APPENDIX I
358
APPENDIX I
IX. AFTER THE WAR
Many Volunteers who survived the Japanese occupation had the satisfaction of watching Vice
Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten receive the Japanese surrender at the Padang in front of
City Hall, Singapore, on 12
th
September, 1945. The Singapore Volunteer Corps was formally
disbanded in June 1946. All ranks received arrears in pay. However, the spirit continued to
flourish. In 1947, the MRNVR was reformed under Commander—later Captain—F.E.W.
Lammert and regular parades resumed at Beach Road. In 1948, some ex-Volunteers met under
the leadership of one Lieutenant-Colonel Watson Hyatt to revive the Singapore Volunteer
Corps. In mid-1950, the Singapore Wing of the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force was formed,
bringing all three Volunteer forces back into existence.
Land Forces.
Following the meeting at Beach Road with Lieutenant-Colonel Hyatt, it was agreed to re-
establish the Corps on integrated multi-racial lines. Recruitment began in 1949 and response
was overwhelming. Everyone looked forward to celebrating the Corps centenary in 1954. On
the occasion, the Governor presented the Corps with its new Colours to replace the missing
one presented in 1934, which in turn had replaced the first Colours presented to the SVRC in
1857. In 1954, the Corps boasted a Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, the Singapore Royal Artillery,
the Armoured Car Squadron, the Coastal Battery, the Fire Command Battery, the Field
Engineer Squadron, the Signal Squadron, the 1
st
Infantry Battalion, SVC, the General Transport
Company of the Singapore Army Service Corps and the Singapore Women’s Auxiliary Corps.
49
People’s Defence Force contingent at the National Day Parade.