Old Crest

Old Crest of Singapore, originally uploaded by pfong.

I believe this is the old crest of Singapore. This crest would have been used before indepence in 1959, when Singapore was still administered by the British. This crest lies forgotten in and old park in the heart of the city.

The heraldic symbols indicate that this was a major airbase and port as well as being a fortress. The motto states in the Malay language "Onward Singapore".

Also of interest is the lion and palm tree at the top of the crest. This is a reference to story of the naming of Singapore. The story goes that when a Malay prince first stepped ashore on the island, he saw what he thought was a lion underneath a tree. He named the island Singapura or Lion City.

Interestingly enough the lion underneath the palm tree has been appropriated by Tiger beer who have replaced the lion with a tiger as a symbol of their beverage.