Harold and Molly Speldewinde

He had joined the Penang Eurasian Volunteer “E” Company under Lt A. Wilwebber, was “bodyguard” for the freedom fighter M Saravanamuttu who helped bring about a situation of calm during the bombing of Penang on December 8, 1941 where tragically thousands were killed or wounded. Together with Saravanamuttu, better know as Uncle Sara, and another Eurasian Oswald Foley, they helped evacuate several British Officers who were fleeing to Singapore.

The three of them drove a truck to pick up the officers, taking them to Sungei Pinang, before putting them on a “tongkang” with food and water during a midnight operation. Uncle Sara was arrested by the Japanese for being a British Collaborator and locked in a cell measuring eight by eight feet for nine months. However, Harold Within weeks of the Japanese invasion was a wanted man with a $500 price on his head.

Taking to the jungles of Pahang, he spent the war years on the run while living with the Orang Asli Semai tribe with his young wife Molly Macintyre and first-born son. While this happening his father, Claire Alexandra Speldewinde, joined the South East Asia Command in Peredenia in Ceylon (Sri Lanka).The Ceylon-born Eurasian Dutch Burgher had been transferred to Malaya as a forester in the early 1900s before establishing his own rubber plantation in Cameron Highlands.

Harold’s youngest brother Ernie accompanied his father to Ceylon, while brother Bill joined the British Navy and Dick based himself in Kuala Lumpur. In a recent interview with 84-years old “uncle” Harold at his Bukit Glugor home in Penang he reminisced. “Heroes like Uncle Sara used a wireless to appeal to the invading forces to stop the bombing and Ivan Allen who had cycled to Sungei Petani to inform the Japanese there that the British had fled. This helped prevent a greater onslaught of the local folk. “For all our sacrifices were not remembered, not even a word of thanks from the British,” he said.

Uncle Harold who celebrated his 65th wedding anniversary on May 24 also spoke of how he managed to marry his childhood sweet Molly while still on the run. “While in the jungle I was able to communicate with Molly through messages which were sent through secret couriers and friends. I also sneaked into Penang to meet her when I could.” After a simple wedding ceremony in Penang, Harold went back to the jungles of Cameron Highlands with his young wife to carry on the struggle. Their hideout was within the operation are of the Malayan Peoples Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) of whom the famous Chin Peng was a leader (later it was renamed Force 136).

Molly recalled the day she arrived at her new jungle home. “We walked from midnight to noon before reaching an Orang Asli hut on a steep hill.” They were living near a 200-strong Semai community who had vowed to protect them. After all, they Orang Asli had close association with the caring Claire Speldewine who had worked in the area as a forester and rubber planter and that was the least they could do for his son. Harold continued:” We lived on a hill while the Orang Asli was in a valley about two kilometers away.

We had only a few clothes and the stream nearby was our toilet. We fished in the river using traps such as “bubo”, ate ubi kayu, bamboo shots and small mamals, if they were available. “I carried a carbine rifle but had no opportunity to use it. The Orang Asli was like sentries and would alert us if the enemy was approaching. So this is now we spent the war years.” Their son.....was born in the jungle and it was a great celebration for not only the Spendewindes but also the orang Asli.

After the war Harold went on to become a planter and this led him to Sabah. Here he found new friends and his name was associated with the big-time planters in Malaysia. Later on Harold went on to form the Penang Veterans Association of which is he still president. He also was a patron of the Persatuan Veteran Keselamatan Malaysia and opened a branch office in Sarawak. Lawyer and retired police ASP Wilfred Gomez anak Malong, a recipient of the Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) award for bravery, was its first President and James Ritchie, its secretary.

During this time Harold and his veteran team from the peninsular visited several longhouses in Ulu Julau and Lubok to catch up with the Iban trekkers, retired Sarawak Rangers, war veterans and Border Scouts, enquiring about their welfare. A census showed there were several hundred over the age of 60 who were still surviving. During one of the visits Harold was conferred the honorary title “Tuai Rumah” Harold anak Speldewinde, a position which he accepted with pride.

At that time Wilfred and “Tuai Rumah” Harold concurred that the government should set up a special Sarawak veterans association to look into the welfare of these old timers. During that time there was also an exchange programme where Sarawak’s veterans such as “Sape” player Uchau Bilung and others took part in cultural performances, including blowpipe skills. Some of the veterans even visited the Orang Asli famous for their Senoi Praque trekker unit. Harold who was a past President of the Penang Eurasian Association went on to restore Fort Cornwallis and is now on a new mission—to unravel the mystery of the Penang Cenotaph—a monument built by the British in the 1920s.

“The Penang Cenotaph is a monument which is dedicated to all the war veterans who sacrificed their lives to make Malaysia a safer place for everyone. However, it appears that none of our historians know when it was exactly constructed,” he lamented. While on his quest to find out more about the history behind the Cenotaph, Harold is thinking of making a sentimental journey to Sarawak sometime soon.

“I had operations on both my legs but there are still not that strong to take me far. However, I must come back to Sarawak.” If I know the Octogenarian well, he will live up to his war cry-Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban!!