This plaque was built by former British servicemen in memory of the founder of the Sandes Soldiers Home in Singapore, Miss Kathleen Leslie Symes. The Home, orignally located at Portsdown Road where The Temasek Club used to be, was opened in 1949. With facilities such as a swimming pool, canteen, tennis courts and a billiards room, the Home provided a recreational space for British servicemen to relax and to get together with their family while they were on leave. Built on the premise of a "home away from home", the idea for such a home was first started in 1869 by Miss Elise Sandes, who had been concerned for the welfare of the British soldiers serving away from home. Sandes Homes were gradually established in different parts of the world including England, Ireland, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. The Sandes Home in Singapore was the first to be built in the Far East at that time.
