The Indian National Army Memorial was built in the final months of the Japanese Occupation, before they surrendered on 15 August 1945. It was built to commemorate an “Unknown Warrior” of the Indian National Army, which was formed in 1942 and helped the Japanese. The history conveyed in this monument educates people about World War II and about the importance of unity during times of war.

This World War Two plaque was erected in 1995 to mark the site of the original Memorial, which was built in the final months of the Japanese Occupation, before they surrendered on 15 August 1945. The original Memorial was dedicated to an unknown soldier of the Indian National Army during the Japanese Occupation.

The formation of the INA (Indian National Army) was mooted by an Indian POW, Captain Mohan Singh, in 1942 with the aim of mobilising Indians in Singapore to support India's independence struggle. The Japanese saw a viable cooperation with the INA because they intended to exploit Indian anti-British sentiments to sabotage the British Army. In fact, they openly courted the Indian community with broadcast messages telling them the Japanese had come to liberate them.

However, distrust between the Japanese and Indian leaders led the movement to be disbanded in 1943. Believing in the movement's potential to satisfy Japanese goals, the Japanese brought in Subhas Chandra Bose that year to revive it. Bose was an eminent man, well-known for his revolutionary activities in India, and former president of the Indian National Congress. A fiery orator, Bose was able to rouse his audience and win their support in the Indian independence struggle against the British.

The INA later collapsed, following Bose's mysterious disappearance from the political scene and the Japanese surrender on 15 August 1945. Thus the original memorial dedicated to the "Unknown Warrior" of the INA was constructed at the Esplanade.

The Urdu words inscribed on the monument read : ITTEFAQ (unity), ITMAD (faith) and KURBANI (sacrifice).