Apa Khabar: journal of the Malayan Volunteers Group

I encountered this journal last week, as always looking for something else and now with more time I find there is no reference here to the journal or their organization. So a new thread is created. The newsletter's focus is on Malaya, Singapore and Sumatra; book reviews appear.

Their website which has not been fully explored is: Malayan Volunteers Group

Yesterday I started to review their latest published journal, October 2020 and found a few items that could be added here on William Forbes Semphill / Sempill part One (traitor), and Operation Matador. See: https://www.malayanvolunteersgroup.org.uk/uploads/1/0/7/3/107387685/64th_edition_october_2020.pdf and The Fall of Singapore – The Great Betrayal – BBC2

See: The traitor of Pearl Harbor Yes, he does appear as William Forbes-Sempill: The Fall of Singapore.The Great Betrayal

Earlier I found a puzzling account in a 2013 newsletter on New Zealand SIGINT in Singapore and one woman's role (Part Two of Three. I have advised David Abrutat, historian of GCHQ of it. See: https://www.malayanvolunteersgroup.org.uk/uploads/1/0/7/3/107387685/mvg_newsletter_edition_34.pdf

Perhaps, online publication of their thirty page newsletter is delayed for a year? Otherwise why pay a subscription.

In February 2022 it will be the 80th anniversary of Singapore's surrender.

 

Great find. Thank you for sharing.

 

The 2013 newsletter has a reference to a file in WO 325. The series notes for WO 325 state that the series is "accruing" but the latest "date opening" date for files now at Kew in the series was in 2007 ! Hopefully the MOD will release some more files, bearing in mind there is a "big" anniversary next month. Perhaps GCHQ can help ?

"Reference: WO 325
Title: War Office: General Headquarters, Allied Land Forces, (South East Asia) War Crimes Group: Investigation Files
Description:
This series consists of investigation files of the General Headquarters, Allied Land Forces, South East Asia (ALFSEA) War Crimes Group relating to the investigation of and trial for war crimes committed by the Japanese during the Second World War.

The series contains files on investigations into incidents, and conditions in PoW camps, but no war criminal case files.

Date: 1941-1949
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Creator:
Lord Chancellor's Office, Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Forces, 1948-1972

War Office, Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Forces, 1935-1948

Physical description: 171 file(s)
Access conditions: Open
Immediate source of acquisition:
From 1988 Ministry of Defence

Accruals: Series is acruing
Administrative / biographical background:
In November 1945, responsibility for the investigation and trial of war crimes committed by the Japanese was devolved upon General Headquarters, Allied Land Forces, South East Asia (ALFSEA). A War Crimes Registry was set up in Singapore to collate information on war crimes and the identity and location of suspected war criminals. Later, twelve investigating teams were created and the results of their investigations were sent to the registry.

When the war crimes organisation was set up, the Adjutant General's Public Safety Branch was initially responsible for administration, including the investigation and registration of cases, whilst the Judge Advocate General's Branch was required to act in a judicial and advisory capacity, and to provide legally qualified presidents and prosecutors.

In 1947 full control of the whole organisation was vested in the Judge Advocate General's Branch, which took over the existing administrative staff, registry and investigating teams."

 

thanks, a good educational read from your links