I had written about Penang's Cenotaph at the Esplanade two or three times in the past with two of my notable stories here and here. There's little for me to add except to say that the Cenotaph was destroyed in January 1945 by, ironically, Allied bombing. It was the tail-end of the Second World War and within the next few months. Japan would surrender. The Allied bombing left the Cenotaph severely damaged and for about a year, the rubble was uncleared and the place became a dumping ground. The hawkers and citizens of George Town were far from being civic-minded in those days.
A few weeks before Remembrance Day on 11 November 1946, the rubble was finally carted off and a simple flagstaff was planted on the same spot as the old Cenotaph. But luckily, the Town Council did not dispose off the damaged material. The Council kept whatever they could and rebuilt the Cenotaph with as much of the salvaged granite blocks as possible.
The rebuilding effort was largely driven by an architect, Charles Geoffrey Boutcher, who generously offered his services gratis to the Council. Still, the project wasn't without costs—about $3,500 was spent to restore the new Cenotaph in time for Remembrance Day on 11 November 1948. The Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle, in its issue of 12 November 1929, carried an illustration of the original Cenotaph
It is not known to me when the Municipal Council first erected a metal fence around the perimeter of the Cenotaph. Was it to safeguard it from vandalism or people using the place for less than respectable reasons?
But the problem with fencing off the monument and making it out of bounds for people meant that the Council was creating a physical barrier to disconnect it from the general public. This shouldn't be the case. We should not alienate the Cenotaph from the people as the decline in public interest and engagement will reduce its significance in our community and cultural heritage. And that's the last thing the City Council should do. The Cenotaph is also an educational tool that provide insights into our history and culture. Restricting access will limit learning opportunities and awareness, especially for younger generations who can gain from the tangible connections to their history.
My latest excursion to the Esplanade was on 30 April, hardly two weeks ago. I was surprised to see that the metal fence had been removed by the City Council and the Cenotaph was now standing grandly in the open space. That was the way it should be. The monument now looked so much more proper than before. Without the fence, it now has an excellent visual impact: no detraction from its aesthetic value. In my opinion, the landscape has been suitably enhanced and it should provide an overall appeal for both locals and visitors. And finally, I noticed that around the Cenotaph, there was now a low circular perimeter wall which replaced an unimaginative stone plaque which was simply out-of-place. Etched into the perimeter wall are dedications to the fallen soldiers from various campaigns—from the First World War (1914-1918) till the Reinsurgency Period (1968-1990).
ADDENDUM: On my facebook a few days ago, I had mentioned with the above picture that the cruise liner in the background reminds us that this is 2024 and not 1929 when the original Cenotaph was built to commemorate the soldiers who had made ultimate sacrifices. We are five years away from celebrating the Cenotaph's centenary. I wonder what's being planned, or is it too far away for anyone else to care?
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