Gold Warriors possible inaccuracy?

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	Gold Warriors possible inaccuracy? « on: October 15, 2009, 10:00:06 pm »

After years of hearing about it, I finally bought the book Gold Warriors by Stirling and Peggy Seagraves. On page 46, it is stated: "In Kuala Lumpur, Golden Lily found vaults at Bank Negara packed with 23.97 karat bars of 6.250 kilos each, measuring 1 x 2 x 5.75 inches."

I found this to be a bit odd because to the best of my knowledge, Bank Negara was only established in 1959 as the central bank for independant Malaysia; and as we all know, WW2 had ended long before 1959.

A few possible explanations are:

1) I don't know my history, and a Bank Negara did exist in British Malaya during WW2.
2) The authors made a mistake in the name of the bank.
3) This book is a mish-mash of fiction mixed in liberally with real happenings, and I've wasted my money.

Is anyone able to enlighten me? Better yet, has anyone who read the book discovered other possible inaccuracies?

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	Re: Gold Warriors possible inaccuracy? « Reply #1 on: October 16, 2009, 01:48:08 am »

Hello Hobbyist

In answer to your question about Seagraves book. The book Gold warriors is a very interesting book and does ask some serious questions about the events leading up to and after the Overthrow of the Marco's Regime.

However a contact of mine who claimed that some of the Segrave's alleged documents were manipulated in context in some to suit his own agenda in his book.

The book should be not trusted entirely to detail as with any book. Read it and research it as I recommend it with any story. You might just discover the real story behind all the smoke and mirrors.

Hardluck Huh?

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	Re: Gold Warriors possible inaccuracy? « Reply #2 on: October 16, 2009, 08:06:21 am »

Dear Hardluck,

Yes, you are right. I doubt I have the capacity or the wherewithal to research it. If the Seagraves have a hidden agenda towars which they have twisted the facts, so be it. In the light of that Bank Negara thingy, I shall just regard the book as an "infotainment" piece of reading.

Hobbyist.

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	Re: Gold Warriors possible inaccuracy? « Reply #3 on: October 17, 2009, 10:05:54 am »

	Quote:	Posted by Hobbyist
After years of hearing about it, I finally bought the book Gold Warriors by Stirling and Peggy Seagraves. On page 46, it is stated: "In Kuala Lumpur, Golden Lily found vaults at Bank Negara packed with 23.97 karat bars of 6.250 kilos each, measuring 1 x 2 x 5.75 inches." I found this to be a bit odd because to the best of my knowledge, Bank Negara was only established in 1959 as the central bank for independant Malaysia; and as we all know, WW2 had ended long before 1959. A few possible explanations are: 1) I don't know my history, and a Bank Negara did exist in British Malaya during WW2. 2) The authors made a mistake in the name of the bank. 3) This book is a mish-mash of fiction mixed in liberally with real happenings, and I've wasted my money. Is anyone able to enlighten me? Better yet, has anyone who read the book discovered other possible inaccuracies?

How about the gold being placed there, long after WW2?? (From a private cache, because of worries over safety, theft, discovery, etc.)

How is it they are so specific as to purity?

Is this bank open for access to anyone?

It all sounds like heifer dust.

I have cut-n-pasted the book title and will look for it, thanks for the reference.

goldigger

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	Re: Gold Warriors possible inaccuracy? « Reply #4 on: October 17, 2009, 10:42:59 am »

You may preview page 46 at

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http://www.goodreads.com/book/google_preview/702602

. The Japanese invaded Malaya in 1942, Bank Negara did not exist then. Therefore the Golden Lily could not have gotten any gold from a non-existent bank.

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	Re: Gold Warriors possible inaccuracy? « Reply #5 on: October 17, 2009, 10:47:32 am »

	Quote:	Posted by Hobbyist
You may preview page 46 at You are not allowed to view links. Please Register or Login http://www.goodreads.com/book/google_preview/702602 . The Japanese invaded Malaya in 1942, Bank Negara did not exist then. Therefore the Golden Lily could not have gotten any gold from a non-existent bank.

Thanks for the link.

I understand your point, a very good one, like I said, BS, or a lack of research OR it got there much more recently and someone told the authors a series of un-truths. Teach

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	Re: Gold Warriors possible inaccuracy? « Reply #6 on: October 17, 2009, 11:08:32 am »

Imported English books are quite expensive here, and that simple inaccuracy irks me. Has anyone else discovered more inaccuracies?

I'm putting aside the Gold Warriors book for now, and have started on Forgotten Armies: Britain's Asian Empire & The War With Japan by Christopher Bayly and Tim Harper (Penguin Books). I think 2 noted historians should be more thorough with facts than the Seagraves.

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	Re: Gold Warriors possible inaccuracy? « Reply #7 on: October 17, 2009, 04:37:29 pm »

	Quote:	Posted by Hobbyist
After years of hearing about it, I finally bought the book Gold Warriors by Stirling and Peggy Seagraves. On page 46, it is stated: "In Kuala Lumpur, Golden Lily found vaults at Bank Negara packed with 23.97 karat bars of 6.250 kilos each, measuring 1 x 2 x 5.75 inches." I found this to be a bit odd because to the best of my knowledge, Bank Negara was only established in 1959 as the central bank for independant Malaysia; and as we all know, WW2 had ended long before 1959. A few possible explanations are: 1) I don't know my history, and a Bank Negara did exist in British Malaya during WW2. 2) The authors made a mistake in the name of the bank. 3) This book is a mish-mash of fiction mixed in liberally with real happenings, and I've wasted my money. Is anyone able to enlighten me? Better yet, has anyone who read the book discovered other possible inaccuracies?

After reading and re-reading the sentence you quoted, it appears to me that without a date you really can't establish if it was an inaccuracy or not. Also, there's another possibility you can add to your list. The Bank Negara most likely would have been formed from pre-existing banks and given a new name. People would then not lose their accounts and money but have it transferred to a new bank of another name. Buildings would have signs changed but the insides, including the content of vaults, would not change. This kind of thing happens all the time all over the world.

If you have any contacts in Malaysia who could help you by finding out the detailed history of the bank, you should avail yourself of their assistance. Or contact the authors. They might clear things up for you.

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	Re: Gold Warriors possible inaccuracy? « Reply #8 on: October 17, 2009, 04:39:24 pm »

Here you will find an interview of sorts with Stirling Seagrave.

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	Re: Gold Warriors possible inaccuracy? « Reply #9 on: October 17, 2009, 05:35:26 pm »

While no exact date was mentioned in the paragraph quoted, page 46 of the book is within a chapter titled "Storming the Indies" which is set in the time-frame of WW2 when the Japanese invaded Malaya and Singapore. I made a phone call to Bank Negara last Friday and was told that no other bank with the same name existed before it was founded in 1959. It is also stated on the central bank's website that they are celebrating their 50th year (

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http://www.bnm.gov.my/index.php?ch=7&pg=735&ac=641

) On this basis, one may surmise that the Seagraves made a glaring error.

I had also considered the possibility that the British colonial masters of Malaya had had a central bank, but if they did, its name would not have been in the Malay language.

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