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Photos and EnquiriesMembership is not a requirement for posting relevant messages on this website however those who join MVG will also have their messages more widely circulated with our regular newsletter with a readership which includes families and veterans who don't use the internet. If you wish to enquire on the website about a relative or particular Volunteer please here. Penang Volunteers MVG member Marsha Anson sent us this late 1930s photo of a section of 3SSVF Volunteers including her father, P.F. Kavanagh who is holding up the sign. Although the sign states no.7 section, we believe the photo shows B [MG]Company, no.6 platoon, No.6 section: Ptes A.M.R. Currie, E.G. Gardiner, P.F. Kananagh, E.M. Scoular & J.C. Matheson. The Sgt is presumably Platoon Sgt H.F. Clements. Any confirmation of identities would be welcome. 
Malacca Swimming Club Christmas Party: some time ago we put some of Rhona's photos of this event on the website. We now have this photo taken seconds later than the one further down this page. It's from Alison Williams [nee Webber] who is the little girl stood at the back holding a a ball.  Alison also sent in this photo of children and teachers at Miss Griff's Tanglin School, Cameron Highlands late 1946. Who do you recognise? 
FMSVF Volunteers at Port Dickson 1940
This photo was sent in by Catherine Latimer, daughter of Alexander Ilyine FMSVF. Can you help with further information on the identities of those on the photo? back row l. to r.: Walter. Self, Chandler, McLaughlin, Ilyine front row l. to r.: Young, Sgt Hardwicke, Curtis Perak Volunteers at Port Dickson Camp 1930
Steve le Fleming kindly sent in these two excellent photos. His father appears on both photos Any other identities welcome. Are you on this photo?
Click here for further photos of Malacca children's parties
Photo Contributors
The photos on the website have created considerable interest. The photo on the homepage, courtesy of John Mackie, shows himself (centre) with fellow FMSVF Volunteers Philip Paxton-Harding and Jack Brown. We are indebted to the following MVG members for the photos on the History page: The photo below (courtesy of Mason Nelson) shows officers of the Singapore Volunteer Corps 1930s 2nd row, 3rd from the left is his father, Captain David Nelson. Again, any identifications welcome.
EnquiriesContentsChinese from Malaya on the Western Front Battle of Kampar: Greenridge, Kampar, Perak, Malaysia JVE - James Gardner Mrs Anne Champie Connelly Relative. William Stanley Robinson, Padang Gajah Estate Neil George Ferguson John Charles Nauen 1903 - 1943 Perak Chinese MT Company RASC Brian Frank Tyson, Malayan volunteer John Allen Harvey MCS & Officers on Duty in Selangor (August 1945 - December 1946) Escape from Singapore Marriage records My Father : A S Hogan served in 2nd Selangor Bn, FMSVF Robert PJ Rycroft Captain A.F. Hayward, Malay States Volunteer Rifles George Robertson[1907-1945] , Johore Volunteer Engineers Captain Sydney Richard Smith MSVR Little girl evacuated on Centaur World War Two RAF Memorial Planter Donald Menteith Holland Where is this airfield? Alexander Aird 1SSVF/Accountant, Asiatic Petroleum Company, born 1906 My family: Samuel Cecil Yeomans (also Keyt family & George Dickinson) Straits Trading, Singapore 1941 Lt.Col Sir John Campbell Brass Cap Badge - 1950-60 Federation of Malaysian Engineers Malayan States Volunteer Rifles in the First World War Period James ("Jay") Chambers Thompson - Singapore pre WW2 James Hunter Baldwin - Rubber planter, Manager, Kuala Dingin Estate, Serdang, Kedah L/Sgt Frederick Walter Westworth 1SSVF Edward Mulligan PWD D.& I. /SRE[V] The SS Sarpedon 1940 Evacuation on the SS Orion Evacuation and Repatriation - How was it for you? Japanese Propaganda Photos A.V.L. Davies SALLY TOOKE born 1941 Batu Gajah John Corner enquiry Thomas Regan FMSVF/Petaling Tin, Perak William Wight Perak LDC + Wife Helen Straits Settlements & Malayan Volunteers A. William Hamilton / Penang Volunteers/Chinese Labour Corps 1917-1919 David Warnock Harvey/David Harvey My father, Robert Lindsay McFarlane in the Singapore Volunteer Corps Old Photos of Malaya Sub Lt Charles Fittock, Malayan Royal Navy Vol. Reserve 1942 Seeking information on Peter Stephens Richard [Dick] Bower, Johore Volunteer Engineers / Tanah Merah Estates Ltd, Johore Baptism photo 1938 Klebang British Military Railways in Singapore Vera Ardmore of the Singapore Morning Tribune Birth Certificate & Beyond An Appeal for Material James Alexander McQueen, Penang Volunteers First Aid Nursing Yeomanry "Sunday Man"at the Pudu jail, Kuala Lumpur My father Capt HJ Kitchener (Jack) James Longwill WO II Signal Battalion FMSVF Fay Hamilton's dancing girls [2] Birth Certificate Problems Rolls Royce Armoured Cars in Malayan Service? Captain Alfred Webb, 2FMSVF Photographs of Kuala Lumpur and Surroundings Captain Cho Siow Lim / CQMS Tan Kim Tee, Malacca Volunteers Miss Griff, staff and Tanglin School children 1932 Singapore Cricketers on SCC steps 1946 CSM CHARLES HENRY CRABBE (1SSVF) Mrs. Doris Eileen Mary Toms. nee Doris Eileen Mary Ironside Bax. H.J.C.K. Toms. Straits Steamship Company. Singapore. Charles Sharkey, Singapore Volunteers Rubber Planter George Park Barnet Lt Harold Lewis Page [1907-1943] 4SSVF Malacca Singapore Royal Artillery (Volunteers) postwar OCTU Malaya 1941? TANGLIN SCHOOL CHILDREN 1947 1007 Sgt D.A. David, Kedah Volunteer Force FAY HAMILTON SCHOOL OF DANCING Alfed Edminson Dick, Planter Captain Richard Aubrey Witham 2FMSVF James O'Dowd Egan, Planter & FMSVF 45 Reserve MT Company JOHN HOWARD TYTE MSVR Penang Volunteers WW1? Tracing my Grandfather Phillip Holmes Glover / Changi Cpl Roy Alexander Moulton MM FMSVF Armoured Cars FMSVF Railway Operating and Maintenance Company William Charles Blair Joe Speelman 1904-1991 FMSVF Light Battery photo Sgt Reginald Sydney Missen 4FMSVF FMSVF Light Battery Anyone for Cricket? MVAF Aircraft 2nd Lt. Richard Peall 2FMSVF Sgt Robert Chan Malayan Hospitals & Clinics c.1957 Vernon Walter Trevethan MVA Uniforms of Volunteers Tanglin Cameron Highlands Henry Price Wales H.P. Private 3SSVF Vowler family / Tanglin School, Cameron Highlands Harold Edwin MacKenzie Dudley Griffith Owen JVE Fitzpatrick 1st Bn FMSVF Alexander William Miller, Johore Volunteer Engineers (JVE) Sapper 998 born Lambeth, UK 06.03.04 CAPTAIN SIDNEY BADDELEY, Straits Steamship Company THE GREETHAM FAMILY Searching For A Book ROBERT GUY YOUNG JOHORE VOLUNTEERS SSVF Norman Bigelow no.5415 Federated Malay States Volunteer Force LT COLONEL BERTIE J. EATON OBE Battle of Kampar: Greenridge, Kampar, Perak, Malaysia JVE - James Gardner We would be interested to hear from anyone with information about my father, James Rowland Gardner (Tiddler), who was a member of the JVE. Prior to the invasion he had been a planter, possibly in Ipoh. He was a POW on the Burma Railway and was later transported to Funatsu, Japan, working, I think, in an iron foundry or possibly a shipyard. Up until today - 13 Jan 2010 - we were unaware that he had been in the JVE. It was only by chance that, googling his name, I discovered that his Efficiency Medal had been sold last year in London - see http://www.dnw.co.uk/medals/auctionarchive/searchcataloguearchive/itemdetail.lasso?itemid=68467 After the war he returned to Malaya working on plantations in Ipoh and Rasa and eventually returned to the UK in about 1966. Any information whatsoever would be most welcome. Many thanks Mrs Connelly, the wife of Sgt Andrew Connelly 2A&SH, and a Thai national, was evacuated, aged 34, from Singapore with 1 year old son Ian on the Duchess of Bedford to Liverpool. Before her marriage to Andrew in 1940 she was a nursery nurse working for a family who lived in Meyer Mansions, Coleman Street, Singapore and visited England with them in 1937. Champie kept a photographic record of her time in Meyer Mansions but we still don't know which family she worked for and would welcome any information.  Click here to see some of Champie's other photos. Relative. William Stanley Robinson, Padang Gajah Estate
Neil George Ferguson John Charles Nauen 1903 - 1943 Perak Chinese MT Company RASC Brian Frank Tyson, Malayan volunteer John Allen Harvey MCS & Officers on Duty in Selangor (August 1945 - December 1946) Escape from Singapore
Marriage records My Father : A S Hogan served in 2nd Selangor Bn, FMSVF Robert PJ Rycroft I am researching the captioned family member. He arrived in Malaya in 1930 to serve with the FMS Police in KL. Interned during the war, returning post war to serve again with the police. His wife was Hylda M Rycroft, nee Wilson. I believe that she was evacuated after the fall of Singapore. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks Julie daviddodd[at]netvigator.com Captain A.F. Hayward, Malay States Volunteer Rifles George Robertson[1907-1945] , Johore Volunteer Engineers I have been writing the family story for many years and I want to discover what happened to my cousin, George Robertson, born Melbourne, 1907, who died in Mergui on 25. 7.1945 according to information on a cable recently come to hand. Before that POW cards came from No.1 Camp and No. 2 Camp Thailand early in 1944. George worked as an engineer for the Hume Pipe Company, Singapore in the 1930s then for the Drainage & Irrigation Dept, Johore. He lived in Muar and joined the JVE. I would be grateful for any information as George was the only son, unmarried without issue, of a single mother and I don't want him to be forgotten.
Captain Sydney Richard Smith MSVR I am interested in finding about my late father´s career in the Malay States Volunteer Rifles . His name was Sydney Richard Smith O.B.E . He served in the MSVR and was a Civil Engineer PWD Perak between c.1900 to 1928. If you are able to find out something I shall be very happy Thank you Yours John Annesley Smith john_annesley_smith[at]hotmail.com Jean Barrie Nairn was born in 1935. Her father, Jimmy, the Company Sergeant Major of the Scottish Company 1SSVF died suddenly pre-hositilties. Her mother Barbara, a nursing matron at Middleton Hospital, stayed on and was interned in Changi and Sime Rd Camp. Leaving their home at 23 Oxley Rd, Singapore, Barbara put Jean aboard Centaur which arrived at Fremantle WA on January 13th 1942. It would be interesting to know who took care of Jean aboard Centaur and on arrival in Western Australia and what became of her since. JonathanMoffatt[at]aol.com Does anyone have any photographs, drawings or descriptions of the RAF WW2 memorial which used to be in the chapel of RAF Station Kuala Lumpur until the end of 1960 when it was officially handed over to St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Kuala Lumpur? The memorial has mysteriously disappeared in the past 49 years and we intend to begin a thorough search within the church property and a description or any information as to where the memorial could have ended up would help tremendously. Thank you Andrew Hwang ac_hwang[at]yahoo.com Planter Donald Menteith Holland My Grandfather Donald Menteith Holland was with the Malay States Volunteer Rifles in 1915-1916,before joining the Royal Field Artillery in WW1. Does anyone have any information about him. He returned to Malaya after the war and lived in the Port Dickson area. He died in 1935 and is buried at St.Marks in Seremban. Thankyou Will Handover-Holland awh61[at]yahoo.com This photo was in the suitcase (Pandora`s Box) that my father left me and I had assumed it was of an airfield in Singapore. Apparently it is not and as I look at it more closely those fields surrounding it look quite British!! But then why would it be amongst so very many pre-war pictures of Singapore and Malaya - Botanical pictures?  Does anyone recognises it? All good wishes, John Corner Victoria, Australia astley22[at]bigpond.net.au Alexander Aird 1SSVF/Accountant, Asiatic Petroleum Company, born 1906 Does anybody know anything about Alexander T. Aird who arrived in Singapore in 1930? He married Alistrina (Ali) and had one child named Andrew (Sandy) in 1941. Mother and child were evacuated to Australia on the Charon in 1942 but what happened to Alexander during the troubles in Singapore?. I have found from this wonderful website a photo of Scottish Company 1SSVF and wondered if anybody had any names available. Alexander Aird is my father's cousin.   Wendy Sutherland (nee Aird) s0therl0nd[at]blueyonder.co.uk My family: Samuel Cecil Yeomans (also Keyt family & George Dickinson) My great grandfather Samuel Cecil YEOMANS was born in 1876 at Ashby le la Zouch. Educated at Oundle & Christ's College, Cambridge, he first came to Malaya with the FMS Civil Service then planted with United Rubber Estates Ltd, Carey Island and also became a journalist In 1902 he married Helen Minnie, daughter of Mr Thomas Keyt, retired Perak Civil Servant. The Yeomans later lived at 36b Teluk Blangah Rd, Keppel Harbour, Singapore and Samuel was interned by the Japanese in Changi, room 4RC3.then Sime Road Camp. He died in Durban, South Africa in 1949. My mother, Anita Elaine was born in KL in 1932, the daughter of George Dickinson & Samuel's daughter Hilda (Peggy) Yeomans. My mother told me that George Dickinson, who died in 1940 in Singapore, was a rubber planter and editor of a Malayan newspaper. My mother and her mother and sisters were evacuated from Singapore. Thanks Nikki Archer-Waring archer.waring[at]btinternet.com Straits Trading, Singapore 1941  I would be very interested to know if anyone can identify (a) the man .with the long sleeved shirt: (he may be from Straits Trading senior staff) [b] the woman (believed to be a Singapore Nursing Sister, Dorothy....known to smoke cigars from time to time!..where was she from?). Also on the photo is my father Robert John Trotter, a Straits Trading Co. senior engineer, killed in a bombing raid in February 1942 after the smelters on Pulau Brani were put out of action: Whose house were they in.?..i.e. is the side portrait recognisable? Any clues welcome. Thank you Audrey McCormick Replies via website I'm trying to find out information on Lt.Col Sir John Campbell who was involved in Tin Mining in the state of Perlis, Malaya in 1930 - 1942. He and his wife were reportedly captured by the Japanese and are believed to have died in Indonesia. Lt.Col Sir John Campbell was a very well decorated officer and was an advisor to the colonial government and also held other important positions in government. Could anyone with any information kindly contact me at shekar.sc@gmail.com. if you have any leads or photographs of this person. Thank you. SC Shekar Brass Cap Badge - 1950-60 Federation of Malaysian Engineers I am trying to track down a brass cap badge worn by the soldiers of the Federation of Malaysian Engineers on behalf of a friends father who served there and who has been trying to find one for many years. Thankyou Linda Johnson ldudzi[at]live.com James ("Jay") Chambers Thompson - Singapore pre WW2 I am trying to track down the movements of my grandfather after the fall of Singapore and specifically where I can find details of the service records of members of the Malayan Volunteers. (I wish I had found this site before my grandmother died recently). My grandfather (JC Thompson) was a Surveyor with the Survey Department in Singapore from 1938. I understand from my grandmother that they spent a lot of time in the highlands of peninsular Malaysia but were living in Singapore before the evacuation. My mother (Darryl Thompson) and grandmother (Myrl Thompson) were both evacuated from Singapore before it fell and traveled on the Charon to Perth WA(initially thinking they were heading for South Africa). We understand that my grandfather did not leave Singapore at that time. Singapore fell in February 1942 but the only record of him starts in December 1943 in Ceylon where his service record with the RAF simply starts as a Flight Lieutenant in the Meteorological Branch granted "for the emergency". There are no further records until he is listed as "dying on Active Duty" in Hollywood Military Hospital in Perth in October 1945. The records don't list his transfers to Ceylon or back to Australia. As far as we know he had no Meteorological training. We would like to piece together the 2 years between the fall of Singapore and his arrival in Ceylon and commission as a Flight Lieutenant. We understand that he was a member of the Malayan Volunteers but we don't know in what role. It would seem that his background as a surveyor, particularly in the highlands, would have suited the Stay Behind Parties mentioned on this site but again we cannot find any records. Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated. Even though we now live in Perth, my own children (his great grandchildren) were born in Singapore when we worked there and are fascinated by the past connection. My grandparents Black and White house still stands on Tanglin Road - unfortunately no longer in the family. Regards Marshall Allen marshall[at]gilbeyallen.com James Hunter Baldwin - Rubber planter, Manager, Kuala Dingin Estate, Serdang, Kedah Simply looking to trace any references to this person. Not known if a Volunteer but quite likely to have been. Was last heard of returning to Penang in 1936 and various rumours of his presence in Singapore during evacuation. Thanks L/Sgt Frederick Walter Westworth 1SSVF My father FW Westworth served with the Singapore Volunteers Armoured Car Company . Nicknamed "George" he spent time in the Bukit Timah camp and then went to the Burma Thai railway at K'anburi and Hintok including time under the command of "Weary" Dunlop. He returned to Singapore in 1946 and was instrumental in re starting the accounting firm Turquand Youngs - now Ernst & Young -from which he retired in 1967. My sister and I went to Tanglin School. Sadly he died on 4th February this year at the age of 93 in Colyton Devon England. We wondered if there is any still alive who served with him. Chris Westworth Sydney Australia cwestwor[at]bigpond.net.au Edward Mulligan PWD D.& I. /SRE[V] My father Edward Mulligan, known as Ned, joined the Volunteer Forces at the outbreak of war. At the time he joined he was a Civil Engineer working for the government and was made a major. He was taken prisoner and shipped to Japan in the hold of a Japanese ship. He spent the captivity in Changi, Formosa and Zentsuji Prison Camp in Japan. I understood from him that there were many Canadians & Dutch in the camp. He survived the war but unfortunately is now dead. Does any one remember Zentsuji? Mary O'Sullivan mary[at]osproperty.co.uk In response to an article in the latest MVG newsletter, Bill Vowler writes 'Regarding the Blue Funnel Gang I was one of them -both on the Gorgon and Charon. I would very much to find some of the passsengers who were on the SARPEDON that left Glasgow to Penang/ Singapore in 1940. I was on that also. Bill can be contacted at ww.cavowler[at]verizon.net I am trying to find out about the Orion journey from Singapore to Fremantle, Dec 31st 1941 arriving Jan 7th 1942, and the Master`s log would have info but nowhere can I find that log book. I have tried the UK National Archives, the Maritime Museum in Greenwich and the Maritime History Archive in Newfoundland. Any information as to its location would be welcome. I am looking for answers to the following questions. Did Orion leave Singapore (on Dec 31st 1941) in a convoy? Did Orion leave the convoy soon after because its speed (the convoy`s) was too slow? Was the ship attacked? Did it put into any port, en route, to avoid attack? Any other information and personal memories most welcome. John Corner Victoria, Australia. Evacuation and Repatriation - How was it for you? In 2008 I published a book entitled, Stranger in the House, that looked at the effect of men returning from war on women's lives. Now Simon & Schuster have asked me to write another book about returning evacuees. This is a marvellous topic because it concerns something that lots of today's children learn about in school. I think all three of my sons have been to ‘Evacuee Day' at some time in their school careers. I am only too aware, however, that the public's perception of Evacuees is limited to pictures of grubby little children leaving London stations with gas masks around their necks and luggage labels on their wrists. As with Stranger in the House this book will comprise a mixture of oral history, information from diaries and letters and research that will place the stories in their historical, social and to some extent economic situation. If you would like to share your memories with me or find out more about how I plan to use information I gather, please do contact me either via email: julie.summers00@googlemail.com or by letter: Julie Summers, 17 Abberbury Road, Oxford OX4 4 ET If you wish to find out about my other books please visit www.juliesummers.co.uk In April 1945 my father was taken with a number of other POWs to the Singapore Swimming Club and forced to pose for propaganda photos at tables laden with drinks and cakes, intended to show how well the Japanese took care of their prisoners. Does anyone know if these photos still exist in a collection somewhere? Please contact me, thank you. Click here to view T.J. Johnston's other photos. Ian Johnston anihadas[at]tiscali.co.ukAubrey Davies was born in 1882 in Brixton, He became a barrister in 1906 and arrived in Singapore in 1929 setting up in practice with the later well known Singapore lawyer C.C. Tan [Aubrey Davies & Co., Bonham Building Singapore] and after a short time at Changi Gaol died in Japanese captivity in April 1942 at Miyako Hospital.
Any information about Aubrey Davies or about the 1930 photo taken at Raffles Hotel with Mrs Struse & daughter [who were they?] Thank you. Alan Tuckey Alan[at]tuckey.demon.co.uk website: http://www.tuckey.biz/family/ppl/a/a/aa75943c46a120e9aaf.html SALLY TOOKE born 1941 Batu Gajah Does anyone have information on Sally Tooke who lived in Batu-Gajah, Perak?. She (and I) were born in June 1941 at Batu-Gajah Hospital. We both returned to Malaya after the war was over. Her mother was called Nancy and her brother was called Robin. Her father worked for the Geological Survey Department. Thank you Christine Edmondson (nee Bean) edmomike44[at]aol.com I am trying to find out about three people who visited my late fathers house at 30, Cluny Road, Singapore, on February 8th 1942. My father, EJH Corner, was Assistant Director of the Straits Settlements Botanic Gardens, 1929 to 1942. They are Mike Ash, Dr Reid and Julie Napper, who were at the house with Jim and Penelope Landon - see David Wingate`s article in the recent MVG newsletter Apa Khabar. Also I want to find out about Mr Chan Chen Swee, known as Charlie, and his wife Alice. Post war they had a successful Import business in Singapore and I know had a daughter Eunice Chan who continued that business for many years. It was originally in Cecil Street and called CCS Trading moving to No 2, Alexandra Road, Delta House, No 06-029, Singapore, in July 1991. Any information gratefully received. John Corner astley22[at]bigpond.net.au Thomas Regan FMSVF/Petaling Tin, Perak I am just starting out to research my great uncle Thomas Regan who was working in Perak at the beginning of the war. I believe he was working for Petaling Tin Company. He wrote home about joining the Volunteer Force and I suppose he would have been in the Perak Volunteer Force. My Grandmother tried to find out what happened to her brother, the Red Cross could not help and hoped he was a POW and the Colonial Office wrote to inform her they had information from an unconfirmed source that Tom was killed along with five colleagues in Kantang (last seen 10 Dec 1941). Any information would be very gratefully received. Mary Baxter baxter.mary1[at]googlemail.com William Wight Perak LDC + Wife Helen Any other information on the Wights welcome. Is Mrs Wight's uniform MAS? enquiryreplies[at]malayanvolunteersgroup.org.uk
I just discovered that my great grandfather served in the Penang Volunteers during World War 1, from 1915-16 and then with the Chinese Labour Corps In France 1917-19. I have been at a loss until now to find out where he served. David Warnock Harvey/David Harvey My uncle David Warnock Harvey worked as an assistant manager at Bradwell estate Negri Sembilau and was in the FMSVF. He was taken from Changi in April 1943 and was part of F Force. He died at Kanchanaburi in December 1943. My grandfather was in Straits Steamship Company, retired before the war,but previosly a Master Mariner with them. He died in Penang Hospital in 1942. Would anyone have any information about either my uncle or grandfather? Jane Mackie Jane is also seeking any information on her great grandfather John Campbell who died on 20th September 1915 aged 61 and is buried in Penang. He was a ships engineer and may have been involved in the events surrounding the Emden raid on Penang Harbour. My father, Robert Lindsay McFarlane in the Singapore Volunteer CorpsI have a photo of my father in a group of men in uniform--on the back it says " SVC GOC inspections 3/4 Oct. 1931." I also have his pin for the "Singapore Volunteer Corps". If anyone can add anything to this information i would appreciate it. thanks, Old Photos of MalayaI am the creator of the Pengerang Battery website http://www.razcollection.com/pengerang/index.html and I am looking for more period photos of buildings, or street scenes from Malaya. I am currently tracking down abandoned or empty pre war and post war buildings to photograph and research and looking for leads on other possible locations to follow up on, if they still exist that is. This is my website for the project: http://www.razcollection.com/urbex/start.htm I'm also planning a "before and after" gallery from period location photos which could turn out to be interesting. So if you've anything to share please drop me a line. best wishes Sub Lt Charles Fittock, Malayan Royal Navy Vol. Reserve 1942My Grandfather, Sub Lt Charles Fittock, Malayan Royal Navy Vol Reserve, after escaping from Singapore on HMS Grasshopper was last seen in Padang, Sumatra mid to late February 1942. He gave his Rolex watch to a person unknown in Padang and said "Please give this to my wife, Kuching, and tell her I will see her in Colombo". If there is any person who might have heard of or even met my grandfather in Padang in late Feb 1942 can they please contact me. Any information would be gratefully recieved. Background information : Charles Fittock was a manager for Carreras in Singapore, he was also a member of The Tanglin Club in Singapore. He was able to evacuate his wife, Kuching and daughter Susan on a troop ship to Colombo shortly before the invasion of Singapore by virtue of the fact that he was a Sub Lieutenant in the Malayan Royal Naval Vol. Reserve. Charles Hallinan Seeking information on Peter StephensMVG membert Bill Vowler is looking for childhood friend Peter Stephens whose father O.L. Stephens was PWD Malacca and elsewhere pre-and postwar. Peter was born c.1929 and returned to Malaya with Bill in 1940 on SS Sarpedon from Glasgow. We think this may be Peter Rowland Owen Stephens who was later in Malaya & Singapore through the 1950s. He had a younger sister, Shirley Ann. Any information gratefully received by Bill at ww.cavowler[at]verizon.net Richard [Dick] Bower, Johore Volunteer Engineers / Tanah Merah Estates Ltd, JohoreMy great Uncle, Dick Bower was a UK national, (civilian) working on rubber plantations in Malaya prior to WW11. He became a POW of the Japanese, surviving the war and staying on to manage rubber plantations after the war. Can anyone help with information or ideas about where to go for information. Many thanks. Bryce Dyer Baptism photo 1938 KlebangThis photo appeared in a 1938 edition of 'St Andrew's Outlook' the Presbyterian Church of Malaya magazine. It shows the baptism party of Malacca planter Aden McLeod's daughter Alison. We believe the Minister is Rev.Stephen Band who must have come up from Singapore for the baptism. Alison and her sister Rhona are particularly keen to establish the identity of others on the photo. Can anyone shed any light on this? Morag Broomfield in Aberdeen very kindly supplied copies of 'St Andrew's Outlook.' Does anyone else have copies of this substantial and significant publication? More photos from Morag - daughter of CSM W. Carruthers FMSVF will soon appear on the Website. Jonathan Moffatt  British Military Railways in SingaporePeter Chan in Singapore is doing a project on British Miltary Railways in Singapore. He would like contact with anyone who has knowledge on the subject or has old maps or photos of British military bases, camps or military railways in Singapore. He is particularly interested in a place called Tanjong Belayar where there was a pier for docking. Please send any reponses to tb.brown[at]blueyonder.co.uk Vera Ardmore of the Singapore Morning TribuneDoes anyone know what became of Vera Ardmore, the 'People & Places' social & personal columnist of the Singapore Morning Tribune? I understand she married an RAF officer called Stumm and was evacuated to Java in January 1942. Any leads welcome. Jonathan Moffatt Birth Certificate & BeyondMany thanks to all who wrote to me, John Hay, about birth certificates in Penang. I have tried to reply to you all. Due to this help, the birth certificate problem seems to be on its way to a solution. This has produced a bigger problem. Am informed by consular authorities that I lost my status of British-by-birth in a 1983 act, thus my children born later than that have no rights to citizenship. This seems to mean that all those MCS families on duty, whose children were born in Penang (and Malaya? and Hong Kong) could not pass on their citizenship rights after 1983. Those whose children were born on leave, if back in the U.K., were not so deprived. Does anyone have experience of, or comments on, this remarkable disparagement of service in the MCS? John Hay If anyone suspects they may also have lost "by-birth" status in 1983, they can find out by checking on their status at NGEnquiries@ind.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk They will receive a quick, if not sympathetic, answer. An Appeal for MaterialI am a military/social historian (Ph.D., St. Andrews) and I am currently gathering material for an academic study of the day-to-day lives of POWs and Internees of the Japanese. Would it be possible to make an appeal for material - personal accounts/letters/diaries/artworks - through your organisation? I would be happy to respect the confidence of anyone who might wish to remain anonymous. I fear that the academic community has made very little contribution to this topic. I feel time is of the essence, and all sorts of information can make an important difference in a study of this nature, so I would be grateful for any assistance. the_lighthouse[at]btinternet.com James Alexander McQueen, Penang VolunteersMy father went out to India as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1917 then served in the the Colonial Auxiliary Forces.Penang & Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps May 1926/1930. In the Second World War he was in India and Ceylon where I think he was a Major. He died in 1948 so I really didn't get to know him. Is there anyone out there who served with him and can give me any information about him? I also believe he had something to do with te plantations and rubber while in Penang. It would be lovely to know more about him. Mrs Anne Campbell First Aid Nursing YeomanryMy Mother was a member of The Princes Royals Volunteer's known as First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (F.A.N.Y.) On the surrender of The Japanese in the Far East she was sent with others of her unit to assist in the medical needs and repatriation of P.O.W's. They were some of the very first into Changi in Singapore. The Unit Headquarters in London has many records of the European Operation, but the record files of those on the Far East operation are empty, except for Name, date of joining and date of leaving !!! Does anyone have any information on the F.A.N.Y unit in the Far East especially in the Singapore or at any of the Railway Camps? Should you wish to view the web site you can find it by going to http://www.fany.org.uk/ Capt. John Bax. M.N. Ret. "Sunday Man"at the Pudu jail, Kuala LumpurMy father was Constantine Roderick Martin. He was of Eurasian background and resided in Kuala Lumpur with his family before, during, and after the Japanese occupation. He worked at the Selangor Turf Club with a Mr. Ken Archer who was the administrative Secretary of the Club and a member of the FMSVF. I live in Tallahassee, Florida now. Penny Young My father Capt HJ Kitchener (Jack)I believe my father served in the FMSVF & Dalforce and would like to find out more about his service. He passed away 20 years ago and of course we rarely had time nor the inclination to talk about his service in Malaya. I would love to hear from anyone who knew him or heard of him. Brian Kitchener brian.kitchener[at]tiscali.co.uk James Longwill WO II Signal Battalion FMSVFAs far as I know, my father, James Longwill, was in the Signal Battalion of the FMSVF and was serving in Malaya & Singapore from 1939 to 1942. Any information on his time in Malaya / FMSVF service welcome. James longwill james.longwill[at]btinternet.com Fay Hamilton's dancing girls [2]Any information on these girls or there present whereabouts most welcome.  Seated L-R: Jean Purvis, Donna Faber, Frankie Edmonds, Linette Hilton, Shelagh Harvey, Thelma Squire, Eithne Dunne Standing L-R: Audrey Trotter, Margaret Bill, Delvine Vines, Jennifer Joubert, Elizabeth Huggins, Joan Chester, Ruth-Jean Aaron, Janice Andre Responses to Stephanie Hess shess[at]worldonline.co.za Birth Certificate ProblemsI would be extremely grateful to anyone who has suggestions for a problem with a lost birth certificate. My father was Malayan Civil Service and I was born in Penang, in 1938. My father died in a Japanese POW camp. The Colonial Administration office tells me that they have searched all the relevant registers and do not find me, that they cannot help any further, and that I should contact the Malayan High Commission. I have done so but so far have not received a reply. The birth certificate is urgently required both for passport renewal and for registration as British subjects for family members. Has anyone dealt with a similar problem? John Hay, P.O. Box 252 Rolls Royce Armoured Cars in Malayan Service?I am researching Rolls Royce armoured cars and came across information online mentioning Rolls Royce armoured cars in Malayan service. I read the excellent article on your website regarding the Singapore Volunteer Armoured Car Company, but it does not mention the use of Rolls Royce armoured cars. Did this unit, or any other unit operating the the region, use Rolls Royce armoured cars? Thank you, Mark D. Cowan Captain Alfred Webb, 2FMSVFDoes anyone have any information or photographs of Captain Alfred Webb of 2 FMSVF? He was the padre of 2 FMSVF and before that, a minister of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Selangor. He was in Changi and Chungkai POW camps and survived the war but did not return to St Andrew's. Andrew Hwang Photographs of Kuala Lumpur and SurroundingsI am seeking any photographs which show the terrain near Kuala Lumpur, especially the hills. I am commissioning a painting by a well-known aviation artist to depict the air battle over Kuala Lumpur on 22 Dec 42 and am keen to ensure the background geographic details are correct. Any assistance would be gratefully received. Kind regards, Captain Cho Siow Lim / CQMS Tan Kim Tee, Malacca VolunteersAndrew Hwang in Malaysia is seeking information on two relatives particularly in relation to the events of December 1941 to February 1942. Both Captain Cho and CQMS Tan served in the Chinese Company, that is B Company 4SSVF. Captain Cho, [who appears on the 4SSVF officers photo, stood 5th from left] was in civilian life the Manager of Bukit Kathil Rubber Estates Ltd. We now believe that he was killed by mortar fire on Cluny Hill, Singapore on February 13th 1942 and that CQMS Tan was a victim of the massacres of Chinese Volunteers on February 28th 1942. Both Captain Ho and CQMS Tan appear in a much earlier photo - that of the Tay family on the MVG Website Gallery. Any further information most welcome. Please send to Andrew at ac_hwang[at]yahoo.com Miss Griff, staff and Tanglin School children 1932Mason Nelson in New Zealand sent in this photo posted to him in later years by Miss Griffith-Jones. enquiryreplies[at]malayanvolunteersgroup.org.uk   Singapore Cricketers on SCC steps 1946Can you help with identities and name the trophy? enquiryreplies[at]malayanvolunteersgroup.org.uk  cricket CSM CHARLES HENRY CRABBE (1SSVF)CSM Crabbe died at Wampo POW Camp on the 4th of January 1943. We have heard stories about him but never found anything about him in the SSVF. If there is anyone out there with any information on the 1st Battalion SSVF or any photographs of them, please can you mail them to me.. We have built up quite a picture of a man who was well liked and very much a do'er. We know of one particular feat in which he escaped from the Jap camp and got some pills for the medics without being caught but unfortunately we do not have the full story. He also worked for Fraser & Neave (Tiger Beer) and was also a prison warder at one point. If anyone knows of any pictures we would be so grateful. Darren Standen Mrs. Doris Eileen Mary Toms. nee Doris Eileen Mary Ironside Bax.Princess Royals Volunteers, First Aid Nursing Yeomanry. (F.A.N.Y.) Service No 19385 I am looking for any information regarding my Mother's service in the Far East and in particular in Thailand/Singapore at the time of the release and repatriation of P.O.Ws from both Thailand camps and Singapore. My Mother married H.J.C.K.Toms who was a P.O.W. Details of him can be seen on a separate posting on this site. The H.Q. of the unit has no records of any of the personnel who served in the Far East at the time of Japan's surrender and who were involved in the well being of the released P.O.Ws The only information available from their service files is the date of joining and the date of leaving together with their service number. If you can assist I would be very grateful to know a bit more about the personnel from this unit who went down through Thailand/Burma and Singapore. We know they were there as they show up in camp records. My Mother was originally in the ATS and from there went to Princess Royals and from there as a volunteer to F.A.N.Y. We have them in Rangoon and it is also believed they were the only batch sent to Burma and then went on down through the Thai railway Camps ending up in Singapore and was one of the first through the gates at Changi. We know Harry Toms Ex POW both came back to U.K. from Singapore on one of the repatriation ships to U.K. It's quite possible she met him at the camp of Kanchanaburi as medical teams were moving in there in September 1945....... but how did she keep Harry Toms with her all the way down and back to Changi? If you can assist I would be very grateful, anything, however slight that may be connected with them or the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (F.A.N.Y.) is of interest to me. I was serving in the Merchant Navy (Blue Funnel Line) when she passed away, so by the time I got home at was all over and the information I am seeking now was gone. Please contact me at Bluefunnel[at]sympatico.ca. Capt John Bax. Retd. H.J.C.K. Toms. Straits Steamship Company. Singapore.TOMS H.J.C.K. [Henry John Cecil Kelway] �Harry� born 1901 Loughborough. Joined Mansfields 1928. Manager/Marine Superintendent Mansfield's/ Straits Steamship Company. Lieut. Singapore Royal Artillery. (Volunteer) P.O.W. (Changi) on 15th February.1942 Employees of Straits Steamship Company that had volunteered to stay behind were H.J.C.K. Toms (Marine Superintendent) and F.S.Gibson. R.F.W. Leonard and D.Richardson. Upon his release and after recovery from internment and working on the Burma Railway he became Chairman of Straits Steamship Co. Organized rehabilitation of the Company; built Somerville Flats, Holland Rd for Straits officers. Played a leading part in founding Malayan Airways. Left Singapore for London 1955 to work for his old firm of 1919, Mark Whitwell [Shipbrokers] Ltd. Also a member of Advisory Council, Overseas Service. He died 28.4.72 Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading. Somewhere along the line between his release and repatriation possibly on repatriation ships Tegelberg/ Nieuw Holland or Cilicia to U.K.from Singapore or possibly at Kanchanaburi Camp, he met my Mother who was serving with The Princess Royals Volunteers . The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (F.A.N.Y.) who will be the subject of a separate enquiry on this web site, so please read on. Any information, however slight, that, you feel may be related to Harry Toms, or any other members of staff that volunteered to stay and thus became P.O.W's.will be greatly appreciated. Please contact me at Bluefunnel[at]sympatico.ca. Thank you. Capt. John Bax. (Member MVG.) Ex: Blue Funnel Line and Straits Steamship Co, Charles Sharkey, Singapore VolunteersI am trying to find out information on a Charles Sharkey whom was a Lieutenant in the Singapore Volunteer Regiment. I have no other details apart from that he had a son Charles Terence Sharkey who was born around 1922 and who got married in Carlisle in the 1940s. Unfortunately I don't have any other details which makes it difficult to search. Jackie Mctaggart jacquelinemctaggart[at]yahoo.co.uk Rubber Planter George Park BarnetMy grandfather George Barnet was a rubber planter in Negri Sembilan/ Selangor/Segamat area, Johore Malaya before World War 2. He married my grandmother, Ebba Herlin a Swedish Masseuse in Malaya and had 3 children, John Harold, George Patrick and Eleanor Kathleen, all born at the European Hospital In Kuala Lumpur, Malaya. If anyone knows anything about this family I would love to hear. George was taken prisoner by the Japanese during the war and spent most of the war in a concentration camp [Changi < Sime Rd internee]. Helen Messenger helen.messenger[at]btinternet.com  Lt Harold Lewis Page [1907-1943] 4SSVF MalaccaHarold, my father was a planter and a member of the Malacca Volunteers. He was a prisoner at the Burma Rangoon Railway. I would like to know what happened to him. Please advise me by email. Thanking you in anticipation. George G Page gpage.perth[at]ljhcommercial.com.au Singapore Royal Artillery (Volunteers) postwarI would be grateful for any information on the Singapore Royal Artillery (Volunteers) c. 1952 particularly relating to Lt Guy Edmund Thompson who served at this time. Norman Grantham OCTU Malaya 1941?Malcolm Read sent in this photo which includes his father and appears to be an OCTU course or similar. A number of the staff are identifiable Argylls and Gordon Highlanders including Major Denne, CO OCTU Malaya which was based at Changi. Note white trimmings on the men's caps. Any information/identities welcome. enquiryreplies[at]malayanvolunteersgroup.org.uk  TANGLIN SCHOOL CHILDREN 1947Ian Stitt sent in these photos of Tanglin children 1947. Any identifications welcome. enquiryreplies[at]malayanvolunteersgroup.org.uk
1007 Sgt D.A. David, Kedah Volunteer ForceI'd welcome any information on my father D.A. David who served in the Kedah Volunteer Force, and I am interested to know if such a unit did contribute during the Japanese invasion on Malaya? I have some buttons of the unit My father was working at the Harvard Estate when he was called to serve. Thank you. Jothy David FAY HAMILTON SCHOOL OF DANCINGMy aunt, Eithne Dunne, was a pupil at the Fay Hamilton School of Dancing in the late 1930s till the end of 1941. I wonder does anyone know or remember anything about the school and it's owner Fay Hamilton (Mrs. F.C.H. Smith)? I would also be very grateful for any information about the little girls named in the cutting taken from the Singapore Free Press. Stephanie Hess   Alfed Edminson Dick, PlanterI would be interested to know if you have any information regarding my great grandfather who was a planter pre-1914 and at the Golden Hope Plantation, Klang, Selangor in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1914, aged 32, he enlisted in the Australian Light Horse Brigade and was a L/Sgt. Family history implies he enlisted in the Straits Settlements Police, but I am not sure when of if this is correct. Any direction/help would be gratefully appreciated. Many thanks. Suzanne Arnold suzlee[at]leearn.wanadoo.co.uk Captain Richard Aubrey Witham 2FMSVFMy grandfather Richard Aubrey Witham was in 1941 a planter at Bukit Raja Rubber Estate, Klang and formerly at Ulu Remis Estate, Layang Layang, Johore. He was a 2nd Lt and later Captain in FMSVF and a POW in Singapore and Thailand. We know that he was at Nong Pladuk in September 1944. He survived the war but was killed in an air disaster at Amsterdam 14.11.1946. Any information about him or photos would be gratefully received. Thank you Offy Hawk James O'Dowd Egan, Planter & FMSVF 45 Reserve MT CompanyJames O'Dowd Egan was a private in the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force who died while held prisoner and is buried at the Chungkai War Cemetary. His wife was Sylvia Doris Egan of Marylebone, London. She was evacuated on the Empress of Japan. Any information on either one of these two people would be greatly appreciated. Michael Egan JOHN HOWARD TYTE MSVRWhilst researching my family history I have found reference to "John Howard Tyte officer commanding Malay States Volunteer Rifles". Do you have any information on him? He is my 1st cousin twice removed. Many thanks Eve Mills Penang Volunteers WW1?I have marvellous photos of my grandfather William Charles Daniel in his uniform in Penang from c. 1910-1914. He was a hotelier, but apparently in whatever they were then. Territorials? Volunteers? Can you help? Gwyneth Daniel  Tracing my GrandfatherAll I know of my grandfather was that he was a British planter based in Perak and was captured during WWII. His name was Frederick Boucher. I was told that he worked on the Burmese Railway and was evacuated to Perth immediately after the war, but died due to his bad condition. Details may not be accurate. Any information about this is much appreciated. Thanks. D. Boucher Phillip Holmes Glover / ChangiHello, I am enquiring about some information on my father who was Pte P Glover of the FMSVF Reserve MT Company. He was captured and spent time in Changi. Do you have any information on him? He also spent time as a POW on Blakang Mati. Ric Glover Cpl Roy Alexander Moulton MM FMSVF Armoured CarsI am presently attempting to gather information relating to 13534 Corporal Roy Alexander Moulton M.M. 25th.March 1910 - 28th April 1944. Fitter and Winchman. Southern TronohTin Dredging Ltd Tg. Tualong. Perak. Joined F.M.S.V.F. Armoured Car Unit. D Battalion POW Singapore to Thailand 12.10.42. Badly wounded (Shot through both Hands ???); responsible for saving live of commanding officer and others (hence M.M.) Little else known at this stage. Any information would be of great help. Roy G.Moulton. FMSVF Railway Operating and Maintenance CompanyI am a retired third generation railwayman from Peninsula Malaysia and in the old days, this would be known as British Malaya. I am now writing a book on railway life and work. One of the chapter deals with the railway sappers. In the present day context, these railway sappers are associated with the Malaysian Army's Engineering Corps and is purely a volunteer Force made up railway staff. Whilst researching, I only managed to find out that a railway volunteer Force was raised in 1915 called the 'Railway Institute Platoon' but it was disbanded in 1917. No reasons for its disbandment were given. But I also understand that there was a railway volunteer force called the 'Railway Operating and Maintenance Company' between the two world war years. They were mobilsed in the final days of the Japanese invasion of Malaya and the went out of existence when the British surrendered in Singapore. I would appreciate any information that you may be able to share with me. Louis Vincent William Charles BlairI am tracing my partners family history but we only have a photo of his father dated Sept.1941 when he was serving in the Royal Engineers, Malaya. He was also a Japanese prisoner of war. Can you help me in any way to trace more information on him. Regards Carol Drew Joe Speelman 1904-1991Roberta Ward in Australia writes: I am seeking more information on my Great Uncle, Joe Speelman, who was born in Russia in 1904 and became a British Citizen in 1933. He was a cellist in the 'Raffles Hotel Orchestra' and was also a member of 'Nick's Dance 6'. He was in the Singapore Volunteers Unit and was a POW with the D Battalion on the Thai-Burma Rail. He survived the 'Rakuyo Maru' sinking and was in Japan at the end of WWII. From 1953-1971 he was the Secretary/Manager of the Selangor Club in Kuala Lumpur and also taught at Taylor's College in KL in the 1970s. He died in Kuala Lumpur in 1991 Any replies through enquiryreplies[at]malayanvolunteersgroup.org.uk
FMSVF Light Battery photoDoes anyone recognise these Gunners? We only know that stood back right is Sgt Michael Stephens.  enquiryreplies[at]malayanvolunteersgroup.org.uk Sgt Reginald Sydney Missen 4FMSVFWhat information do you have about my relative who was either killed in action or killed whilst a POW of the Japanese in WW2: Reginald Sidney MISSEN is listed among the Commonwealth War Dead between 03/09/1939 and 31/12/1947 while serving as a Sergeant with the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force, 4th (Pahang) Battalion. Although he is Australian, he is recorded in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as nationality of the United Kingdom, and hence he does not appear in any records of the Australian War Memorial. In fact I can�t find him in any records anywhere, and he deserves more than that. Any help that you can give is greatly appreciated. And importantly from a personal family point of view, any information that you can provide about his service, why he was in Malaya in the first place, and any information about his death, is greatly appreciated. Harold Peacock FMSVF Light BatteryDoes any one have any information about the Selangor, Section, of the FMSVF Light Battery? Names of Officers & Gunners, or photographs? I was Gunner 18435 and received a Mention in Despatches. On the fall of Singapore I returned to KL and later joined Force 136, and would like to make contact with anyone who served with me. George Hesse Anyone for Cricket?Can anyone shed any light regarding this photo? Maybe Penang? Who and when?  enquiryreplies[at]malayanvolunteersgroup.org.uk MVAF AircraftI'm researching the use of aircraft by the MVAF throughout the Malayan campaign 1941-42 and the retreat into the NEI. This interest has been prompted by my restoration of a 1935 vintage Avro Cadet. The machine is the oldest of its type and of the 13 worldwide survivors it now make 4 that are airworthy. My machine is an ex-RAAF trainer but a number of the type were used "on ops" by the MVAF. I intend to put together a book pertaining to the history of the Cadet, and I believe that there is a major untold story about the MVAF yet to be told. Any data pertaining to the MVAF, particularly recollections and photographs would be welcomed. Little did I know that during my RAAF service (Penang / Butterworth in the 1980's) that I would have a "recurrent connection" with the location twenty years later! Regards Darryl Hill 2nd Lt. Richard Peall 2FMSVFI'm hoping someone may have some information about my Grandfather Richard 'Dick' Peall who was a 2nd Lt. in the Selangor Battalion of the FMSVF and was killed on the 15th February 1942 near/in Singapore. If anyone has any information please drop me a line. My mother who lives in Western Australia will be making a visit to UK in May 07 and is hoping to do research about her father while she is over. Jacquie Mackay Sgt Robert ChanI am trying to discover whether my wife's grandfather, Sergeant Robert Chan (1896?-1941) served in the Malayan Volunteers. According to the family he was in the British Army and travelled to France in the First World War. I have also seen a service medal for Iraq. Thanks for any help or pointers Bruce Macfarlane Malayan Hospitals & Clinics c.1957I am a medical doctor currently working with the Malaysian Ministry of Health. I am interested to find out more on the life and experiences of medical doctors working in Malayan Hospital and Clinics circa 1957. I intend to write it up and publish it in the Malaysian Family Physician in conjunction with Malaysia's 50th Independence Day this year. I will be very grateful if anyone can provide me with information, contacts, personal accounts and photographs. Mimi Vernon Walter Trevethan MVAFVal Trevethan val-t[at]bigpond.com writes: My father Verner Walter Trevethan, pilot, died in action 18 December 1941 at Ipoh. I have located a memorial to Verner and others at Kranji War Graves Cemetry. On the same plaque is the name F/Sgt Cleaverly. I too was a driver airframe for about 34 years and to the best of my knowledge never had a shot fired at me. I have the details of the aircraft that my father perished in. It was a De Haviland DH89a, VR-SAV, c/n 6360 Dragon Rapide in I believe, ambulance markings based in Singapore. I have never been able to establish the truth of his death. Friendly fire aided and abetted by a Japanese bombing raid runs a popular first. During my 15 years in the RAAF I had friends and associates based at Butterworth make trips to Ipoh in vain attempts to find a burial site. I thought perhaps that you may be able to shed some light on this issue.Information on Verner may not be easy to find. He had a very short RAAF career, operated Junker tri motors in PNG for a period then he joined the Malayan Volunteer Air Force. From what I remember as a child my mother received no war widow assistance from the British or Australian governments. I guess his various histories were too short to create an issue. Any information on Verner Walter Trevethan most welcome. Uniforms of VolunteersHere are several references to colours for FMSVF units in the summary history. I would appreciate any information on MVF uniforms and any guidance as to source material. Were colours actually worn by the volunteers e.g. patches? I am trying to illustrate as many Empire/Commonwealth volunteer units and the Malayan area is not well covered in available texts. Thank you for your consideration and an excellent site. Sean Ryan Tanglin Cameron HighlandsMVG member John Warden writes: "I attended Tanglin Cameron Highlands for about 2 years before it closed in 1941 and would be very interested to hear from any contemporaries. My particular friend was Graham Hodgkins (Hedgehog). Others I remember were John Arbuthnot, Ian Pierce, Anne Steed and Audrey Waters. Group photo below."  john[at]warden1633.fsnet.co.uk Henry Price Wales H.P. Private 3SSVFMy uncle was a member of the 3rd (Penang & Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps) Battalion Straits Settlements Volunteer Force in Singapore. Service # 4810. He is listed on the Singapore Memorial as casualty type: Commonwealth War Dead with a date of death of 6/8/44. Age 29. My father died when I was very young from brain cancer and I never knew my Uncle. Any information that I could obtain about this particular unit would be very special to my sister and I. Even if it has nothing to do with my Uncle. I understand that my grandparents were never able to find any information about his death or, circumstances and then they also lost their second son (my father). This was pre-internet so it is our hope that we can track down something, anything to connect us with him. Thank you so very much for anything, no matter how small you could share. Giselle Wales Vowler family / Tanglin School, Cameron HighlandsI was born in 1928 in Malacca and was only just 12 in February 1942 when I left with my parents. My Father "Tim" Vowler was manager of Batang Malaka Estate from 1926 and MVC. My parents retired to Malacca, Klebang, in the early 1950s We spent the war in South Africa _ Durban. I would be fascinated to find out more of my contemporarys __ mid 1930s when I was in Tanglin school in the Cameron Highlands __ Miss Griffith-Jones. We were evacuated on the Empress of Japan. My Brother, young "Tim" was in Changi __ FMSVF POW. Also if there are any contemporary's of my parents, or Tim's I would love to make contact with them. I now reside in Oxford, Maryland. USA. Very sincerely, Bill Vowler. Harold Edwin MacKenzieHarold was my uncle. Arrived in Malaya in 1926. In Johore from 1928. Rubber planter at Ulu Tiram Estate. Between 1930-40 was with Johore Volunteer Engineers. Between 1940-42 was South Johore Group Commander. I know he later in 1951 became Dato and left Malaya in 1955. I'm looking for any info on him. Did they wear uniform ? Did they have a cap badge? Where can I obtain one ? (to put with his other medals (WWI with the A&SH ) and Decorations?) His wife Margaret is now in her late 90's. MacKenzie Dudley Griffith Owen JVECan anyone provide any information on Dudley Griffith Owen irrigation engineer Malaya, member of the Johore Volunteer Engineers No 1214 captured Singapore. Any information would be appreciated. Robyn Aitchison Fitzpatrick 1st Bn FMSVFI'm doing research for my website on St Michael's Institution, Ipoh. This a boys school and I came across a mention that one teacher, Mr Fitzpatrick was a volunteer in the 1st Bn (Perak) FMSVF. He was reported killed in Kampar during the Battle of Kampar. I can't find any mention of him except one that names a Earnest Edward Fitzpatrick on the Singapore Memorial in the commonwealth graves commision website. You will find him in a photo of the school staff on my page here http://quisutdeus.bravehost.com/photos.html I would be happy if someone can shed some light as to what happened to him. My intention is to write about him on a page to commemorate him on a page within my website. As a teacher, he saw it fit to fight in the war and it would be good history for the school to remember him as a hero, someone they can relate to as being a teacher in a their school. I would appreciate photos of him, if any. Thank you very much. Anthony Morris Alexander William Miller, Johore Volunteer Engineers (JVE) Sapper 998 born Lambeth, UK 06.03.04Prior to the War, Alex Miller worked as a Vehicle Licensing Officer, Batu Phata, Johore, starting about 1937. His wife Marie "Merlin" Mahon died of cancer in Muar 19.02.41. Colleagues at the Johore Licensing Office include J.H. Keen and H.G. Brooks. J.H. Keen was also in the JVE, but died 15.05.43 incaptivity. I seek:
I have photographs of Miller and Brooks, plus a group photo taken Christmas 1938 probably at 14 Straits View, Johore Bahru, Johore, Malaya. Thank you in advance. CAPTAIN SIDNEY BADDELEY, Straits Steamship CompanyAny recollections or information regarding Sid Baddeley most welcome. He was a prisonaer in Sumatra and Japan. We are particularly keen to locate a report he wrote in 1945. Any information to Philip Baddeley THE GREETHAM FAMILYMy parents (George and Elizabeth Bean) of Batu- Gajah, Perak were friendly with the Greethams and the Dons before the War. In fact the Greethams were present at their wedding in Ipoh on 7.2.1940 - Margaret Greetham was a witness and I think that their daughter, Jennifer Greetham was a bridesmaid. I have a photo of the wedding and would be happy to send a copy to any member of the Greetham family. Any information of this family welcome. Christine Edmondson Searching For A BookI am trying to obtain a copy of Mary Thomas' "In the Shadow of the Rising Sun" published by Maruzen Asia in 1983. The ISBN number is 9971-954-14-1. I would be very grateful for any help. Stephanie Hess ROBERT GUY YOUNGRobert Guy Young was my great Uncle. He returned to Malaya with his wife Margaret Davidson and had a son. We cannot find any information about them after the war but family history says they escaped to Australia and that there son was killed in WWII and he was in the Air Force but again I cannot find anything about him. He may be R.G. YOUNG JP Planter Manager, Karak Estate ,Bentong and Sungei Engun Rubber estate, Pahang - 1931,1933,1935 and 1940 Directories and may have been in the Malayan Volunteers but as he was an officer in the RAF in WWI the Private in the MV may not be him. Any guidance would be appreciated. macdhaibhidh[at]blueyonder.co.uk Drew Davidson JOHORE VOLUNTEERSI would be glad to have any information re Volunteers in Johore and their role, especially since one of, if not the, last battle on the mainland was fought on and around my father John Harper Ball's rubber estate at Mengkibol, Layang Layang. Ros Henry SSVF Norman Bigelow no.5415Hello, Federated Malay States Volunteer ForceMy late father, Ho Pan Thong, was a member of the 8th Platoon, B Company, FMSVF Perak. He died during the Japanese occupation of Malaya. Understandably, any evidence of his volunteer status was dangerous to his family and I thus have no memento of his volunteer service. If any reader of this note has any group photo of my dad's platoon, I'd be so appreciative if they would email it to me and I would see if I could spot my dad in it. Ivan Ho   Federated Malay States Volunteer Force LT COLONEL BERTIE J. EATON OBERichard Morris, grandson of Colonel Eaton of Kuala Lumpur and the Selangor Volunteers is seeking any information on his grandfather who was a Director of the Rubber Research Institute and left Malaya in 1935. Richard can be contacted at MORRIS1856[at]aol.com |
