Alvin's Bunker (and Syonan Reflections): December 2009

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

List of past events...

Syonan Reflection’s previous events:

Static displays in collaboration with National Heritage Board at Reflections of Bukit Chandu:

Young Creations! Art Competition - 15 Feb 2004 (Total Defence Day)

Reflections at Bukit Chandu W!LD Heritage Hunt - 24 July 2004

Media publicity event for Asian Children’s Festival held at the library@esplanade - 4 Nov 2004

Asian Children's Festival at the Expo - 18 to 21 Nov 2004

Pasir Panjang Heritage Trail - 16, 17 & 24 July 2005

Heritage Race – 10 Feb 2007

International Museum Day’07 at Memories at Old Ford Factory – 26 May 07

Collaboration with Asiapac Books Pte Ltd:

Total Defence Public education conducted at:

· Geylang Methodist Primary School – 15 Feb 2005

· Kong Hwa School – 16 Feb 2005

· CHIJ-Our Lady of Good Counsel – 15 Feb 2006

Static display at the World Book Fair – 5 June 2006

Total Defence Day Talks:

Paya Lebar MGS Secondary – 11 Feb 2008

Unity Primary School – 11 Feb 2008

Kong Hwa School – 12 Feb 2008

Manjusri Secondary School – 13 Feb 2008

ITE College East (Tampines) – 13 Feb 2008

Clementi Primary School – 14 Feb 2008

Yishun Secondary School – 15 Feb 2008

Bendemeer Primary School – 12 Feb 2009

Post-Exam activities for Secondary History class:

Singapore Sports School – 16 Nov 2007 and 07 Nov 2008

Stargek Pte Ltd

Static display at the Tamiya plastic modelling competition held at Marina Square – 8 and 9 August 2006

Epiphany PR and Marketing Pte Ltd

Involved performing a skit as part of Expedition ‘H’ – Journey to the North-West, Singapore HeritageFest 2007. – 22 and 29 July 2007

NEXUS – MINDEF

Invited to exhibit for Network Conference 2007. Suntec Convention Centre. 14 August
2007.

Published article:

We were featured in the Feb / March 2005 issue (Issue 35) of Skirmish Magazine, a United Kingdom publication for military collectors and reenactors around the world.
The group's combined German and Japanese impressions were featured on this rare occasion.

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Syonan Reflections Mission and Purpose...

Teachers, NE and Social Studies Coordinators, your search ends here!

WE ARE THE ONLY GROUP IN SINGAPORE TO DO EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON AND OWNS ORIGINAL AND REPRODUCTION WW2 JAPANESE ARMY UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT

" PRESERVING SINGAPORE'S MILITARY HISTORY "

Our Mission:

Educate the general public on the Imperial Japanese Army and the British Army
Educate the younger generation about Singapore's sufferings during the war
Portray the average Japanese and British Infantry soldier accurately in terms of his displaying his personal items, field equipment, field rations, equipment method of wear and traditions

Specialised National Education (NE) related strengths/talents/interest areas:

Historical / technical advice / participation for skits, plays, short films.
Show and Tell display for schools / national education purposes.
Ownership of rare uniforms and equipment for visitors’ hands on experience.
Prides on obtaining both original and highest quality reproductions to build up all WW2 impressions.
Complete restoration and repair of selected WW2 field gear.
Extensive research on Asians (Chinese, Japanese etc) serving in both the Japanese and German armies during WW1 and WW2.
Details on British and Japanese organization of battle and Singapore campaign timeline.
Assisting clients to obtain affordable, authentic reproduction and original militaria (Example: School’s National Education corner etc.
Collaboration with reputable overseas militaria vendors and private research resources.
Assisting military scale modellers to construct and paint authentic figures based on our collection.

NE-related experience:

Providing a brand new avenue to engage the public, to discover and gain insights on many interesting and historical facts, otherwise seldom known about Japanese and British soldiers serving in Singapore.
Our display to serve as excellent education material, as such items are rare and may only be seen in historical photographs and films.
Our talks emphasizes on Singapore’s war heroes and heroine, and lastly reinforcing the concept of each and every student’s role in Total Defence.
We aspire to avoid the public conceptualizing stereotyped images of Japanese soldiers Hence, it is of utmost importance to depict the average Japanese Infantry soldier accurately in terms of displaying his personal items, field equipment, field rations, and equipment.

Email us for pricing details now!!!

@@@ Important Disclaimer!!! @@@

Alvin's Bunker, Syonan Reflections and the site owner has no

affiliation any Racist, paramilitary, supremacist etc organisations.

If you possess any such thoughts,
Sorry, this is NOT the place for you. Go look elsewhere!

We study the Imperial Japanese Army purely for living history and historical purposes only.

Quartermaster resources

I will place important and interesting links pertaining to WW2, other time frames, resource sites etc here.

Collector's display, conservation resources:

Asia Mannequin - Affordable Singapore-based mannequin supplier. I need more of these for my new home!

WW1 related websites:

WW 2 related websites:

The Japanese Bayonet Page - The title says it all!

Japanese Bayonets - This site has many high-quality photos of Japanese bayonets.

Japanese Type 30 Bayonet Variations - This webpage is only dedicated to the Type 30 bayonet and the information is tremendous!

Singapore WW2 related websites:

1942 Battlefield Singapore - Enter Singapore's darkest days here. Website has plenty of info and photos. We need more of such info sites!

WW1 Vendors:

Great War Militaria

Schipperfabrik

WW2 Vendors:

Bayonet Frogs - US maker of many rare and hard to find bayonet frogs from all eras!

Helmet Chick - WW2 German helmet restoration service

On The March - Virginia's custom repro WW2 uniforms are the best here!

Nicholas Morigi - The Regalia Specialist - UK seller of excellent quality repro WW1 and WW2 medals!

Prairie Flower Leather Co - USA vendor dedicated to hand producing excellent quality WW1 and WW2 leather liners and accessories for helmets. I purchased from them a Japanese liner nine years ago and it still holds firmly when I use the helmet for reenactments! Steffan is always there to serve you!

Stewarts Military Antiques - Excellent militaria from many WW2 nations. Thanks to Larry and Terri Stewart!

Vintage Motorcycles - Ever wanted to get your hands on a BMW or Zundapp? Mike Dunn has it all!

What Price Glory - Myriad of repro and original WW1-2 British and American items! Thanks Jerry!

Others:

KTWealth - This site offers interesting information pertaining to Finance and Investments in Singapore by Mr Ken Tan.

KTAcademy - Yet another interesting career guidance website also by Mr Ken Tan.

Photobucket - I use this image hosting website for many of the photos on this blog. It's very useful!

Meet the group!

To list members of Syonan Reflection and WW2 collectors in Singapore.

Andreas Lucieus Low

Bob Liew

David Chia

My bunker archives...

I will attempt to catalogue and archive my past (and perhaps future) WW2 purchases here, to make it easier on my failing memory =-p. Do look out for updates.

Purchased three books from Books Kinokuniya at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) on 010110 (NEW YEAR'S DAY 2010!!!). This outlet by far has the best selection (and priced) selection of military books from all my visits to Malaysia.

Osprey Men-at-Arms: The Chinese Army 1937-49: World War II and Civil War by Philip Jowett; Illustrated by Stephen Walsh

Ospery Elite: Japanese Paratroop Forces of World War II by Gordon Rottman, Akira Takizawa; Illustrated by Mike Chappell, A Hook.

German Headgear in World War II: Army/Luftwaffe/Kriegsmarine: A Photographic Study of German Hats and Helmets by Pat Moran, Jon Maguire.

ORIGINAL WW2 US Army chevrons. Rank of Private. Some in Khaki and some in Olive Drab shades. Counted 10 pairs in total. Received 241209.

REPRODUCTION WW2 US Colt M1911 pistol - Bob purchased this for me. This is a god send knowing that realistic looking weapons are a no-no in Singapore. Comes with some kind of battery operated target board. I am going to use this for my US Paratrooper impression instead.

REPRODUCTION WW1 German officer peak cap - Both cockades present. Looks well aged and fits my melon head perfectly Received Mid December 2009.

ORIGINAL WW2 German silver wound badge. Good example with much finish left. Marked L22. - Received Mid December 2009

Obverse

Reverse

ORIGINAL WW2 German Gold wound badge. Marked 30. - Received End October 2009.

Obverse

Reverse - Note period pin and catch repair.

ORIGINAL WW2 German Silver wound badge. Unmarked - Received Mid October 2009

Obverse

Reverse

ORIGINAL WW2 German printed Oberführer sleeve rank - Does not glow under blacklight. Received Mid October 2009.

Obverse

Reverse

Ok. So I couldn't wait.

First item on the list before 2009 ends...

ORIGINAL WW2 German Late war Breadbag - Web hardware with leather straps on its interior. Maker marked. Missing one D-ring. Received 291209.

Asians / Asiatics in the German Army

After years of research and assistance from friends and individuals, may I present these rare pictures of Asians (Chinese, Thai, Japanese, etc) in German service.

You will never find another website with many such rare pictures that has opened a new and perhaps debatable area of research.

Special thanks to friends at Feldgrau.com, OstBattalion, Axis History Forum and other individuals for their active contribution to make this presentation possible.

Please note that I personally welcome any feedback or findings that you may have.

You may email me at alvinlee_81@yahoo.com

Please click on the desired link to access the information.

Asian soldiers in German service

Indian soldiers in German service

Turkmenistan soldiers in German service (many had both Asian and Musim facial and ethnic features) (Under construction)

Other Asiatic soldiers in German service

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Stuff for sale...

With my cupboards all full, here are some stuff that needs a new home...

Read the Terms and Conditions first!:

For ALL buyers (additional notes for SG buyers in red) -

I only accept Paypal in USD / Euros or in Singapore Dollars.
Buyer pays for shipping.
I will ship by standard airmail unless buyer requires insurance and / or tracked shipping.
Singpost snail mail for locals.
I will email buyer tracking number as soon as I get it.
I hold no responsibility once the package leaves my hands (Sorry).
Email me at alvinlee_81@yahoo.com if something catches your eye. (Use this email add for Paypal too)
We will share the Paypal fees.
SG buyers can pay me via funds transfer to my POSB Savings account (Will email buyer more details)

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ORIGINAL Japanese WW2 Raincoat

Some info about the raincoat:

1) It's marked Showa 18 = 1943 manufacture
2) Made of thick cotton or canvas
3) Has two buttons on the rear of the coat of which
the left one is chipped and the right one is missing
4) Coat is a five button front
5) Has collar tabs on both collar for the rank of
Itto-hei (Private First Class)
6) The collat tabs are backed with green wool
7) The collar tabs were sewn on when I first received
the coat
No stains or tears on the coat
9) Excellent otherwise minty condition

Asking US$150 (Incl LOCAL postage)

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German WW1 M16 helmet shell and REPRODUCTION liner system.

When I served the nation...

When I completed my NCC days as a Second Sergeant, I never thought I would conclude my National Service as a Lieutanant in the SAF. Sometimes I wonder how I survived all those training days as an Officer Cadet and then the unit days as a Commissioned Officer.

I guess it's the spirit of WW2 Militaria collecting and willingness to explore our own SAF military culture made this possible.

Alvin's military timeline:

12 June 2002 - BMTC, Foxtrot Coy, Platoon 1, Section 4, Bed 4
End Sep 2002 - SAFTI, Officer Cadet School - 49 / 02 batch
July 2003 - 36 Singapore Combat Engineers, Manpower Officer
14 Oct 2004 - Acquired Operationally Ready Date
Mid 2005 till present - Manpower Officer in NS unit for Chemical Defence

Awards earned:

IPPT Silver award
Marksman award
Chemical Defence badge

Ranks experienced:

REC (Recruit)
PTE (Private Lee for a week)
OCT (Officer Cadet Trainee)
2LT (2nd Lieutenant - NATO code: OF-1)
LTA (Lieutenant - NATO code: OF-1)

Read more about officer rank structure: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant

Weapons trained:

M16S1
M203 Grenade Launcher
SAW (Ultimax 100)
Armbrust Anti-tank weapon
GPMG
SAR-21 (First batch of officer cadets to be trained with)
Sig Sauer P226

Read more about the SAR-21: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOM1HKkLFN4

Me as CO's adjutant during CO Parade back in 36 SCE

Posing with the then-spanking new 5 Tonner

EOD Bombsuit display during Army Recruitment Drive at Suntec City

SAF Army Officer peak cap (Note gold chinstrap)

My fellow officers during a SAFTI event

In office with the men that made things happen - Terence on left and Hanrong on right.

With Chan Hock- A noble officer

Posing with the EOD rover

Myself as part of the sword party for a friend's wedding in 2003

I love the Arms and Explosives Search dogs - Very powerful sniffers

Kit ready for inspection!

With my folks during Family Visit Day -
I was in Sierra Wing during my SAFTI stay.

I was one of the first in my Poly class
to don on the SAF uniform during graduation day in 2002.

Just passed out from BMTC -
Had diarrohea for a full week during my blocked leave.

My mum helped to put on my jockey cap as part of the SAF tradition.

Singapore Sports School display and talk - 071108

Once again, we were back at the Sports School on Nov 07, 2008, thanks to the support of See Ping and Mrs. Lulie James who made this event possible.

The theme of this display is changes within the German army during WW2. We demonstrated this by showing students uniforms, gear, personal equipment, army traditions and practices from early-war, mid-war and late-war periods.

We then asked several volunteers to try on these uniforms and gear and compared them to the current SAF military uniforms in terms of construction, method of wear and durability.

The event ended with a race to see who could run the fastest in the uniforms and gear. Very apt since we were in the Sports School!