Changi Gate
Alrewas, England 12-23 November 2003 |
Members of the Squadron renovated of the Changi Lychgate (a gateway covered with a roof found at the entrance to a traditional English churchyard) memorial in November 2003. The Lychgate was originally erected in 1942 outside Changi Cemetery in Singapore by the 18th (East Anglian) Infantry Division, which was comprised mostly of Units with connections to East Anglia.
Singapore was a British-held territory in South-East Asia, which was invaded by the Japanese on 8 February 1942. However, after only a few days of fighting, General Percival signed an unconditional surrender which marked the Fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. 3000 civilians, were moved to Changi Prison on the eastern part of the island and 50000 British and Australian troops were held nearby at the British Army's Selarang Barracks. Changi Prison, originally designed to hold only 600 prisoners, had been constructed as a civilian prison in 1936 by the British administration of the Straits Settlements. The name of Changi became a synonym for all detention centres in the area. During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, approximately 850 POWs died whilst held at Changi, although many more died after being transferred to other labour camps such as at the Burma Railway and Sandakan Airfield.
In December 1942 the 18th Division Royal Engineers prisoners built a Lychgate at the entrance to the Camp Burial Ground. After the war, the Lychgate was re-erected at St George's Church at Tanglin Barrracks, Singapore and then when British Forces left Singapore in 1971, shipped to England and erected at Bassingbourn in September 1972. It was then renovated and re-erected in November 2003 by members of 60 HQ & Support Squadron (Air Support) at the entrance to the Far East Prisoners of War plot in the National Arboretum at Alrewas, Staffordshire.
"A Service of Dedication, held on 8th February, 2003 [sic] and conducted by the Reverend Ray Rossiter, President of the National Federation of Far East Prisoners of War Clubs, was attended by Philip Malins, Life Honorary Vice President of the Federation and Deputy Chairman of BCS."
Singapore was a British-held territory in South-East Asia, which was invaded by the Japanese on 8 February 1942. However, after only a few days of fighting, General Percival signed an unconditional surrender which marked the Fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. 3000 civilians, were moved to Changi Prison on the eastern part of the island and 50000 British and Australian troops were held nearby at the British Army's Selarang Barracks. Changi Prison, originally designed to hold only 600 prisoners, had been constructed as a civilian prison in 1936 by the British administration of the Straits Settlements. The name of Changi became a synonym for all detention centres in the area. During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, approximately 850 POWs died whilst held at Changi, although many more died after being transferred to other labour camps such as at the Burma Railway and Sandakan Airfield.
In December 1942 the 18th Division Royal Engineers prisoners built a Lychgate at the entrance to the Camp Burial Ground. After the war, the Lychgate was re-erected at St George's Church at Tanglin Barrracks, Singapore and then when British Forces left Singapore in 1971, shipped to England and erected at Bassingbourn in September 1972. It was then renovated and re-erected in November 2003 by members of 60 HQ & Support Squadron (Air Support) at the entrance to the Far East Prisoners of War plot in the National Arboretum at Alrewas, Staffordshire.
"A Service of Dedication, held on 8th February, 2003 [sic] and conducted by the Reverend Ray Rossiter, President of the National Federation of Far East Prisoners of War Clubs, was attended by Philip Malins, Life Honorary Vice President of the Federation and Deputy Chairman of BCS."