Sir Alexander Sym Small (3 November 1887 – 13 August 1944) was a colonial administrator. He joined the Malayan Civil Service and was a cadet in January 1911 and served most of his Civil Service career in

Federated Malay States )Under God's Protection , capital = Kuala Lumpur1 , religion = Islam , legislature = Federal Legislative Council , type_house1 = State level , common_languages = , title_leader = Monarch , leader1 ...

(FMS) and

Straits Settlements The Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia. Headquartered in Singapore for more than a century, it was originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Comp ...

(SS). He retired as the Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements in 1940.

Career

Federated Malay States and Straits Settlements

Small came to Malaya as a cadet in January 1911 and was appointed Acting Assistant Secretary to British Resident of Selangor. In 1912, he was the Acting District Officer in Kuala Langat and Acting Secretary to the British Resident of Negri Sembilan in 1913. In 1918, he was seconded for service in Johore and held the post of Acting Assistant Adviser (Endau) and Acting Assistant Adviser (Muar) in 1920. In 1921, he was Acting Assistant Director of Education (SS and FMS) and temporarily as Commissioner of Customs (Johore). Between 1923 and 1926, he was Acting Treasurer (FMS) and State Treasurer (Selangor). Towards the end of 1926, he took up the duties of Town Planning Administrator in Kuala Lumpur. In March 1927, he was Financial Commissioner and Auditor (Johore). Between 1929 and 1930, he was made Acting Treasurer (SS) and later given additional responsibilities as Financial Adviser and Treasurer (FMS). In June 1932 to 1935, he was Treasurer (SS).

Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements

In December 1935, he was given the post of Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements to succeed

Andrew Caldecott Sir Andrew Caldecott (26 October 1884 – 14 July 1951) was a British colonial administrator. Early years Andrew Caldecott was born on 26 October 1884 in Boxley, Kent, United Kingdom. He was the eldest child of Rev Andrew Caldecott and Isobel ...

whom was to be the new Governor of Hong Kong. During his tenure as Colonial Secretary, he was sworn-in in several occasions as Officer Administrating the Government when the Governor was away. In 1940, Small retired and handed over the position of Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements to Mr. Stanley Wilson Jones.

Post-retirement

After retirement, Small settled near Perth, Australia. He was on the point of leaving for India to take up the position to represent the Colonies on the Eastern Supplies Council in New Delhi when the Pacific war broke out, but he voluntarily returned to Singapore on 22 December 1941 from the safety of Australia to do his bit for the defence of Singapore in which his working life was spent. He remained in Singapore till January 1942 and left for India. He served as honorary director of the West Australian division of the Red Cross Society of the Bureau for Wounded, Missing and Prisoners of War and was also a vice-president of the Malayan and Far Eastern Association of Western Australia.

Awards and honour

Small was invested with Companion of the Most Distinguished

Order of St. Michael and St. George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III. It is named in honour ...

(CMG) in 1937 and with

Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(KBE) in 1939.

Personal life

Small was educated in Dalziel High School and

Glasgow University , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

where he graduated in law and took the degrees of BSc and M.A. in 1908. Small married Hazel Stubbs, eldest daughter of Mr Sydney Stubbs, MLA on 4 January 1922.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Small, Alexander Sym 1887 births 1944 deaths Administrators in British Singapore Chief Secretaries of Singapore Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire People educated at Dalziel High School Alumni of the University of Glasgow