A Matter of Duty: A Memoir of My Time in the Singapore Armed Forces (1967–1982)
Tan Chin Tiong, author
Date of publication:
2025
Publisher:
ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
Number of pages:
170
Code:
BM647
Hard Cover
ISBN: 9789815306972
Soft Cover
ISBN: 9789815306699
Reviews
“There have been other books on Dr Goh, but this is an insider account of a critical moment in the SAF’s – and Singapore’s – history.”
-- Shashi Jayakumar, The Straits Times
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“After reading the book one cannot help but be impressed by how Dr Goh had thought of everything and he found good people like Chin Tiong to implement his ideas. Apart from being the architect of our economic miracle, Dr Goh is also the founding father of SAF. He credited the success of SAF in the early years to 4 men: Tan Teck Khim, Winston Choo, Kirpa Ram Vij and Tan Chin Tiong.”
-- Professor Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore
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“Definitely one of the reads of this year for you Singapore lovers and those who want to know more about why Singapore succeeds.”
-- Mr Kenny Chan, former Senior Director at Kinokuniya
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About the publication
“A Matter of Duty needs to be required reading for all SAF officers and MINDEF professional staff. It is a lively, candid, engaging and, at times, surprising memoir that explains how the formative years were used to turn bits and pieces into a comprehensive and organised armed forces that are now a core institution of the country in an astonishingly short time. The array of different challenges and problems that had to be overcome to give Singapore the robust deterrent it now has will inform all readers, and surprise many, and no stone is left unturned herein. One hopes that the current and future generations of their successors tackle their duty with the same resolve displayed by Tan Chin Tiong and the mentor who called his generation to duty, the father of the SAF, Dr Goh Keng Swee.”
—Brian Farrell, Professor of Military History at the History Department, National University of Singapore, and author of The Defence and Fall of Singapore
“Many books have been written about Goh Keng Swee, but none were about his work in the Ministry of Defence, where he raised the SAF almost from scratch, starting with only two infantry battalions in 1967. This book breaks the trend as it provides a captivating account of Dr Goh’s monumental work in the SAF’s early military history as seen through the eyes of Tan Chin Tiong, the prototype soldier-scholar who answered the call of duty to assist him in the endeavour. Mr Tan highlights in readable prose how numerous Singapore and SAF institutions, policies, and practices familiar to our citizens and national servicemen bear the personal and farsighted imprint of Dr Goh. This book is recommended reading for all those who serve in the SAF.”
—Kumar Ramakrishna, Professor and Dean of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University. Author of Extremist Islam: Recognition and Response in Southeast Asia
“The author writes with clarity as well as with authority and candour. Drawing on his extensive personal involvement, he provides fresh insights into many aspects of the development of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) between the late 1960s and the early ‘80s under the ministerial leadership of Dr Goh Keng Swee. Among the many facets that he discusses are the development of the SAF command structure; the crucial influence of Israeli as well as German military advisors on the young SAF’s organisation, doctrine and training; the origins of SAF Armour; the early phases of the SAF’s overseas training arrangements with other countries; and the establishment of the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
This book should contribute significantly to understanding how the SAF developed and came to play such a successful role in assuring Singapore’s security. It will be of interest not just within the local, regional and international expert communities concerned with Singapore’s defence, security and civil-military relations, but also to those who have served in the SAF.”
—Tim Huxley, author of Defending the Lion City: The Armed Forces of Singapore
“This compelling autobiographical account offers an insider’s view on the formative years of the Singapore Armed Forces. Through the eyes of someone who stood at the frontlines of institution-building, the book captures the vision, resolve, and ingenuity that led to the making of a modern military in a new nation-state. Clearly written, with vivid storytelling and useful historical context, the author reveals the journey that shaped a young nation’s endeavours in building up a citizen-led defence force almost from scratch.
The book’s key themes highlight the close civil-military relationship that is quite unique to the Singapore experience. The author, who transitioned from the Administrative Service to play a significant role as a senior military officer from 1967 to 1982, details the outsized and pivotal part played by Singapore’s first Defence Minister, Dr Goh Keng Swee, a civilian political leader with no professional military background, in the establishment of the armed forces. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in military history, leadership studies, and the contemporary history of Singapore.”
— Tan Tai Yong, President, Singapore University of Social Sciences. Author of Creating “Greater Malaysia”: Decolonization and the Politics of Merger
Contents
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A Matter of Duty: A Memoir of My Time in the Singapore Armed Forces (1967–1982)
[Whole Publication, ISBN: 9789815306705], by Tan Chin Tiong, author -
Preliminary pages
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1. A Rite of Passage
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2. An Unexpected Call to Serve
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3. Army Staff College, Camberley
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4. Learning the Ropes
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5. Pushing the Boundaries
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6. A New Frontier: Overseas Training
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7. Towards Excellence
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8. The Commander-in-Chief
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9. A High Command for the SAF: The General Staff
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10. Learning from Others
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11. Caring for the Troops
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12. Homeland Defence
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13. Changing of the Guard
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14. Ending on a High Note
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Epilogue: The Men Who Made It Happen
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Abbreviations
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Index
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Photographs
