Heritage

“The Senior Police Officers' Mess (SPOM) was once known as the Gazetted Officers' Mess of the Straits Settlements Police Force. In the early 20th century, 'Gazetted Officers' was a term used to refer to officers holding the rank of probationary Assistant Superintendent and above. Today, 'Senior Officers' refer to officers holding the rank of probationary Inspector and above.

SPOM has a rich heritage dating back to 1931. Its mission is to build espirit de corps and camaraderie amongst its members and this building has always been used for such gatherings.

A brief history of the site where SPOM sits on:

• 1840s – George Henry Brown purchased the estate and named it Mount Pleasant (his own residence sat at the 151 Mount Pleasant Road). He had a tapioca plantation and processing plant then

• 1872 – Part of the current Mount Pleasant was bought by a Chinese family (Hokkien Ong Clan) as a burial site

• 1881 – After the passing of George Henry Brown, his estate was bought by the Alsagoff family for coffee plantation (the name Kopi Sua)

• 1921 – Land was acquired by the colonial government to build the Police Training Depot to enhance training in the police force and also to build quarters for government officers

• 1924 – Ground clearance and earth works began

• 1926 to 1929 – Building works for the Police Training Depot

The buildings of SPOM were first used as living quarters for unmarried colonial Gazetted Officers. These officers were all Europeans until after WW2. Providing accommodations for officers then was first to boost morale and to foster camaraderie. It was also for quick mobilization in times of emergency. This building was built in the late 1920s and completed in Jan 1931.

Following WW2, the first SPOM Committee was formed on 26 Feb 1946 and it was also then when local Senior Officers were slowly allowed in, instead of just the colonial gazette officers. The end of the war also signalled other major changes. It was in the late 1950s that the building was converted into its sole use as a Officers’ Mess for formal events, networking and hot host guests, after the number of officers living-in dwindled.

Looking at the architecture, the building is part of an enclave of spacious houses along Mount Pleasant Road, considered amongst the grandest black-and-white bungalows, built by the British Public Works Department between the two World Wars. They are based on plantation-style model, featuring a large main porch, verandahs, balconies and corridors, all cooled by natural ventilation. Solid teak wood flooring, staircases and ceilings add an earthy warmth that softens the hard concrete, invariably painted white to reflect the tropical heat. The black-and-white scheme typical of English Houses around the turn of the 20th Century, incorporating “mock Tudor” architecture.

Today, SPOM is a treasure trove of SPF’s rich heritage and history as evident from the many artifacts that can be seen on its premises. At the main entrance, you can see:

• The cannons which were dated 1858, a year after the Indian Mutiny in British India. The cannons were made in a foundry in Cossipore India and are believed to have been donated by a British Indian Army Regiment that was going to be part of the New Indian Army. Such weapons are commonly found outside the guardrooms of military camps as a “war trophy” and emblem of empire.

  

• Next, visitors can also have a glimpse of the gongs (bearing the crest of the Straits Settlements Police Force), which could be found at every police station in the Stratis Settlements that were hung at the main porch to alert townsfolk to emergencies such as fires and tiger sightings.

  

Upon entering SPOM, officers would step into the ante-room, the main focus of the place. This is where important guests are received and attendees mingle over drinks for event such as dining-ins before adjourning for dinner upstairs. In the past, the informal post dinner activities would also be held at the ante-room. Such activities include bowling which former President Yusof Ishak also participated. Some others include indoor rugby and bowling.

Inside of and around SPOM, one can see some noteworthy artefacts:

• The wooden teak chairs used for the Dining-In were donated by officers who were promoted and they bear the name of the donors. These chairs bear the crests from the Straits Settlements Police (1824 – 1867), to the Crown Colony of Singapore Police Force (1867 – 1958), to the State of Singapura Police Force (1958 to 1963), to the Royal Malaysia Police (1963 to 1965), to the Republic of Police Force (post-independence till 2015) and the latest crest. The latest donation of 40 chairs was by various officers to commemorate SPF200;

  

• Silver ware around SPOM were initially bought using the Mess Silver Fund, traditionally donated by officers upon initiation as members of the Mess. Silver cutlery and other items for formal use in the Mess was inherited from the British from the 19^th Century. The military would often procure these silver as spoils of war;

  

• Wooden Spoon Trophy – donated by DC A. T. Rajah was the prize for the loser of an annual cricket competition between the Army and Police. The last contest was held in 1971;

  

• Shield with two truncheon – presented to former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Onraet;

  

• Kukhris – one presented to former CP Cheam Kim Seng and the other to SPOM by Capt Mallal Gurung (one of the first Gurkhas trained at Sandhurst) and the latest is the one presented to PM Lee in 2019;

  

• A replica of an oil lamp used by police about a century ago – presented in July 1960 by Prof G.A. Ransome of the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore;

  

On the right is the lounge where officers typically take a break. There is a sword display featuring foreign swords presented to SPOM and our very own Temasek Swords.

• The Temasek Sword is a ceremonial sword presented to distinguished guests of SPOM. It was inspired by a sword presented to SPOM by a delegation of the Australian Federal Police in Oct 1979. The Temasek Sword was commissioned for the first time in 1982 and Mr Goh Chok Tong was the first civilian to receive the sword during the Dining-In in 1991. The first two editions were made by Wilkinson & Sons, a renowned British company for making swords. The third and fourth editions were made in Singapore by Eng Leong Medallion, after Wilkinson & Sons closed down. Other notable individuals receiving the Temasek Sword includes former PM Lee Hsien Loong and the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, during the Dining-In in 2014 and 2011 respectively.

• In the lounge, there is also a shield presented by Haji Ambok Soolah, in 1929, for the winner of the annual Straits Settlements Police Force revolver shoot competition between the then Police Training Depot and the Sikh Contingent. The interesting feature of this shield is the man – Haji Ambok Soolah. He was a prominent businessman and one of the founders of the Malay newspaper Utusan Melayu with former President Yusof Ishak. A soccer shield (Haji Ambo Soolah Soccer Shield) was also named after him for the annual soccer competition between the Singapore Police and Johore Police

  

Walking up the steps, there are seven rare muskets mounted in a pyramid shaped wooden frame. Some of them have detailed carvings on its metal parts. They are believed to be weapons dating back to early 1800s, kept in personal collection. Some of them could have been confiscated by the police up till mid-1950s.

The highlight on the second level is the main dining hall, where the dining-in, the most ceremonial and formal event at the mess, is held. During formal dining-in events, officers will be dressed in Number 2 uniform, which we call the mess kit. Officers follow dining-in protocols, which include a Loyal Toast to our President.

Port has traditionally been the drink for toasting. This is one of the many customs inherited from the British. The choice of country of origin for the port even has political origin, dating back to the 18th century. French wines may be pleasant but to the British, they were made warring enemy at that time, whereas port could come from the territory of their allies, the Portuguese. As part of dining in, the Guest of Honour (GOH) would have the honour to present a drink (port or whiskey) to the Gurkha Pipe-Major in a silver Quaich. The Silver Quaich was first presented in 1956 by AC A.R. Anderson, a British Officer who joined the Force in 1929 and retired in 1959. The Quaich is a traditional Scottish bowl reserved for whisky. The two-handed design of the bowl incorporates trust, on the part of both giver and receiver. Band performances have always been part of the Dining-In tradition. The Singapore Police Force Band was formed in 1925.

SPOM was marked as the 14th spot on the Balestier Heritage Trail by former CP and DC, together with officers from the National Heritage Board, on 3 July 2014. The Trail is aimed at raising awareness and preserving Balestier's rich heritage. Go on a self-guided tour using this map here to discover vanishing trades and traditions of the Balestier community.

SPOM Heritage sub-committee welcomes contributions of artefacts or photographs related to SPOM, which are of heritage value. Contributors may contact the Mess Manager, Mr Ng Chun Khin at chunkhin@spom.com.sg.