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Sukarno: "Gunner who ?"
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In May 1965, I was one of a group of gunners who flew to Singapore to join 16 Light Air Defence Regiment Royal Artillery. The Regiment had been deployed to the Far East from Germany in March 1965 for a 21/2-year tour, tasked with the low-level air defence of RAF airfields, to counter the threat of attacks on Malaysia and Singapore by Indonesia - the "Confrontation". Our group were mostly ex members of the All Arms Junior Leaders Regiment, Tonfanau, North Wales. We had arrived in Singapore via the Royal Artillery depot at Woolwich. The hardest part of the journey had been getting from Woolwich to the Air Trooping Centre in central London on the Tube carrying greatcoat, suitcase and kitbag containing all our UK kit and all our newly issued OG tropical uniforms
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At Singapore airport, after a 24 hour flight, we were met by the 16 Regiment duty driver, and taken to Nee Soon, a large transit camp in the north of the island where the Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) was based. One of the group who had passed his driving test at Tonfanau was told he was duty driver the next day. Welcome to Singapore! Both the gun Batteries of the Regiment were operationally deployed at this time, 32 (Minden) Battery at RAF Changi in Singapore and 30 (Rogers's Company) Battery at RAF Kuching in Borneo.
H Sub basha & 30 Bty office |
Both the gun Batteries of the Regiment were operationally deployed at this time, 32 (Minden) Battery at RAF Changi in Singapore and 30 (Rogers's Company) Battery at RAF Kuching in Borneo As the new "Whities from Blighty" - as all newcomers were known- we remained at Regimental HQ in Nee Soon for a few days to acclimatize. We were issued with even more items of jungle kit such as jungle boots, and "goloks" (machetes), and of course, the infamous "Drawers, cellular," or "shreddies" as they were known.
Nee Soon Barrack Block 24 |
We finished work at around midday and were then free to sample the delights of Nee Soon camp - swimming pool, cinema, the NAAFI (and our first encounter with the famous "Tiger" beer - which cost 30 cents a pint), or venture further afield into Nee Soon village and the several bars (Tiger Beer $1.50!)
After a few days, six of
us were posted to 30 Battery and we flew out from Changi aboard an Argosy
of "white knuckle airlines" (RAF) to Borneo On our arrival in Kuching,
the Battery Commander (BC), Major Bell, welcomed us. We learned that the
Battery's honour title had been granted in recognition of the fact that
it had fought at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 under the command of Captain
Rogers. The Battery commemorated Waterloo Day, 18 June, each year In its
current role, 30 Battery was equipped with 8 Bofors 40/70 guns, and consisted
of two 4-gun Troops, A Troop (A, B, C and D Subsections) and B Troop (E,
F, G and H Subsections).
In addition, Battery HQ
contained the supporting personnel, signallers, drivers, clerks, storemen
and the REME Light Aid Detachment. The 8 Subsections were deployed at individual
gun sites around RAF Kuching airfield. Each Sub was manned by about 6 NCOs
and 8 gunners After the BCs interview, we were allocated to the various
Subs. I joined H Sub, commanded by Staff Sgt Pritchard.
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In addition to the Bofors 40/70 gun, each Sub was also equipped with Radar Fire Control Equipment 7 (FCE7), a large radar set used for target acquisition and tracking. Last but not least was the large (and noisy) diesel powered generator which ran for 24 hours a day supplying the power for the equipments and also for the Sub accommodation, command post, cookhouse and that most important of places - the bar for our off duty time!
I soon settled into the Sub's daily routine (although the noise of the generator kept me awake for the first night until I got used to the row). Being the new boy I was given the Subs Bren gun to look after, as well as my SLR.
There was a lot for me to learn, especially about our Bofors 40/70 gun, an updated version of the World War 2 weapon. It could be operated manually by the detachment (the "ground role"), powered by the generator or remotely operated in conjunction with the FCE 7 radar Gun drill was carried out on most days, and every gun detachment member was expected to carry out any gun number role. On the gun platform, in the ground role, Numbers 2 and 3 sat in seats and traversed the gun and barrel by operating handles. Number 4 operated the breech and firing mechanism and with the Number 5, loaded the 4 round clips of ammunition into the breech hoppers. Number 6 was positioned at the rear of the gun and replenished the ammunition racks at the rear of the gun platform. Number 7 was the NCO in charge of the gun detachment and the Number 1 was the Staff Sergeant in overall control of the Sub. As I say - a lot to learn! I soon learnt that there were plenty of steel parts on the gun seemingly designed to catch unwary young Gunners' shins This was especially true when we were ordered to "Take Post" - man the gun, or "Detachments Rear" - dismount from the gun, both done as fast as possible. I still have the scars!
30 Bty Gun Asahan Ranges Malaysia 1965 |
As well as gun drill, I also learnt to operate the FCE 7 radar, the generator, man the command post on Battery radio net listening watch, maintain the equipment, maintain the site (lots of sandbag filling round the equipment). I also learnt to recognise all the aircraft operating at that time, both by our side (for obvious reasons), and also by the Indonesians. We carried our personal weapons everywhere - a trip to the shower with towel, flip-flops and rifle was a bit strange at first!
The gun Troops would either
be on an Alert 2 readiness state (two minutes warning) which entailed stand
-tos at dusk and dawn on the equipment, as well as our normal duties or
Alert 10 (10 minutes warning), which was more relaxed - without the stand
-tos .
If Alert 0 (imminent
threat/ or an unidentified aircraft sighting) were initiated, all Battery
gun detachments would take post.
Battery HQ staff manned
observation posts at various locations several miles away from the airfield
and would report all aircraft sightings over the Battery radio net
In addition to all our daily duties, we also carried out the normal night guards. One night, on duty in the site lookout tower, I noticed several armed men advancing along the outside of the airfield perimeter wire towards the Sub position. I was scared to death, but then shouted the classic "Halt who goes there" challenge, at the same time cocking the Bren gun. They all dived to the ground with loud cries of "Don't shoot Johnny!" They turned out to be a patrol of the Singapore Guard Regiment who was based in Kuching. No one had informed us that they were patrolling the airfield area...
Fete in Nee Soon (3images) |
As well as airfield defence,
we were also tasked to carry out infantry patrols in the jungle areas around
Kuching because of the threat from the Clandestine Communist Organisation
(CCO) insurgents who were active at the time. During one patrol we were
approaching one of the kampongs (villages) in the area along a jungle path
when we were "ambushed" by a Chinese gent pedalling a "Stop me and buy
one" ice cream bike", complete with bell. To our disappointment (and his!)
he'd sold all his ice-lollies in the village
On another occasion the
patrol leader was taking compass bearings to navigate. We left the track
we were on, hacked our hot and sweaty way through the thick jungle to emerge
about an hour later about 30 yards onto the same track We also carried
out night observation operations near various kampongs suspected of having
CCO sympathisers
Several times we travelled up to the border areas to see how other units were operating. In June 65, we went on a trip to a place called Bau, where there was a big lake where we were able swim. I remember that the Royal Australian Regiment were deployed nearby - we were impressed with the dozens of empty Tiger beer cans festooned over their barbed wire defences. These contained pebbles, which would rattle if anyone tried to get through the wire. What a labour of love it must have been for the Aussies to empty all those beer cans...!
Trip to Bau 5 images |
Another border area we visited was Balai Ringgan, where there was an infantry unit, together with a Royal Artillery 5.5 inch gun position. During our tour, gunners from 30 Battery were deployed there to man the 4.2-inch mortars firing in support of the ground units. Battery legend has it that one mortar round scored a direct hit on the cookhouse!!
Whenever we left the site for patrols or operations we formed up by the Battery office just outside the airfield entrance, there was always time for a mug of tea and fried egg banjo from the charwallahs tent!
We also practised Internal Security riot training drill complete with the "Disperse or we fire" banners, steel helmets, barbed wire, fixed bayonets etc. After being (too) enthusiastically pelted with missiles by our mates designated as rioters, we would target and take out the riot ringleaders (they always seemed to wear red shirts!). This always caused much amusement to the off duty RAF lads in their nearby huts.
During our off duty time we were able have a few Tiger beers in our Sub bar, visit other Subs or the RAF's Malcolm Club on the airfield. We could even brave a trip to downtown Kuching, although we had to be back by midnight or face arrest for being AWOL on active service
During one off duty period, each B Troop sub made a raft out of 45gallon drums and bamboo, which we sailed on a nearby river. True to form, the only non-swimmer on the H sub raft fell overboard!
Whilst we were based on the gun sites, each Sub had a ration allowance to purchase fresh food from a local contractor. The downside to this was that one of the Gunners had to cook it. After a few disastrous attempts, the better cooks were persuaded to do it on a regular basis, helped by letting the duty cook off the night guard (stag)!
30 Battery completed it's first Borneo tour in September 1965, being relieved by T Battery of 12 Regiment RA. We loaded all our equipment onto the Landing Ship "Sir Lancelot", and then embarked for the 3-day voyage back to Singapore.
On return to Nee Soon camp we moved into one of the large barrack blocks, one Troop to a floor. We soon met the various "wallahs" - civilians who provided the essential services - the dhobi Wallah (laundry), Boot wallah (an ancient Indian guy, who could bull a pair of boots to Guards standard in about 10 minutes) and the "Sew-Sew", an old dear who tailored our uniforms. The Char wallah set up his urn in a little storeroom adjacent to the barrack block and did a roaring trade in tea and snacks with ever-hungry young Gunners.
Another character was "Scouse", an old Chinese guy who drove a battered old Morris van around the camp, selling soft drink and delicious curried pasties, which were second to none. He had become used to the dire financial straits of the average British soldier over the years and sold his goods on credit until the next payday. This worked very well even though he complained to us about a couple of bad payers listed in his book - "Gunner Robin Hood" and "Gunner M Mouse".
Life at Nee Soon was a bit more relaxed than in Borneo and the Battery commenced a busy routine of training courses and maintenance on the equipments, which were lined up on the gun park, a large square adjacent to the barrack block. Working dress in the Battery area was shorts and boots. Away from the area we wore the normal OG uniform shirts and shorts complete with the ridiculous hose tops and puttees.
Due to the heat and humidity, we worked until lunchtime with afternoons free, although we did work for two full days per week later in the tour. On Wednesday afternoons, as is traditional in the Army, we played sports. We often went to the Britannia Club, a forces club in Singapore right opposite the Raffles Hotel, for a swim and few beers.
Britannia Club 2 images |
I completed a driver training course on our 10 ton AEC Matador trucks The examiner for my driving test was the Battery Sergeant Major (imagine how relaxed I was!). After rattling around the roads in the Singapore rush hour, at the end of my test, he commented on my efforts: "You were bloody terrible, Treen, but we need the drivers. You've passed"
During our time at Nee Soon we travelled to Asahan ranges on the Malay peninsula to carry out a live firing exercise, firing our guns in the ground role. We also went to a firing range at an offshore island called China Rock, where our guns were positioned right on the beach. We fired at red target sleeves, which were towed by Canberra aircraft - at the end of a very long cable! China Rock was memorable only for the heat and the millions of flies that swarmed everywhere.
In September 65, H Sub attended the local Gurkha / Malay fete in Nee Soon, where we set up our gun to give the kids rides. We were soaked in a terrific monsoon storm just before the fete started, (that's my excuse for my scruffy look in the photos anyway!)
About this time, the Regiments families arrived from the UK, moving into married quarters in Singapore.
Later in the year, the Battery deployed to the airfield at RAF Changi, a few miles from Nee Soon. We were positioned at gun sites outside the airfield perimeter.
The H Sub gun site was located at a pleasant position on the Changi seafront right next to the sea. We carried out the same routine as in Borneo, with Alert 10 and Alert 2 states, and more training courses. This time we had an old Chinese bloke,"Pop", who did our catering - he was a much better cook than us. We also had a locally enlisted Gunner join the Sub. He was a Sikh who lived in Singapore, and instead of a beret, wore an OG turban with RA cap badge. He was a good lad and soon settled in, even though he said he couldn't do guard duty one night because his wife was expecting him home for dinner. Our No 1 gently explained to him how things would work in the future.... We spent our first overseas Christmas in Changi. I was off duty on Christmas Day and remember going for a swim. We were visited by our BC, Major Bell with some beer and a bottle of whisky for each sub. Later that day, Geoff Allen, one of the Bombardiers in the Sub, kindly invited us off duty lads back to his married quarters to share a Christmas Day meal with his family. A great gesture much appreciated by us young lads away from home.
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Between March and May 1966, I went back to Nee Soon to attend a Regimental Medical Assistants course. The idea was to provide medical cover on our patrols during our next deployment to Borneo. Most of the other lads on the course were from the Hampshire Regiment. We learnt about treatment of gunshot wounds amongst many other things, and occasionally worked in the British Medical Hospital (BMH) in Singapore. During those visits, I remember learning to give injections - we practised on the poor old wounded Gurkhas - as if they hadn't suffered enough!
Medical Assistants course |
The Battery celebrated Waterloo Day in June with various activities involving a lot of beer, before leaving Changi for its second Borneo tour. B Troop flew out aboard an RAF Argosy aircraft, which developed a fault halfway over and had to return to Changi. We made it on the next attempt!
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We deployed to the same Kuching gun sites we had occupied during our first tour and we carried out the same air defence and jungle patrolling duties as before. During this tour we also had additional colleagues from Regimental Headquarters with us to qualify for the 30 days service for their General Service medals. I remember one of the Battery Quartermaster's staff arriving at the gun site one day with our medals and a massive roll of medal ribbon from which he cut a piece for each of us. This was after he had carried out his important job - delivering the Tiger beer! The one person who did deserve his medal was the RAF guy who drove a wagon round the airfield every day emptying all the chemical toilets!
During this tour, following my Medical Assistant training. I went out on more jungle patrols to provide medical cover, which thankfully was never required.
The battery's tour ended in September and this time we flew back to Singapore in a RAF Hastings aircraft. We were once again deployed to RAF Changi. During this deployment, the confrontation with Indonesia finally ended and we returned to Nee Soon.
Docking in Singapore |
In November 1966, after a hectic period in which we packed and loaded all our guns and equipment at Singapore docks for the voyage home, topped up our tans, and bought new made to measure suits from the tailor in Nee Soon, 16 Regiment flew back to the UK. We were all looking forward to a spell of leave before our new posting to Barton Stacey on Salisbury Plain
Paul Treen |
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