Indian Army chief General MM Naravane on Monday visited the Kranji war memorial in Singapore and paid tributes to those who laid down their lives in the line of duty during World War-II.
Dedicated to the men and women from India, the UK, Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, Malaya, the Netherlands and New Zealand who died defending Singapore and Malaya against the invading Japanese forces during the second World War, the memorial comprises the War Graves, the Memorial Walls, the State Cemetery and the Military Graves.
Malaya united with North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore in 1963 to become Malaysia. In 1965, Singapore was separated from the federation.
"On the first day of the visit, General MM Naravane #COAS laid a wreath at #Kranji War Memorial, #Singapore and paid tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives during the 2nd World War in #Singapore," the Indian Army's Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) tweeted.
General Naravane later visited the Battle Box Bunker at Fort Canning, an authentic World War II secret Command Centre built 9 metres underground in the late 1936 by the British forces.
He was briefed on the historic significance of the Bunker, which was used as an emergency, bomb-proof Command Centre during the War especially the invasion of Singapore by the Japanese forces.
Located on the hill in the heart of Singapore city, the underground command centre was part of the headquarters of Malaya Command, the colonial army which defended Malaya and Singapore in WWII.
The British made the decision to surrender Singapore inside the Battlebox to the invading Japanese on February 15, 1942.
Re-launched on February 13, 2016, the restored underground command centre is a museum that presents the true causes behind the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history .
Gen Naravane is on a three-day visit to Singapore to explore ways to strengthen bilateral military cooperation. He will hold talks with the senior military and civilian leadership of Singapore during his visit from April 4 to April 6.
He will also visit a number of military installations in Singapore.
The Indian Army chief is scheduled to call on the Minister of Defence, chief of Singapore Army and other senior dignitaries where he will discuss avenues for enhancing India-Singapore defence relations.