Kranji War Memorial

Overview

Kranji War Memorial is a Commonwealth war cemetery in northwest Singapore, maintaining the graves of over 4,400 Allied soldiers and airmen who died during WW2 in the Asia-Pacific. The memorial walls also bear the names of over 24,000 servicemen whose graves are unknown.

Highlights

• Memorial Columns: Stone walls inscribed with the names of 24,346 servicemen — Army, Air Force, and Navy — who have no known grave.
• Landscaped Cemetery: Rows of white headstones set into manicured lawns, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
• Cross of Sacrifice: A prominent stone cross visible from the surrounding hills.

History

The site was originally used by the Japanese to inter Allied POWs who died in Changi and on the Thai-Burma Railway. After the war, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission consolidated burials from across Singapore and Malaysia here. The memorial was unveiled in 1957.

Visitor Tips

• Quiet and contemplative: Allow time for reflection; bring water as there's limited shade.
• Combine with Kranji Marshes: The wetland reserve is a short drive north.
• Duration: 30–45 minutes.