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History Of The Malay States Guides 1873 - 1919
This book was selected as the Prizewinner for the 1964 Historical Competition run by Penang Historical Society. The prize was awarded to the author Mr Inder Singh and donated by Mr Arumugam Pillai.
The Malay States Guides (MSG) was a body of local Indian troops that served Malaya during the late 1800's to the end of the First World War in 1919.
The MSG originated in 1873 when Captain Speedy was sent to India to recruit a Sepoy force to maintain law and order between the Ghee Hin and Hai San secret societies who were fighting over tin mining rights in the area of Taiping, Perak. He recruited 110 bodies who served as military police and were known as the Perak Armed Police. Other police forces followed this lead.
In 1896 Colonel R S Walker organised these police into the Malay States Guides a regiment feared by all wrongdoers.
During the First World War the MSG were deployed to serve with the Aden Field Force and at the end of the war they were disbanded, many being transferred to the regular police forces of Malaya.
This book tells the complete history, the above which barely scratches the surface. Unfortunately, our library copy is only a photocopy version as the book is simply not available. Nonetheless it is ideal for researching this magnificent force.
To see more about The Malay States Guides, click here.
To see more about Colonel R S F Walker CMG, click here.
To see more about Captain Speedy, click here.