PROBERT, Henry
Special Project,
Accession Number 003075
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 3
Total Reels
- Michelle Low
Interviewer
- 02:21:03
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 3
Metadata
- 28 Jul 2006
Recording Date
- 00:54:56
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Born and educated in the UK. Career history in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and after. Why he chose to read history in the university. Experiences during the war. Air training corps while at school. Education Officer in Northern Ireland during his National Service, followed by 3-year tour of duty in Germany as a regular officer. Arrived in Singapore in 1963. Apprehensive about being posted to Singapore. Supervised administration of children's schools in Changi. Responsibilities in between Germany and Singapore. 24-hour journey from Stanstead to Paya Lebar. First impressions of Singapore: climate, insects and other animals, traffic. Taught and expected to use chopsticks. Ate local and English food. Malay amah. Lived in Siglap, Toh Avenue and Lloyd Leas. Did not know then that Lloyd Leas was where one of the three monster guns was. Station commander asked him to put together story of Changi. Research material he worked with. Never occurred to him that his work would be considered first source book on early days of Changi.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 3
Metadata
- 28 Jul 2006
Recording Date
- 00:56:34
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Process of writing the book. Walked the ground of Changi. Book was printed in prison. Acquired some anti-Japanese attitudes. Become friends with Russell Braddon, author of 'The Naked Island'. Met Stanley Warren when he came back to restore murals but no recollection of his personality. Responsibilities in Changi: teaching, taking care of the schools, running the library, resettlement, station duties, running Theatre Club. Visited places outside Changi. Precautionary measures taken during Confrontation and racial riots. Huge community in Changi. Land reclamation between Singapore City and Changi started during his time. Friendly relationship with locals. Changi Village past and present.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 3
Metadata
- 28 Jul 2006
Recording Date
- 00:29:33
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Officers and servicemen did not usually mix after work. Theatre, sports and some other clubs had a vast range of members. Sports and other clubs. All took responsibility for welcoming newcomers to Changi. Did not often meet servicemen from other stations. Kept in touch with those back home through letters. Letters, unlike e-mails, are of value to history. Missed England's varied climate. Best tour of duty was in Singapore. Was asked by superior officer to manage Changi Theatre Club. No need for active recruitment of members. Performances would sell out. How he felt when he left Singapore. The Changi and the people they knew are gone.
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