RESILENCE AMID ADVERSITY – TRAILS, TOURS, TALKS ON BATTLE FOR SINGAPORE

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Media Release

Embargoed till 2 February 2012, 12.30pm

RESILENCE AMID ADVERSITY – TRAILS, TOURS, TALKS ON BATTLE FOR SINGAPORE

The National Heritage Board commemorates the 70^th anniversary of the Battle for Singapore

SINGAPORE, 2 February 2012 – 70 years ago, our forefathers and the British government in Singapore fought to defend Singapore against the invading Japanese army. They did not flinch in the face of war damage, loss of lives and much hardship. Today, in the peace and prosperity that Singapore has known for years, we remember this dark chapter in our history, but more importantly, we honour and learn from the resilience and strength of spirit that the earlier generations showed in this period.

2. 2012 marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle for Singapore, a significant and poignant chapter in Singapore’s history. In commemoration, the National Heritage Board (NHB), together with partners such as the Singapore Heritage Society (SHS) and Singapore History Consultants (SHC), will be launching a variety of activities to raise public awareness and engage the community, especially the post-war generations. The public, especially those who did not go through this period, would be able to experience and reflect on life during the Battle for Singapore, through trails, tours and exhibitions (details in Annex A).

3. Michael Koh, CEO for the NHB said, “NHB is committed to telling the Singapore Story, of which the battle for Singapore is a very significant chapter. NHB’s commemorative efforts, which actively involve partners such as local history experts, war survivors, and students, bring together many different voices to present this momentous event to Singaporeans. We especially want to remember, and learn from, our forefathers’ sheer grit, strength and unity in surviving those hard times.”

<<Please refer to attached documents for more details.>>