Remembering Bravery and Service at St. Peter's

The Singapore memorial at Flower Festival time
One of the (many) important roles for the Church in Wisbech is that of being the focus for remembrance for loved ones. St Peter & St. Paul's Church holds a very special memorial to the Far East Prisoners of War; a unique and poignant tribute to those held captive in the infamous prison camps of Singapore. Think Tenko and the Bridge over the River Kwai. The memorial was commissioned by a group of Wisbech ex-PoWs who regularly met in The Locomotive pub on Lynn Rd. who were members of the Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk regiments that served and suffered in the Far East.  They were known as The Singapore Club. The Japanese takeover of Singapore was described by Churchill as " the worst defeat in British Military History". Memories of local people caught up in that dark period can be found on: https://www.captivememories.org.uk/the-far-eastern-prisoners-of-war/your-fepow-history. A friend's great uncle was a marine engineer who volunteered to support the last ship out of Singapore filled with casualties, nurses and some soldiers. They struggled to a remote island in the Malayan archipelago in a desperate attempt to reach Australia. The Japanese found them and the crew, soldiers and casualties were all brutally murdered. The nurses were made to walk into the sea and were shot in the back as they walked. 

Designed by Brian Krill, the marble memorial sits proudly in the North Transept of the church and wreaths are laid annually to honour those who died. If you visit us then you will find more information via the new Infopoint service currently being set up to guide you round our beautiful church; another part of our lottery-funded journey. 

                    Turn You to the Stronghold, ye Prisoners of Hope. Zecharia IX.12

With thanks to Keith for the words, Graham for the pictures and the Greenacres for the memories

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