PAUL, George Kanagaretnam
Education in Singapore (Part 1: English),
Accession Number 001713
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 18
Total Reels
- Rose Marie Chng
Interviewer
- 08:46:43
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 18
Metadata
- 18 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:30:11
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Background of father. Grandparents catechists. Maternal grandfather sent to Madras to work as a missionary. Transferred to Malaya in 1890s. Father came to Penang 1/4/1901. Teaching post in Anglo-Chinese School (ACS). Married in Ipoh in around 1909. Returned to Anglicanism. Taught in King Edward School, Taiping. Inspector of Schools 1927. Went to school by car or rickshaw. Caste distinctions among Indian Christians. Lady Treacher School for kindergarten. Primary education in St George's School, Taiping. Sisters went to Taiping Convent.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 18
Metadata
- 18 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:29:25
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Background of mother. Use of Tamil. Maternal grandfather followed the sanhus' way of life. Herbal garden and its medicinal use. Maintaining Indian culture. Hindu servants. Eating of Hindu sweet dumplings. Mother member of Church Women's Association. Mother church organist. Family Sunday evening singing sessions. Piano lessons. Song: Spring Time in the Rockies. Depression song on the gramophone. Catechism after school. Mother learnt to drive. Stuffing of animals.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 18
Metadata
- 18 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:29:13
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Description of family servants' duties. Driving father's car at 12 years. Birth and name. Joined school band. Recalled watching British Military planes in 1930s. London-Melbourne air race. Playing with tops, marbles, kites, rolling old tyres, hobby horses and making model cars and aeroplanes. Watching horse races and swimming with father. Walks along Taiping lakes. Father's death in 1936. Went to Anderson School in Ipoh. Victoria School in Singapore. Change of lifestyle.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 18
Metadata
- 18 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:29:15
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Difference between schools in Taiping and Singapore. Learning to box. Failed Senior Cambridge. Returned to Ipoh in 1940. Retook Cambridge examination. Moved to a Tamil settlement. Description of Japanese soldiers. Hiding of Chinese girl. Visit of Japanese soldier. Joined Japanese firm as motor mechanic. Aftermath of fighting. Clerk in War Tax Department in Singapore. Activities in St Andrew's Cathedral. Dr Chelliah and Bishop Wilson and their helping Prisoners of War (POWs). Formation of Indian National Army (INA).
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Reel/Disc 5 of 18
Metadata
- 24 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:29:49
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Sister's wedding 1939. Talk of war. Return to Ipoh 1940. Fireman. British retreat. Looting. Heavy bombing 23/12/1941. On bicycle to Kuala Lumpur via Slim River. Carnage at Slim River. Return to Ipoh. Japanese planes flying to Singapore. Return to Singapore May 1942. Filing clerk-War Tax Department. Stripping of hymnals. Significance of coloured flags. Indian National Army (INA) set-up. Stealing of food and cement. Japanese friends.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 18
Metadata
- 24 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:30:54
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Kindness of Japanese. Mother got beriberi. Cpt. Joseph, middleman in giving food to Prisoners of War (POWs). Sneaking food to POWs. Mohan Singh and Chandra Bose. Coercion to join Indian National Army (INA). Chandra Bose rally at the Padang. Devan Nair in INA. 1945 disbandment of INA. Miyazaki, close friend. Repeat of end at war. Paddy Walsh, Japanese spy. Saved by Major Gill at New World. Interned in YMCA.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 18
Metadata
- 24 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:29:36
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Escape to Ipoh. Went to Cameron Highlands via Bidor. Witnessed drop of supplies by British in Bidor. Postal clerk in Cameron Highlands. End of war. British Military authorities delivering vegetables. Chinese contingent of Force 136 anti-British. Force 136 retreated into the jungle. Became Tamil interpreter. Ah Lan (communist guerilla) agitated the crowds. Return to Singapore. Trial of Paddy Walsh. News of Japanese Surrender from Miyazaki during war.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 18
Metadata
- 24 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:30:28
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Clerk in Hume Industries. Insurance agent for National Fire and General Insurance Company. Manager in Bangkok 1950. Met Kukritpranoj. Helen's (interviewee's sister) marriage and divorce, family and church reaction. Helen's teaching experience. Regular home routine in Taiping. Listening to music and singing. Mother's death in 1981, 87 years old. Description of King George V's celebration in 1935. Special songs learnt.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 18
Metadata
- 28 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:29:04
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Favourite subjects and stories at Victoria School. Mr Christie favourite teacher, pioneer of Stage Club. Teaching of Literature by Mr Christie. Impressed by Shamose Fraser in Teachers' Training College (TTC). Value of English literature. Art lessons in Victoria School. Difference between St George's School and Victoria School. Difficulties with Maths. Extra-curricular activities (ECA) in Victoria School. Athletics. Discovery of talents in TTC and Whitley Secondary School. School Sports Day.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 18
Metadata
- 28 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:30:01
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Description of sports attire. Events in Sports Day. Relationship with schoolmates. 1936 to 1939 in Victoria School. Pupil welfare in Victoria School. Mother maintaining the family. School tuckshop. Pastime - rearing goldfish and making a fish tank. Kite flying and kite making. 'Professional' kite flyers. Reason for entering teaching.
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