On arriving at Singapore on the Empire Deben, a troopship which seemed to have a permanent list, we were transported to Fort Canning to await postings. A first memory here was of the noise of the insect world outside the room followed by a high pitched screaming which upon investigation turned out to be a frog with one leg up to its groin swallowed by a snake. There was a very grateful frog when we went outside and frightened the snake, causing it to let go of its prey and scarper. Then there was the periodic failure of the lights caused by a Gecko getting into the fuse box and shorting the busbars. Our learning curve was on a fast upward climb! We were also told not to try and come in the back way because the Gurkhas were on guard there with Kukris. It might have been a tale but we never tested it!
Then came the move to 19 AFS. We were collected by a sergeant and a 15 Cwt and transported to Pasir Ris. On entry to the Red Road we were told that the hut on the right was Out Of Bounds to us squaddies but it was OK for the sergeant. We never did find out why! Having obtained bedding etc. we were allocated to tents and shown around to the essential features. What were these you may ask. Well— the double six-a-side latrines at the top of the hill, the night comfort stations, the showers, the preventative ablutions and of course the NAAFI. These were followed up by the laundry point, messhall and the holy of holies THE OFFICERS MESS. There were other places but we gradually discovered them, places like the guard station on the Pagar or the one down by the stores.
Our first official function was to parade on the Officers Mess lawn for a welcome by the Colonel. We were told of the Regimental ethos, what was expected of us and when, where and what our duties were to be. This was finally ended with a warning which has remained with me to this day. The Colonel finished with this "Remember that you are in a hot country and will often feel fruity. I do not want you going down to those dirty little whores in Singapore. Put on a sweater and go for a bloody good run!" You could see the sweater clad bodies every night!
I can remember the first night guard on the Pagar, there were the eyes glittering on the beach in the beam of the searchlight, then what turned out to be fishermen with their lanterns who landed on the end of the Pagar. O dear, to shoot or not to shoot for we did have live ammunition and there was the possibility of terrorist attack. Fortunately the sergeant of the guard answered the anguished HELP very speedily. The fishermen were spared.
Work was in Changi at the Signals block where we became acquainted with the WRAF girls and looked after the exchange and the communications landlines to Seletar, Sembawang and Tengah. Also the teleprinters in the signal centre.
My twenty first birthday memory remains with me to this day. I was taken by my friends and two WRAF girls to The London Restaurant in the village where we wined and dined before attempting an unsteady walk to return the girls back to the WRAF quarters. On the way we called into the exchange where all the girls wished me Happy Birthday. I was then introduced, at the gate, to all of the girls returning to quarters who felt it their bounden duty to give me a kiss for my birthday. Ah memories of youth!
Another memory is of the move from Elim Camp to permanent billets in Changi followed by the arrival of the PT kit clad Elim Camp Yacht Club members at the white shirt, shorts, socks and shoes clad Changi Yacht Club. I am not sure who received the greatest culture shock. Nevertheless we were made very welcome.
Then there was leave to Penang, a fantastic experience. Begun with two overnight journeys separated by a twelve hour day in Kuala Lumpur. Before leaving we were each given a Sten Gun and three full magazines. Our instructions in the event of the train being attacked were to leap out, deploy at the trackside and return fire. I am happy to say our journey was completely peaceful.
In the early part of 1949 I was transferred to 2 Squadron where I was to take over the detachment of nine men at Tengah from a Corporal who was about to return home to Boston, Lincolnshire. Having moved onto the station I made myself known to the Station Warrant Officer and was taken by him in to see the Wing Commander. Being an RAF station the way of life was much relaxed. For instance they only required beds to be made up but not laid out with equipment.
This of course led to another little problem. Those of you who served in Changi will remember that one of the first jobs enjoining the regiment was to scrub all webbing white. For some of those on detachment who had missed this requirement if and when they returned to Changi they were expected to have scrubbed equipment. At the time that seemed to be an unnecessary amount of work for someone who was only passing through on his way home. So, those who came out from regiment swopped gear and hoped that they were never posted back. This blancoed gear was then stowed at the back of the locker never to be seen again, with luck!
One of the first difficulties experienced was how to keep nine men gainfully occupied on what would have been part of a one man load had we been working for GPO telephones. We had a small manual exchange, a number of teleprinters and of course the telephones in various places around the station. Generally the relationships between the services were very good but from time to time little problems arose like the time a new Wing Commander arrived straight out of, I believe, Fighter Command in England. He asked for, nay demanded, a telephone system between his clerk, office and switchboard that did not exist in 19 AFS's inventory of stores, So, much effort was put into designing and building something in an old battery box with a yaxley switch to change connections. This was installed but he was never very happy with it! It was eventually removed.
There came a time when we required to move underground pairs about, so a jointer from Seletar was called in. The cable to Flying Control was opened and that to the transmitter site. The cables were replumbed and everyone went home. Later that evening the rain started and the lights started coming up on the switchboard. Flying Control was off the air as were the transmitters. The new joints on both cables were porous due to the plumbing lead having been incorrectly mixed. Next day we had a party of coolies in to dig the cables out so that they could be replaced, but what a surprise for a young westerner - they were all female!
One of the pleasures of being on a small station was that one only had to go down to Flying Control and see the pilots who were on night flying and ask if you could go with them. As a consequence I flew in a Dakota and the C in C's Avro York. This latter four engined aircraft was handled like a fighter with a threat that it would cost you $10 if you were sick on the carpet It was fantastic to see Singapore by night from about 1,500 feet.
There are many more memories, motorcycle trials, trips to Singapore and meeting and making friends. For the two years that I spent in the Army I feel that I received good value in return.
There is one last memory to which I would like to know the answer. Just before I was due on the troopship for home we detachment staff suffered an inspection by the 2 Squadron CSM and OC. Everything was going fine until we arrived at our top floor billet. They went all regimental, wanting to know why we had not made our beds up and laid our kit out. I explained diplomatically that we were on an RAF station and had complied for years to their Standing Orders. I was informed that I and all of the Detachment could be charged for not obeying Regimental Standing Orders. However, they would speak to the Wing Commander before we complied. I remember hot footing it to the Station Warrant Officer and explaining our predicament to him. He in turn spoke to the Wing Commander who asked us to lay out our kit as per regiment on the next due inspection day. The inspection party duly arrived and they were impressed despite our multi coloured webbing. They went away saying that they were so impressed that they were giving consideration to getting their RAF types to do the same layout! Fortunately I left next day and still do not know the outcome of this little dispute.
Cpl Peter Wall Changi 1948-Tengah 1949
