MEMORIES

If you have any memories that you would like to share or want to add your own memory of a thread already started, please email me and I will include them.

I thought that I would send this excellent photo taken at Vimy Bks Catterick Garrison on Saturday 27 September 2008. My good friend John Philpott ex RAF, Canal Zone Veteran, was attending the opening of the new Infantry Heritage Centre as an invited guest. it happened that a company of Gurkha Recruits were passing out that day. A guest of honour was also present, namely LCpl later Capt Rambahadur Limbu VC, ex 2/10 Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles. This gallant Gurkha won his Cross during the Confrontation with Indonesia in November 1965 in Sarawak Borneo, when he, single handed, rescued two wounded comrades after coming under fire from numerically superior Indonesian forces. He then acting alone, charged the enemy positions killing several and putting the rest to flight. He is the last Gurkha to date to have won the Victoria Cross. My special interest is that I later had the privilege to serve for a short time with this unit which was part of 99 Gurkha Infantry Brigade, before returning to Hong Kong to complete my Far East tour of duty. Once again I have missed by a hairs breadth, meeting this gallant Gurkha. Maybe in another 50 years?!! Norman Horton. Darlington.ps. John is pictured with Capt Rambahadur Limbu VC.

Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM)

Please read my comments, you may disagree with them, that’s democracy and I will defend your right to have a different opinion to mine but please read them first.

There seems to be some misunderstanding amongst our membership over the PJM. So let’s see if I can clear some of them up with a few proven facts.

The PJM is awarded from the date of Malay’s independence & the formation of Malaysia & not from the start of the Emergency which was earlier.

There is something like 35,000 British Veterans entitled to the PJM so many in fact that the MoD cannot cope with this amount of extra work. So the MoD have done everything in their power to block this award , having failed in that they wanted it kept as a trinket otherwise all requests would have to go through RAF Innsworth and it would take them years to process the applications unless they took on extra staff and that would take them way over budget.

The MoD has admitted that the phrase accept but formal permission to wear will not be granted” did not exist before the 7^{th
December 2005 and blame the FCO for this ruling. So far the FCO have not
commented on this and are not answering any emails or letters on this
subject. When I phone the FCO all I get is and I quote “I could not possible
comment on that” it’s like listening to a parrot.}

The ruling is not only unworkable it has no basis in law and cannot be enforced. It is just a matter of protocol.

All holders of the PJM have a right to wear this medal & it’s just a handful of unelected civil servants who are trying to stop you wearing it.

Ministers receive so much mail that they rely on their civil servants for information and not all information are getting to our Ministers.

Please visit our web site ^{www.fight4thepjm.org}^{and read the open forum.}

We have nothing to hide and you can look at anything you like as a guest.

If you want you can register and place a comment, for or against. It will not be removed unless it is obscene.

I thank you for your time and look forward to reading your comments on

^{www.fight4thepjm.org}

^{Paul Alders}

Dear sir,

Re. The PJM medal and the present governments attitude towards the Malaysian Government's offer to honour those British servicemen, many of them conscripts who fought to ensure Malaysia's freedom from communism, because the British government of the day ordered them to do so.

The Prime Minister Tony Blair can accept a medal from the US for sending British troops into Iraq against the wishes of the people of Britain but his government has a problem when considering this deserving award of the P.J.M. to ex soldiers who did what they were ordered to do, are now well into their senior years and out of the services.

The rules say that foreign medals are not allowed, other than from official organizations such as the UN or NATO. Well, isn't Malaysia a member of the Commonwealth?......and isn't Britain considered to be the "mother" of that commonwealth? and wasn't it part of that commonwealth that we were defending?.

And regarding the wearing of that medal should the award be approved. As I have said all those who would receive the medal are now well into their 70s and out of uniform so what is the problem?. Why can't this government make a sensible decision as did the governments of Australia and New Zealand. This stupidity is just an example of how inflexible politicians are and how they feel they must have the last word at any cost even when they are so obviously wrong, as they are in this case.

Having read the following passages, as far as I am concerned, the only message here is once you have served out your usefulness in the services this present government has no further use for you and they have no consideration for your feelings. I sincerely hope the present members of the armed forces are aware of this.

Keep up the protest NMBVA. don't let this dreadful government get away with this injustice.

Ken Nichols

NMBVA Member

Whitehall

Dear Mr Scharnhorst

Thank you for your interesting notes (via Webmaster) dated 9/12 - Are you related to Grand Admiral Scharnhorst ?

I hope I have the name correct regarding Princess Mary Barracks.

As a result of the 'Emergency' I arrived on Singapore Island around August/September 1951 with thousands of others - I can recall disembarking at the harbour - close to a railway line - where we were taken by army lorry to an entented camp entitled Calcutta Camp. at Pasir Panjang. My memories of its location are vague but recall that when walking back from Singapore city (a very long walk) I would pass abeam Holland Village which would be about three quarters of the journey - passing H Village to my right side as I headed West. I presume I would be either on Ayer rajah Rd - or Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim road if it then existed. Arriving at Pasir Panjang the camp was located via a lonely lane also to the right arriving at the camp guardroom after about half a mile or so. There was an open air Chinese laundry located near the junction of this lane. The camp was made up of Royal Signals - comprising separate tented camps for Malay troops and British although we all worked together. Some of us were driven out to Fort Canning each day to operate communications with units up country in Malaya (as it was then called)

Regarding the new barracks - these were completed sometime around October 1951 - and we were the very first to be billeted there. They were luxurious compared to tents - the large ceiling fans allowed us to discard mosquito nets. I cannot recall much more as we were only thinking of returning but to the UK.

On leaving our camp and proceeding down the country lane when we arrived at the main road for the bus I can recall a another large military depot at that point - with a very high wire fence all around - It may have been a BOD (Base Ordnance Depot). Within marching distance was the Alexandra Military Hospital.

Not far from the area were many military married quarters comprising rather pleasant detached villas each in their own grounds. I recall a very large pipeline traversed the area - possibly for water - quite dominant.

On returning to Pasir Panjang some 50 years on - other than Alexandra Hospital I could not recognise any place or location - almost every inch of green had been built upon with high rise flats and housing.

Our unit was named - Singapore District Signal Regt. We wore the yellow and green shoulder patch of the Lion and Palm Tree.

In your letter you mention your grandfather RAMC killed in action July 1944 - do you know in what action or event in Malaya this was - I know there were a few brave men dropped behind jap lines via submarine and others such as Freddie Spencer Chapman who were in 'stay behind' parties after the surrender. I apologise if you find the above rather wandering and vague but in those days we did not take a lot of notice of our surroundings much to our regrets in these later years.

My wife and I hope to make our third visit to Singapore sometime later in the new year.

With all best wishes

Brian D Phillips

Dear Webmaster

While doing a research on the Princess Mary Barracks in Singapore, I came across your webpages and was very impressed at what you have achieved.

May I introduce myself. I am Preston S Scharnhorst from Singapore. My grandfather, George Scharnhorst, was with the Royal Army Medical Corps and was killed in action in July 1944 in Malaya. My father was with the REME 40 Bases in Singapore. My youth is thus full of memories of life in the then British areas of Pasir Panjang, Alexandra, Nepal Circus, Dover Road, Rowcroft Lines, GHQ FARELF etc. in Singapore.

I also spent the last 33 years with the Singapore Polytechnic which is situated in this same area at Dover Road which was once the Princess Mary Barracks where the 18 Signal Regiment was based. During my years at the Singapore Polytechnic, it was my to privilege to have met a number of ex-servicemen and their wives who came around while on a trip down memory lane. They were usually ushered into my office as I had the historical background to assist them in their quest. I remember the glow in their eyes when they saw two buildings that are still standing today at the Singapore Polytechnic; the Moberly Block and the building that was once their Sgts Mess. One gentleman even gave us an aerial photograph of the Princess Mary Barracks on which he indicated the buildings as they were used then. Sadly, I do not have their contact information.

I am doing a research on what was life like at Princess Mary Barracks in those years. I would appreciate any photographs taken at the Princess Mary Barracks which would also show the facilities and life in the Barracks at that time, any anecdotes etc with some indication of the year. I would welcome any emails from anyone.

If anyone would also any like information on Singapore, I will also be pleased to assist.

Thank you Preston S Scharnhorst preston.s.scharnhorst@gmail.com

Please accept my apologies for this unsolicited email, but I would like to express support for your efforts to obtain permission from HM Government to wear this commemorative medal. I was born in "emergency" Malaya and have been interested in this period of Malayan history for as long as I can remember. I am often dismayed how little ordinary Malaysians know of their past, & how little they value the enormous sacrifices British & Commonwealth troops made on our behalf- a debt that can never be repaid.

With best wishes

David Chong

Sirs,

As a Borneo vet myself, five tours there between 1962 and 1966, can I first of all say hello to fellow swamp rats and jungle 'bunnies'.

Regarding said 'gong', I have recently been in touch (August 2005) with the medals section of the MOD, who have informed me that as a result of comments made by Baroness Symons and others earlier in the year, and which appeared in several UK papers, that matter now rests with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Pleased also to tell you that support for this campaign, and not just in political circles, is growing, (comments from certain 'officials'). As I am sure some of you may already know, there are a number of well established precedents for this kind of award, both in the UK and elsewhere, from WW1 to the present day.

Take care mates,

Respectfully yours,

Keith Scott (ex-Royal Marines)

Ipoh 1948 -1949

I was stationed at No 3 C.M.H (combined Military Hospital) Ipoh with the Hospital on a large plain about 3 miles outside Ipoh and nothing to be seen for about 1 mile radius not even a house, only trees and mountains in the distance. It was very isolated. Our billets were a large Malayan Manision in it's own grounds, surrounded by Rubber trees on Brewster Road, on the outskirts of Ipoh and about 2 miles from the Hospital and 1/2 a mile from Ipoh race track.
When on duty we were transported by our one R.A.S.C to the hospital and the shift coming on duty transported back to the billets.
I never did find out where other British Troops were stationed near Ipoh. It was seldom that we saw any when we went into town to the cinema of which there were five.
Apart from the 2nd Gurkhas the British troops around Ipoh were the K.O.L.Y.I.'s There was no trouble when I first arrived in Ipoh it stated about 3 months later, some time about April 48, as of course you will be aware of when things started to get really bad we the R.A.M.C were all issued with rifles and ammo and had to do Guard Duty at the Billets. The Officer and Sargents mess was at he hospital. The 4th Hussars came to take over from the K.O.L.Y.I.'s, but once again I did not know where they were based. Our unit played football in the Ipoh league against Europeans, Chinese, Malayan, Malayan Police and other mixed teams. The games were all played on the Padhang just outside the Railway Station and there were reports of each game printed in Ipoh's local paper, it had a lot of local interest and some large crowds on the open ground. There was also another Military Hospital up on the Cameron Highlands with a pretty village and Villas dotted around the Mountains. A lovely sight to see, it was used more for a Leave Centre. To reach it you got the train to Tapah and then by twisting mountain roads through jungle about a 3 hour road journey, hoping nobody was waiting round each steep bend. I made that journey four times, twice to play their hospital team at football, once on leave and once as a patient. I had Tinea and ring worm all over my face and the climate up there was like a lovely day in May in England all the year round. But I am afraid the worst was yet to come. In December 1948, xmas eve, a patrol of Gurkhas were ambushed just outside Ipoh, I was on duty when they were brought to the hospital, six dead, about 8 wounded, terrible sight, but the worst came New Years Eve when a patrol of Hussars were ambushed with the same result, only one Hussar was missing, I was on duty again and I could have quite willing gone into Ipoh and shot as many Chinese as I could have seen but some good news came out of it for me. About 3 days later I was told they had brought the missing Hussar in, they had found him in the Jungle full of shrapnel and he came from my home town in Eccles, The Royal Oak, on Barton Lane, I went to see him and he was in good spirits. I did not know him but wrote to my mother asking her to go round to see his mother and tell her more or less from the horses mouth that he was doing OK. It would cut out his mother having to go through all the red tape and worry. Anyway the man's name was Hussar Harry Whittiker-Smith and Patrol Commander Lt Sutro, both were decorated, one D.S.O and the other D.S.C. In May 1949 a new Military Hospital was opened in Taiping and all Ipoh unit transferred and Ipoh just having a C.R.S attached to 2nd Gurkha Rifles with yours truly staying with the Gurkhas for a month and then on my way home.
Ex Prt W. Woods R.A.M.C

These are my fathers recollections, of his time in national service in Malaya. He is eager to hear from anyone who may remember this particular incident, or who served with him.

Please direct any communications to my email address (ltodd@visteon.com).I am his daughter. I will gladly pass on his telephone/address details if anyone remembers him.

A unit if the 4th Hussars had been sent to escort young children down country for their vacation. They were sent by their parents to Cameroon's for education because of the favourable climate, lack of mosquitoes and safer from hostilities. Our convey lined up, Humber Scout Car in the lead followed by G.M.C armoured personnel carrier fully armed. There were also some civilian vehicles. The G.M.C I was driving had been cleared of weapons and grenades so as to accommodate a party of children plus a female helper. So there we waited.

It was a perfect day, clear blue sky, sun shining and still cool in the mid morning. An aircraft appeared above and began to circle. Radio contact was gained with the lead Humber Scout Car, but of course as usual we hadn't finished settling all the children on board. This message was RT to the pilot who then decides to treat us to a 15 minute air display followed by a steep dive and low level buzz across the convey. It went wrong and failed to pull up clipped the trees, soared over my vehicle making a split second deafening sound and crashed about 100 yards away. There was an eerie silence for a few minutes. A huge plume of smoke rose up followed by the sound of cracking and snapping as the surrounding jungle caught light. The ammunition started to explode so we battered down and sat it out. The children were terrified. We were unable to help and carried on with our escort duties. The next day on return to the Cameroon's we formed part of a search party and searched long and deep into the ULU jungle but we found nothing. This was in response to another witness on higher ground who said something had fallen off of the tail plane, (this was confirmed at a later date as being the pilot). We also visited the crash site, still very hot from the intense fire. Very little of the aircraft was left. The engines completely buried deep in the ground, just the twisted remains of the cannons still visible. I did find a large First Aid box, Red Cross on the top containing large scissors. This was some distance from the crash site. This fatal loss was recorded in the "Straits Times" and unknown to myself at the time a photograph had been taken and there was I on the front page sitting on the drivers seat with the door open of the G.M.C armoured vehicle.

You must draw you own conclusion from the witness of events; to myself I would suggest a tragic accident.

Edward Davey (born 1930)
EX Regular
2 1/2 years 4th Hussars
6 months in the 12th Royal Lancers
Total 3 years served in Malaya.

The Canberra crash in 1961

Martin Shelvey

Time Span,,1959-1961

Who remembers, searching for a Kiwi Canberra bomber that had been struck by lightning during a night flight, Both the pilot and navigator successfully ejected, .The pilot carried out the correct procedure, covered a tree with his chute" ,,sat down and ate and drank and waited for rescue ,SARAH beacon "on " of course,,,,The navigator , badly shocked no doubt, dumped all his survival gear on landing and wandered off !!! It was him that we were searching for,,, Basically the system was like this :- All the available "erks" were bundled into all the available aircraft to act as "extra eyeballs",, In "twinpins" you just knelt on the canvas seat and looked out of the windows,,16 of you !, But in Beverly's it was a bit different apparently, if you were lucky you got a seat in the tail boom, if not you sat on an office chair in the massive main compartment, Anyway ,we (209 squadron) loaded up the "twinpins" and droned up and down the Malayan ulu staring down upon miles and miles of TREES ,,I can still see the things in my minds eye !

After hours of this visual torture we returned to refuel/have a pee etc. and then back again, staring out of the side windows just seeing more and more bloody TREES looking for a sign, any sign of wreckage, damaged foliage etc. Getting near the end of the second stint when a message came through the radio "It's alright, he's been found" he (the navigator) had been found by some loggers. Returning to RAF Seletar to a late evening meal, I looked at my plate and what could I see ????? TREES lots of bloody TREES !

At the time we were told

1/.that the aircraft was struck by lightning during a night flight

2/. that the pilot had done the correct procedure and been rescued

3/. that the navigator had been badly shocked and "dumped" his survival gear, and then was rescued

This is what really happened according to the book " Flying the Silver Fern" by Christopher Pugsley

The news of the withdrawal was overshadowed by the loss of one of the squadrons (75 sqdn) Canberra's. flown by Flight Lieutenant P.G. Bevan and Navigator Flying Officer D.I. Finn When the plane WF 915 went overdue on the night of 26th October (1961) One of the largest search operations ever conducted in the theater was mounted . Over the next five days Army Austers, Single and Twin Pioneers, and almost all the small aircraft in Malaya took part in the search, along with Shackletons, Bristol Freighters, and Hastings, Canberra's from 81 PR Squadron photographed all of the area of probability so that more time could be spent studying the ground rather than have a fleeting glimpse from an aircraft. On the 30th October Flight Lieutenant Bevan walked out of the jungle near Bahau.

After ejecting from his aircraft, he had been unable to activate his S.A.R.A.H (Search & Rescue & Homing) because both it and his Mae West had been torn off by the top of a tree in which he landed. Trapped by one leg and hanging upside down, he had managed to set himself free with his knife after his harness failed to release.

The pyrotechnics in his survival kit did not work and his matches got wet in the rain. In shock and injured in both wrists, he walked to a logging track where Malay timber workers found him and took him to Bahau Police Station

Next day the wreckage of the Canberra and the body of F/O Finn were found. Finn had been in the nose of the aircraft and had been unable to get to his ejection seat before the aircraft crashed.

IF YOU HAVE YOUR OWN MEMORIES OF THIS INCIDENT WHY NOT EMAIL THEM TO ME AND CARRY ON THE THREAD

Matt Rooney Memories

The Dog School
The morning loomed quite early as it always did,
I tried my best to ignore it as below the blanket I slid.
The sergeant rattled thon stick he carried everywhere,
and the comments about his Parentage, and did we really care.
No diving to the mess hall to have a cuppa and a bun,
but paraded to the kennels before the start today's fun.
No hilarity or joking mind we never got the chance,
as each new lesson ' learned ' was to lead us a merry dance.
Dog training was a serious task to just perform,
as lads from a varied background weren't always able to conform.
We who did have some knowledge of what we might expect that day,
were still unprepared for the task as in a field we would lay.
A padded suit in which the running command wasn't quite the thing to do,
as I and others more frustrated seem to have lost a shoe.
In Singapore the natives thought we were a bit wrong in head,
for the news of our latest antics about the town were spread.
The ' invisible dog ' was the easiest of the lot, even our N.C.O.s,
thought we had lost the Plot.

to be continued

Going to Singapore for tea, there's " No Chance "
Every month there would from our camp then leave,
the old uniform's with rotten or a frayed sleeve.
A convoy made up of those that knew,
there wouldn't be any stopping to join a queue.
The ' scout car ' with the Twin Bren's array,
the ' K ' ration's in the wee bit tray.
Depending if a joint trip planned,
our B.S.M.s warning, no dotting the ' eye's ' across the land.
As a favourite practice to test their aim,
was to line up on road sign's, well we got the blame.
We weren't the only one's who then strayed,
put it down to nerves as well as having prayed.
And it was to Singapore and the main depot's attract,
that all those uniform's were simply stacked.
The weekend leave beckoned as ' our bonus ' for the trip,
and our weapons stored within " Nee Soon Camp's " armoured grip.
Then off to see the ' Three World's ' or more,
to see how much we could drink before we left that shore.
After our night's outing and the spending spree,
we travelled back to the camp but not for tea.
we always managed to make our money last,
not that ' we the squaddies ' were on a moneyed fast....

I went to Tampin in Malaya 1952 to 1953, was with 93 bty, R.A. The Regiment was based in Kowloon, Hongkong. That was 25th, Field R.A.. Now 93 battery were based permanently at Tampin and it was only the personnel that were changed, there were National Servicemen and Regulars. Though I cannot now remember the exact strength at the time, and for some reason am unable to locate the Regt. I do know it existed in the 70's and 80's as my wife's niece's husband was in it. I was also at the dog school at Singapore as they [ the Bty] were supposed to use them on the patrols, that fell through???...So I had a variety of ' little ' jobs handed to me to pass the time there. We never got the chance to get bored, there was always something to do. NAAFI, and cinema queues in the camp, swimming parties to Malacca interstate boxing and football on our dusty pitch, unless of course when we had the typhoon's

A possible coup..

We lay in the jungle having left camp in the early dawns light,
the purpose of that reasoning was we might catch someone without a fight.
As the day progressed onward there were noises off a ways,
not having been on a patrol before, a lot of us had the grey's?.
It was beginning to look as if the information had been off that day,
as we whispered through the leaves we were told be quiet in a certain sort of way.
Then other noises could be heard they seemed to be very loud from where we lay,
and the presence of some animals dashing past as if trying to get away.
Nervousness took hold of us who were crouched really low,
and the trees seemed to hush a bit as if they knew we were below.
With fingers on the trigger guard just in case we made an error,
sweat pouring down our backs as we lay in terror.
Then into our clearing with a final advanced roar,
no it wasn't the enemy but a cow chasing a boar.
So how could we have explained it if we had shot that cow,
imagine the Sergeant Majors face, as the form was handed in, ' with the wherefores and the how.