HISTORY OF BARTLEY NPCC UNIT
A Tradition of Excellence since 1959
In 1959, the then Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, proposed the
setting up of a police unit in schools to give students a better insight into
the workings of the Police Force as it was felt that a close understanding
and relationship should be built between the Police Force and the youths
of Singapore. With the Prime Minister’s support, the Police Cadet Corps was thus formed in December 1959 on
an experimental basis.
The first Police Cadet Corps unit was started in Bartley Secondary School with merely 30 cadets under a teacher,
Mr Victor Seah, who was a volunteer officer with the Special Constabulary. The success of the experimental unit
justified the formation of more units in other schools. Mr Seah was then put in charge of all newly formed units
and in 1961, the first batch of cadets graduated from Bartley Secondary School. Some of these cadets went on to
join the Police Force. The first commandant for NPCC was Mr Ng Leng Hock.
In January 1969, the PCC was renamed NCC (Police)
and Bartley NCC (Police) took in 30 enthusiastic
Secondary Two students to form its second batch of
cadets. The first Commanding Officer (CO), or in
today’s term, the Officer-in-Charge (OC), was Mr Loke
Wai York, a teacher in the morning session. His
assistant, Mr Richard Koh, was a teacher in the afternoon
session. Before becoming Probationary Inspectors, both
Mr Loke and Mr Koh had successfully completed a
comprehensive Officer Training Course. Bartley NCC (Police) was then in the 6th division with Mr Thiagarajan
as the unit’s Area Commandant.
On 5th February 1969, Mr Loke resigned from the Corps and the post of Commanding Officer was handed over to
Mr Koh. The Chairman of the 8th to 10th NPCC Council (1993 – 2001), Associate Professor Yeo Jinn Fei, was a
first year cadet in the school’s unit at the same time. (Assoc. Prof. Yeo is the Head of Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery Dept in the National University of Singapore. He is also the Senior Consultant and Chief of Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery Dept of National University Hospital.) In 1970, Assoc. Prof. Yeo, was awarded the “Best
Unit Cadet”. He represented Bartley in the Commissioner of Police Farewell Parade on 30 th July 1971 held at the
Police Academy Parade Ground. As a cadet, he had proven himself to be responsible and outstanding.
In 1971, NCC (Police) was separated from the National Cadet Corps and renamed “National Police Cadet Corps”
(NPCC). It was placed under the charge of Ministry of Education and Ministry of Home Affairs. In the same year,
the first batch of Pre-University students was recruited as Cadet Inspectors.
Inspector Foo Tiang Long, from Mt. Vernon Secondary
School, was transferred to Bartley on 21st February
1970 to assist CO Richard Koh, who was running the
unit single handedly for some time. Insp Koh had been
with the unit since its inception, resigned from the NCC
(Police) on 6th June 1970 for further studies. Insp Foo
was then appointed as CO in his place. Cadet Inspectors
Armarjit Singh and C. Asaithanby (both students of
Bartley) passed out as part of the first batch of Cadet
Inspectors, and were subsequently posted back to serve
in the school’s unit. Inspector Foo Tiang Long was
transferred back to his previous unit at Mt. Vernon Secondary School from 1st January 1971.
On 1st January 1971, Inspector V.N. Anthony was appointed as CO for the unit but he
stepped down on 23rd October 1971. Insp Tan Kang Chuan joined the unit on 9th January
1970 and was acting Officer-in-Charge from 12th January 1974 to 25th January 1975 when
ASP Paul Louis Wong took over. ASP Wong served as Officer-in-Charge until 3rd March
1980.
In 1972, two Bartley Pre-U One students attended the Cadet Inspectors’ Course and on
completion of the course, were posted back to the unit. One of them was Associate Professor
Yeo Jinn Fei. That year, the old uniform (comprising of blue shirt and khaki shorts) was
replaced by the present navy blue uniform.
Insp (NPCC) Tan Kang Chuan was promoted to the rank of
ASP (NPCC) and officially took over the post of OC Unit from
22nd March 1980. He continues to be Bartley NPCC’s OC
until end of 2002 when he handed the helm to Insp (NPCC)
Koo Poh Seng who served his term as OC for 2 years until he
posted out of the school. Insp (NPCC) Asmadi Bin Mohamad
then took over for 2 years in 2005 before passing on the baton
to Insp (NPCC) Soh Mei Yee, the first lady OC, due to his
promotion as HOD IT in 2007. Presently ever since 2008,
A/ASP (NPCC) Liu Kah Yang has been leading the unit.
The unit has come a long way since its establishment in 1959; actively
participating in various NPCC organised or sanctioned activities and
competitions, and winning its fair share of honours in the process.
Throughout the years, an appreciable number of officers and cadets have
passed through the ranks of the unit. Bartley NPCC has grown from a
small unit in 1959 to one, which boasts of some 140 cadets at present. It
is a uniformed organisation that its cadets are proud to be members of,
and has earned the respect of all who are familiar with NPCC.
One of the important reasons for the unit’s success is that it has succeeded in developing strong bonds amongst its
cadets and the unit. This strong sense of belonging is reflected in the dedicated and selfless service that many exNPCC boys have provided to the unit. Apart from imparting their knowledge and skills to the younger cadets, the
old boys also serve as models for the younger generation to emulate.
In the course of these years, those who have
entered its sanctum have been trained and
molded into disciplined, reliable and civic
conscious citizens of Singapore. Several
generations of youths have gone through our
hands and thus we would like to think that we
have contributed in no small measure towards
nation building.
Undoubtedly, the unit has come a long way
since its humble beginnings in 1959. It has
tasted a fair degree of success and is proud of
its achievements. Whatever the future may
hold for the unit, one thing is for sure: the unit
will continue to strive to give off its very best
in all that it undertakes so as to bring glory and
honour to the school, Corps and nation.
H/Insp (NPCC) See Leng Kiat
Honorary Inspector
Bartley NPCC Officer-in-Charge (1959 – Present)
Dec 1959
Jan 1969
6 Feb 1969
7 Jun 1970
1 Jan 1971
12 Jan 1974
26 Jan 1975
22 Mar 1980
2003
2005
2007
2008
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Dec 1961
5 Feb 1969
6 Jun 1970
31 Dec 1970
11 Jan 1974
25 Jan 1975
3 Mar 1980
2002
2004
2006
2007
Present
: Insp Victor Seah
: Insp Loke Wai York
: Insp Richard Koh
: Insp Foo Tiang Long
: Insp V. N. Anthony
: Insp (NPCC) Tan Kang Chuan
: ASP (NPCC) Paul Louis Wong
: ASP (NPCC) Tan Kang Chuan
: A/ASP (NPCC) Koo Poh Seng
: A/ASP (NPCC) Asmadi Bin Mohamad
: A/ASP (NPCC) Soh Mei Yee
: A/ASP (NPCC) Liu Kah Yang