Robinson and Solungkoi

Who is the person in the picture below? Is it Robinson, who is often talked about by the elders in the old stories about his romance with Solungkoi? Oh no!

Baker and his beautiful wife Bella

The left portrait is of a person in formal attire, specifically a suit with a tie, and the text "E. R Baker 1914" is written at the bottom. The right portrait is of a person wearing a sleeveless dress and a necklace, holding a bouquet of flowers, with the text "Bella" written at the bottom.

According to my mother, his wife, Belle, was very attractive -please see the attached photo which must have been taken on their wedding day, in Newcastle. I think I met her when I was small, but I found out she died in 1965. Richard Rose via email, dated 2020-12-02 04:22

Ernest Reginal Baker and his wife Bella once visited North Borneo. Starting as an assistant engineer in Sandakan under Mr. Budden and eventually becoming an Executive Engineer under the Public Works Department (PWD), he was assigned to lead the construction of the Tamparuli Bridge in the 1930s.

Starting with the construction of the Tamparuli Bridge during that era, the local residents and their ancestors have shared many stories about the romance between the British officer and a beautiful Dusun woman. This love story eventually led to a sacrifice that made the bridge more durable and sturdy, as we see it today. Most of the locals are familiar with this tragic story, as it has been passed down from generation to generation by the elders. 

Mr. Baker led the construction of the Tamparuli Bridge in the 1930s and was responsible for finding contractors until the bridge was fully completed. Interestingly, the name Robinson was not mentioned during the construction of the bridge. If Robinson was indeed the foreman at that time, we will try to uncover the truth behind this tragic story.

Indeed, stories and legends passed down through generations often require tangible evidence, whether physical or digital, to verify their authenticity. It's possible that some aspects of these tales have been hidden from public knowledge, making them either true or otherwise.

FYI, "BORNEO HERALD" dated 16th December 1933. It invites tenders for the construction of a Low Level Concrete Bridge across the Tuaran River at Tamparuli, mile 22½ Tuaran-Tenghilan Road. The notice specifies that tenders must be made on a printed form available at the offices of the Executive Engineer in Jesselton or Sandakan, with further particulars obtainable from 20th December 1933. Sealed tenders are to be received by the Executive Engineer in Jesselton by 12 noon on 3rd January 1934. The notice also states that the government does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender. The notice is signed by E. R. Baker, Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, and dated Jesselton, 13th December 1933.

Completion of Tamparuli Low Level Bridge

The low level bridge across the Tuaran River at Kampong Tamparuli was completed during the month. The structure appears to be a most massive one, and reflects credit on Mr. E. R. Baker, Executive Engineer Public Works Department, who was in charge of the construction. There is already the nucleus of a small township springing up at the bridgehead, and we wonder if the prophets who foretell of the eclipse of Tuaran town by Tamparuli are wise in their generation. Land speculators beware.

Baker and his motorbike in 1922

 Ref:  Photo provided by Richard Rose.

• His great Uncle Ernest Reginal Baker in North Borneo. Mr Baker, Executive Engineer Public Work Department who was in-charge of the construction Tamparuli Bridge circa 1930. 

This post is about Mr. Baker and his motorcycle. To me, it looks very classic when viewed today and for future generations. Not all vehicles from the past can still be seen today. However, such vehicles are usually well-preserved and maintained in museums.

Do you know the type of this motor vehicle? I am sure it is a Lea-Francis, Registration No XH should be London 1921 - 63, unused after 1964. I am not certain about the engine capacity or model used. It could be the 3 ½ HP 496 cc M.A.G. IOE V-twin with frame # A 1640 and engine # 2 C10 No. 43208. If you know the type of engine, please write it in the comments.

In 1895, Richard Henry Lea and Graham Inglesby Francis started making high-quality bicycles in Coventry. By 1910, they decided to manufacture motorcycles. A prototype was built in 1911, and by 1912, it was ready for public introduction. Key features included an enclosed all-chain transmission, a Bosch magneto, a two-speed gear, and a detachable rear wheel. Their workmanship was of high quality, comparable to Sunbeam machines.

In 1914, they introduced a model with a 496 cc J.A.P. engine and a three-speed gearbox. After World War I, customers could choose between a J.A.P. or M.A.G. engine of 496 cc. From 1921, a 5 HP (592 cc) engine was also available. By mid-1924, they stopped making motorcycles and focused on light cars. A unique feature was the flexible metal downpipes of the exhaust system.

This 1920 model has a foot clutch, enclosed rear chain, Lucas acetylene lighting, and roomy footboards. It's an older restoration and a rare survivor, with only about two dozen remaining today. 

Let's take a look using the zoom tool.

The image marked A is the Lea-Francis brand.

Lea-Francis 3½hp Engine no. 2C10 43040

Here is what you need. Photo Credit: Bonhams Car

Reg and Belle Baker - Part 2

Owners of Sandakan in UK

Ref:  Richard Rose

• This original text was received from Richard Rose via email on November 29, 2020, at 00:13.

My great Uncle, Ernest Reginald Baker (aka 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.

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, aged 24, he left Southampton on a ship bound for Singapore, and then onto British North Borneo. He worked in the town of Sandakan (the name he later used for his house in Yapton) for the Public Works Department as an Assistant Engineer, under a Mr Budden. He worked on the construction of main roads, bridges, drains, culverts and sewers. He was also superintendent of construction of a “25 mile range” lighthouse. He applied to and became a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers in December 1916.

From passenger records, it would appear that he did 5 year stints in Borneo, after which he would return home for 6 months or so. In the days well before air travel, the trip by sea from Borneo, via Singapore or Japan, back to the UK would have taken 6-7 weeks.

In September 1926, he married Isabella (aka Belle) Hetherington, in Newcastle. I assume, but don’t know for sure, that he had met her many years before when he lived in Newcastle. The family always talked of her as a very lovely lady. They left for Borneo on a ship from London on 6th November 1926. 

They then proceeded to live the life of expats in Borneo. The family story had been that they left Borneo in a mad rush in January 1942, when the Japanese invaded the island for its oil reserves. However, I had since learnt that this was a rather fanciful story, and in fact they were back in the UK, living in Knutsford Cheshire in 1939 where Reg was employed with the Air Ministry as the Resident Engineer at RAF Padgate. To my knowledge, they never returned to Borneo after the war. In the family, we have a couple of items of furniture and some small artefacts from Borneo, that belonged to them. I assume these items adorned the rooms of Sandakan (see later) when they lived there. 

I have little knowledge of their time back in the UK. I now know, thanks to the recent help of the Yapton Local History Society, that they purchased the large house in Church Road, Yapton in 1949, renaming it Sandakan, and living there and running it as a guesthouse until the mid 1950s. I also know, from a family address book, that they lived at Oakshott Hanger, Hawkley, Liss, at some time, and perhaps this was after they sold Sandakan. 

Belle died in Churt, Surrey in February 1965. I do remember going to see Reg in the late 1960s when he lived in an apartment in South Harting; I was about 7 or 8 years old.  I remember him telling me that I would become an engineer, and he was right, for I too read Civil Engineering at University. Reg died in Chichester in March 1975, aged 84 years.

Tamparuli Low Level Bridge

Jambatan Tamparuli (Low Level Bridge) Built circa 1932

Gambar asli Jambatan Tamparuli tahun 1938. Anak saudara kepada salah seorang jurutera jambatan tamparuli 30-an telah memberikan kepada Admin sebagai rujukan dan sumber kajian bersama.

Gambar diatas tahun 1938 dimana pembinaan bermula pada tahun 1932. Jika dilihat hari ini jambatan ini masih kekal kukuh dengan bahan buatan yang berkualiti dan kaedah pembinaan yang sangat teliti dan keadaan persekitaran dengan pandangan jauh ke hadapan.

 

Tahun 1954 hujung jambatan (menghala ke KK/Kiulu) dibina semula apabila beberapa kali rosak akibat banjir dan pembinaannya hampir sama dengan yang asal oleh jurutera British dan tempatan.

Sejauh mana jambatan ini masih bertahan?

Telah terbukti sehingga ke hari ini jambatan tamparuli masih kukuh dan kekal dengan reka bentuknya. Adakah semua ini benar mengikut kepercayaan turun temurun bahawasanya TOMBUAKAR yang menjaga jambatan sejak sekian lama? 

Apa yang jelas, pembinaan jurutera dan pakar tempatan tidak boleh diambil ringan. Dengan segala kemahiran, kepakaran teknikal dan bahan buatan memainkan peranan sehingga terbinanya jambatan yang kini hampir 100 tahun.

Beberapa pertanyaan telah diajukan kepada jurutera binaan seperti jalanraya, jambatan dan landasan. Maka dapat disimpulkan bahawa beberapa perkara wajib dititikberat seperti: 

a. Bahan binaan

b. Kelajuan/kederasan dan ketinggian air apabila berlakunya banjir.

c. Muatan banjir.

d. Kedalaman tiang konkrit.

e. Kemahiran jurutera dan pekerja.

1. Isi padu air

Semuanya memainkan peranan penting dari segi pembinaan infrastruktur agar tahan, kukuh dan stabil.

 

Ref:  Original photo & contents by Richard Rose UK.