The 15,000 Australian soldiers who were taken prisoner by the Japanese at the fall of Singapore have been remembered at a Sydney service, marking the 80th anniversary of one of the darkest chapters in Australia's military history.
Dignitaries and descendants of the veterans gathered at the Sydney cenotaph in Martin Place at 11am on Tuesday to remember the service and sacrifice of members of the 8th Division, including the 8000 who perished as prisoners of war.
NSW Veteran Affairs Minister David Elliott attended the solemn commemoration as well as a host of military and police figures including Major General Forces Command, Matt Pearse, and newly sworn in NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb.
On February 15, 1942 130,000 British-led forces surrendered the island -the keystone of British Empire defence in Asia - to the Imperial Japanese Army.
Five years ago the few surviving veterans of the 8th Division decided the 75th anniversary service in Sydney would be their last, with the RSL now responsible for commemorations.
It's believed there are just one or two Australians left who became prisoners of the Japanese in Singapore.
Those taken prisoner endured starvation, malnutrition and beatings, some working as slaves on the notorious Thai-Burma Railway, while others were sent to labour camps in Japan.
RSL NSW President Ray James said the RSL would continue to host commemorations to honour their sacrifice.
"People should never forget how close we as a nation came to invasion and occupation during World War II," he said.
"But for the service and sacrifice of the men and women who served in our armed forces, and those of the Allied Forces, the Australian people would not have been protected from the battles of World War II reaching our shores."
