MENON, Ramachandran (Colonel) (Retired)
The Public Service,
Accession Number 003250
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 17
Total Reels
- Jason Lim (Dr)
Interviewer
- 15:47:08
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 17
Metadata
- 30 Oct 2007
Recording Date
- 00:56:58
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:18) Family background.
(0:02:44) Father was a clerk in the Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). His father appeared to anticipate the Japanese Occupation.
(0:04:11) Stayed at the family home in Malabar during World War II (WWII).
(0:05:32) Attended vernacular school in Malabar but did not pick up the ability to read and write in Malayalam.
(0:09:48) Matriarchal society of the Malayalam community.
(0:12:37) Caste system and its impact on the family in the division of labour.
(0:23:17) Cremation and funeral pyre upon the death of his grandfather.
(0:24:01) Problems faced when he rebuilt his family home years later.
(0:26:05) Younger brother was born in India.
(0:28:01) Religious beliefs of the Malayalam community. Observance of superstitions and traditions.
(0:30:50) Supplies of fish and meat.
(0:32:39) Visits to temples.
(0:34:24) Religious practices within the family.
(0:35:49) Recollection of a shrine in the family property.
(0:37:37) Worship of deities in his community.
(0:40:28) The Community was steeped in superstition, such as the use of black magic.
(0:42:49) Kathakali performances based on the Ramayana that taught moral values.
(0:49:13) Recollection of temple ceremonies with the gathering of elephants.
(0:52:44) Returned to Singapore through Madras.
(0:55:39) Lived on Haig Road.
*Earliest recollections of his childhood. Born in Lily’s Dispensary. Father was a clerk in Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). Stayed at family home in Malabar during World War II (WWII). Did not do well in the vernacular school in Malabar. Matriarchal society of the Malayalam community. Caste system and its impact on the family in the division of labour. Funeral pyre of his grandfather. Problems faced when interviewee rebuilt his family home years later. Younger brother was born in India. Religious beliefs of the Malayalam. Observance of superstitions and traditions. Eating meat. Visiting temples. Religion in the family. Remembers a shrine in the family property that was built to chase away snakes. Worship of Vishnu among the Malayalam. Community was steeped in superstition such as the use of black magic. Kathakali performances based on the Ramayana that taught moral values. Occasions when there would be a gathering of massive crowds and elephants at the temples. Returned to Singapore through Madras. Lived in Haig Road and then Lorong N Telok Kurau.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 17
Metadata
- 30 Oct 2007
Recording Date
- 00:58:34
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:08) British troops along Haig Road.
(0:02:01) Family moved to Lorong N Telok Kurau.
(0:03:53) Early school life at St. Patrick’s School.
(0:05:42) Entered Primary 2 at Telok Kurau School.
(0:08:28) Recollection of a teacher named Miss van der Slot.
(0:08:28) Rented bicycles and learned to cycle.
(0:11:06) Family moved to Dorset Road.
(0:13:19) Transferred to Monk’s Hill School. Dropped off at school by car.
(0:15:31) Parents tried to encourage him to learn Hindi.
(0:16:02) Family moved again to Mergui Road and then to Farleigh Avenue.
(0:19:38) Impressions of the Chinese-educated. Division among Chinese-educated, English-educated and non-educated.
(0:22:27) Events at Monk’s Hill School. Learned songs of patriotism to the British.
(0:25:30) Activities to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. City Day celebrations. (0:27:13) Sang Latin songs to commemorate the coronation.
(0:28:20) Impressions of his teachers at Telok Kurau School and Monk’s Hill School.
(0:30:37) Recalled that Winston Choo, later Chief of Defence Forces, also studied at Monk’s Hill School.
(0:31:05) Talked about the requirement to pass the entrance examination to enter secondary school.
(0:31:35) Impressions of the education system in the 1950s.
(0:35:15) Reputation of the government schools.
(0:36:57) Requirements to enter Raffles Institution (RI). Subjects and activities there.
(0:40:59) To get into RI, one must be good in English. RI had its first Asian principal while he was there.
(0:47:58) Impressions of his teachers at RI.
(0:56:17) Impression that the students had no clue what they were supposed to learn.
Remembers British troops along Haig Road. Family moved to Lorong N Telok Kurau. Early school life in St Patrick’s School. Entered Primary 2 at Telok Kurau School. Miss van der Slot. Rented bicycles and learnt to cycle. Family moved to Dorset Road. Left Telok Kurau School and went to Monk’s Hill School. Went to school by car. Parents tried to encourage him to learn Hindi. Family moved again, to Mergui Road and then to Farleigh Avenue. Impressions of the Chinese-educated; English schools took threat of Communism seriously. School life at Monk’s Hill School. Learnt songs of loyalty to Queen Elizabeth II. City Day celebrations. Latin song sung during the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Impressions of his teachers at Telok Kurau School and Monk’s Hill School. Winston Choo, later Chief of Defence Forces, also studied at Monk’s Hill School. The need to pass the Entrance Examination to enter secondary school. Impressions of the education system in the 1950s. Reputation of the government schools. Level of entry into Raffles Institution (RI). Few memories of Scout activities at Monk’s Hill School. Impression that the sports in schools were not well-developed. Importance of the English language in the 1950s. Training of teachers in the 1950s. Teaching methods. Impressions of his teachers at RI. Felt that his teachers were clueless about the syllabus.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 17
Metadata
- 13 Nov 2007
Recording Date
- 00:57:57
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:16) Impressions of the Honours programme at the University of Malaya.
(0:02:24) Talked about Campus life.
(0:04:57) Impressions of the Singapore University Students’ Union (SUSU) as a political force.
(0:09:24) Sense of political activism in the SUSU.
(0:12:48) Support by SUSU for Azahari in Brunei.
(0:14:17) Working with the Nanyang University Students’ Union.
(0:16:58) Impressions of S Jayakumar.
(0:17:39) The key essence of a university education.
(0:19:33) Completed a Diploma in Education in 1965.
(0:20:23) SUSU took on the government over ‘suitability certificates’.
(0:25:18) Consequences of writing an editorial on ‘suitability certificates’ in the newsletter ‘The Undergrad’.
(0:31:00) SUSU refused to participate in plans for riots over ‘suitability certificates’.
(0:33:10) Importance of socialism for students.
(0:34:34) Network of government informants among students.
(0:35:49) Rag and Flag Day and other fundraising activities.
(0:38:18) Visited the University Library only for ‘Red Spot’ (closed reserve) books.
(0:39:13) Impressions of ragging.
(0:46:14) Discrimination of poorer students was more apparent than real.
(0:48:39) Impressions of the Socialist Club and its activities.
(0:53:19) Consequences of poverty in Singapore.
(0:56:41) Political forums organised by the Socialist Club.
Impressions of the Honours programme at the University of Malaya. Campus life. Impressions of the Singapore University Students’ Union (SUSU) as a political force. Sense of political activism in the SUSU. Support by SUSU for Azahari in Brunei. Working with the Nanyang University Students’ Union. Impressions of S Jayakumar. Interviewee did not think of life beyond university. Completed a Diploma in Education in 1965. SUSU took on the Government over ‘suitability certificates’. Consequences of interviewee writing an editorial over ‘suitability certificates’ in the newsletter The Undergrad. SUSU refused to participate in plans for riots over ‘suitability certificates’. Importance of socialism for students. Network of government informants among students. Rag and Flag Day and other fundraising activities. Interviewee visited the University Library only for ‘Red Spot’ (closed reserve) books. Impressions of ragging. Discrimination of poorer students were more apparent than real. Impressions of the Socialist Club and its activities. Consequences of poverty in Singapore. Political forums organised by the Socialist Club.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 17
Metadata
- 13 Nov 2007
Recording Date
- 00:58:07
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:12) Section Training for three months.
(0:02:49) Streaming after Section Training.
(0:08:15) Training of the first batch of Officer Cadets (OCT) from 29 November 1966.
(0:13:25) Live firing exercises at the Basic Military, Section and OCT levels.
(0:16:01) Conducting a dry run before live firing exercises.
(0:19:00) Learning about executing group activities.
(0:19:43) Amphibious training by conducting a raid on Pulau Senang.
(0:21:55) Crossed obstacles at Mandai.
(0:23:15) Trainers were locals, while the Israelis provided the training doctrines.
(0:26:34) Recollection of Israeli and local trainers.
(0:32:51) Reputation of ‘Tiger Hong’ (Hong Seng Mak).
(0:35:25) Challenge of training 140 OCTs.
(0:36:10) Discipline and breaking of regulations.
(0:39:49) Case of an OCT who skipped Exercise Red Beret on medical grounds.
(0:40:53) Why the level of discipline was high.
(0:42:21) Entire training stretched for 13 months, including one week's leave.
(0:42:47) Malaysia and Singapore military had good relations until the early 1970s.
(0:45:37) Public live firing exercise at the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI). (0:49:25) Preparations for the Commissioning Parade.
(0:53:01) Supernumerary officers on parade.
(0:56:06) Presentation of commissions at the Istana.
(0:57:22) Commissioning Ball on 21 July 1967.
Section Training for three months. Streaming after Section Training. Training of the first batch of Officer Cadets (OCT) from 29 November 1966. Live firing exercises at the Basic Military, Section and OCT levels. Importance of a dry run before conducting live firing exercises. Learning about executing group activities. Amphibious training by conducting a raid on Pulau Senang. Crossed obstacles at Mandai. Trainers were locals while the Israelis provide the training doctrines. Recollection of Israeli and local trainers. Reputation of ‘Tiger Hong’ (Hong Seng Mak). Challenge of training 140 OCT. Discipline and breaking of regulations. Case of an OCT who skipped Exercise Red Beret on medical grounds. Why the level of discipline was high. Entire training stretched for 13 months, including one week leave. Malaysia and Singapore military had good relations until the early 1970s. Public live firing exercise at the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI). Preparations for the Commissioning Parade. Supernumerary officers on parade. Presentation of commissions at the Istana. Commissioning Ball on 21 July 1967.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 17
Metadata
- 21 Nov 2007
Recording Date
- 00:58:37
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:18) Appointments for newly commissioned officers.
(0:04:26) New challenges for various formations in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), such as Armour, Artillery and Combat Engineers.
(0:08:22) Writing lesson formats as an Exercise Planning Officer in the Doctrine Department of the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI).
(0:09:22) Impression of Israeli advisors.
(0:11:20) Checking the suitability of exercise grounds at SAFTI as part of ‘Exercise Planning Directives’.
(0:14:20) Impressions of the Adjutant Major Pakirisamy Rajagopal (P R Gopal).
(0:16:08) Impressions of the Officers’ Mess.
(0:17:17) The Mess Fund.
(0:19:21) Creation of the All Ranks’ Mess.
(0:20:04) Training of Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) from September 1968 as Platoon Commander (PC) of ‘Echo’ Company at SAFTI.
(0:22:12) Impressions of military regulations and training.
(0:26:10) Dealing with the ill-disciplined at SAFTI.
(0:29:07) Introduction of upgrading of ranks at SAFTI.
(0:30:46) Difficult to tell the difference between national servicemen and regulars among the NCO trainees.
(0:36:40) Posted to the Operations and Plans Department of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in July 1969.
(0:40:12) Impressions of his work in the Planning Department.
(0:42:00) Duties in the Operations Room (Ops Room).
(0:43:08) Intriguing assignments in the Planning Department.
(0:45:09) Identifying and acquiring British military camps and designing new camps.
(0:50:16) Competition with other claimants over the British military camps.
(0:52:11) Impressions of the work of the Bases Economic Conversion Department (BECD).
(0:53:06) Acquisition of Tanglin Camp at Dempsey Road.
(0:57:32) Allocation of camps by the Organisation Department of MINDEF.
Appointments for newly commissioned officers. New challenges for various formations in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) such as Armour, Artillery and the Combat Engineers. Writing lesson formats as an Exercise Planning Officer in the Doctrine Department of the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI). Impression of Israeli advisors. Checking suitability of exercise grounds at SAFTI as part of ‘Exercise Planning Directives’. Impressions of the Adjutant Major Pakirisamy Rajagopal (P R Gopal). Impressions of the Officers’ Mess. The Mess Fund. Creation of the All Ranks’ Mess. Training of Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) from September 1968 as Platoon Commander (PC) of ‘Echo’ Company at SAFTI.
Impressions of military regulations and training. Dealing with ill-discipline in the SAF. Introduction of upgrading of ranks at SAFTI. Difficult to tell the difference between national servicemen and regulars among the NCO trainees. Preparation of a mea culpa before joining the Planning Department of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in July 1969. Impressions of his work in the Planning Department. Duties in the Operations Room (Ops Room). Intriguing assignments in the Planning Department. Identifying and acquiring British military camps and designing new camps. Competition with other claimants over the British military camps. Impressions of the work of the Bases Economic Conversion Department (BECD). Acquisition of Tanglin Camp at Dempsey Road. Allocation of camps by the Organisation Department of MINDEF.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 17
Metadata
- 21 Nov 2007
Recording Date
- 00:57:54
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:12) Allocation of camps by the Organisation Department of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
(0:01:13) Role of the Planning Department and the Land and Estates Organisation (LEO) of MINDEF.
(0:02:39) Fear of a violent spillover from the May 13 riots in Kuala Lumpur in 1969.
(0:05:43) Reaction from Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at MINDEF over precautions taken in Singapore.
(0:08:52) Activation of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) units.
(0:11:24) Sent for a training course at the School of Advanced Training for Officers (SATO) in October 1969.
(0:13:39) Impressions of the course.
(0:15:26) Assigned the duty of Officer Commanding (OC) in the 6th Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment (6 SIR) for six months.
(0:17:35) Role as an OC in the Officer Selection Branch of the Personnel Research Department at Manpower Division, MINDEF, from 1970 to 1972.
(0:21:06) Tests conducted for officers and air force pilots.
(0:26:16) Supposed to go for further training in Britain but never went as Minister Dr Goh Keng Swee scrapped training plans.
(0:27:07) Returned to Planning Department at MINDEF.
(0:31:05) Civil servants were encouraged by the SAF to stay in the military.
(0:31:38) Staff officers of the Planning Department.
(0:32:25) Introduction of MINDEF Headquarters (HQ) meetings.
(0:33:31) The things his commander would do after the meetings.
(0:36:33) Impressions of Pang Tee Pow, the Permanent Secretary in MINDEF.
(0:41:33) Reasons for being told to leave MINDEF HQ.
(0:42:59) Careers of Messrs Lee Yip Loy, Tan Chin Tiong and Loh Ah Tee.
(0:43:39) Responsibilities of his work as General Staff Officer (GSO) in the 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade (3 SIB) from 1972 to 1974.
(0:48:53) Impression of his Commanders at 3 SIB - Colonels Peter Lim and Patrick Sim.
(0:50:57) Enhancement of the status of military officers by Dr Goh.
(0:52:51) Recalled two incidents between him and Pang Tee Pow concerning canteen operators and a demoted officer.
Allocation of camps by the Organisation Department of Ministry of Defence (MINDEF). Role of the Planning Department and the Land and Estates Organisation (LEO) of MINDEF. Fear of a violent spill-over from the May 13 Riots in Kuala Lumpur in 1969. Reaction from Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at MINDEF over precautions taken in Singapore. Activation of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) units. Sent for training course at School of Advanced Training for Officers (SATO) in October 1969. Impressions of the course. Assigned the duty of Officer Commanding (OC) in 6th Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment (6 SIR) for six months. Role as an OC in the Officer Selection Branch of the Personnel Research Department at Manpower Division, MINDEF, from 1970 to 1972. Tests conducted for officers and air force pilots. Supposed to go for further training in Britain but never went as Minister Dr Goh Keng Swee scrapped training plans.
Returned to Planning Department at MINDEF. Civil servants were encouraged by the SAF to stay in the military. Staff officers of Planning Department. Introduction of MINDEF Headquarters (HQ) Meetings. What his commander would do after the meetings. Impressions of Pang Tee Pow, the Permanent Secretary in MINDEF. Reasons for being told to leave MINDEF HQ. Careers of Messrs Lee Yip Loy, Tan Chin Tiong and Low Ah Tee. Responsibilities of his work as General Staff Officer (GSO) in the 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade (3 SIB) from 1972 to 1974. Impression of his Commanders at 3 SIB - Colonels Peter Lim and Patrick Sim. Enhancement of status of military officers by Dr Goh. Recalled two incidents between interviewee and Pang Tee Pow concerning canteen operators and a demoted officer.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 17
Metadata
- 21 Nov 2007
Recording Date
- 00:58:06
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:11) Recollection of an incident concerning a demoted officer.
(0:02:56) Impressions of Court Marshal acquittals and summary trials.
(0:12:26) Challenges as the General Staff Officer (GSO) of the 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade (3 SIB). Problems given by Battalion Commanders.
(0:15:10) Worked briefly as an Instructor at the School of Advanced Training for Officers (SATO) before being appointed Commanding Officer (CO) of the 6th Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment (6 SIR) in 1974.
(0:16:48) Visits to 3 SIB by important visitors.
(0:18:42) Anecdotes on a visit by former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew to 3 SIB.
(0:31:46) Role as Instructor at SATO for three months before becoming CO of the 6th Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment (SIR).
(0:36:53) Anecdotes concerning the deployment of a standby battalion from 6 SIR during the Laju Incident in 1974.
(0:45:39) Case of soldiers from 6 SIR going absent without leave (AWOL) en masse.
(0:49:14) Interview he had with Pang Tee Pow, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
(0:51:32) Case of a soldier in 6 SIR who drowned in Ulu Pandan Camp.
(0:54:15) Battalion exercise from Tampines to Choa Chu Kang.
(0:56:32) Sent to the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College (MAFSC) in Kuala Lumpur in 1975.
Recollection of an incident concerning a demoted officer. Impressions of Court Marshal acquittals and summary trials. Challenges as the General Staff Officer (GSO) of 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade (3 SIB). Problems given by Battalion Commanders. Worked briefly as an Instructor at the School of Advanced Training for Officers (SATO) before appointed Commanding Officer (CO) of the 6th Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment (6 SIR) in 1974. Visits to 3 SIB by important visitors. Anecdotes on a visit by former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew to 3 SIB. Role as Instructor at SATO for three months before becoming CO of 6 SIR. Anecdotes concerning the deployment of a standby battalion from 6 SIR during the Laju Incident in 1974. Case of soldiers from 6 SIR going absent without leave (AWOL) en masse. Interview he had with Pang Tee Pow, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Defence (MINDEF). Case of a soldier in 6 SIR who drowned in Ulu Pandan Camp. Battalion exercise from Tampines to Choa Chu Kang. Sent to the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College (MAFSC) in Kuala Lumpur in 1975.
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