On the 15th of February 1942, the remains of the British and Commonwealth forces that had fought valiantly through the Malayan campaign surrendered to the advancing Japanese forces in Singapore. This is marked as one of the worst military defeats for the British Empire, with the loss of over 7,000 lives and the capture of over 130,000 allied soldiers, 15,000 of that being Australian who would go on to endure horribly under Japanese occupation. Now 79 years later, we commemorate the sacrifice these men and women made at the Australian War Memorial.

Along with myself and Wing Commander Garth Andrews from the RAAF, we laid a wreath, remembering the No. 1 Squadron RAAF that suffered the first Australian casualties during the Second World war, flying Lockheed Hudson's over Singapore. My Great Uncle James Francis McGrath, was killed in action on the 15th, only hours before the surrender.

We thank them for their sacrifice, Lest We Forget. 

Nathaniel Traynor
Year 11 Student