| The Eurasian Company of the Singapore Volunteer Corps. by Terry Foenander. |
The collection on this page includes photographs of parades, range practices and camps held for personnel of the Singapore Volunteer Corps. As with the previous page of studio images, contributor's comments and names have been included with each image. The images have been further grouped according to their subject matter.
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| The Singapore Volunteer Corps shoulder title as worn on both shoulders, by members of the Corps. This image has been enlarged 200%. (See bottom of this page for an enlarged image of the Corps cap badge.) |
Parades.
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| D Coy, 1 Bn Straits Settlements Volunteer Force (Singapore Volunteer Corps) presenting arms at a parade to award the colours to the Singapore Volunteer Corps, 1934. The officer in the front is Charles Burton ('Carlo') Webb. There are 2 Colour Sergeants on parade. Third from right is sergeant John Aloysius Samuel Jansen. On his right is sergeant Cyril Albuquerque. There is a cross under one of the soldiers in the front row. This soldier is private Paul Anthony Pestana. (Photo courtesy of John Alfred Jansen, son of sergeant Jansen and nephew of private Pestana. Commentary from information provided by John Alfred Jansen and Barry Pereira, from a roll-call in the diary of Ambrose Pereira, his grandfather.) . |
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| Another image of the same parade: D Coy, SVC is reviewed by His Excellency, the Officer Administering the Government, Mr
Andrew Caldecott, CMG, OBE, during a parade to award the SVC its colours, May 26, 1934. Lt Charles
('Carlo') Burton Webb holds the flag. The 2 Colour Sergeants (with sashes
across their chests) are Sgt Cyril Albuquerque and Sgt John Aloysius Samuel
Jansen.
(Commentary: Mary Anne Schooling (nee Jansen), Sgt Jansen's granddaughter.)
(Photo courtesy of Mary Anne Schooling) Editor's Note: The volunteers are shown here at the "attention" position, in contrast to the previous image which shows them at the "present arms" position (which is a salute to the dignitary in attendance). . |
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| Four members of D Company, three of whom have been identified. The lack of rank insignia on their uniforms indicates that they were all Privates, at the time of this photograph being taken. The soldier at left has been identified as Anthony Desker, and third from the left is identified as Geoffrey Tessensohn [both tentatively identified by Mr. Gerard Clarke, of St. Francis Road, Singapore], and the soldier at extreme right has been identified as George M. Westerhout [identified by his son, Burt Westerhout, of Singapore.]. The occasion has also been identified as the grand opening of St. Teresa's Church, 2 Bukit Purmei, Singapore, in 1929 [also identified by Mr. Gerard Clarke]. [Image, and some identification information provided by Mr. Geoffrey Morris, of Singapore.] |
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| This is obviously the Regimental Band of the Singapore Volunteer Corps (comprised of members of the European companies). The location of the street has been identified, by Mr. Andrew Clarke, of Perth, Western Australia, as being along Bras Basah Road, the low roofline being that of the former convent building along the road. These low buildings are still evident today, although newly renovated. [Image contributed by Geoffrey Morris.] |
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| The Eurasian Company of the Singapore Volunteer Corps on parade at the favorite Sunday haunt of the Eurasian community, St. Joseph's Church, on Victoria Street, June, 1938. The corporal at the forefront of the image, wearing glasses, is Leonard Lombardy Love de Rosario, who resigned from the Corps later the same year. Note the churchgoers in the background, admiring their fathers, sons and brothers. [Original image in the possession of Lionel de Rosario, of Sydney, New South Wales, and used with his kind permission.] |
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| Another photograph of the Eurasian Company on parade, June, 1937, location unknown. Note the inspecting officer or NCO in the middle section, inspecting the backs of the personnel on parade, for proper haircuts, cleanliness and symmetery of uniforms, belts and boots, a favorite picking point on such parades. The long shadows indicate that it might have been in the early hours of the morning, when such parades were usually held. [Original image in the possession of Lionel de Rosario, of Sydney, New South Wales, and used with his kind permission.] |
Range Practices.
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| The family of Sgt John Aloysius Samuel Jansen with other spectators at an SVC shooting competition. Sgt Jansen, seen extreme left without his hat, the lady closest to him is his wife's sister Rose Pestana (Mrs James de Souza). Next to Rose is Emily 'Lily' Pestana, Sgt Jansen's wife. The children are his eldest son John Alfred (aged about 8) and his eldest daughter Emily Therese ('Milly'). Photo taken about 1930. [Image and caption, courtesy of Mary Anne Schooling, daughter of John Alfred Jansen.] |
Camping Trips.
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| Identification of SVC personnel in this image, as provided by Barry Pereira, is as follows: (L-R) L/cpl I. Galistan, Pte D.C. Perreau, Sgt. Ambrose Pereira, Pte. Gonsalo Zuzarte, Pte E.F. de Silva, Lieut. Charles Burton Webb, L/Cpl C.P. Richards, Pte. L. Theseira, Pte. G.P. Richards, Pte Austin Wells, Sgt, G.M. Westerhout. (Image used through the kind courtesy of Barry Pereira, of Singapore. Please address all correspondence relating to this image to him, at this address.) |
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| D Coy wins rifle shooting cup
The team of D (Eurasian) Company, 1st. Battalion, S.V.C., which won the Iroquois Cup at the Singapore Volunteer Corps rifle meeting.
Left to right:- L.Cpl. I. Galistan, Pte. D.C. Perreau, Sgt. Ambrose Pereira, Pte. Gonzalo Zuzarte, Pte. E.F. de Silva, Lieut. C.B. Webb, L.Cpl. C.P. Richards, Pte. L. Theseira, Pte. G.P. Richards, Pte. Austin Wells, Sgt. G.M. Westerhout
Circa 1935. (Image and caption courtesy of Geoffrey Morris.) [The similarity of identification to the previous image indicates that both images may have been taken at about the same time.] |
This, and the previous image, have deteriorated with the action of time. Both are contributions of Geoffrey Morris. Although there is no exact date (assumed to be taken in the 1930's), a closer scrutiny of both images shows that they were taken at the same location, and possibly on the same date.
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| Unknown rifle shooters, [only two of whom are identified]:
Left to Right: 1. Unknown, 2 Identified by Mr. Andrew Clarke of Perth, Western Australia, as being Mr. Galistan, 3 Sgt. G.M. Westerhout, 4 Unknown, 5 Unknown.
Circa 1935. (Image and caption, with the exception of bracketed items, provided by Geoffrey Morris.) |
Miscellaneous.
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| No Pass! There were no thirsty Volunteers around when this ice-cream seller called at Telok Paku on a hot morning, but Sergeant G.B.WESTERHOUT asked him for his pass to enter the camp. He had one but not for that particular time of the day! Circa May, 1937, or later. [Image, and caption, courtesy of Geoffrey Morris.] |
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| Three military officers, and an unidentified civilian. The two officers in pith helmets are obviously SVC members. The officer at left wears what appears to be Scottish headgear. Officer at right, wearing shorts, has been identified, by Mr. Andrew Clarke, of Perth, Western Australia, as being Major H.R.S. Zehender. [Image courtesy of Geoffrey Morris.] |
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| Members of the St. Patrick's School Cadet Corp, in 1939 (at least one of whom later joined the Singapore Volunteer Corps), showing then principal, Brother Henry Jaussaud, with cadet captain, teacher Arthur Phillips, at his right, and cadet lieutenant, teacher, Bernard E. Nicholas, at his left. The five non commissioned officers, seated in front, have been identified as, left to right: lance corporal Yeo Hoon Thong, corporal Ceasar Consigliere, sergeant Clive De Souza, lance corporal John Pestana and lance corporal John Doriasamy. Sergeant Clive De Souza later served in the Singapore Volunteer Corps. Others identified are: Kneeling, left to right, second row: to the left of Captain Phillips are, unknown, and Anthony Grosse; to the right of Lieutenant Nicholas are Francis Fernandez and Douglas Van Der Beck. Standing, third row, left to right: - Satyapal, unknown, Arthur Merrels, Guy De Cruz, unknown, unknown, unknown, Anthony McIntyer, unknown, Roland Fernandez, unknown and unknown. Last row, standing, left to right: - Siddons, -McBreen, unknown, Godfrey Carnegie and - Ryan. [Contributed by Mr. Terry De Souza of Antioch, California, brother of Sergeant Clive De Souza.] |
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| The Singapore Volunteer Corps cap badge. An enlarged image. The motto shown, "IN ORIENTE PRIMUS" translates as "FIRST IN THE EAST." [Image contributed by Mr. Alan Thomas Hornsby, of Norwich, Norfolk, England, and used with his kind permission.] |
Additional contributions of images or other material for this site are most definitely welcome!
A roster of Eurasians who served in the Singapore Volunteer Corps is now online. Additions will be included as more information comes to hand. Please contribute - contact Terry Foenander.
Links to some of my other web pages:
On the American Civil War Navies.
A brief bio with additional links to pages on Singapore, etc.
This Web Site is fondly dedicated to my maternal grandfather, George Edward Kingston Prior, a member of the Singapore Volunteer Corps (see image on this page) and his dedicated wife, Florence (Moses), who in spite of the adversities they encountered, were able to provide a decent and loving life for their children, and grandchildren.
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July, 2001 (updated November, 2004).