Guide to the Papers of Brigadier A.T. Shakespear (as filmed by the AJCP)
M1198
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 2019
Online Items
Album of newspaper cuttings, invitations and photographs of Singapore, Malaya and Ceylon, 1934 - 1936 (File 1)
The photographs at the beginning of the album were taken on the voyage from England to Singapore in 1934. The later photographs mostly depict street scenes and social events in Singapore and Malaya, and also Ceylon, which Shakespear visited in 1936. In particular, the photographs and cuttings refer to the celebrations of the King's Silver Jubilee in 1935.
Notebook listing calls made and calls received, 1934 - 1940 (File 2)
The notebook lists the names of people whom Shakespear visited, or who visited Shakespear, in Singapore (1934-1937), Richmond, England (1938-1939) and Gibraltar (1940).
Letters, 18 April 1935 - 1 January 1938 (File 2)
Royal Society of St George. Menu and program of festival banquet, Raffles Hotel, Singapore, 24 April 1935 (Item)
Sir Shenton Thomas (Singapore) to Shakespear, 18 December 1937 (Item)
Visitors to Government House, news of the General [William Dobbie], looks forward to returning to England in 1939.
Clerk of Councils (Singapore) to Shakespear, 19 May 1937 (Item)
Sends copy of Oaths taken by Shakespear as a member of the Executive Council of the Straits Settlements.
J.D. Boyd to Shakespear, 7 June 1937 (Item)
No prospect of employment for Shakespear on termination of his appointment in Malaya nor of promotion to rank of major-general.
Extract from the Royal Engineers Journal, October 1937 (File 4)
An extract from the Royal Engineers Journal, October 1937, with a letter (20 July 1937) from Shakespear concerning the old Royal Engineers Mess at Changi.
Diary of Shakespear, 14 September 1934 - 13 January 1935 (File 5)
The diary begins on 14 September 1934, when Shakespear was preparing to leave England, and ends on 13 January 1935. It describes his voyage from Southampton to Marseilles, Port Said, Aden, Bombay, Colombo and Penang and his arrival at Singapore (12 October 1934), his impressions of Singapore and Malacca, travels in the Malay Peninsula, the Raffles Hotel, the Alexandra Barracks, social life in Singapore, sporting events, visits to the theatre, church services, events at Government house, and visitors to Singapore, including Lord and Lady Baden-Powell. There are numerous references to senior military and civil officers in the colony, including the governor, Sir Shenton Thomas, and the harbour master, Sir John Alleyne.
Papers concerning Lieutenant John Close, December 1941 (File 6)
The papers comprise roneoed copies of letters and documents concerning the life and death of Lieutenant John Close, who was killed in December 1941 fighting against Japanese forces at Kota Bahru, Kelantan. They include extracts from O.D. Gallagher's book, Action in the East (New York, 1942) and Ian Morrison's book, Malayan Postscript (Sydney, 1943). There are also extracts from letters to Close's father, Sir Charles Arden-Close, from Major A.G.L. Close (Malaya), Brigadier Warren Willey (Malaya), Capt. George Gibson (London), Major F. Page Gourlay (Fort Swettenham, Selangor) and Lieutenant-General E.F. Norton (Quetta).