GORRIE, John Leslie Michael
The Public Service,
Accession Number 001309
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 8
Total Reels
- Irene Lim Ai Lin
Interviewer
- 03:35:08
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
Reel/Disc 1 of 8
Metadata
- 8 Oct 1991
Recording Date
- 00:30:49
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:16) Personal and family background.
(0:02:10) Joined the Indian Army in 1942 until its demobilisation in 1947.
(0:09:18) First joined the Indian Civil Service and then the Malayan Civil Service in 1949.
(0:14:49) He joined the Devonshire Course at Oxford, a special degree course for those who were going into the service.
(0:17:06) Learnt languages of the territory he was going to and other subjects as a cadet officer during the Devonshire course.
(0:21:21) Joined as Assistant Secretary cum Private Secretary to Colonial Secretary in Singapore.
(0:22:18) Responsibilities as the Assistant Secretary.
Personal and family background. Joined Indian Army in 1942 until its demobilisation in 1947. First joined Indian Civil Service, then Malayan Civil Service in 1949. Languages he learnt as cadet officer during Devonshire course. Sailed for Malaya in 1949. Joined as Assistant Secretary "C" cum Private Secretary to Colonial Secretary in Singapore. Areas of purview under Assistant Secretary "C".
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 2 of 8
Metadata
- 8 Oct 1991
Recording Date
- 00:31:12
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:25) Responsible for pilgrimage matters and printing presses in the Colonial Secretary's office.
(0:06:14) Became Private Secretary to Governor of Singapore Sir Franklin Gimson from 1949 to 1951.
(0:12:30) Volunteered as a Voluntary Special Constable and his experience.
(0:18:58) How his experience serving in the Indian Army shaped his perspective of other cultures.
(0:21:11) He recounted participating in various operations.
(0:29:16) Important for the British colonial officers to be sensitive to the feelings of Muslim citizens.
Responsible for pilgrimage matters and printing presses. Became Private Secretary to Governor of Singapore Sir Franklin Gimson from 1949 to 1951; also 'incognito' member of Voluntary Special Constabulary. Experiences as Voluntary Special Constable. Recollections on how Maria Hertogh riot could have been brought under control.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 3 of 8
Metadata
- 8 Oct 1991
Recording Date
- 00:31:00
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:03:14) How he rescued two girls caught in the midst of the Maria Hertogh riot.
(0:06:08) In October 1951, he opted for a more action-packed lifestyle by posting up-country during the Malayan Emergency.
(0:09:31) Duties as Executive Secretary of Selangor War Executive Committee.
(0:10:46) Measures taken to fight the Communist Terrorists.
(0:13:49) Problems faced during the resettlement operations and his experiences living in an area surrounded by barbed wire, facing attacks from communist terrorists.
(0:19:36) The challenges of dealing with squatters, especially those who were reluctant to move.
(0:26:48) How Operation Question was able to weed out villagers who co-operated with communist terrorists.
How he rescued two girls, caught in midst of Maria Hertogh riot. Opted for more action-packed lifestyle with posting up-country during Malayan Emergency. Duties as Executive Secretary of Selangor War Executive Committee. Measures taken to win hearts and minds of people. Problems encountered during resettlement operations. How Operation Question was able to weed out villagers who co-operated with communist terrorists.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 4 of 8
Metadata
- 15 Oct 1991
Recording Date
- 00:31:33
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:01:46) Promoted to District Officer in Kajang, a heavily communist-dominated district.
(0:05:30) Related how he helped young captured enemy personnel.
(0:10:00) Surrendered communist insurgents underwent rehabilitation, with some even participating in anti-communist theatrical performances to educate villagers.
(0:10:48) Female communist terrorists are more difficult to break than their captured male counterparts.
(0:15:02) Recounting the bravery of young Chinese Special Branch officers combating communism.
(0:18:15) Liew Kou Kim killed by Suffolk Regiment. Reason for parading Liew's body in Klang.
(0:23:14) Comparison of the style and approach of District Officers to that of Malay District Officers.
Promoted to District Officer in heavily communist-dominated district, Kajang. Related how he helped young captured enemy personnel. Female communist terrorists more difficult to break then captured male counterparts. Liew Kou Kim killed by Suffolk Regiment. Reason for parading Liew's body in Klang. Compared style and approach of District Officers to that of Malay District Officers.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 5 of 8
Metadata
- 15 Oct 1991
Recording Date
- 00:30:59
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:42) Views towards criticisms on the priority given to squatter development over Malay kampong dwellers.
(0:07:40) The function of village committees being formed, compared to residents' committees in the UK.
(0:09:35) Situation in Kajang when he left the job in 1956.
(0:10:49) Got General Gerald Templer to officiate the opening of the first Youth Club in Ampang.
(0:11:21) Objectives of setting up the Youth Club.
(0:14:33) He was in charge of the Colombo Plan Scholarship scheme, which provided opportunities for non-Malay students to study abroad.
(0:19:03) Promoted to become the Principal Assistant Secretary (Pensions), dealt with expatriates being Malayanised.
(0:22:45) Related how pension was cut off and later restored.
(0:29:27) Why he chose not to return to England after leaving the Malayan Civil Service.
Views towards criticisms on priority given to squatter development. Situation in Kajang in 1956. Got General Gerald Templer to officiate opening of Youth Club in Ampang. Objectives of setting up youth club. As Principal Assistant Secretary (Service), dealt with expatriates being Malayanised. Related how pension was cut off and later restored. Why he chose not to return to England after leaving Malayan Civil Service.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 6 of 8
Metadata
- 15 Oct 1991
Recording Date
- 00:15:11
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:20) Reaction of expatriate officers affected by Malayanisation and their compensation for careers being terminated prematurely.
(0:05:53) Expatriate allowances and the introduction of housing, schooling, and passage assistance.
(0:11:50) Left Malayan Civil Service to join Mansfield & Company as a personnel manager.
(0:12:03) Worked with Mansfield and Straits group for nearly 20 years, finishing up as a personnel director.
Reaction of expatriate officers affected by Malayanisation and their compensation for loss of career. Joined Mansfield and Company as Personnel Manager; involved in conciliation work with several unions.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 7 of 8
Metadata
- 22 Oct 1991
Recording Date
- 00:31:16
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:34) His experience negotiating during the Strike at Tanglin Club.
(0:02:48) How an agreement was reached with the left-wing union of the club.
(0:07:02) Reason for the strike at Tanglin Club.
(0:12:00) He was also an Industrial Relations Advisor to the Singapore Maritime Employers' Federation.
(0:18:10) How he felt about the Industrial Relations Act and Employment Act passed in 1968.
(0:23:48) The impact of the British withdrawal from Singapore in 1968.
(0:26:35) He was sent to Australia as one of the Singapore delegates to the third Commonwealth Conference at Edinburgh.
Strike at Tanglin Club; how he negotiated. Agreement reached with left-wing union of club. Reason for strike at Tanglin Club. Was also Industrial Relations Advisor to Singapore Maritime Employers' Federation. How he felt about Industrial Relations Act and Employment Act passed in 1968.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
