Singapore General Hospital

*Memorial at the “Tank” burial site at the Singapore General Hospital*

At the Kranji Memorial (war cemetery), a small monument is discretely located at the eastern end of the Singapore Memorial. The Singapore Civil Hospital Grave Memorial lists the names of 107 allied soldiers buried in a grave at the Singapore General Hospital.

In the final hours of the Battle of Singapore, wounded soldiers and civilians were bought to the hospital. The number of fatalities were such that an emergency water tank built before the war, was used as a grave.

*Singapore Civil Hospital Grave Memorial (Kranji War Cemetery)*

After the war, the graves from military cemeteries from around Singapore were removed and the remains reburied at the Kranji War Cemetery. However, in the case of the hospital grave site, it was felt that individual identification of the 400 plus dead buried there, would be impossible and consequently, the grave was left undisturbed. The ground was consecrated as a cemetery and a large cross (main picture) was erected on the site.

Today, amongst the hospital buildings and car parks, the cross remains as a solemn and lonely salute to those buried there.

Not far from the hospital “Tank” burial site is a small plaque marking the approximate location of another burial site for several medical students killed by advancing Japanese soldiers.

The Singapore General Hospital was the principle training hospital for new doctors. As the Japanese advanced on Singapore City, aerial bombardment was devastating. No building and no one could avoid the carnage that the bombing caused and as water became less available, fire became an increasing threat.

The day before the allied surrender and when the Japanese bombing was at its height, one target was the Tan Tock Seng Hospital to the north of Singapore City. Unfortunately, a young student doctor was killed.

*Memorial Location, Kranji War Cemetery*

The doctor was a senior member of the student union and was held in high regard by the other students. His death hit the student doctor population very hard. His body was taken back to the Singapore General Hospital where, despite the potential dangers, the students decided that they would give him a proper burial.

Around the hospital were many slit trenches which were used during the air raids and one of these trenches would be used as a grave for the young doctor. On the 15th February, the day of the allied surrender and not realizing that the advancing Japanese were so close, the burial service took place with many of the student doctors taking part.

During the service, a group of Japanese soldiers opened fire on the gathering. Of the 25 taking part, 10 were killed. The other students scattered but returned the next day to bury the dead.

Today, an inconspicuous plaque on the side of a hospital road, marks the approximate location of the burial place of the 11 student doctors.