About
The BBC in South East Asia is an expanding collection of primary source materials focusing on the British Broadcasting Company's significance in the region during Great Britain's late colonial and early post-colonial periods (1927-1961). Led by Cristina Juan, the project aims to gather BBC-produced sound recordings for and about these geographical entities (currently the nation-states of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Burma, Cambodia, the Philippines, Brunei, Timor-Leste, Laos, and Thailand. There is a special emphasis (and more materials) on The British Colonies in South East Asia which include Burma (now Myanmar) - Colonial period: 1885–1948 Independence: January 4, 1948; Malaya (part of present-day Malaysia) - Colonial period: Various states from the late 18th century, unified as the Federated Malay States in 1895 and later the Malayan Union in 1946 Independence: August 31, 1957; Singapore - Colonial period: 1819–1963 (joined Malaysia in 1963 and separated to become an independent nation on August 9, 1965); North Borneo (now Sabah, part of Malaysia) - -Colonial period: 1882–1963 (joined Malaysia in 1963); Sarawak (now part of Malaysia) - Colonial period: 1888–1963 (joined Malaysia in 1963); and Hong Kong, - Colonial period: 1841–1997, Handover to China July 1, 1997, becoming a British Special Administrative Region (SAR) which, while it is geographically and culturally distinct from South East Asia, is also included in this database as it played a significant role in British colonial history and the BBC’s regional influence during the period. These recordings are contextualized through related materials from the BBC written archives, The BBC Transcription Service, and the Kew National and SOAS archives.
The sound recordings begin with the earliest surviving BBC broadcasts, now digitized and accessible at the British Library. They encompass diverse materials, such as a 1937 broadcast featuring an Englishman's reaction to the 1927 Krakatoa explosion, the inaugural address of the BBC Empire Service in 1932, and the initial broadcast in May 1951 of London Calling Asia, a programme transmitted to South and South-East Asia as part of the BBC's Far Eastern Service.
Pre-1961 recordings of BBC broadcasts were expensive and only done for practical reasons. Consequently, the corpus of recorded material in the inventory is selective and incomplete. Yet the archive still enables us to listen to sounds that might otherwise remain unheard: commercially viable popular music, field recordings for ambient sound, speeches, and the social and ideological positioning of colonial subjects through voice inflections and sonic expressions. The soundscapes offer insights into both significant political events and the everyday lives of people within and beyond the British imperial sphere.
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The sender thanks Davis for previously sent scripts. He also speaks abouts the effects of the invasion of Holland on their plans moving forward. More »Message
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The Letter discusses the transmission of Malayan language in Malay, and the change of scheduling for the broadcasts. More »Message
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CFG Max-Muller writes to John Dumeresque and others informing them that he has receieved Radio Malaya News Volume 1, he also suggests that others read the document and sends it along with the telegraph. More »Message
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Sometimes referred to as Paul Albany. Title can sometimes be referred to as Head of Broadcasting. Far Eastern Broadcast Services or Head of British Far Eastern Broadcasting Services More »Person
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Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle ( də GOHL, də GAWL, French: [ʃaʁl də ɡol] ; 22 November 1890 – 9 November 1970) was a French army officer and statesman who led the Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Republic from 1944 to 1946 in order to restore democracy in France. In 1958 amid the Algerian War he came out of retirement when appointed Prime Minister by President René Coty. He rewrote the Constitution of France and founded the Fifth Republic after approval by referendum. He was elected President of France later that year, a position he held until his resignation in 1969. Born in Lille, he was a decorated officer of the First World War, wounded several times and taken prisoner by the Germans. During the interwar period, he advocated mobile armoured divisions. During the German invasion of May 1940, he led an armoured division which counterattacked the invaders; he was then appointed Undersecretary for War. Refusing to accept his government's armistice with Germany, De Gaulle fled to England and exhorted the French to continue the fight in his Appeal of 18 June. He led the Free French Forces and later headed the French National Liberation Committee and emerged as the undisputed leader of Free France. He became head of the Provisional Government of the French Republic in June 1944, the interim government of France following its liberation. As early as 1944, De Gaulle introduced a dirigiste economic policy, which included substantial state-directed control over a capitalist economy, which was followed by 30 years of unprecedented growth, known as the Trente Glorieuses. He resigned in 1946, but continued to be politically active as founder of the Rally of the French People. He retired in the early 1950s and wrote his War Memoirs, which quickly became a staple of modern French literature. When the Algerian War threatened to bring the unstable Fourth Republic to collapse, the National Assembly brought him back to power during the May 1958 crisis. He founded the Fifth Republic with a strong presidency; he was elected with 78% of the vote to continue in that role. He managed to keep France together while taking steps to end the war, much to the anger of the Pieds-Noirs (ethnic Europeans born in Algeria) and the armed forces. He granted independence to Algeria and acted progressively towards other French colonies. In the context of the Cold War, De Gaulle initiated his "politics of grandeur", asserting that France as a major power should not rely on other countries, such as the United States, for its national security and prosperity. To this end, he pursued a policy of "national independence" which led him to withdraw from NATO's integrated military command and to launch an independent nuclear strike force that made France the world's fourth nuclear power. He restored cordial Franco-German relations with Konrad Adenauer to create a European counterweight between the Anglo-American and Soviet spheres of influence through the signing of the Élysée Treaty on 22 January 1963. De Gaulle opposed any development of a supranational Europe, favouring Europe as a continent of sovereign nations. De Gaulle openly criticised the US intervention in Vietnam and the "exorbitant privilege" of the US dollar. In his later years, his support for the slogan "Vive le Québec libre" and his two vetoes of Britain's entry into the European Economic Community generated considerable controversy in both North America and Europe. Although reelected to the presidency in 1965, he faced widespread protests by students and workers in May 1968, but had the Army's support and won a snap election with an increased majority in the National Assembly. De Gaulle resigned in 1969 after losing a referendum in which he proposed more decentralisation. He died a year later at the age of 79, leaving his presidential memoirs unfinished. Many French political parties and leaders claim a Gaullist legacy; many streets and monuments in France and other parts of the world were dedicated to his memory after his death. (Wikipedia) More »Person
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Reginald William Winchester Wilmot (21 June 1911 – 10 January 1954) was an Australian war correspondent who reported for the BBC and the ABC during the Second World War. After the war he continued to work as a broadcast reporter, and wrote a well-appreciated book about the liberation of Europe. He was killed in the crash of a BOAC Comet (Yoke Peter) over the Mediterranean Sea. (Wikipedia) More »Person
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Recording features various musical instruments, including a chorus and drum. The chorus and drum cells indicate a combination of vocal and percussive elements in the music. This recording showcases a diverse and dynamic sound with the inclusion of these instruments. More »Music |Topic: Culture |Audio
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Edward Clement Davies (19 February 1884 – 23 March 1962) was a Welsh politician and leader of the Liberal Party from 1945 to 1956. (Wikipedia) More »Person
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In a first-hand report by David Shute, British Forces in the Northern Borneo states of Sarawak and Sabah are facing challenging conditions. The program, produced by Roy Hayward and aired in 1965, features various speakers including military personnel and individuals from the region. The report provides insight into the confrontation in Borneo and the experiences of those involved. More »Spoken voice |Topic: Military Conflict |Audio
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Cyril Conner writes to Norman Collins on supplying transcriptions for the entertainment of the Allied Forces. More »Message
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Cyril Conner writes to WR Baker, informing him that no action was needed on his end in regards to the rebroadcast of their "Britain through Malay eyes" program. She notes she only meant to inform him of the broadcast but in the future, the liaison between Radio Malaya and BBC Far Eastern Services is best done through London. More »Message
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Cyrill Conner notes that; a) It is substantial matter to have additional engineers and staff to do an all-day broadcast for the British Far Eastern Broadcasting Services. b) There is no chance at the present to do the request because of the aforementioned factors. More »Message
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Douglas Geoffrey Bridson (21 August 1910 – 19 October 1980), commonly known as D. G. Bridson, was a radio producer and author who became the "cultural boss of the BBC". (Wikipedia) More »Person
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Recording of "Dalam guni" features religious ritual songs and dances performed in a Temiar long-house, reflecting the shamanic and animistic faith of the community. The music conveys a message from the spirit of the hills to a shaman in Ulu Perak, telling the story of a sack of rice that was buried in the ground and resulted in a very rich plantation. More »Music |Topic: Culture |Audio
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In the 1969 Reith Lectures entitled "Wilderness and Plenty," the fourth talk, "Global Changes - actual and possible," raises the issue of potential alterations needed for scientific reasons before rebroadcasting. The broadcast date was November 30, 1969, and no further announcements or details are provided. More »Spoken voice |Topic: Culture |Audio
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The musical performance "Dato yuli-alAding" featured a mixed chorus and drum accompaniment, showcasing a blend of vocal and percussive elements. The ensemble brought together diverse musical talents to create a dynamic and engaging experience for the audience. More »Music |Topic: Culture |Audio
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David Willey (born c. 1933) is a BBC reporter and journalist based in Rome. He has served as Vatican correspondent since 1971, under five Popes. (Wikipedia) More »Person
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In a talk by former Director of the British Museum (Natural History) Sir Gavin De Beer, the existence of Atlantis is questioned. Known facts about Atlantis are outlined, with a suggested location by Professor Angelos Galanopoulos at the University of Athens. Plato's writings on Atlantis are dissected for evidence, with theories ranging from Scandinavia to West Africa debunked. Galanopoulos supports the theory that the disappearance of Atlantis reflects the destruction of Minoan Crete, with a suggested location at Santorin in the Aegean. Carbon 14 tests on remains found at the site are dated at 1500 BC, and a hypothesis is presented that a mistake in reading Egyptian numerals could place the disappearance of Atlantis at 1400 BC. Evidence from other volcanic eruptions is presented to support the theory, with the collapse of Minoan Crete attributed to the eruption at Santorin. Despite the controversy surrounding the date of the eruption, the story of Atlantis is suggested to not be dismissed as a fairy tale. The talk was broadcast on the Third Programme on August 14, 1966. More »Spoken voice |Topic: Culture |Audio
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Telegraph noting a potential time and date for Victor Mishcon (the BBC contributor to the project) to record his statements More »Message
