5th December 2001
Bidadari is a Christian Cemetery situated in Singapore and it's estimated that it contains between 60, 000 and 65, 000 graves. Many months ago MNO was contacted informing the site that the Cemetery was to be re-developed for use as housing, business and shopping, we believe that there is considerable British investment. Amongst the numbers interred are the remains of British Merchant Seamen, the correspondent actually sent photographs, two of which were Blue Funnel employees, one dating from the 1920s the other the 60s. In the short time available our correspondent clearly identified six British Merchant Seamen, an American, two Dutch and four Royal Navy personnel.
Captain John Bax and myself took it upon ourselves to attempt to have all the British Merchant Seamen remains re-interred in a Columbarium situated somewhere in the local vicinity. I first wrote to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission asking for assistance but unfortunately met with a negative response inasmuch as the Merchant Service is considered to be a civilian occupation and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains the graves of servicemen and women. I know that exceptions have been made in the past to this rule but am not prepared to argue the point.
I then wrote to the Authorities in Singapore who are dealing with the project and John started to write to the local Marine Charities and respective leaders of the Christian Churches in Singapore. I was shuffled from Department to Department and was finally informed that if I could clearly identify all the graves concerned consideration would be given, the enormity of that task is beyond me as I reside in France. John Bax met with similar apathy in his quest and is somewhat baffled that no-one appears to know where a list of all those buried at Bidadari is kept, if indeed one exists. John also contacted the Straits Times who have not been unsympathetic and in fact ran a story in their newspaper under the heading :-
'Bulk of Bidadari graves still not claimed'
on Wednesday the 26th of September and illustrated the story with a headstone photograph inscribed 'Augustine P.....More Williams' and went on to write 'one example is lot 4412 ......... lying in that unclaimed grave is English Seaman A.P. Williams who died in 1916 and is said to have inspired Joseph Conrad's 'Lord Jim''.
A few months ago the Singapore Authorities placed advertisements in some National newspapers stating their intentions with regards the development and also if families made a claim the Authorities would re-inter the remains elsewhere at the Authorities expense. Those remains unclaimed would be cremated and scattered out at sea with solemnity and due respect, so far about 10% have been claimed totalling 6, 518 graves, not a great number.
Our concern is just how many families of British Merchant Seamen have seen the advertisements and how many still exist? Surely a country which has built its wealth on Maritime Trade and still depends to a large extent on ships will treat all the Merchant Navy Personnel to a decent and fitting burial within the confines of its land? If those lying at Bidadari had wanted to be buried at sea they would have requested it and their wishes should be respected. We realise that it is impossible to
'Stand in the way of progress' (Government and business speak for 'we'll do it as cheaply as possible whether you as individuals like it or not') but respectfully ask the Singapore Government to reconsider their decision and do the right thing by the Seafarers lying at Bidadari.
The Minister responsible for National Development is MAH Bow Tan
Click here for the Ministry for National Development's site:
This site lists all the people connected with this Department and their email addresses. Could we therefore ask those that feel strongly enough to e-mail the Minister for Development and register their desire for the M.N. personnel to be re-interned in an Ossuary or Columbarium.
UPDATE
PREVIOUS CORRESPIONDENCE AND UPDATE.
7th December 2001
As previously stated Captain Bax and myself have communicated with various parties who we thought would be able to help resolve the current situation in Singapore. You will note from the following documentation that our faith in, humankind was somewhat misguided.
A Response from the War Graves Commission.
Dear Mr Waddington
Thank you for your e-mail of 27 June 2001 concerning Bidadari Christian Cemetery, Singapore.
We are aware of the situation in respect of this cemetery and preparations are in place for the three Commonwealth war graves in this site to be removed to the Commission's cemetery - Kranji War Cemetery.
The Commission's responsibilities are confined to the commemoration of members of the Commonwealth Forces who died in the two World Wars; the dates of which for purposes of commemoration being 4 August 1914 to 31 August 1921 and 3 September 1939 to 31 December 1947. We are, therefore, unable to assist with your request in respect of those members of the Forces who died outside these periods. I give below details of the department within the Ministry of Defence who may be able to assist you.
Naval Personnel Secretariat 2b
Ministry of Defence
Room 222
Victory Building
HM Naval Base
Portsmouth
Hants PO1 3LS
Tel: 023 92727328 / 92727329 Fax: 023 92727304
E-Mail: gen.user@dial.pipex.com
We decided, rightly or wrongly, from the beginning that all correspondence would be kept confidential by ourselves in the belief that the Authorities in Singapore would accept moral responsibility for the disposal of the remains of British Merchant Seafarers. Because morals and responsibility have proved not to be on Singapore's agenda it is now felt that the publication of the following documents is necessary.
Thank you for your e-mail of 27 June 2001 concerning Bidadari Christian Cemetery, Singapore.
We are aware of the situation in respect of this cemetery and preparations are in place for the three Commonwealth war graves in this site to be removed to the Commission's cemetery - Kranji War Cemetery.
The Commission's responsibilities are confined to the commemoration of members of the Commonwealth Forces who died in the two World Wars; the dates of which for purposes of commemoration being 4 August 1914 to 31 August 1921 and 3 September 1939 to 31 December 1947. We are, therefore, unable to assist with your request in respect of those members of the Forces who died outside these periods. I give below details of the department within the Ministry of Defence who may be able to assist you.
Naval Personnel Secretariat 2b
Ministry of Defence
Room 222
Victory Building
HM Naval Base
Portsmouth
Hants PO1 3LS
Tel: 023 92727328 / 92727329 Fax: 023 92727304
E-Mail: gen.user@dial.pipex.com
After various emails to the Authorities I received the following from Foong Yee Sum:
Mr Frederick John Waddington
Dear Mr Waddington
I refer to your email of 10 Jul 01.
2 HDB has published notices in major foreign newspapers on 30 March 2001 and 29 Jun 2001 informing relatives of those buried at the Bidadari Christian Cemetery to register their claims. Next-of-kin and descendants are given until 30 Nov 2001 to lodge their claims in order for exhumation to commence in Dec 2001. The relatives can choose to have the graves exhumed by HDB's contractor or by their own contractor. Under HDB exhumation, all claimed remains will be cremated. The exhumation of the graves will be carried out individually with dignity and respect.
3 Each of the cremated ashes will be allocated a niche at the Government Columbarium for its storage. All these services are provided by HDB at no cost to next-of-kin and descendants. Alternatively,next-of-kin and descendants may engage their contractor at their own cost to exhume the graves before Dec 2001. HDB will also provide them niches to store the cremated ashes at the Government Columbarium at no charge. For graves which are unclaimed, they will be exhumed and cremated individually and the ashes will then be scattered at sea.
4 Next-of-kin and descendants can contact us to register their claims. Registration procedures can be found at our website: http://www.hdb.gov.sg/bidadari. They can also send enquiries on the exhumation to our e-mail address: HDBBidadari@hdb.gov.sg or call our hotline at (65) 271 8014. Alternatively, they can contact the Singapore High Commission in London for assistance via e-mail: schlondon@singcomm.demon.co.uk or phone : 001-44-(20) 7235-8315 or fax: 001-44-(20) 7245-6583.
5 We regret that we do not have any available information on British Seafarers buried at the Bidadari Cemetery. However, if you could send us more information on the seafarers, we will see if we can trace from the records.
Regards
(Signed in Lotus Notes)
SUM FOONG YEE (MISS)
for QUALITY SERVICE MANAGER HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Captain Bax had written a letter to our esteemed Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott on an unrelated matter but happened to mention the Bidadari problem. He also asked our ex-mariner for his support, the following is an extract from Dr Stephen Twigge who works at the Public Records Office at Kew to whom John's letter was eventually sent. The Deputy Prime Minister no doubt felt that the problem's at Bidadari were either beyond his ken or insufficient enough to warrant any of his time.
Dear Mr Waddington
I refer to your email of 10 Jul 01.
2 HDB has published notices in major foreign newspapers on 30 March 2001 and 29 Jun 2001 informing relatives of those buried at the Bidadari Christian Cemetery to register their claims. Next-of-kin and descendants are given until 30 Nov 2001 to lodge their claims in order for exhumation to commence in Dec 2001. The relatives can choose to have the graves exhumed by HDB's contractor or by their own contractor. Under HDB exhumation, all claimed remains will be cremated. The exhumation of the graves will be carried out individually with dignity and respect.
3 Each of the cremated ashes will be allocated a niche at the Government Columbarium for its storage. All these services are provided by HDB at no cost to next-of-kin and descendants. Alternatively,next-of-kin and descendants may engage their contractor at their own cost to exhume the graves before Dec 2001. HDB will also provide them niches to store the cremated ashes at the Government Columbarium at no charge. For graves which are unclaimed, they will be exhumed and cremated individually and the ashes will then be scattered at sea.
4 Next-of-kin and descendants can contact us to register their claims. Registration procedures can be found at our website: http://www.hdb.gov.sg/bidadari. They can also send enquiries on the exhumation to our e-mail address: HDBBidadari@hdb.gov.sg or call our hotline at (65) 271 8014. Alternatively, they can contact the Singapore High Commission in London for assistance via e-mail: schlondon@singcomm.demon.co.uk or phone : 001-44-(20) 7235-8315 or fax: 001-44-(20) 7245-6583.
5 We regret that we do not have any available information on British Seafarers buried at the Bidadari Cemetery. However, if you could send us more information on the seafarers, we will see if we can trace from the records.
Regards
(Signed in Lotus Notes)
SUM FOONG YEE (MISS)
for QUALITY SERVICE MANAGER HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT BOARD
From the response you will note that Dr. S. Twigge either did not read John's letter or did not investigate what is going on in Singapore. To the best of my knowledge John Prescott was and perhaps still is sponsored by the Seaman's Union, I strongly recommend that the Union distance themselves from a man who has clearly forgotten his roots or only used them to forward his questionable career!
The Singapore Authorities maintain that through the world's press everyone is aware of its intentions. It is our belief that through the judicious placements of adverts the Authorities banked on little or no response thus greatly reducing its expenditure on exhumations and the size of the Government Columbarium required. As far as I know The Daily Telegraph was the only newspaper which carried the advert, a short while later the newspaper ran with the following disturbing article
TELEGRAPH ARTICLE:
Reproduced with kind permission of the Daily Telegraph, 1045 GMT, 7th December 2001.
After our first article appeared many people contacted both John and myself and we would like to take this opportunity of thanking you for your kind words of encouragement and support. A gentleman who resides in America solicited this response from Singapore, you will note that it is inferred that ALL the remains are to be placed in the Government's Columbarium, no mention of the fact that it is only the remains which are claimed, still running at no more than 10%, just over 6, 000.
Sujet : Re: Removal from their "eternal" resting place...
Date : 12/6/01 4:02:27 AM Romance Standard Time
From: lkk1@hdb.gov.sg (Kwok Kiong LEE)
To: XXXXXXXXXXX
CC: KOH-CHONG_Swew_Lin@mnd.gov.sg (Swew Lin KOH-CHONG), Petrina_THEO@mlaw.gov.sg (Petrina THEO)
Dear Dr XXXXXXXXX.
Please refer to your e-mail dated 1/12/2001.
We fully understand your concerns and feelings over the exhumation of graves in the Bidadari Christian Cemetery. It was a difficult decision on our part, and it was taken only after a careful consideration. We hope you will give us your kind understanding on this matter. We face a severe land constraints. Our entire country only 650 sq km and supports a population of 4 millions. We have no choice but to free land including cemetery sites for public development to meet the pressing needs of our growing population. Over the last 20 years, our government had exhumed more than 36 cemeteries of different races and religious for various development projects. The land presently occupied by the Bidadari Cemetery is required for high-rise public housing and other comprehensive development.
Since March 2001, the Housing & Development Board that undertakes the exhumation project has published notices every quarterly in major local and overseas newspapers to invite descendants/next-of-kin to register their claim before the exhumation begins in December 2001. We would like to assure you that the exhumation will be carried out in a dignified manner and in strict adherence to proper procedures. Each grave will be exhumed individually under the supervision of government officers to ensure that they are carried out with utmost respect and dignity. The exhumed remains will be cremated individually and the ashes will be placed in individual niches in a government columbarium. All these services and niches will be provided free. Descendants/next-of-kin may opt to engage their contractors to exhume their relatives' graves at their own costs. Our officers will provide them with all necessary assistance in the arrangement for exhumation and cremation. If they wish to have the cremated remains stored in a government columbarium, a niche will be allocated at no cost to them. We thank you for kindly sharing your thought s and concerns with us. We sincerely hope that our explanation will allay your concerns.
Yours sincerely,
(SIGNED USING LNs)
LEE KWOK KIONG
HEAD (LAND CLEARANCE UNIT)
LAND ADMINISTRATION & ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT
HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT BOARD
----- Forwarded by Kwok Kiong LEE/LSAD/HDB/SG on 06/12/2001 10:14 AM -----
Date : 12/6/01 4:02:27 AM Romance Standard Time
From: lkk1@hdb.gov.sg (Kwok Kiong LEE)
To: XXXXXXXXXXX
CC: KOH-CHONG_Swew_Lin@mnd.gov.sg (Swew Lin KOH-CHONG), Petrina_THEO@mlaw.gov.sg (Petrina THEO)
Dear Dr XXXXXXXXX.
Please refer to your e-mail dated 1/12/2001.
We fully understand your concerns and feelings over the exhumation of graves in the Bidadari Christian Cemetery. It was a difficult decision on our part, and it was taken only after a careful consideration. We hope you will give us your kind understanding on this matter. We face a severe land constraints. Our entire country only 650 sq km and supports a population of 4 millions. We have no choice but to free land including cemetery sites for public development to meet the pressing needs of our growing population. Over the last 20 years, our government had exhumed more than 36 cemeteries of different races and religious for various development projects. The land presently occupied by the Bidadari Cemetery is required for high-rise public housing and other comprehensive development.
Since March 2001, the Housing & Development Board that undertakes the exhumation project has published notices every quarterly in major local and overseas newspapers to invite descendants/next-of-kin to register their claim before the exhumation begins in December 2001. We would like to assure you that the exhumation will be carried out in a dignified manner and in strict adherence to proper procedures. Each grave will be exhumed individually under the supervision of government officers to ensure that they are carried out with utmost respect and dignity. The exhumed remains will be cremated individually and the ashes will be placed in individual niches in a government columbarium. All these services and niches will be provided free. Descendants/next-of-kin may opt to engage their contractors to exhume their relatives' graves at their own costs. Our officers will provide them with all necessary assistance in the arrangement for exhumation and cremation. If they wish to have the cremated remains stored in a government columbarium, a niche will be allocated at no cost to them. We thank you for kindly sharing your thought s and concerns with us. We sincerely hope that our explanation will allay your concerns.
Yours sincerely,
(SIGNED USING LNs)
LEE KWOK KIONG
HEAD (LAND CLEARANCE UNIT)
LAND ADMINISTRATION & ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT
HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT BOARD
----- Forwarded by Kwok Kiong LEE/LSAD/HDB/SG on 06/12/2001 10:14 AM -----
Another ex-Mariner from the North East of England contacted not only Marine Charities, Dutch and U.S. Authorities but his local M.P's. within hours he had a response from the U.S. Embassy in Singapore asking for details of the one U.S. citizen which we had knowledge of being buried there, these remains were of a Captain who had served his country in the U.S. Navy during the First World War and its Merchant Marine in the Second, we were happy to be able to furnish the said records. One of the M.P.s who was contacted also responded immediately and expressed his outrage saying that he was contacting the Foreign and Commonwealth Office asking for an explanation, this was to be on the 7th December 2001.
When the site was informed of Singapore's intentions towards the cemetery at Bidadari I had no idea of the sheer scale of what it was proposing to do, our original claim was that it should show due respect towards the British Merchant Seafarers remains which lie in its country. It was only after I read correspondence and the Daily Telegraph's article that I realised the magnitude of the horrendous action which is to be carried out in the name of progress.
Bidadari is the 37th cemetery which is to be laid waste, through its discreet placements of advertising the vast majority of families concerned have no idea what is being carried out. Besides Nationalities from all over the world this Cemetery contains many remains not only of British Service Personnel including many Military Police who died during the 'Troubles' but a great number of Merchant Navy Personnel who were instrumental in contributing towards Singapore's prosperity. But the biggest crime against humanity is that the remains of those men, women and children murdered by the Japanese at various internment camps in Singapore, most notably Changi are to suffer the final humiliation of having their remains cremated and then finally dumped out at sea, erasing from our collective conscious that they ever existed at all. Singapore you have a lot to answer for, enjoy your golf!
UPDATE 8th December 2001
Below is the welcome response from the American Embassy in Singapore which was forwarded by Billy McGee, let's hope that his correspondence with Dari Taylor M.P. for Stockton proves as successful. From the Embassy's response it would appear that the Singapore Authorities are being a little economic with the truth, or didn't they advertise in the American Press? Anyway we are delighted by the American's response which unfortunately only magnifies the crass ineptitude currently being displayed by the U.K. Authorities.
Here is the email received from the Embassy:
Mr. McGee,
Thank you for the additional information about Captain Richner. We will forward this info to the Dept. of State in Washington, DC to check Captain Richner's death records for next-of-kin information. Our office will be able to assist his family if they can be located and wish to repatriate his remains. I'll keep you informed of his case. I've also contacted the Ministry of Environment requesting information about other Americans interred at Bidadari Cemetery. Any forthcoming information from the MOE will be forwarded to the State Dept. to attempt to contact next-of-kin.
Thanks again for your efforts.
Regards,
XXXXXXXXXX (Name supplied)
Go to Updates on BidadariThank you for the additional information about Captain Richner. We will forward this info to the Dept. of State in Washington, DC to check Captain Richner's death records for next-of-kin information. Our office will be able to assist his family if they can be located and wish to repatriate his remains. I'll keep you informed of his case. I've also contacted the Ministry of Environment requesting information about other Americans interred at Bidadari Cemetery. Any forthcoming information from the MOE will be forwarded to the State Dept. to attempt to contact next-of-kin.
Thanks again for your efforts.
Regards,
XXXXXXXXXX (Name supplied)