Description
Object description
British police officer served with Palestine Police Force in Palestine, 1945-1948 and with Federation of Malaya Police in Federation of Malaya, 1948-1960
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Warrington, GB, 1926-1945: family; education; employment. Recollections of period as police officer with Palestine Police Force in Palestine, 1945-1948: attitude to service in Palestine; changes in relations between Jewish and Arab civilians and with police; house searches; attitude towards Jews and Arabs; role of Police Mobile Force; degree of personal danger; exchange of gunfire whilst in charge of High Commissioner's escort; impact of withdrawal of authority of Palestine Police Force; sight of aftermath of Arab attack on Jewish bus; reaction towards Irgun hanging of British NCOs, 30/7/1947; question of fraternisation with Jewish civilians.
REEL 2 Continues: attitude towards British presence in Palestine; withdrawal from Palestine, 1948; pattern of police work in Palestine. Recollections of period as police officer with Federation of Malaya Police in Federation of Malaya, 1948-1960: initial impressions of Singapore; 8/1948; posting as Officer in Charge of Police District Kuala Krai; lack of training and briefing; insurgent presence in Kuala Krai area; establishing camp at Gua Musang; question of aid given to insurgents by Chinese population; difficulties of operating in jungle; coping with jungle wildlife including leeches; death of colleague.
REEL 3 Continues: normality of life during State of Emergency; purpose of jungle patrols; degree of strength of insurgents in various areas; work of Special Branch in Penang; method of interrogation of insurgents; question of use of physical violence during interrogations; opinion of Fijian troops.
REEL 4 Continues: opinion of performance of British troops; use of Surrendered Enemy Personnel (SEPs) and civilians against insurgents; attitude of Chinese intelligentsia towards Communism; failure of insurgency; attitude towards insurgents; leaving Malaya, 1960; opinion of his Malayan Chief of Police.