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Papers of Rene Onraet, 1945 - 1959

 Sub-Series
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/RCMS 103/5/5

Scope and Contents

From the Fonds:

From 1952 to 1967 the Secretary of the Association was Hugh Bryson. He organised the accumulation of two important collections of historical material through the BAM. In 1960, in cooperation with the Royal Commonwealth Society, Bryson initiated the gathering of original documents - memoranda, diaries, correspondence - and the writing of special reminiscences by those with first hand experience of the geographic area covered by the Association. Subjects of particular significance include politics and government, trade and commerce, social and cultural history, the First and Second World Wars, and the Malayan Emergency. As the material was received it was deposited in the Royal Commonwealth Society Library. Bryson also collected photographs, particularly those reflecting the history of South-East Asia. After his death in 1977, a few further donations were received from former BAM members, and these have been incorporated in an Addenda section.

Dates

  • Creation: 1945 - 1959

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

From the Fonds:

Due to the fragile state of many of these papers, users must consult microfilm copies where available.

Biographical / Historical

Rene Onraet joined the Straits Settlements Police as a cadet in 1907 and studied Chinese and Malay between 1908 and 1910. He enjoyed a distinguished career, in 1922 becoming Superintendent of Police, Singapore, and director of the Criminal Intelligence Department, later known as Special Branch. After serving as chief of police in Province Wellesley, Malacca, Singapore and Perak, Onraet was appointed Inspector-General of the Straits Settlements Police Force in 1935. He retired in 1939. During 1945-46, Onraet served on the staff of Major-General H.R. Hone as Police Adviser to the British Military Administration, Malaya. Onraet was a keen sportsman and a prominent member of the Singapore Polo Club for twenty years, serving as captain (1931) and president (1938).

Extent

4 file(s) : paper

Language of Materials

English

Originator(s)

Onraet, Rene Henry de S.

Finding aid date

2011-07-29 15:02:13+00:00

Repository Details

Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository

Contact:
Cambridge University Library
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Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom