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Malayan Spymaster: Memoirs of a Rubber Planter, Bandit Fighter and Spy
This is a true story of 1930s Malaysia, of jungle operations, submarines and spies in WWII, and of the postwar Malayan Emergency, as experienced by an extraordinary man. Boris Hembry went out to Malaya as a rubber planter in 1930 to work on estates in Malaya and Sumatra. Following the Japanese invasion in December 1941 he volunteered for Freddy Spencer Chapman's covert Stay Behind Party and spent a month in the jungle behind enemy lines before escaping by sampan across the Malacca Strait to Sumatra. Hembry returned to Singapore shortly before its surrender then escaped to Java and subsequently to India, where he joined V Force, a clandestine intelligence unit operating in Burma. In 1943 Hembry was recruited into the Secret Intelligence Service - given the bland cover name Inter-Services Liaison Department (ISLD) - and returned to Sumatra and Malaya several times by submarine on intelligence-gathering missions. He became Head of Malayan Country Section ISLD in 1944, liaised with Force 136, and was responsible for the most successful intelligence coup of the Malayan war. After WWII, Hembry returned to planting at Sungei Siput, Perak, where the murder of three colleagues on 16 June 1948 signalled the start of the Malayan Emergency. Assuming the leadership of the local planting community, he formed the first Home Guard unit in Malaya, was an early proponent of squatter control (later incorporated into the Briggs Plan), served on district, state and federal security committees, and survived several attempts on his life.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
424 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 28, 2011
Boris Hembry’s memoir is similiar to A Company of Planters: Confessions of a Colonial Rubber Planter in 1950s Malaya in that both authors served as managers of rubber estates in colonial Malaya and wrote about their time living, at a relatively young age, in a strange land far from home and shouldered with responsibilities that both admit had no experience shouldering. The only difference is that John Dodd in A Company of Planters arrived in Malaya after the Japanese occupation and had to face the risk of Communist ambushes while looking for a local girl to sleep with. Boris Hembry on the other hand was already managing Malayan rubber estates before anyone had ever heard of Hitler. He was also quite chaste before marrying his wife Jean just before the war. Hembry also took an active part in espionage duties during the war years which saw him infiltrating into Japanese occupied Malaya in a submarine. Not content with that, he also organised an army of volunteers (Hembry’s Own Bloody Army, HOBA) to fight the post-war Communist threat especially after fellow estate manager, Arthur Walker, was killed. Being an orang putih and an estate manager made Hembry a prime target for assassination by the communist guerrillas. But it’s not all doom and gloom in this book. Hembry led an active social life and when there was no social life to be found, things other than rubber trees kept him busy. The wildlife for example amazed him to no end. He once found a thirty three foot python and wondered if the record still holds (it’s not. A 49-footer was captured in Indonesia in 2004). Then there was the time he set a tiger trap for a tiger that was spotted wandering near the estate. When he found the trap the next day, it had a tiger paw in it and felt sorry for the tiger which he obviously thought was dying in great pain. A few days later, another tiger was spotted at the estate and this time he shot it dead…and discovered that it had a missing paw. It was the same tiger which he thought had died from its injuries. Not only did it not die, it came back to the estate to hunt!
Though the book has the word Spymaster in it which conjures a certain image, Hembry’s memoir is less on his time as a spy and more on the time he managed estates all over Malaya and briefly in Sumatra and his experience fighting the Japanese. He has never quite forgiven the Japanese for the atrocities committed during the war especially when it happened to someone he knew. The bitterness oozes out of the memoirs whenever he recalls a friend’s beheading. He was also quite critical of the deplorable actions of British officers who looted homes in Singapore after the Japanese surrender. “I could name names”, Hembry threatened.
His memoirs were written quite matter-of-factly, like a grandfather recounting his younger days to his grandchildren and that was in fact the reason he wrote his memoirs. According to his son, Boris Hembry never intended to publish his memoirs but his family thought it would serve his memory better (Hembry died in 1990) if it was available to the general public. I for one am grateful for that decision.
Though the book has the word Spymaster in it which conjures a certain image, Hembry’s memoir is less on his time as a spy and more on the time he managed estates all over Malaya and briefly in Sumatra and his experience fighting the Japanese. He has never quite forgiven the Japanese for the atrocities committed during the war especially when it happened to someone he knew. The bitterness oozes out of the memoirs whenever he recalls a friend’s beheading. He was also quite critical of the deplorable actions of British officers who looted homes in Singapore after the Japanese surrender. “I could name names”, Hembry threatened.
His memoirs were written quite matter-of-factly, like a grandfather recounting his younger days to his grandchildren and that was in fact the reason he wrote his memoirs. According to his son, Boris Hembry never intended to publish his memoirs but his family thought it would serve his memory better (Hembry died in 1990) if it was available to the general public. I for one am grateful for that decision.
December 6, 2018
A raw account of the lives of early planters in Malaya who left home in the Great Britain amidst talks of war with Germany, only to find themselves facing the imperial Japanese army as they swept through then colonial Malaya, forcing the British rulers and planters alike to flee. Or did they?
And that is what this book is about. It's the true story of ordinary young British men like Boris Hembry (and their families) who were left to take charge of their own safety in the face of a weak, egotistical and ineffective British administration.
Despite being a Malaysian, this untold story is what we never knew or learned much about. Hembry's personal diary of the events just before the Pacific war and after till he left Malaya for good, and his fascinating account of his role in defending Malaya against the Japanese, and then the communist "terrorists" as he puts it, is a worthy read, and well deserving of my five star rating.
Bear in mind that Boris Hembry had never meant for his recollections of his life in Malaya and the war to be published. In other words, this entire book was a diary of sorts, left by the writer for his family. Yet I found it hard to put down this book. It was gripping and educational at the same time.
It is a story of the sacrifices of ordinary men and women, that modern day Malaysia and the world should never forget.
And that is what this book is about. It's the true story of ordinary young British men like Boris Hembry (and their families) who were left to take charge of their own safety in the face of a weak, egotistical and ineffective British administration.
Despite being a Malaysian, this untold story is what we never knew or learned much about. Hembry's personal diary of the events just before the Pacific war and after till he left Malaya for good, and his fascinating account of his role in defending Malaya against the Japanese, and then the communist "terrorists" as he puts it, is a worthy read, and well deserving of my five star rating.
Bear in mind that Boris Hembry had never meant for his recollections of his life in Malaya and the war to be published. In other words, this entire book was a diary of sorts, left by the writer for his family. Yet I found it hard to put down this book. It was gripping and educational at the same time.
It is a story of the sacrifices of ordinary men and women, that modern day Malaysia and the world should never forget.
January 28, 2025
An excellent book written about 1930’s expat life in Malaya (current day Singapore and Malaysia) written by Brit who oversaw several rubber plantations. It gives an intriguing look back in time where at first the Brits rule supreme and the main character is living life to the fullest. All then changes when the Japanese invade in which Boris (the main character) becomes a behind enemy lines operative in which he shows extensive bravery but with limited success. After the war he returns to Malaya only to realise the golden days of the British empire are behind it leaving him to fight a bitter insurgency which over time is one of the factors contributing to Malaysia’s independence. After reading this book (which, living in Singapore is absolutely worth jt), a few other reflections; the main character never forgives the Japanese and the atrocities they committed. Secondly, he deeply deplores the looting of the British army and the incompetence of the civil administration. Lastly, he incredibly regrets giving up his comfortable position in Malaya to take up employment in London, for reasons which are rather vague. Recommended!
December 30, 2025
Took me so long to pick up this book after seeing a friend on here reading it (in 2011), and took me quite a while to finish it. The middle part, which I suppose was the most adventurous parts, Mr Hembry during the Japanese occupation, read as repetitive. It felt like a drag though for sure, for the man who went through such life-threatening situations, they were far from that. And to be fair, Mr Hembry by his own account didn't intend for his memoir to be published. If he wanted it to be long and meandering, it was his own business. And either way, I think it's a very interesting and priceless historical account of a Malaya which no longer exists.
Mr Hembry seemed like a really nice man. His accounts of managing the rubber estates were of more interest to me, especially in the early years.
Mr Hembry seemed like a really nice man. His accounts of managing the rubber estates were of more interest to me, especially in the early years.
December 2, 2019
I grew up in Malaya living there at the tail end of the Emergency 1959-61. I throughly enjoyed this account, and found it hard to put down. A very brave man. Lots of amusing anecdotes, but also he pulls no punches about the atrocities committed by the Japanese and the Malayan Communist Terrorists. Gives a wonderful account of the besieged life that rubber planters led on their isolated plantations. I stayed on a rubber plantation as a nine year old and was fascinated by the tapping process, the primitive machinery used and the huge sheets of rubber hung up in the drying sheds. Definite must read if you want to understand pre-war Malaya and the Communist Emergency.
September 20, 2019
I picked up Malayan Spymaster some time ago for future research, and have just got around to reading it. The book was not originally intended for general publication, but the author's family decided after his death to make it available to the general public. I'm glad they did. It contains some fascinating 'insider' insights into life in Malaya before and after WWII. While it will not be everyone's cup of tea - containing as it does a lot of detail - for Malayan history buffs it is a worthwhile read.
November 21, 2017
Really enjoyed this book, great insight into Malaysia in this period and the lives of the locals and the money made by the British Companies. Well told story, perhaps the writer took a kudos he was not entitled to, still a brave man doing his duty in WW 2. Enjoyed the book as a History buff!
Would recommend.
Would recommend.
April 4, 2023
An engrossing tale of life in Malaya's isolated rubber estates & WW2 espionage. The contrast between Hembry's comfortable colonial planter lifestyle & the backbreaking work of his Indian plantation labourers couldn't be more stark.
July 31, 2019
Remarkably light and easy read
August 5, 2023
Incredible and often moving story about life in Malaya through the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
February 20, 2024
Memorable, informative, human & more.
November 14, 2016
An autobiography of sorts, in the form of a memoir of the author's time spent in Malaya during most of his adult life. Boris Hembry came to Asia during the height of British imperialism in the 1930s, before everything changed when the Japs invaded and took over. As an expatriate he enjoyed a higher standard of living than his peers who stayed home. Typical for many colonials he lived in a huge property with extensive grounds, overseen by a retinue of native servants, almost like a private kingdom given the distance from head office. Meanwhile as an employee of Guthrie he organized land and labor to maximize rubber production while being paid quite handsomely for his efforts. Indeed, he lived the life of a globe trotting elite in those days, taking vacations all around Asia and Australia by sea and by plane.
When the war came the author proved himself a survivor and was able to persevere through almost unimaginable hardship while narrowly escaping the aggressors and making it to Sumatra and eventually Ceylon. Like many planters who found themselves driven out of their homes and jobs he participated in the military efforts to undermine the Japanese through covert operations of subterfuge during the occupation. After this interlude Hembry returned to the life of a planter with renewed vigor, almost as if the war had never happened. Peace was short lived as the Brits soon found themselves at war with communist insurgents, who were ironically their comrade at arms during the war. Hembry was at the epicenter of it all where the first and most concentrated attacks took place and he almost led the efforts and strategies of the government in fighting them, being a key advisor to politicians and officials.
Perhaps owing to the tensions, anxieties and stresses accumulated since the war, and his chain smoking habit, the author suffered from heart problems in his middle age and had to prematurely end his climb up the corporate ladder at Guthrie, being advised to take up less strenuous positions. Feeling sidetracked and bored, Hembry returned to his home land after twenty odd years and 'retired' from life as a colonialist, right about the time of Malaya's independence.
The tone of this book is very matter of fact, without much embellishment or feeling, I suppose like how memoirs are, a mere narration of what happened, the whos and the whereabouts. As such it is a part of the historical record and not a thriller by any means, as the title would suggest. Still, it is an eye opening account of how this part of the world was like during those days, from the point of view of one who lived through it.
When the war came the author proved himself a survivor and was able to persevere through almost unimaginable hardship while narrowly escaping the aggressors and making it to Sumatra and eventually Ceylon. Like many planters who found themselves driven out of their homes and jobs he participated in the military efforts to undermine the Japanese through covert operations of subterfuge during the occupation. After this interlude Hembry returned to the life of a planter with renewed vigor, almost as if the war had never happened. Peace was short lived as the Brits soon found themselves at war with communist insurgents, who were ironically their comrade at arms during the war. Hembry was at the epicenter of it all where the first and most concentrated attacks took place and he almost led the efforts and strategies of the government in fighting them, being a key advisor to politicians and officials.
Perhaps owing to the tensions, anxieties and stresses accumulated since the war, and his chain smoking habit, the author suffered from heart problems in his middle age and had to prematurely end his climb up the corporate ladder at Guthrie, being advised to take up less strenuous positions. Feeling sidetracked and bored, Hembry returned to his home land after twenty odd years and 'retired' from life as a colonialist, right about the time of Malaya's independence.
The tone of this book is very matter of fact, without much embellishment or feeling, I suppose like how memoirs are, a mere narration of what happened, the whos and the whereabouts. As such it is a part of the historical record and not a thriller by any means, as the title would suggest. Still, it is an eye opening account of how this part of the world was like during those days, from the point of view of one who lived through it.
March 18, 2014
If you have to read one book with the history of Malaya as background, make it this one.
This is the memoir of Boris Hembry, a British rubber planter turned spy turned bandits fighter. This is his story in and around the region spanning 25 years or so. In a way, it is also a story of Malaya, its people and its colonial masters. Malaysians who are familiar with the setting will find many things to relate to. People who are not will find themselves learning about a beautiful country in a beautiful era. Throughout the book, the writer's extraordinary character comes through so much that you would wish you had known him personally. Though since the book was only intended for his grandchildren and great grandchildren, you do feel like you're listening to an old friend reminiscing about the good old days by the fire place. It's beautiful.
Thank you John Hembry, for deciding to publish the book because yes, it does deserve a wider audience.
This is the memoir of Boris Hembry, a British rubber planter turned spy turned bandits fighter. This is his story in and around the region spanning 25 years or so. In a way, it is also a story of Malaya, its people and its colonial masters. Malaysians who are familiar with the setting will find many things to relate to. People who are not will find themselves learning about a beautiful country in a beautiful era. Throughout the book, the writer's extraordinary character comes through so much that you would wish you had known him personally. Though since the book was only intended for his grandchildren and great grandchildren, you do feel like you're listening to an old friend reminiscing about the good old days by the fire place. It's beautiful.
Thank you John Hembry, for deciding to publish the book because yes, it does deserve a wider audience.
February 1, 2014
Boris Hembry would say he fell into a life for which he was perfectly suited. Dependable, determined, driven and really rather fun by the sounds of it - Hembry was quickly climbing the corporate Rubber Planting ladder when the outbreak of war changed the direction of his contribution to the world. From his initial role as part of the "Stay at home' party, leading an escape from occupied Malaya, to spying on Japanese posts in Burma through ingenious (but somewhat misdirected) means, Hembry contributed widely in Asia to the war effort. His tales of everyday life are equally as riveting to those of us limeys now living in the region.
Pick it up, enjoy it, hope to carry just some of the determination and optimism back with you when the cover is closed.
Pick it up, enjoy it, hope to carry just some of the determination and optimism back with you when the cover is closed.
June 8, 2017
I actually think the title of this book does it a slight disservice. Although the world war period is a key part of the book, there is far more therin to enjoy. First of all, the journey of this young man from Britain to the remotest parts of the tropics to build his career is fascinating. He has to adapt to loneliness and entirely new cultures and languages for his job. The description of colonial life, with its customs and characters also interesting reading. Even after the war, the rise of a communist insurgency means he has to deal with an existential threat to both his job and his own family, but he stands firm. All in all, this is the story of an extraordinary life in extraordinary times.
September 15, 2013
Excellent read.
Written for his grandchildren, but his son John decided to have it printed so that others may enjoy his memoirs. Thank you, John.
Complements "The Jungle Is Neutral" by F. Spencer Chapman, and "Our Man In Malaya" by Margaret Sheenan (on the life of John Davis), and also S. O. E. in the Far East: Charles Cruickshank.....all in my library.
FH
Written for his grandchildren, but his son John decided to have it printed so that others may enjoy his memoirs. Thank you, John.
Complements "The Jungle Is Neutral" by F. Spencer Chapman, and "Our Man In Malaya" by Margaret Sheenan (on the life of John Davis), and also S. O. E. in the Far East: Charles Cruickshank.....all in my library.
FH
April 16, 2017
This is about a complete history of events that took place in Malaya during the war. It gives a perspective that I have never read about and also about the contribution of the British to the war here. A book every Malaysian should read
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews