.jpg)
.jpg)
These evocative images capture a significant piece of Singapore’s military history: the Singapore Women’s Auxiliary Naval Service (SWANS) in 1963.
The photos specifically feature Mrs. Iris Han (Iris Sow Mui Han), whose personal collection was donated to the National Archives of Singapore. At the time these photos were taken, Singapore was part of the Federation of Malaysia, and SWANS was a volunteer wing of the Malayan Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (MRNVR).
Historical Significance of 1963
The year 1963 was a turning point for these women. It marked the beginning of Konfrontasi (Confrontation), a period of tension and low-level conflict with Indonesia. While men served on the front lines, SWANS volunteers took on critical specialist roles, including:
Communications and Radio Operations: Managing naval signals.
Radar Plotting: Monitoring Singapore’s waters for potential incursions.
Administrative Support: Ensuring the smooth operation of naval bases like K.D. Malaya (seen in the top right of the first image).
Key Details in the Photos
Uniforms: The women are wearing the iconic "all-white" naval uniform, which was later replaced by "Temasek Green" in 1968 after Singapore’s independence.
Ships and Bases: One photo shows them on board RSS Panglima, one of the very few wooden-hull ships that formed the backbone of the fledgling navy.
The cap tallies (the ribbons on their hats) often bore the names of their training ships or bases, such as H.M.S. Laburnum or K.D. Malaya.
Pioneering Spirit: These women were among the first females to volunteer for military service in Singapore, breaking social norms of the era to contribute to national defense.
The Legacy
SWANS eventually paved the way for women to have full-time careers in the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). Many of these "pioneer sisters" are now celebrated as "Guardians of Legacy" for their service during Singapore’s most vulnerable years.
Based on the archival records from the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) and the context provided by your images, here are specific details regarding Mrs. Iris Han’s service and the naval bases mentioned.
Mrs. Iris Han’s Service
Mrs. Iris Han (also known as Iris Sow Mui Han or Iris Ng Sow Mui) was a prominent figure in the Singapore Women’s Auxiliary Naval Service (SWANS).
Archival Contribution: She donated a collection of at least 44 photographs to the National Archives, documenting the activities and personnel of SWANS between 1963 and 1999.
Sea Training: The records specifically note her participation in sea training on board the RSS Panglima in 1963. The photographs you have show her and her colleagues in the distinctive "bell-bottom" naval trousers of that era.
Operational Roles: While specific individual duty logs are private, SWANS personnel at the time were documented as performing "work at the naval base," which typically included administrative, communication, and logistical support to the volunteer reserve.
Oral History: She has a recorded oral history interview with the Oral History Centre of Singapore (Accession Number 003885), which serves as a primary source for the experiences of women in Singapore's early naval history.
Information on Mentioned Naval Bases
The photographs and the history of SWANS in 1963 are closely tied to two specific locations:
1. K.D. Malaya (Woodlands Naval Base)
History: Originally known as the Royal Malayan Naval Barracks (HMS Malaya), it was renamed K.D. Malaya in 1961.
Status in 1963: In September 1963, when Singapore joined the Federation of Malaysia, this base served as a key training and service station for the Royal Malaysian Navy.
Location: Situated on the "Woodlands Side" of the Singapore Naval Base, near the Johor-Singapore Causeway.
Current State: The naval headquarters eventually moved to Perak in 1997. The site was later used as Admiralty West Prison before being largely demolished in 2021 for housing developments.
2. H.M.S. Laburnum
Purpose: This was a "shore establishment" (a land-based naval facility named like a ship). In 1963, it served as the headquarters for the Malayan Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (Singapore Division), of which SWANS was a part.
Location: Originally a drill ship moored at Telok Ayer, the name later applied to the shore base at Telok Ayer Basin.
The RSS Panglima (P68) is one of the most significant vessels in Singapore’s maritime history. When you see Mrs. Iris Han and her colleagues on its deck in 1963, they were on what was essentially the "mother ship" of the fledgling Singapore navy.
1. A Ship of Three Navies
The Panglima is unique because it served under three different flags during its 35-year career:
HMS Panglima (Royal Navy): Commissioned in 1956. It was built locally at the United Engineers Ltd shipyard in Tanjong Rhu, Singapore, costing approximately $1 million at the time.
KD Panglima (Royal Malaysian Navy): In September 1963 (the year of your photos), as Singapore joined Malaysia, the ship was transferred and renamed KD Panglima (KD stands for Kapal Diraja, or Royal Ship).
RSS Panglima (Republic of Singapore Navy): Following Singapore's independence in 1965, it was recommissioned on January 1, 1966, as the very first ship of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
2. Technical Specifications
Unlike the massive steel warships of today, the Panglima was a Ford-class seaward defence boat.
Material: It had a wooden hull, which is why it is often affectionately remembered as one of the "wooden boats" that started the navy.
Size: It was about 35.7 meters (117 feet) long and 6.1 meters wide.
Armament: It was equipped with a 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun and depth charges for anti-submarine warfare.
Speed: It could reach about 15 knots (roughly 28 km/h).
3. Service During Konfrontasi (1963–1966)
During the period your photos were taken, the ship was on high alert. Because of the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation, the Panglima was actively patrolling the Singapore Strait to intercept Indonesian infiltrators and saboteurs. The SWANS personnel you see in the photos were being trained to support these very real operational needs—handling the communications and logistics that kept ships like the Panglima at sea.
4. Legacy: "The Floating Classroom"
After its frontline days, the Panglima became the primary training vessel for generations of Singaporean sailors. It was decommissioned in 1991, but its name lives on:
The Navy Museum: You can still see the original helm (steering wheel), bell, and propeller of the Panglima at the Singapore Navy Museum.
RSS Panglima - Changi Naval Training Base: The Navy’s training command in Changi is named after this ship to honor its role as the "cradle" of Singapore's naval expertise.
Copied:
Google Overview
9/1/2026: 9.44 a.m