Winchester has been a popular tourist destination for over 300 years. Once, a favourite summer residence for London’s aristocracy and leading socialites, Winchester is now a year-round destination for people from around the world.
Winchester was once the ancient capital of Anglo-Saxon England; it was the capital city of a region of England called Wessex. The city’s rulers spent large sums of money on building churches, palaces, parks, and of course, the Cathedral. The city is rich in history and many famous figures from English history have visited, lived, worked and died in Winchester. The city is now the administrative capital of the county of Hampshire - a county that many regard as being the quintessential English county, with rolling hills, downs, pretty villages and crystal clear rivers.
Winchester has many attractions for the visitor. The first port of call should be Winchester Cathedral. The cathedral is probably England’s most beautiful. It’s setting, just off the High Street, is idyllic, being surrounded by a park with tree-lined avenues. Construction of the present day cathedral began in 1079. There is a small admission fee but one really should go inside to appreciate the beauty of the cathedral. Also, you can see the tombs, of some ancient Kings of England as well as the tomb of Jane Austen, the famous novelist. Winchester Cathedral Choir is recognized as one of Britain’s leading cathedral choirs, both for its singing of the services and in concert. The Choir comprises sixteen to twenty choristers and twelve lay clerks, whose numbers are augmented when larger forces are required. If you have the chance, you should go to one of their concerts.
St Cross Hospital is a short, but beautiful walk, from the centre of town. St Cross was never a hospital in the modern sense of the word; rather it has its name from the word ‘hospitality’. St Cross was founded in 1132 by Bishop Henri du Blois. The Bishop is quoted as saying that the establishment would be for `thirteen poor men, feeble and so reduced in strength that they can scarcely or not at all support themselves without other aid
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Well, what do World War II veterans have in common with Singapore? Very long lasting, unforgettable memories that you can share with fellow family members and friends. Especially those who had survived or had served in Singapore back in the year between 1942 to 1945.
So, if you travel to Singapore again with your family or friends or loved ones, would you like to walk down the memory lane? (Some memories are painful but some still brought back a smile. Do you agree?)
Well veterans, if you happen to travel back to Singapore in your next holiday, make your travel a memorable one. These are some things worth visiting to bring back those dark years.
The Battle Box
The Battle Box is the largest underground command center of the British Malaya Command Headquarters in Singapore during World War II and tucked into the hillside of Fort Canning.
This bombproof complex comprises of 22 rooms linked together by a corridor and capable of recycling its own air supply.
Today, the Battle Box has undergone extensive restoration. Visitors will be able to relive the morning of February 15, 1942 when Singapore fell to the Japanese.
Reflections Of Bukit Chandu
http://www.s1942.org.sg/bukit_chandu/directory.htm
Back in 1942, 1400 soldiers of the Malay Regiment fought with courage against 13000 Japanese soldiers. They chose death over dishonour.
Pepper’s Ghost will bring you through the Battle of Pasir Panjang and you will be able to walk through the Galleries displaying maps, photographs and information regarding the Malay Regiment and the Defence of Malaya.
Fort Siloso
http://www.sentosa.com.sg/explore_sentosa/attractions/fort_siloso.html
The British built Fort Siloso in the 1880s to protect Singapore harbour’s western entrance. During the Japanese Occupation (1942-1945), it became concentration camp for POWs.
Fort Siloso serves as an important window to Singapore’s colonial past and as reminder of the war years.
Changi Chapel & Museum
http://www.changimuseum.com/
This place, called a beacon of hope for the hopeless. Built by Changi Prison inmates, the Changi Chapel stands as a monument to those who maintained their faith and dignity during the Japanese Occupation.
More than 50 000 civilians and soldiers were imprisoned during those days. Some exhibits that you can find and relate to their agony are letters, photographs, drawings and their personal effects. However, their main attraction is a replica of The Changi Murals, a series of wall painting recreated from the originals painted by Stanley Warren.
Old Ford Factory
http://www.s1942.org.sg/bukit_chandu/FordFactory.htm
On February 15, 1942, Lt Gen A.E.Percival then Commander of the British Forces in Singapore surrendered to the Japanese Army. The ‘ceremony’ took place here, the Old Ford Factory.
On February 16, 2006, Singapore Minister for Defence Mr Teo Chee Hean officially opened Memories at Old Ford Factory. Here, you can find the exhibition ‘Syonan Years: Singapore Under Japanese Rule, 1942-1945′.
Kranji War Memorial
Kranji War Memorial honours the men from Britain, Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, India, Malaya, the Netherlands and New Zealand who gave their lives for freedom in World War II.
Here you can find 4000 servicemen’s graves stand in neat rows. For about 24 000 soldiers and air force men, whose bodies were never recovered, their names were inscribed on 12 columns. Besides that, it is also a burial ground for Singapore’s first two presidents.
Civilian War Memorial
Located in the Padang, the Civilian War Memorial is dedicated to all those who perished during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore between February 15, 1942 to September 12, 1945. Every year on 15 February, a memorial service is held here to remember the victims of the war.
Here you can find four identical vertical pillars rise to a pinnacle of 92.5 metres, symbolising the shared experiences of the four major races of Singapore - Chinese, Malay, Indian and other races. The remains of the unidentified war victims are buried beneath the monument.
Copyright © 2006 Jaffa Matt
Jaffa Matt is a Freelance writer who was born and live in Singapore. His website http://mysingapore.jeeran.com provides ideas & informative articles about his country, Singapore.
Tags: asia, holiday, singapore, travel, vacation, world war veteranasia, holiday, singapore, travel, vacation, world war veteranShare This
A very pleasant and short drive from the beautiful and ancient town of Winchester in Hampshire, lies Brockenhurst, the largest of the New Forest villages. It is a place of immense charm; surrounded by forest, where ponies walk in the middle of its roads, where the driver passes through a ford and where a famous citizen once caught snakes and was reputed to be immune to their venom.
The name Brockenhurst is traditionally said to mean ‘badger wood’. However it is more likely that the name means ‘broken wooded hill’ - broken in the sense of divided by the valleys and streams of the New Forest. The village is ancient. It was first recorded in the Domesday Book. In the twelfth century the Manor was held by Peter Spilman. In return, he had to provide litter for the King’s bed and hay for his horse - when the King would visit on his frequent hunting trips to the Forest. The New Forest was cultivated as a Royal hunting ground since Norman times.
Many minor roads in the New Forest pass through a ford - most being dry for most of the year. The most famous of the fords is in Brockenhurst ‘watersplash’ at the western end of the main street, called Brookley Road. At the other end of Brookley Road, near the main-line station, you will find the New Forest Cycle Experience - a great way to explore the Forest. The village has two car parks. It is highly recommended that you park up and explore the village by foot or bicycle. At one of the car parks stands a brick plinth. Attached to it is a ‘wheel plate’, a great disc of cast iron which was used until 1915 by the local forge when fixing metal rims to wooden wagon wheels.
Heading south out of Brockenhurst you will find St Nicholas’s Church. It is the oldest church in the Forest and is adorned by a beautiful Norman doorway. In the church yard you can wander about the many ancient headstones. If you do so, you’ll come across a very surprising and yet poignant war cemetery for New Zealand soldiers. The neat rows of tombstones commemorate over one hundred soldiers who died in the nearby field hospital during World War I.
Also, to be found in the graveyard is the tomb of Harry Mills, better known as ‘Brusher’ Mills. His nickname came from his occupation of brushing Brockenhurst cricket pitch before a match to remove twigs and leaves and, no doubt, the droppings of the ponies and cattle who wandered about the roads. But his main claim to fame was that he made his living from catching snakes in the Forest. Apparently, it was said he was immune from the venom of the Adder - Britain’s only poisonous snake. He prepared a primitive anti-snakebite serum from the snakes themselves, sending any spare specimens to London Zoo as food for secretary birds and other creatures that enjoyed dining on snakes. He also made a small income from ‘rescuing’ visitors from snakes that suddenly appeared amongst them. Whether visitors paid him in thanks for their rescue or for being entertained, we can only imagine.
If you want to wander beyond the village into the New Forest, you should head towards Roydon Woods Nature Reserve. You can reach the Wood about half a mile outside the village on the Brochenhurst-Lymington road (A337). The area is an ancient woodland rich in wildlife with some areas of both dry and wet heathland. You should always keep to the clearly marked paths. You can get an information leaflet from Hampshire Wildlife Trust (023 80613636).
If you are staying in Winchester or anywhere else in Hampshire you should consider taking at least one day out to explore the New Forest. It is a unique place in England. Its woodland and heathland has been cultivated for well over a millennia. It is a haven for Britain’s rarest wildlife as well as some of its most picturesque villages.
Robin O’Brien lives and works in Winchester and is founder of Winchester Tourist Information where you can find more information on the city such as, places to visit, walks, restaurants, photographs and hotels in Winchester
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