TAN, Neivelle (Reverend)
Special Project,
Accession Number 001600
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 47
Total Reels
- Jesley Chua Chee Huan
Interviewer
- 23:46:08
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 47
Metadata
- 7 Feb 1995
Recording Date
- 00:30:47
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Family background. Interviewee was afraid of uniformed people when young. His brother was taken away by Japanese during war. Interviewee's first encounter with violence during Japanese Occupation. Family's living condition during war. Further elaboration on his family background. How family lived in fear during Japanese Occupation. His childhood games : marbles, top spinning and kite-flying. How kite-flying contributed to gang formation.
Remarks
Interview conducted with a mix of English and Hokkien.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 2 of 47
Metadata
- 7 Feb 1995
Recording Date
- 00:31:03
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Relationship amongst the siblings. Interviewee was a black sheep since young. Father's occupation. Though father was a strict disciplinarian, interviewee never submit to him. How father punished him. His love-hate relationship with father. Why interviewee was expelled from school. Father's other punishments. Unlike his younger brother, he was not his parents' pet. Close relationship with his step-sister. Why interviewee was sent to a mission school and was named Neivelle.
Remarks
Interview conducted with a mix of English and Hokkien.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 3 of 47
Metadata
- 7 Feb 1995
Recording Date
- 00:31:00
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Why he had to fight for his name. Parents' religions. His experience with the various religions. Interviewee was once a temple medium. His neighbourhood in Pennefather Road. Parents' educational background. Interviewee's first day in school. He dislike school though he is a fast learner. Why he was kicked out of school at standard V. How he threatened his teacher. His impressions of his principal and dance teacher.
Remarks
Interview conducted with a mix of English and Hokkien.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 4 of 47
Metadata
- 14 Feb 1995
Recording Date
- 00:31:14
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Financial situation at home. Elaboration on the kite-flying gangs. Why interviewee started his own gang. How his gang progressed from garden raids to house-breaking. His gang members were also school drop-outs. Parties they had. Why interviewee mix around with Eurasian boys. Members' age. Interviewee was gang leader though he was about 14. His gambles. How his first house-breaking stint came about. How they went about house-breaking later on. How gang was caught.
Remarks
Interview conducted with a mix of English and Hokkien.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 5 of 47
Metadata
- 14 Feb 1995
Recording Date
- 00:30:37
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*How they disposed their spoils. Gang broke up eventually. Interviewee started disliking school in primary 3. His reaction towards his expulsion from school. How he got involved in boxing. Started as amateur boxer in Katong Boys' Club. Why he wanted to be a medium. How he was recruited and preparation for the role. Why he gave up eventually. Parents' reactions when he was expelled from school. He was a terror in school.
Remarks
Interview conducted with a mix of English and Hokkien.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 6 of 47
Metadata
- 14 Feb 1995
Recording Date
- 00:31:38
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Why he was called a stealer in school. Began idling after leaving school where he later met the Eurasian boys. Worked as waiter in Singapore Swimming Club during his probation. Why he did not continue boxing. Why he liked the job in the club. His first contact with secret societies there. Why and how he was recruited into Gang 18. His impression of his gang's headquarters. Ranks within secret society. Signals used.
Remarks
Interview conducted with a mix of English and Hokkien.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 7 of 47
Metadata
- 21 Feb 1995
Recording Date
- 00:30:54
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Interviewee was excited about joining the gang. Why he was not impressed later when he met some of the gang members. How they went to a coffeeshop for negotiation. Hand signals used. Dress code of some of the gangs. Gang 24 and Gang 18 have many sub-branches. Gang dynamics. How gang members checked out on people who ventured into their territory. Code words used. Why interviewee did not follow his leader's style of dressing.
Remarks
Interview conducted with a mix of English and Hokkien.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 8 of 47
Metadata
- 21 Feb 1995
Recording Date
- 00:31:01
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Gang 24 members' physical characteristics. A lot of army and navy personnel joined Gang 18. Nee Soon base was under Gang 18's control. Background to Gang 18. Interviewee felt that Maria Hertogh riot was due to secret societies' instigation. What secret societies did during Japanese Occupation. Why army is popular amongst secret societies. No co-operation between police and the army & navy. Secret societies' infiltration into fire brigade. Connections between the police and secret societies.
Remarks
Interview conducted with a mix of English and Hokkien.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 9 of 47
Metadata
- 21 Feb 1995
Recording Date
- 00:30:02
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Main reason for police's involvement with secret societies was corruption. Why crooks and police needed secret societies. Most Gang 08 Malays were in fire brigade. Malays in navy joined Gang 18. Weapons used by gangs. Incident where interviewee was ambushed in a cemetery by police. Resulted in his dismissal from swimming club. His relationship with Malay gang members. There were big Indian gangs in Sembawang and Nee Soon.
Remarks
Interview conducted with a mix of English and Hokkien.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 10 of 47
Metadata
- 28 Feb 1995
Recording Date
- 00:30:15
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Strong Eurasian gang in Katong attached to Gang 24. Also other Eurasian gangs in 08. Secret societies' hot areas. Interviewee progressed from ordinary member to gang fighter to assistant to head. Millionaires paid both police and secret societies for protection. Money from prostitutes. How penal island Palau Senang came about. Reasons for the Palau Senang riot and its failure. Comments on Superintendent Dutton. Interviewee's impression of the island.
Remarks
Interview conducted with a mix of English and Hokkien.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
