The Cenotaph
The Cenotaph stands in Esplanade Park, Singapore's central business district, within a setting marked by architecture and history. This granite war memorial honours British soldiers connected with Singapore.
Denis Santry designed the structure for Swan & Maclaren, drawing inspiration from the Whitehall Cenotaph in London. Its upper form resembles a sarcophagus and carries sculpted lion heads.
Bronze tablets record the names of Singapore-connected soldiers who died during the First World War. A later dedication remembers Second World War dead without individual names.
The original steps carry the war years, and a bronze medallion shows a laurel wreath surrounding a crown. The memorial also bears inscriptions in several languages.
Its rear inscription appears in English, Malay, Chinese, and Tamil, reflecting Singapore's multicultural heritage. The Cenotaph became a National Monument.
Prince Edward of Wales unveiled it. The memorial is wheelchair accessible. The Cenotaph invites quiet reflection in Esplanade Park.
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