The monument belongs to the Chinese community but the lessons learned of the past history of the memorial transcend racial boundaries. The memorial was built in remembrance of the war hero of Singapore, Lim Bo Seng, who sacrificed himself to protect his fellow comrades from being captured by the Japanese Army. In doing so, many lives as well as generations were saved. The loyalty and national pride of Lim Bo Seng for Singapore shall be an example for generations to come. Its history educates the public of the courage of Lim Bo Seng and allows people to understand how importance is unity among Singaporeans, as shown by Lim Bo Seng and his comrades.

Early Life
Lim Bo Seng was born in China, in the Fujian Province, on 27 April 1909. He and his family migrated to Malaya when he was a boy, but in 1925, when he was 16, they came to Singapore. Here he continued his studies in Raffles Institution and in 1928, where he passed his Senior Cambridge Examinations. He then furthered his studies at the University of Hong Kong.

Anti-Japanese activist
An active leader in anti-Japanese activities during World War II, he helped to collect funds to fight against their aggression in China. Being head of the Labour Services Corps, he provided the British government with labourers for the war effort before the Japanese invasion.

Resistance fighter
When war broke out in Asia, he led the Mobilization Council. After the Japanese capture of Singapore, Lim escaped to India where he was trained to fight in the jungle and later recruited resistance fighters for Force 136. Known also as the Dalforce or Singapore Chinese Anti-Japanese Volunteer Battalion, it was a special operations force formed by the British in June 1942 to infiltrate and attack enemy lines. Some local Malays were also recruited into the force.

Some of these men trained in India were sent secretly by submarine in 1943. During one infiltration trip in March 1944, the Japanese captured Lim while he was trying to warn other operatives that they should escape. He was betrayed by triple agent, Lai Teck, leader of the Malayan Communist Party. Lim was tortured for refusing to reveal the names of MPAJA leaders who worked with him. He died in Batu Gajah jail in Perak on 29 June 1944 at the age of 35.

Military Hero

On 13 January 1946, his remains were brought back to Singapore and he was buried with full military honours in the grounds of peaceful MacRitchie Reservoir. He was posthumously awarded the rank of Major-General by the Chinese Nationalist Government while a special funeral was held at City Hall steps on 13 January 1946.

In 1952, a memorial was erected over his grave. When sufficient funds were raised - HK$85,000 - a bigger memorial was erected at Anderson Bridge end of the Esplanade. This memorial in the shape of a pagoda was unveiled in 29 June 1954 by Sir Charles Leowen, Commander in Chief, Far East Land Forces. It has a bronze roof with four bronze lions ranged around it.

"I fully realised the risks involved, but once the job was started, it must be pushed to a successful end. You must not grieve for me. You should take pride in my sacrifice and devote yourself to upbringing of the children. Tell them what happened to me and direct them to my footsteps." - Extract from Lim Bo Seng’s farewell letter to his wife