Episode Details

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. LTC (Retd) Mejar Singh Gill remembers his callup to National Service in 1967 and signing up as a regular in the Singapore Armed Forces. Historically-minded as always, he traces his journey to the military histories of the Punjab Empire, the colonial armies of the past and the Singapore Naval Base in Sembawang. He talks about the tough training (he took it well), a little-known group of instructors called the Boxers, and meeting other young men from all walks of life.

Part 1 | https://youtu.be/XcXl6KVlekc

Part 2 | https://youtu.be/gW4QIH0UU6I

Part 3 | https://youtu.be/oapXReFCjfA

00:00 Introduction

02:25 My Last Rank & Command

06:47 Sikh Military Traditions

12:41 Race in the Colonial Armies

18:38 The Military in the Naval Base

22:50 National Service Callup in 1967

30:59 All Walks of Life

35:30 The Boxers

40:33 The Training

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. I am Dr Loh Kah Seng, the people’s historian, and I document people’s memories of Singapore before it became a global city.

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Write to lkshis@gmail.com if you have any of these stories:

• Old places or kampongs.

• Communities – their way of life & culture.

• Childhood & schools.

• Work or business.

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