A Match Made in Singapore

“My mother was serving in the British Army, while my father was from the Australian Army. Both of them were posted to Singapore in 1963. Dad met mum and got married. I was born in Singapore in July 1964. We left one or two years later.

My family lived in the married quarters for the British military at 37 Kensington Park Road at Serangoon Gardens. My father passed away in 1974 when I was only 10, and I only came into possession of his old photographs in the past few weeks.  Prior to that I had 1 or 2 photos, but this collection paints a more complete picture of life in Singapore back then. I hope that by sharing the photos, I can make contact with someone who may have known them.

Some of these photos are of my family’s personal collection, others were from the Australian Army PR Branch.

01. My parents John Cunneen and Margaret Cunneen at the married quarters at 37 Kensington Park Road. The year was 1964.

02. My parents’ marriage was announced in the newspapers.

03. A British officer conducting an inspection, 1960s.

04. My dad won a trophy in the Singapore Swimming Championship, 1963.

05. Going through the communication protocol in the military.

06. Dad and Qantas PR. Don’t really know the story behind it but I got the plane given to me as a child.

07. Taking a break in the midst of military training.

08. I remember meeting this fellow in Australia when I was about 6

09. Dad attending a friend’s wedding. Perhaps someone reading this may recognise the happy couple?

10. A photo of the Qantas Australia plane, 1960s.

11. Australian soldiers taking a ride in a trishaw.

12. Australian troops posing with the local air stewardesses.

13. My dad’s greeting card (from Singapore) to grandpa (back in Australia).

14.  Mum outside the married quarters at 37 Kensington Park Road, 1964.

15. Artillery training.

16. A luxury front garden pool at 37 Kensington Park Rd, 1964.

17. The rugby team. Dad was at bottom row 2nd left.

18. Dad having a beer at our home at 37 Kensington Park Road.

19. Dad riding his trusty scooter outside our home.

20. Mum and Dad sitting outside our home.

21. Dad chilling out outside our home.

22. Mum with our amah at our rear garden at 37 kensington Park Road. I remember her name was Zara or Zana.

23. Dad having a beer at a Chinese friend’s house.

24. Feeding the monkeys possibly at the Singapore Botanic Garden.

25. The interior of the married quarters. It was in the midst of a repainting job.

26. Posing at the Raffles statue outside the Victoria Theatre.

27. Swimming at the Britannia Club pool.

28. Dad, Mum and me at the Britannia Club pool.

29. Dad and Mum having a romantic time together.

30. Dad with a dog at (possibly) the Tanglin Barracks. The notation on the photo says his bed always gets soaked during the thunderstorms at night. The dog was called “Changi the Chit Chat Chaser” as it chased chit charts up the walls.

31. Dad at (possibly) the Tanglin Barracks.

32. Alighting the plane in battle order.

34. Mum at the Serangoon Gardens Way, 1964.”

By Peter Cunneen

RemSG: It is a wonderful story shared by Mr Peter Cunneen. It was indeed a match made in Singapore. The valuable photos also give us an idea of an Australian/British family life in Singapore back in the sixties.

Published: 05 June 2014

Updated: 06 June 2014