Tens of thousands of Singaporeans of all ages and ethnicity are expected to pay their last respects to fallen soldier Aloysius Pang.

About 100 members of the public were in queue even before the wake was opened to all at noon on Saturday, Jan. 26.

The line of mourners extended way beyond the tentage at 82A MacPherson Lane and snaked all the way out onto the pavement parallel to the main road.

In the queue were teenagers and young adults, as well as middle-aged adults.

Some who were going to the venue were seen holding flowers.

Those who arrived early before noon had been in queue for about two hours.

The queue in the early afternoon numbered about 300 to 400 people.

Queuing was brisk as it took about 10 minutes for mourners to be ushered into the wake.

More are expected to turn up in the late afternoon and evening, as well as the funeral procession on Sunday.

Actors pay respects

Actors, Guo Liang, Chen Hanwei, Shane Pow, Chrisopher Lee and his wife Fann Wong were at the wake.

https://www.facebook.com/TheStraitsTimes/photos/a.10155847827902115/10155847919922115/

Pang's actress girlfriend Jayley Woo was seen wearing a pair of sunglasses.

Politicians such as Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong and MP Tin Pei Ling also paid their respects.

https://www.facebook.com/TheStraitsTimes/photos/a.10155847827902115/10155847828057115/

Members of Pang's fan club, who call themselves Pangsters, were seen sobbing as they queued to enter the tentage.

Pang flown back on Friday evening

Pang's body was flown into Paya Lebar Air Base on a Republic of Singapore Air Force KC-135R tanker aircraft on Friday evening, Jan. 25.

Hundreds of people turned up at the wake on Friday night at MacPherson, hoping to pay their respects even before the public memorial was due to start.

Pang will be accorded the full honours of a military funeral.

The cremation ceremony will be held at Mandai Crematorium on Sunday, Jan. 27.

What happened

Corporal First Class (NS) Aloysius Pang Wei Chong, 28, died on Wednesday, Jan. 23, in a military training accident in New Zealand during a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) training exercise.

He was crushed between the gun barrel of a howitzer and its cabin after he was "unable to get out of the way" as the barrel was lowered.

The 28-year-old was an armament technician with the 268th Battalion Singapore Artillery, and was on reservist at the Waiouru Training Area in New Zealand as part of an annual Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) exercise called Exercise Thunder Warrior.

Tributes

Photos of wake by Angela Lim, Rachel Ng & Zheng Zhangxin