I just received this photo from Jacques Lahitte who wrote:
”I am a French living in Poland. I have an old album of pictures taken in 1951-1952 in Singapore by my father who was a sailor in the French Navy and who spent one month in Singapore during maintenance operations of the French carrier aircrafts**, Arromanches, during a campaign in the former French colony Indochine.
”I am a French living in Poland. I have an old album of pictures taken in 1951-1952 in Singapore by my father who was a sailor in the French Navy and who spent one month in Singapore during maintenance operations of the French carrier aircrafts**, Arromanches, during a campaign in the former French colony Indochine.
It is very interesting to see how this town changed and how she was. I located lots of places shown in these pictures with the help of Internet. I send you this one to see if you can identify this place.
I'll present on the net all the pictures of this album. I think it will be better to share with people of Singapore old views of their town.”
Thank you very much Jacques. I look forward to sharing more of your photos with readers here at Good Morning Yesterday.
PS - Not sure if Jacques was referring to this aircraft carrier.
15 comments:
Asian Civilisations Museum's at Empress Place beside the Singapore River.
The row of shops on the left background of the photo, and facing Singapore River should be Boat Quay. Am I correct, Chun See?
Former Marine Police Station at Empress Place
I have a 1960s photo album showing this building and the old Victoria Theatre on the cover. As Philip said, it was a Police Station, and was adjacent to the Cavenagh Bridge. It was demolished some years ago.
There was a Government Office between the building and the Victoria Theatre. I remember the scribes plying their trade at this office. Looking at photos of the Asian Civilisations Museum, It would seem that the Museum uses the front portion of the old Government Offices and has extended them towards the river.
former marine police building...police boats (like those water taxis at Clifford Pier) usually come up Singapore River and drop anchor here. I menitoned in my Cross Water Obstacle about this building which was demolished bcos of MRT tunnelling in 1983.
The photo should be taken from Cavenagh Bridge. But how come I see a shrub?!
Icemoon, I think the photo could have been taken from the opposite end of the Cavenagh Bridge - the place where the Kucinta sculptures are. That could explain the shrub.
Maybe they already have zoom lenses then?
Wah ... you guys are really good man. Everyone seems to know the answer. At first I thought the photo was shot from Queen Elizabeth Walk in the direction of the former Merlion Statue; i.e. with Anderson Bridge to the right. That's becos all along I thought the Marine Police Station was at the Fullerton Waterboat House.
Victor is right. I just did a 'Second Shot' from probably the exact spot that Jacques' father did. I think the shrubs were plants growing out from the side of the bank.
By the way, the words Marine Police Station are actually painted on the wall of the building. It's just that the image is too blur. If you go to Picas and do a search for 'Marine Police Station' or Empress Place, you can see a closer view of this building.
Hi Chun See I have been following your blog off and on. All your old photos bring back memories of our childhood days. Great job!
For a moment i thought it was pulau saigon. I'm wrong. :)
- Andrew
The Empress Place Building or the Government Offices of the bygone era is a historical building, currently being used as the second wing of the Asian Civilisations Museum. I thought to myself, "Oh no! Could someone have stolen the Carved Ceremonial Pole?" If so, being an alert and responsible citizen, I must report the theft to the National Heritage Board.
fitflops
Empress Place was the place I went to get my BC, IC and passport sorted out. I like the passport office (on the second floor) especially when you walk up the wooden staircase and the wooden floor - makes a sound as you walk. There was the sight of typists who would type your documents for $1. A walk to the Board of Currency nearer to High Street , you can see so mnay different Singapore denominations in the window-type showcase. Much older as a teenager the walk through the backstage of the Victoria Theater by the side gate.
The Arromanches aircraft carrier you refer is the former HMS Colossus bought by France. Arromanches is a small town in Normandie where was built the big artificial harbour during WWII by americans.
Arromanches aircraft carrier have been scrapped in 1978 in Toulon, the french military harbour in the Mediterranean sea.
Jacques, hope to see more of your photos soon :)
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