description
Object description
British civilian teacher in Kuala Lumpar, Malaya, 1936-1938; wife of colonial civil servant on Christmas Island and in Malaya, 1938-1941; evacuated from Malaya to GB aboard RMS Empress of Japan, 1942; wife of colonial civil servant in Malaya, 1948-1957
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as teacher in Kuala Lumpar, Malaya, 1936-1938: background to obtaining employment as teacher; family links with Malaya; arrival at school in brother’s De Havilland Tiger Moth; description of Malayan jungle; Malayan population; benefits of being an unmarried female; description of missionary school; daily routine at school; backgrounds of children attending school; story of discovery of tiger in garden; daily routine; meeting future husband at Chinese dance hall. Recollections of period as wife of colonial civil servant on Christmas Island and in Malaya, 1938-1941: marriage; posting to Christmas Island.
REEL 2 Continues: communication with servants in Malay; constant moves involved with husband’s job; character of house in Ipoh; Cameron Highlands hill station; relations with Chinese servants; socialising with Europeans; description of food served at functions; appearance of Chinese servants. Recollections of evacuation from Malaya to GB, 1941-1942: Japanese bombing of Ipoh, 1941; evacuation to Singapore via Kuala Lumpar.
REEL 3 Continues: reaction to Japanese air attacks; giving birth to son, 5/1/1942; description of evacuation from Singapore to GB aboard RMS Empress of Japan; degree of contact with husband serving with Force 136, Special Operations Executive; reunion with husband in London, 1945. Recollections of period as wife of colonial civil servant in Malaya, 1948-1957: sight of murdered school master on road; husband Richard Broome’s involvement with Ferret Force; Malays employed to guard family home; relations with Malay civilians; adherence to strict Muslim beliefs in Johore Bahru.
REEL 4 Continues: character of different races observed whilst teaching; opinion of Malaya, the Malayan people and their range of cultures; opinion of British presence in Malaya.
