Group photograph of the P.W.D. staff at Jesselton, B.N.B., taken on the occasion of the departure on leave of Mr. H. Bishop, Executive Engineer (centre), who is being relieved by Mr. E. R. Baker (on his right).
Ref: This image has been regenerated using AI from the original source through the link https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers.
In January 1934, Douglas James Jardine arrived in North Borneo to begin his tenure as Governor.
Saturday, 23rd FebruaryHis Excellency and Mrs. Jardine entertained at dinner-party at Government Cottage in honour of the President. The guests included:
- The Honourable Mr. C. D. Martyn and Mrs. Martyn
- The Honourable Mr. Goh Kim Swee
- Mr. E. Bateson
- Mr. and Mrs. J. Beatty
- Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Fenton
- Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Baker
- Mr. P. W. Bidmead
- The Rev. S. M. Collier
The snippet mentions a dinner party "in honour of the President."
This dinner was part of the 1935 Presidential Tour. Major-General Sir Neill Malcolm, the President of the Chartered Company, was visiting to assess the colony’s recovery after the Great Depression.
| Guest Name | Profile / Role in 1935 |
| The Hon. Mr. C. D. Martyn | Cecil Desmond Martyn; a senior official and member of the Legislative Council. He served as Resident of various districts including the West Coast. |
| The Hon. Mr. Goh Kim Swee | A highly influential Chinese leader and member of the Legislative Council. He was a prominent merchant and philanthropist in Sandakan. |
| Mr. E. Bateson | Edward Bateson; served as a senior officer in the Treasury or Judicial departments during this period. |
| Mr. & Mrs. J. Beatty | John Beatty; likely the Commissioner of Lands or a high-ranking judicial official. |
| The Rev. S. M. Collier | Rev. S.M. Collier was the Chaplain for the Anglican Church in North Borneo (Sandakan) during the mid-1930s. |
| Mr. P. W. Bidmead | A government officer often associated with the Public Works Department or Post & Telegraphs. |
| Mr. & Mrs. E. R. Baker | E.R. Baker was an official within the Chartered Company’s administrative service, often stationed in Sandakan or Jesselton. |
This specific dinner on Saturday, 23rd February 1935, marked a high point in Douglas James Jardine's governorship. He was using the President's visit to showcase his new policies of "Indirect Rule"—showing that British officials, local Chinese leaders (Goh Kim Swee), and religious leaders (Rev. Collier) were working in harmony.
Social Function: In the colonial hierarchy of Sandakan, the Cottage was a venue for high-level social gatherings, such as the dinner party hosted by Governor Jardine for Sir Neill Malcolm in February 1935.
Sir Douglas James Jardine (1888–1946) was a respected British colonial administrator best known for his tenure as Governor and Commander‑in‑Chief of North Borneo from 1934 to 1937. Throughout his service, he was remembered for his disciplined leadership style, his drive to modernize local governance, and his genuine concern for the wellbeing of indigenous communities.
Jardine’s career took him across several major territories of the British Empire, where he built a reputation as a firm yet reform‑minded administrator.
| Period | Position | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1910–1916 | Assistant Secretary | Cyprus |
| 1916–1921 | Secretary to the Administration | British Somaliland |
| 1921–1927 | Senior Assistant Secretary | Nigeria |
| 1927–1934 | Chief Secretary (Acting Governor) | Tanganyika (Tanzania) |
| 1934–1937 | Governor of North Borneo | Sandakan (Capital) |
| 1937–1941 | Governor | Sierra Leone |
| 1941–1943 | Governor | Leeward Islands |
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By Ernest Reginald Baker
When I first arrived in North Borneo in 1914 to serve as an Assistant Engineer in the P.W.D. under Mr. Budden, I knew I was joining a government that was building a nation from the ground up. My days were spent designing wharves, jetties, and overseeing the layout of the town’s very infrastructure. But of all the structures I helped bring to life, none commanded as much respect as the one that watched over the sea.
In the world of maritime engineering, the safety of a harbor is measured by its light. I was personally tasked with the superintendence of the erection of a 25-mile range lighthouse. To a layman, 25 miles is just a number; to a navigator approaching our rugged coast through the dark, it is the difference between a safe arrival and a disaster on the reefs.
This was a 3rd Order lighthouse, a designation that speaks volumes to those of us in the profession. A 3rd Order lens is a magnificent piece of optical engineering—large enough to cast a powerful, focused beam that can pierce the humid tropical haze. Overseeing its "erection" was a feat of precision. It wasn't just about the height of the tower, but about ensuring the delicate mechanism and the heavy glass lenses were perfectly aligned to reach that 25-mile horizon.
Concrete Proof: The 25-Mile Lighthouse
On the final line of his handwritten statement, there is the definitive written proof I have been searching for all this time: "Document Provided by Richard Rose"
"...also the superintendence of erection of a 25 mile range lighthouse 3rd order."
Beyond the tower itself, my work extended to the very water’s edge. I was responsible for the design and construction of the wharves and jetties that these ships would eventually dock at once the lighthouse had guided them home.
In those years, Sandakan was growing into a world-class port. Whether I was surveying for a 30-million-gallon reservoir or building timber bridges with 40-foot spans, the lighthouse remained the crown jewel of my tenure. It wasn't just a project in a ledger; it was a beacon of progress for North Borneo, and I am honored to have been the man who saw it stand tall.
In 1916, a 3rd Order lens was a high-tier piece of equipment, usually reserved for major coastal points or busy harbor entrances. By Baker mentioning this specifically in his ICE statement, he was telling the Institution that he wasn't just building small markers; he was handling international-standard navigational aids.
When Baker arrived in 1914, Sandakan was a place of immense potential but even greater challenges. Working as an Assistant Engineer under the P.W.D., Baker didn’t just specialize in one field; he built the entire skeleton of the town:
1. The Arteries: He conducted the preliminary surveys for a 400-mile Trunk Road, a Herculean task through the thick Bornean jungle.
2. The Lifeline: He surveyed and oversaw the construction of a 30-million-gallon reservoir, ensuring the people of Sandakan had the water they needed to thrive.
3. The Social Fabric: From the local hospital and asylum buildings to the very sewers beneath the streets, Baker’s signature was on every brick.
But perhaps his most enduring achievement was what he called the "25-mile range lighthouse 3rd order".
In the shipping world, the entrance to Sandakan Harbour was notoriously difficult. Baker took on the "superintendence of the erection" of this massive navigational aid. Using a 3rd Order Fresnel lens—a five-foot-tall masterpiece of glass prisms—he created a beam so powerful it could be seen 25 miles out at sea.
This lighthouse didn't just prevent shipwrecks; it opened Sandakan to the world. It turned a remote harbor into a global port where massive steamers could safely dock at the wharves and jetties that Baker himself had designed.
Mr. Baker’s connection to Sandakan wasn't just professional; it was deeply personal. After decades of service, he eventually returned to England in 1949. But he couldn't leave his memories behind. He named his home in Sussex "Sandakan," a tribute to the town he helped build and the light he helped shine.
Today, when you look out toward the entrance of the harbor, remember the young engineer who stood there over a century ago. He didn't just build a lighthouse; he built the gateway to our history.
The 3rd Order Dioptric Light required a high elevation to achieve a 25-mile visibility range.
The Site: It was built on the summit of the sheer sandstone cliffs at the northern end of Berhala Island.
The Reason: Tanjung Papat is at sea level. A lighthouse at sea level cannot be seen from 25 miles away due to the curvature of the earth. By placing the 3rd Order Lens on the Berhala cliffs (about 600 feet high), the light could reach the horizon as required by the Admiralty.
Tanjung Papat is the headland on the mainland, located about 1 to 2 miles south of Berhala.
The Infrastructure: In 1914, Tanjung Papat had "Leading Lights" or smaller harbor markers. These were used for the second stage of navigation—once a ship had passed Berhala, it used the markers at Tanjung Papat to steer into the inner Sandakan wharf.
Baker's Scope: As an Assistant Engineer, Baker would have been responsible for both, but the "3rd Order" engineering feat you are highlighting specifically belongs to the Berhala Lighthouse.
In many PWD reports, the entire entrance to the bay was sometimes referred to as the "Tanjung Papat entrance." However, if the document mentions "3rd Order" and "25-mile range," it is a scientific certainty that the location is Berhala Island.
Assistant Engineer in P.W.D under Mr. Budden.
Director of Public Works of B. N. Borneo Government.
Construction of town & country roads, including a preliminary survey of route for Trunk Road some 400 miles long, also a complete survey of initial 2 miles of same. Design of bridges up to 40 ft spans in timber & 30 ft in reinforced concrete & superintendence of work. Laying of town drains, culverts & sewers. Assistance in the design & superintendence of work of hospital buildings asylum buildings store godowns & private residences. Survey of basin & site of a proposed reservoir (30 million galls) & assistance in design & construction of same. Design & construction of wharves & jetties, also the superintendence of erection of a 25 mile range lighthouse 3rd order.
Sources: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/
CREDITS: BNBH Page 147 / Aug 16, 1916
Official Status: He was a senior official of the North Borneo Chartered Company. Information contained in the "EXPERIENCE AS AN ASSISTANT" section of the form for Ernest Reginald Baker.
The form lists the names of the engineers Baker worked under and their professional grades (likely within The Institution of Civil Engineers - Inst.C.E.):
1. J. Watt Sandeman Esq. (Grade: Member)
3. C.H. Sandeman Esq. (Grade: Member)
4. F. Budden Esq. (Noted with D.P.W.D. - Department of Public Works Department)
FYI: Director P.W.D. B.N. Borneo: There is a handwritten note mentioning the Director of Public Works in British North Borneo (now Sabah), indicating Baker’s professional transition to Southeast Asia.
Historical Verification (Frederick Budden):
The Director of the Public Works Department (P.W.D.) in North Borneo in 1914 was a man named Frederick Budden. In official documents of the era (such as the British North Borneo Herald), he is consistently recorded as "F. Budden" or by his full name.
The Honorific "Esq.":
The "Esq." (Esquire) following the name was a highly formal title used in British society for professionals with degrees (such as engineers) and high-ranking officials. It was almost always applied to individuals at the Director level.
To verify this name and his role further, you can consult the following historical archives:
The HathiTrust Digital Library has digitized original copies of the Colonial Office List (1914–1920), confirming senior personnel in the British North Borneo Chartered Company.
Original correspondence and service records are held at The National Archives (Kew, London).
Dr Hardee.
Our Home! Dr Hardee & the boy in foreground.
I took this at 7 AM. Will be sending collection in album very soon.Yours, Signed by E.R. Baker
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