1954 National Service Riots or Anti-National Service Riots is a riot in Singapore that occurred in 1954 due to the communist influence. The persons involved were limited to the Chinese students in some Chinese Middle Schools. Most of the rioting students were above 20 years old as their education had been disrupted by war.

Reason for the riots

On 13 May 1954, students at a number of Chinese schools demonstrated against the British government's decision to make young men between the ages of 18 to 20, do part-time military service. The students were unwilling to defend a foreign government which, in World War 2, and when Singapore had most needed support, deserted them. They wanted to drive the British out of Singapore and with the communist influence the demonstration led to rioting when the police arrived to disperse them and the police had to put down the riot, though with great difficulty.^[1]

See also

• Hock Lee Bus Riots
• Chinese Middle School Riot
• Understanding Out Past: Singapore - from Colony to Nation. Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Education

References

• National Service Riots of 1954 article in Singapore National Library Infopedia

Understanding Our Past - SINGAPORE: from Colony to Nation http://www.marshallcavendish.com/marshallcavendish/education/sg/browse/catalogue/secondary/history/understanding_our_past_singapore/9810191286.xml