Alexander Sym Small was born on 3rd November 1887 in Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, Scotland and was baptised on 16th December 1887, in Paterson UP Church, in Stonehouse. He was the second child of John Small, born on 26th June 1860, in Stonehouse and Barbara Sym, born about 1865, in Hamilton, Lanarkshire. The 1891 Census shows the family living in Camnethan Street, Stonehouse and the 1901 Census shows the family living at 58 Airbles Street, Motherwell, Lanarkshire. John Small is described as a stone hewer.
In 1908, Alexander graduated M A from Glasgow University and on 10th December 1910, he sat the Civil Service entrance exams and was appointed to Colonial Office: Eastern Cadet, “After Open Competition” In January 1911 he arrived in Malaya to work in the Malayan Civil Service. He later transferred to the Straits Settlements Civil Service.
On 4th January 1922, he married Hazel Irene Stubbs in St Mary’s Church, West Perth, Western Australia. Their daughter, Irene Barbara Small was born about 1925.
By 1st January 1935, Alexander had been promoted to Treasurer of the Straits Settlements, his signature appearing on the new issue of banknotes. Later that year, he was appointed Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements. The Singapore Free Press of 7th May 1936 carried a report of a talk he gave to the Singapore Rotary Club, about his 25 years in the Civil Service.
He was awarded a knighthood in the New Years honours of 1939 – Knight Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
In 1940 he resigned as Colonial Secretary due to ill-health, he died in Cottesloe, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Background to the Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements
Chief Secretary, Singapore, known as the Colonial Secretary, Singapore, from 1946 to 1955, was one of the highest ranking government civil positions in the colonial Singapore. It evolved from its predecessor, the Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements, and was second only to the Governor of Singapore, formerly the Governor of the Straits Settlements.
The position of the Colonial Secretary (CS) for the Straits Settlements (SS) was originally created in 1867 with a view to replacing the Resident Councillor for Singapore, when the Straits Settlements, which mainly comprised Singapore, Penang and Malacca, became a crown colony. During the Japanese occupation, the position was vacant and suspended following the downfall of the Malay Peninsula into the hands of the Japanese. After the war, in 1946, Singapore parted from Penang and Malacca, forming itself into a crown colony, so the jurisdiction of CS was reduced to Singapore only. The name “Colonial Secretary” was later changed into “Chief Secretary” in 1955 when the crown colony adopted the Rendel Constitution. Having been in existence for 92 years, the position was finally abolished in 1959 when Singapore was granted complete internal self-government.
Being the head of the CS’s Office, the CS was an ex officio member of both the Executive and Legislative Councils, and at the same time the head of the Colonial Secretariat from 1867 to 1955. When Singapore adopted its new constitution in 1955, although the Colonial Secretariat was abolished, the CS remained an ex officio member of the Council of Ministers and the Legislative Assembly. The workplace of CS was located at Empress Place Building while Sri Temasek, which was next to the Government House (Istana), was the official residence of the CS.
(Transcribed by John Rogers)
The following is a copy of the news paper article on Alexander Sym Small