The following extracts from the Resident-General's report for 1902 will give an idea of the
progress made by the School during the previous years.
"The first school in importance, and the largest in the Federated Malay States, is the Victoria
Institution with an average enrolment of 532 and a daily attendance of 480. The most interesting
item of the year's work is the success obtained at the Cambridge Local Examination held at the
close of the year. Out of 79 passes obtained by the schools of the Colony and the Federated Malay
States, the Victoria Institution was first with 19 passes out of 26 presentations."
"In the Senior Division, one Second Class Honour with two Distinctions, and one pass were
obtained; while in the Junior, four boys under sixteen years of age, one boy of thirteen,
obtained Third Class Honours and was first among all the Junior Candidates from the Colony and
the Federated Malay States."
"It is interesting to note that the two chief honours were won by the younger brothers of the
present holder of the first F. M. S. Scholarship, being the sons of a Chinese clerk of some
fifteen years' standing in Government service."
Chan Sze Jin had a remarkably brilliant career in the Victoria Institution. He won the Rodger
Medal and the Treacher Scholarship and passed the Cambridge Preliminary in the First Division,
the Junior in the First Division, and the Senior in the Second Division, with marks of
distinction in several subjects. Joining the Penang Free School in 1903 to study for the
Scholarship Examination, he was successful in winning the Federal Scholarship. He went to
Cambridge where he entered the Downing College. He passed his B.A., L.L.B., Law Tripos, and
History Tripos Part II in 1908, when he joined the Inns of London and was called to the Bar in
1910. Ever since his return from England he has been practising his profession in Singapore with
remarkable success. He has taken a prominent part in public affairs and has served on the
Committee to report on unemployment, on the British Malaya Opium Committee, on the Board of
Education, Singapore, and on the committee to report on taxation. He is now serving on the
Legislative Council S. S., on the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, on the Council
of the College of Medicine, Singapore, and on the Opium Advisory Committee of Malaya.
A lady assistant teacher, Miss Gillett, was appointed and put in charge of the Infant Department.
The experiment proved a great success and this department of the school has ever since been in
the charge of a lady teacher. Mr. T. M. B. Phillips and Mr. A. M. Pilter, B. A. Cantab.,
succeeded Mr. Barlow and Mr. Wood. Mr. Barlow introduced Indian Club swinging into this school
and was interested in Gymnastics as well. He was a vegetarian and had been a teacher in a deaf
and dumb school before he came out to Malaya.
The Cambridge Preliminary Examination was abolished this year and the following boys passed the
Senior and Junior Examinations.
The new High Commissioner for the F. M. S., His Excellency Sir Anderson paid his first official
visit to the Federal Capital in July 1904. During his short stay in Kuala Lumpur he honoured the
school with a visit, when he was accorded a grand reception. Two beautiful triumphal arches were
erected at the High Street entrances; the school premises which were tastefully decorated with
flags and evergreens wore a festive appearance. On His Excellency's arrival at the school he was
received by the Headmaster and a Guard of Honour furnished by Cadet Corps. His Excellency, who
was accompanied by the Resident-General Sir William Hood Treacher, the British Resident and the
Federal Inspector of Schools was taken round to the various classes.
The Victorian, August 1929
n the fourth of the series of the Reminiscences an attempt is made to chronicle the leading
events of the school from 1915 to 1922.
As briefly stated in the last series, Mr. Goodman Ambler was the first of the European masters
to leave for England to enlist in Lord Kitchener's new army under the arrangements provided by
the F.M.S. Government. Messrs. Wheatley, Carr and Barber also applied for permission to join,
but in the medical examination held locally, Mr. Wheatley was declared unfit owing to defective
eyesight, and the other two were certified fit for Military Service.
Mr. Ambler was granted nine months, Mr. Carr eight months and Mr. Barber six months full leave.
The Trustees also agreed that the masters who had joined the Army or Navy with their permission
would be paid during their term of service and the continuance of the war, after the expiry of
the leave due to them, a sum equivalent to the difference between their full pay and the pay
actually drawn by them in the Army and Navy. Messrs. Carr and Barber left the country in
November, 1914. The work of these three masters fell on the remaining Europeans, viz., the
Headmaster and Messrs. Coleman and Wheatley and on the locally recruited teachers who had
willingly offered to undertake their share of the extra work that would be necessary to prevent
the work of the school from being seriously affected. Mr. Coleman also had to leave for India
about six months before the signing of the Armistice.
In 1915, the Honorary Treasurers of the Hare Memorial Fund informed the Trustees that, of the
number of bursaries provided by the Hare Memorial Fund, six would be at the disposal of the
Victoria Institution and each bursary would amount to half of the school fees. The Trustees
agreed to forego the balance of the school fees of those bursars whose parents were unable to
pay.
The first flood that seriously affected the school occurred on March 8th, 1917, and the school
was closed on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Previous to this, two other floods were experienced
in Kuala Lumpur, one in November, 1902, and the other in December, 1911. These, however, did not
interfere with the work of the school as their visits were during the school holidays. The next
flood was in October, 1918. The river was in flood on Sunday night, October 27th, but the water
did not reach all the ground floor classrooms and the school was closed on Monday. Of all the
floods that have so far occurred in Kuala Lumpur only one was in the month of March, all the
rest in the rainy season of the country, viz., October to December.
In order to prevent the flooding of the low-lying areas of the town and to minimise the damage
caused by the frequent floods a project was launched to deviate and straighten certain sections
of the river. It was found impossible to carry out this scheme as it affected the playground and
buildings of the Victoria Institution. It was therefore decided to transfer the site of the
school to a more suitable part of the town. In 1919 a valuable piece of land, about 23 acres in
extent, was acquired by the Government near Batu Road, and plans were drawn of the proposed
school building to accommodate a thousand boys. The Town Planner having condemned the site at
Batu Road, another suitable place had to be selected. In the meantime the rubber slump
intervened and building operations on the old golf links were indefinitely postponed.
Owing to the rapid increase in population of the town of Kuala Lumpur and the increasing demand
for English education, the existing accommodation was found inadequate, and in 1921 a temporary
school building with three classrooms was erected just behind the Assembly Hall.
Acting on the recommendation of the Committee appointed to enquire into and report on the
working of the aided schools of Malaya, the Government took over the financial control of the
Victoria Institution and other aided schools from January 1st, 1920.
In this connection it should be remembered that the Victoria Institution had been enjoying a
preferential treatment, for unlike other aided schools it had been receiving a special grant of
$30,000 a year and the salary schemes of both European and Asiatic teachers were based on those
of the Government teachers. Under the new fiscal arrangement the aided schools credited their
income to the Government which in turn undertook to pay the salaries provided for Government
teachers.
It may be safely said that the Cadet Corps reached a very high standard of efficiency during the
war period. An intensive course of training was drawn up and Mr. Shaw took a keen interest in
the detailed working of the scheme. In addition to the usual close and extended order parades on
the school field twice a week, every Wednesday evening was set apart for route marches and field
exercises. The Corps took part in many tactical schemes with the M.S.V.R. and the M.V.I. Monthly
inspections by the Officer Commanding and periodical section commanders competitions quickened
the interest and stimulated the enthusiasm of the rank and file of the Corps. Training in
musketry formed an important part of the programme. No less than fifty cadets a year received a
systematic and efficient training in the M.V.I. Range at Swettenham Road or in the M.S.V.R.
Range in Circular Road. The General Officer Commanding the Malayan Forces and the Commandants,
M.S.V.R., highly commended the smartness, turnout and steadiness on parade of the Corps.
On his return from the war, Captain Ambler, M.C., was appointed Officer Commanding the Corps.
His enthusiasm for Cadet work knew no bounds and the first Cadet Camp at Port Dickson was
organised by him in 1920 with the main objective of making the cadets fit and giving them an
enjoyable open air life by a judicious mixing of work and recreation. About two hundred cadets
from the Victoria Institution, St. John's Institution and the Methodist Boys' School under the
command of Captain Ambler, assisted by Platoon Commanders, camped at the 5th mile, Port Dickson
near the present M.S.V.R. training ground for a week in the month of August. Cadets were divided
into parties of twelve each under tent leaders and each party was provided with a tent. Mr. Chua
Cheng Bok of Cycle & Carriage Co., who happened to be at Port Dickson during the Camp Week
celebrating his birthday, gave a very generous donation to the Cadet Camp Fund and this timely
help contributed considerably to the success of the Camp. On account of the rubber slump and
trade depression no Cadet Camp was held the following year.
An epidemic of influenza swept over certain regions of Europe and Asia during the second half of
the year 1918. It began to spread in Kuala Lumpur during the latter part of September and made
no signs of abatement till the end of October. The Annual Athletic Sports came during the period
of the epidemic and over 200 boys and 10 masters were affected by it.
The Empire Day (May 24) and the Annual Athletic Sports (in September or October) were celebrated
every year with great eclat. The march past of the cadets, scouts and other squads, the address
of the British Resident, the Scout Display and impromptu sports were the main features of the
Empire Day Celebrations. The V.I. Annual Sports and the demonstration of Physical Training and
Gymnastics had, during these years, become so popular and attractive that they were regarded by
the public of Kuala Lumpur as a very important event of the year and were looked forward to with
very keen interest. The V.I. celebrated the Peace on July 21, 1919. The proceedings began with
the inspection of the Cadets and Scouts by the British Resident who, after reading the King's
message, gave a short but impressive address on the great and glorious occasion which they had
assembled that day to celebrate. Each boy was given a refreshment allowance of 40 cents by the
Celebration Committee. Fancy dress football matches were played in the evening, and then there
was a procession of decorated bicycles. The proceedings terminated with a very effective
exhibition of illuminated club swinging and the illumination of the grounds, the whole of the
High Street frontage being outlined by a line of about six hundred lights.
His Majesty's Ship Malaya which was presented to the Imperial Government by the Rulers
and People of the Federated Malay States and which took part in the Battle of Jutland in May,
1915, paid a visit to Malaya in January, 1921, and was anchored off Port Swettenham. The general
public of the F.M.S. including school children were afforded facilities to visit the battle
cruiser and arrangements were made in Kuala Lumpur to receive and entertain the officers and men
of the ship.
The school sustained a severe loss by the untimely death of Mr. J. Hugh in 1919. Mr. Hugh was
clerk to the Headmaster for over 18 years, and was held in high esteem and respect by all
teachers. Another equally sad death was that of Elizabeth Davidson who was in charge of the
Infant Department for many years. She was a hardworking teacher of wide experience and her death
cast a gloom over the school where her unselfish and devoted work will be ever gratefully
remembered by her many affectionate pupils. The Infant Department sustained another loss during
the period under review by the death of Miss Ketschker who was connected with the school for a
few years.
Messrs. Ambler and Carr returned to Kuala Lumpur early in 1920 and Mr. Coleman was appointed
acting Inspector of schools, Selangor, in place of Mr. David Bishop. Messrs. Baraclough and
Redfearn joined the staff of the school in 1921. Mr. B.E. Shaw retired from service in March,
1922, and Mr. Wheatley was appointed to act for him.
| The Staff of the School in 1915
|
| Headmaster
|
| Bennet Eyre Shaw, M.A. (Oxon)
|
| Chief Assistant
|
| C.G. Coleman
|
| Other European Assistants
|
| G. Ambler* | George Barber*
|
| M. Wheatley | Miss E. Davidson
|
| J. B. Carr* | Miss A. M. Alexander
|
| Asiatic Masters
|
| 1. R. Thampipillay | 12. Tay Lian Hee
|
| 2. H.V. Ponniah | 13. M. A. Akhbar
|
| 3. L. F. Koch | 14. John Hugh
|
| 4. M. Vallipuram | 15. K. Peethamparam
|
| 5. Ng Seo Buck | 16. Miss de Mornay
|
| 6. S. Candyah | 17. Mrs. Armstrong
|
| 7. C. Champion | 18. Chan Hung Chin
|
| 8. Lim Kim Cheng | 19. Chin Yoon Thye
|
| 9. T. Arunachalam | 20. P. Nadarajah
|
| 10. N. Appadurai | 21. Wee Kok Thye
|
| 11. K. Sabapathy | 22. Tay Lian Teck
|
| *on war service |
|
| Roll of Honour
|
| The following is a list of the masters and Old Boys who served in the Great War:
|
| 1. Captain Goodman Ambler, M.C. | 12 Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment. Was thrice wounded, mentioned in dispatches and awarded a Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry. Returned to the V.I. in January, 1920.
|
| 2. Flight Lieutenant James B. Carr. | 14 squadron R.A.F. Served in Syria and Palestine. Returned to the V.I. in February, 1920.
|
| 3. Second Lieutenant Barber. | 19 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Killed in action, 4th October, 1916.
|
| 4. Lieutenant William C. Curtis. | Tank Corps. Killed in action, 3rd October, 1918.
|
| 5. Lance Corporal John H.V. Thornley. | 1 Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps. Killed in action, 4th May, 1915.
|
| 6. Corporal Harry C. K. Cormac. | 6 Bn. Royal Scots Regiment.
|
| 7. Captain William C. A. Dainton. | 13 Bn. Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment.
|
| 8. Sgt. Sidney G. A. Maartensz. | 1 Bn. H.A.C.
|
| 9. Second Lieutenant George Edward Neal. | 6 Bn. Buffs (East Kent Regiment).
|
| 10. Lieutenant Donald O. Russel. | Royal Engineers.
|
| N.B. |
|
| I. |
Nos. 1, 2 and 3 were on the staff when the War broke out; No.
7 was a former teacher; all the rest were Old Boys.
|
| II. |
Two or three non-European Old Boys are reported to have seen
active service in the War but their names are not known.
|
| Rodger Medallists
|
| 1916 Tam Siew Tit | 1920 Ganga Singh
|
| 1917 Choon Wing Hong | 1921 Ng Bow Poo
|
| 1918 Bhan Singh | 1922 Ng Bow Poo
|
| 1919 Eric Foenander | 1923 Tan Huck Sean
|
| Nugent Walsh Scholars
|
| 1915 Fung Yit Tuen | 1919 Ganga Singh
|
| 1916 Surjan Singh | 1920 Austin Foenander
|
| 1917 S. Murugasu | 1921 Harold Grenier Jansz
|
| 1918 C. Teck Hon | 1922 Kon Soon
|
| Treacher Scholars
|
| 1915 Tam Siew Tit | 1919 Kally Ghosh
|
| 1916 A. Sivakolunthu | 1920 Ng Bow Poo
|
| 1917 Bhan Singh | 1921 Hoh Chup Mee
|
| 1918 P. K. Bonney | 1922 Wong Koon Yoon
|
The V.I. Web Page
Created on 17 July 1999.
Last updated on 2 September 2000.
Contributed by: Chung Chee Min
PageKeeper: Ooi Boon Kheng