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Want to see Lee Kuan Yew’s 'battleship'? Now you can

Lee Kuan Yew's old telegram. (Picture from Lee Hsien Loong's Facebook page)

The telegram that sent Singaporeans renaming their steam boats to battleships has arrived.

Singaporeans will be able to view the now-famous telegram at the National Museum of Singapore alongside other personal items belonging to the late Lee Kuan Yew from 10 April at the In Memoriam: Lee Kuan Yew exhibition.

The childhood story told by Lee Hsien Loong about his father's cryptic telegram was shared widely on Facebook and amused many Singaporeans.

Other items that are going on display include:

The Memorandum from the Director of Posts to the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Uniformed Staff Union, 11 February 1952.

On 30 January 1952, the Post and Telegraph Uniformed Staff Union wrote to the Director of Posts, W A Cooper, on their appointment of Lee Kuan Yew as their legal counsel. This memorandum by Cooper replies to that letter, confirming that the Colonial Secretary W L Blythe had no objection to Mr Lee acting on behalf of the union in negotiations. Following a strike by postmen and telegraph messengers in May 1952, Mr Lee succeeded in negotiating revisions to their salary scales. The following year, Mr Lee represented the clerical workers from the Singapore Union of Postal and Telecommunications Workers. (Photo from Lee Hsien Loong's official Facebook page)



The letter from John Laycock to Lee Kuan Yew, 13 April 1953

Two days after successfully negotiating the award of 28 months’ back pay for the clerical workers of the Singapore Union of Postal and Telecommunications Workers, Lee Kuan Yew received this letter from his employer John Laycock. (Photo from Lee Hsien Loong's official Facebook)
Two days after successfully negotiating the award of 28 months’ back pay for the clerical workers of the Singapore Union of Postal and Telecommunications Workers, Lee Kuan Yew received this letter from his employer John Laycock. (Photo from Lee Hsien Loong's official Facebook)

and the Cambridge University Reporter, 18 June 1949. This issue of the official journal of the University of Cambridge lists the results of the Law final examination of 1949, with both Lee Kuan Yew and Kwa Geok Choo graduating together with first class honours.

Besides the new items, visitors can also hear archival recordings of significant speeches delivered by the late founding prime minister in Mandarin, Malay and Hokkien.

In Memoriam: Lee Kuan Yew is open daily from 10am to 8pm (until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays) at the Glass Atrium, Level 2, National Museum of Singapore until Sunday, 24 May 2015. Admission to this exhibition is free.