Heritage Trails :: Civic District Trail I :: Civilian War Memorial

Also known as the "Chopsticks", this structure was built to honour the civilians killed during the Japanese Occupation.

Marker Text:

This memorial is dedicated to all those who perished during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, 1942-1945. Four vertical pillars soar to over 70 metres symbolising the shared war experiences of the Chinese, Indians, Malays and other races. The remains of unknown victims are interred beneath the monument.
 
The site was given by the Government of Singapore which also met half of the construction cost. The balance was contributed by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the people of Singapore. The monument was unveiled by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 15 February 1967, the 25th Anniversary of the fall of Singapore to the Japanese.
 
Among the civilians who lost their lives were numerous Chinese targetted under the Sook Ching (literally “to purge” or “to eliminate”) operations. On 18 February 1942, large numbers of Chinese were driven from their homes and assembled at designated mass screening centres. Many were unjustly accused of involvement in anti-Japanese activities, or arbitrarily condemned. No one will ever know how many were taken away and massacred. Unofficial figures put the number of dead at about 50,000.