The Inaugural National Day Parade - 9 August 1966

9 August 1966 - The Inaugural National Day Parade

The class of Sec 3BSc was in a unique position. 1966 was the year after the independence of Singapore on 9 August 1965 and therefore many new policies, traditions and events were introduced that year. Our class had the firsthand experience of all these exciting changes and we became the guinea-pigs of many a new government policy and experiment.

The Inaugural National Day Parade, (click for a video of the parade) the forerunner of all the National Day parades  since, happened on the 9 August 1966. On that day, Inche Yusuf Ishak, the first President of Singapore, was the reviewing officer. The Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, his Cabinet and MPs from the People Action Party all came in the traditional white and white outfits of the PAP. It was rumoured that white outfits would signify the purity, honesty and incorruptible party and government. The opposition, mostly from the Barisan Socialis party wore light blue. 

The Parade took place at the Singapore Padang in front of City Hall at 9.00 a.m. but people began streaming in to watch the show since 7 a.m. After the official march-past, the various military contingents marched through the streets of the Chinatown and the HDB heartlands. It rained from 10.30 a.m. but the marching contingents doggedly continued processing through the streets of Singapore.

Raffles Institution being Singapore’s premier school had the honour of supplying a student contingent to the parade. We wore white short pants school uniforms and carried red and white flags. Passing the VIP seats we signaled Majulah Singapura with our flags using the maritime semaphore flag system.

Chen Wen remembered the many rehearsals we had to endure under the hot sun on the school field at Monks Hill Secondary School. The organisers had arranged bus shuttle service to and from the rehearsals. Chen Wen informed that he was picked up at Fairfield Methodist School, at that time located on Neil Road. The final rehearsals were held at the Padang. Cecil Chiam remembered that for all rehearsals we were carrying yellow plastic flowers like the girls’ contingent which made many unhappy. Fortunately, our grouses were heard and the organisers changed it to red flags at the last minute. Unlike the military contingents who had to parade through the streets, we were dismissed after a short march; many rushed home to watch the parade on Black and White TVs.

The other boys in our class joined the Combined School Choir which sang at the Parade.Others joined the uniformed group contingents like the National Cadet Corps, Boys Scout and the St John’s Ambulance Brigade. Our choir master was Benjamin Khoo who told us bluntly that we were called upon for this occasion because of our voices. We are not sure whether it was for the tonal quality or the quantity. One thing for sure, the Parade Sergeant Major had a shrill voice. When he screamed “Sedi…iah”, the second syllable had a very high pitch which betrayed the intensity he put into his commands. Lim Kim Quee remembered that we had to sleep overnight in School because for the final rehearsals and actual day parade we had to assemble at dawn in the Padang, which was a stone’s throw away from RI.

Participation at this inaugural parade was an uplifting and memorable experience for all of us. According to Chen Wen, we were all rewarded with tickets to a Tattoo show at the Jalan Besar Stadium. 

Contributed by Poh Seng, Kim Quee and Chen Wen