Straits Settlements Volunteer Force


The Straits Settlements Volunteer Force was a military reserve force in the Straits Settlements, while they were under British rule. While the majority of the personnel were from Singapore, some lived in other parts of the Settlements, including Penang, Province Wellesley, Malacca and Labuan.

History

The SSVF had its origins in the Singapore Volunteer Artillery Corps, formed in 1888. In 1915 it helped suppress the mutiny of Sepoys in Singapore. The SSVF was officially formed in 1922, following the amalgamation of the Singapore Volunteer Corps, Penang and Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps, Malacca Volunteer Corps, and Labuan Volunteer Defence Detachment. In 1928, the SSVF infantry was re-organised into 4 battalions. The 1st and 2nd battalions consisted of members of the Singapore Volunteer Corps, the 3rd battalion consisted of the Penang & Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps and the 4th Battalion consisted of the Malacca Volunteer Corps. Besides the infantry, the rest of the SSVF consisted of the Singapore Royal Artillery, Singapore Royal Engineers, Singapore Armoured Car Company and 3 ambulance units.

World War II

As international tensions heightened during the 1930s, an increasing number of men of the various nationalities in the Settlements — predominantly European, Malay, Chinese, Indian and Eurasian — joined the SSVF. It included naval, air force, special operations, irregular units and home guard units. The SSVF — including four infantry battalions — took part in the Battle of Singapore in 1942, and most of its members were captured on 15 February 1942 when their positions were overrun. The SSVF was reconstituted in 1948. In 1954, the Singapore Volunteer Corps was absorbed into the Singapore Military Forces when the SSVF was disbanded.

Formation

By World War II, there are four infantry battalions under SSVF. The battalions are:
BattalionUnit's crestUnit's NameHeadquartersStrength
1st Battalion SSVFSingapore Volunteer CorpsBeach Road, Singapore1,250 men
2nd Battalion SSVFSingapore Volunteer CorpsBeach Road, Singapore1,250 men
3rd Battalion SSVFPenang and Province Wellesley Volunteer CorpsGeorge Town, Penang916 men
4th Battalion SSVFMalacca Volunteer CorpsMalacca675 men