After years of relentless searching, I finally stumbled upon a treasure trove of information about the history of the Tamparuli Bridge, a low-level floodable bridge in North Borneo. My quest led me to the Yapton local history archives in the UK, where I uncovered fascinating stories that brought the bridge's past to life.
NOTE: Mr Baker who was In-Charge of the construction, built and design Tamparuli Low Level Bridge circa 1930
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| I believe the photo was taken as a memento before he retired and returned to the UK, more precisely before the Japanese occupation in 1941 |
Eager to learn more, I reached out to the Yapton local history society, hoping they could help me connect with Richard Rose, whom I believed to be the great-grandchild of Ernest Reg Baker, the visionary who brought the Tamparuli Bridge to life.
A few days later, Richard personally contacted me via email. What an absolute delight it was to receive his message and the wealth of information he shared! He was thrilled that someone from Borneo was inquiring about his great uncle, Ernest Reg Baker, and the Tamparuli Bridge. Richard has been diligently researching his family history, and his great uncle Reg was one of the more colorful characters, having spent most of his working life in Borneo.
Richard's mother, she died peacefully in May 2021. She was 94 years old and had had a good innings, but of course it was a difficult time and we were sad - Richard. We shared information and stories about his great uncle's journey to North Borneo. Did you know there is a place named Sandakan in the UK? We will cover this in the blog later. They must have named it Sandakan when they bought it in 1949, as it was the name of the town in North Borneo where they lived and worked. I researched the location, address, and photo on Google Maps, but unfortunately, the house is no longer available. It was demolished some years ago, and a small housing estate called 'The Limes' was built in its place. Its location was on Church Road, which joins Church Lane at the Church. On the map, it is called Yapton Lodge.
Ernest Reginald Baker (known as Reg to family and friends) was born on 21st December 1890, in East Dulwich, London. He was one of a family of 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls, and youngest of these was my grandmother. The family group photo is the Bakers. Reg is third from the left, and his Granny is the little girl front middle.
He attended High School Dulwich and then went on to attend Battersea Polytechnic from 1906 to 1908 where he studied Civil Engineering. In 1908 he then went north to a pupilage in Newcastle where he underwent practical training. He worked for a well-known Newcastle Civil Engineer, J .Watt Sandeman. He performed surveying for harbours in the North East, and got involved in borings, foundations of buildings and harbour construction. He worked on the Tyne and Blyth, Whitby and Berwick Harbours.
In July 1914, at the tender age of 24, he embarked on a life-changing journey. Leaving Southampton behind, he set sail on a ship bound for Singapore, and from there, ventured onward to the exotic lands of British North Borneo. His destination was the bustling town of Sandakan, where he joined the Public Works Department as an Assistant Engineer under the guidance of Mr. Budden.
In Sandakan, he dedicated himself to the construction of vital infrastructure—main roads, bridges, drains, culverts, and sewers. His expertise and passion for engineering also led him to oversee the construction of a "25-mile range" lighthouse, a beacon of hope and safety for sailors navigating the treacherous waters.
His commitment to his craft did not go unnoticed. In December 1916, he applied for and proudly became a member of the prestigious Institution of Civil Engineers. His journey was not just one of professional achievement, but also a testament to his adventurous spirit and unwavering dedication to building a better world.
Ref: Richard Rose which I believe he is great grand children Ernest Reg Baker the one who built and designed the bridge.
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