Alexander Sym Small

Sir Alexander Sym Small (3 November 1887 – 13 August 1944) was a colonial administrator. He joined the Malayan Civil Service and was a cadet in January 1911 and served most of his Civil Service career in Federated Malay States (FMS) and Straits Settlements (SS). He retired as the Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements in 1940.

Career Federated Malay States and Straits Settlements Small came to Malaya as a cadet in January 1911 In 1912, he was the Acting District Officer in Kuala Langat and Acting Secretary to the British Resident of Negri Sembilan in 1913. Between 1923 and 1926, he was Acting Treasurer (FMS) and State Treasurer (Selangor). In 1940, Small retired and handed over the position of Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements to Mr. Stanley Wilson Jones.

Post-retirement After retirement, Small settled near Perth, Australia. He remained in Singapore till January 1942 and left for India.

He served as honorary director of the West Australian division of the Red Cross Society of the Bureau for Wounded, Missing and Prisoners of War and was also a vice-president of the Malayan and Far Eastern Association of Western Australia. and with Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1939.

Personal life Small was educated in Dalziel High School and Glasgow University where he graduated in law and took the degrees of BSc and M.A. in 1908.

Small married Hazel Stubbs, eldest daughter of Sydney Stubbs, on 4 January 1922.