Veterans remember Singapore fallen
Thursday - 13 September 2007 - ABC News Online


A plaque will be unveiled in Canberra today recognising 900 Queenslanders who fought during the battle for Singapore during World War II.

The Second 10th Field Regiment of the Royal Australian Artillery was the last Australian unit to withdraw across the Causeway onto Singapore Island as the Japanese attacked in early 1942.

Doctor Bob Goodwin was a lieutenant with the unit as says a third of the men he served with died in Japanese prisoner of war camps after the fall of the city.

Dr Goodwin says a group of about 100 veterans and family members will be in Canberra today for the service at the Australian War Memorial.

"We believe that future generations of Australians should know of their sacrifice and they should also be aware of the horror and futility of war," he said.

"We feel very deeply about this. And the survivors, who are few in numbers now, have come to Canberra to support the memorial in memory of all those fine young men who died some 60-odd years ago."