (Commandos) Z Special Unit travelled from Australia by submarine to the outskirts of S'pore Harbour. Their mission was to attack and destroy enemy shipping from small submersible boats using 'time-delayed' magnetic limpet mines. The party included 6 former members of the highly successful raid launched against Japanese Shipping in S'pore Harbour in Sept 1944. Code-Named Operation Jaywick (was a special operation undertaken in WWII), they were intercepted by Japanese forces and in the actions that followed, 13 were either killed in action or died of wounds. The remaining 10 were captured and subsequently executed on 7 Jul 1945. The place of their execution is approximately 580 metres east of the junction of Clementi and Dover roads. The plaque was emplaced by former members (commandos) of Z Special unit from Australia on 27 Sept 1993 can be found near the tree where our TREE guide Louise on her talks and the participants stood (above pic). The Operation Jaywick plaque can be found outside the Harbourfront centre.
Caretakers Quarter and nursery area
The caretakers' quarter which is near to the British garden and Chinese Memorial.
Chinese Memorial
British Memorial garden
Adjoining Kranji War Cemetery is Kranji Military Cemetery, a substantial non-world war site of 1,422 burials, created in 1975 when it was found necessary to remove the graves of servicemen and their families from Pasir Panjang and Ulu Pandan cemeteries.
There are two separate plaques within the compound on the right side; one was built in memory of British and C'wealth servicemen and civilians, and members of their families formerly buried in Pasir Panjang and Ulu Pandan cemeteries whose ashes now lie in this garden while the other plaque was built in memory of Gurkha Officers and soldiers of Brigade of Gurkhas and their wives and children were formerly buried in Pasir Panjang and Ulu Pandan cemeteries whose ashes now lie in this garden.
1st President Encik Yusok bin Ishak
2nd President Dr Benjamin Henry Sheares
Adjoining the memorial are the Military Cemetery and the Singapore State Cemetery; the resting place of the country's first and 2nd Presidents of Singapore, Encik Yusok bin Ishak (serving from 1965 to 1970) and Dr. Benjamin Henry Sheares (serving from 1971 to 1981). One of my childhood friend and I turned up at the Istana to pay our last respects to Dr. Benjamin Sheares on the 15 May 1981.
TREE group
After an hour roaming around the cemetery, we gathered around and took a group photo-shot at the stairs, the star-topped is clearly seen behind them. I notice some of them must have missed the group photo. My apologises.
Hiking in the drizzling rain
Next, we went to the opposite the road while crossing the road from the Kranji War memorial and continued our trekking to our next destination - Northern Green Corridor. It was still drizzling rain and wet on the road. I heard that the southern stretch of the Rail Corridor is now closed for PUB pipeline works, only the northern stretch corridor remains open. So... our trekking on the northern green corridor during wet weather, as the grounds can be muddy and slippery. Access the tracks via a dirt track under the MRT viaduct. It took us about 2 hrs to reach the end of the corridor of the Rail Mall. But we ended up at the Ten Mile Junction (Junction 10 Shopping mall) in Bukit Panjang.
Flat green corridor
Some of us looked tired after a long hike on the wet and humid weather. The last ending point was at the Rail Mall, some of them wanted to continue their trekking to the Rail Mall where the truss bridge located. Well, I had to leave out as I have been there several times as one of my classmates whom I visit sometimes, she stays at the Condo near the steel truss bridge.
It was indeed great hike thus drizzling rain still on, not forgetting the Kranji War Memorial where the honour of the dead still lies...
