Tom Smiley arriving in Singapore May 1940

Photos found in the letters of Singapore

I've had a few comments from you about my father's blog entry (Ceylon 1940) including my brother who had never read any of his letters before. As a family growing up, we just accepted that my father,with his atrocious handwriting, was incapable of writing.... so imagine finding out otherwise. The collection of over a hundred letters was found in a plastic bag at the bottom of my mother's wardrobe after she died in 2009 at aged 91 years old. None of us knew of these letters and they remain intact, written in small, practically illegible handwriting - 15 sheets of blue airmail paper per letter - filled with daily detail and of course longing and love for our mother. My family and friends know only too well that I became obsessed with reading and transcribing these letters with the plan of publishing them along with my father's war story. They are still waiting.... however I have started looking at the letters again and then on Radio 4 this week , I heard another daughter of a POW who had recently published her father's diary from Changi prison and I realised that I must relate the amazing love story of my parents during the war. (The Silver Cigarette Case, blog entry 2 Dec 2012) As to what form it will take I am not sure but I am determined that their story will be told. Here is another letter written a few days after Ceylon. My father, a strict methodist Ulsterman and his best friend Humphrey have arrived in Singapore...

24 th May 1940                                                                                    Singapore

            My own Darling fiancée, it was such a lovely letter – I've only had time to read it three times so far but I'll live on it until your next letter arrives. Your letter was just YOU. I really  do believe you love me – isn't it wonderful and aren't we lucky? Humphrey and I went straight away to the Post Office and the fellow missed it first of all and then the second time he saw my name and I felt that I was in heaven. H. and I couldn't wait to open them and were reading our letters along the street bumping into people! I'm missing you terribly and your letter has made it more real. I'm sitting here imagining you sitting in the chair opposite looking so beautiful and I'm afraid it's making me sad.

            Anyhow let me tell you about our goings on. I'm just flabbergasted and don't feel capable of any coherent thoughts. All of my travels and the arrival in Singapore has been the fullest experience I've ever had in my life. We got off the boat at 12 o'clock after some trouble with coolies getting the luggage off. A whole reception commitee was there to welcome us! They were expecting several colonels and majors to staff the new hospital and I think they were very disappointed to see the six of us - only lowly Lieutenants of 2 months! We were then taken to the Aldelphi Hotel where we are now. It is a beautiful hotel and would certainly rank among the « posh » hotels. All the rooms open via a balcony onto the street or a quadrangle. The quadrangle is beautifully laid out in a lawn and flower beds and the foliage is very lush with rich vibrant colourful flowers. The rooms are very luxurious with a bathroom and an electric fan keeping everything cool. After a delicious lunch we went to a tailors to get another pair of shorts and a shirt. They were very dear – $3.50cents each ( a $ equals 2/4). Luckily we only ordered 1 of each as we have since been told that we can order them through the army! Then we went to Raffles Square which is the main square in the town. Sir Stanford Raffles took the island of Singaore from the Dutch many years ago and nearly all the important places seem to be named after him!There we were greeted by two majors that we had met this morning and they insisted on us going round the town with them in their car and then finally taking us to the European Swimming Pool. It is a marvellous place with a dancing band, floodlit at night etc, etc......Humphrey and I bathed and the water was lovely Hugh and Humph. seemed very impressed with my diving. ( we hadn't a board on the ship). Then the Majors and Humph. had a few drinks while Hugh and I looked on. They then took us back and we had to quickly change for dinner which was lovely in a very beautiful dining room. A captain came up to talk to us and the others are still there chatting but I wanted to be with you so I slipped away.

     Well I'd better try and tell you my first impressions of Singapore. It is a beautiful city with the European part having a big broad street lined with trees. There is no black out and all the shops and cinemas are lit up. I saw a big sign saying « Gone with the Wind » coming next week! We haven't visited the shops yet but the Majors showed us  some of the principal building which are very grand and in a similar style to those in Bombay – the British influence is very evident. Then we saw the hospital- not the new one, which isn't ready yet, but the Tanglin . They were very keen on my E.N.T. work! One of the majors is a Medical specialist and we saw some cases of malaria and dengue fever. Then we saw around the Military depot and there is a golf course in the military grounds! It costs $5 a month sub so that isn't too bad. The work done in the hospital doesn't seem to be much in the surgical line at the present -most of the cases being sent to the civil hospital. The biggest operation they do are hernias – not even appendies are done. The Swimming Pool Club can also be joined for $2.50 per month . It would seem on first impressions as if people here just live for the social life. One of the majors advised us to lie low for a few months until we got our bearings. I think I'll be lying low most of the time ! Thank goodness I have your moral support and love backing me – never fear darling I won't let you down. I'll not only save but work very hard too. Yes I'll take lots of snaps that we can go over together. Humphrey is talking about buying a car but I'm closing now so I can post this early tomorrow.

                        All my love, thoughts and prayers darling,

                                                Your Tom