Right of Picture be low Veh Park - HQ Sqn Officers & Tp Rooms'. Right Foreground; Garrison Sports G'round In the Backgrouni:f-, 9 Hole Golf .'
VIEW OF PAROl CAMP, SEREMBAN FROM THE AIR.
COMMAN DJ NG OFFICER S MESSAGE
THERE HAS BEEN PLENTY OF ENTHUSIASM TO START THIS QUARTERLY ACCOUNT OF THE REGIMENT AND HERE IS THE FIRST EDITION OF I ACORN).
IT IS DESIGNED TO KEEP THE REGIMENT, ITSELF SPLIT OVER SOME 750 MILES IN FOUR SQUADRONS/DETACHMENTS, IN TOUCH WITH THE MOUNTED SQUADRON, AND TRAINING SQUADRON AND THE MANY LIFE GUARDS DETACHED AT ERE.
THE MORE CONTRIBUTIONS THE BETTER BUT IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO COMPETE WITH 'PLAYBOY'.
IT IS THE ACCOUNTS AND STORIES SENT IN BY READERS WHICH WILL MAKE 'ACORN' THE SUCCESS I AM SURE IT WILL BE.
RH Q (Seremban)
The Regimental move from Wind
sor to FARELF was split up from 29
May when 'Cl Squadron advance party
flew off to 5 July when our rear party,
the Quartermaster arrived.
British Eagle flew the Regiment
out and looked after us all surprisingly
well. So far as I know there were no
complaints from the Air Hostesses.
There was an official send off from London Airport on 20 June for the main flight with the Commanding Officer, Major T. R.S. Gooch and the Adjutant on board.
The authorities at London Airport were very helpful and loaned us the Kingsford Suite where a number of officers gathered to see us off including our Colonel and many Officers under whom we had served. We were glad to hear that British Eagle have offered to pay for the entertainment'
For the first tiine ever a :Regiment was allowed to have a band playing on the Apron by the Aeroplane to see ''''1: off. This was a tremendous success and the band was easily heard above the roar of the jets.
It was reputed more people watched our departure than the Beatles normally have.
The flight took 27 hours. First stop Abadan on the Persian Gulf.
We landed at 0230 brs with the temperature at 920 f. We had to stop here for 3 hours - .lne flight with IB' Squardon advance party were stuck here for 2 days with engine failure. Beer cost 5/- a bottle and petrol 2d a gallon.
Second stop was Colombo. This was far more pleasant and made a
welcome change from Abadan. We even saw what appeared to be a recruiting poster of The Life Guards in the Airport lounge. The Quartermaster somehow managed to delay hiB take-off from Colombo by 3 days.
On arrival at Kuala Lumpur we were met by the Second-in-Command and the other members of the advance party.
The Regiment had a smooth hand over from 4 RTR. The RCM has been kept busy supervising the painting over of the 'sprocket' signs and erasing various other 'tank' features from the camp.
We are now getting down to a steady daily rOI. me. Politically and Militarily all is quiet. At the time of writing D enis Healey has just Malaysia after comprehensive tour. There are the normal rumours floating around the Regiment about our imminent withdrawal back to Englanq but not substantaited yet!
The ATV have been busy filming both The Life Guards in Borneo and The 1st Bn Scots Guards at Tetendak for a documentarj film on The Household Brigade.
The film unit had already covered the Ceremonial side. It is hoped this film will help to destroy the image that the Household Brigade never served outside London.
They have filmed '0 Squardon fighting their wars in Sarawak. Also Officers of The Life Guards and Scots Guards dinner night. It is hoped the conversation will be well edited. The team are now returning via Aden where they hope to capture a certain amount of excitment with the Welsh Guards in
snake was found to have just the Radfan. swallowed a hen-feathers and all.
HOUSEHOLD BRIGA TE DINNERSINGAPORE
We dined on 8 JULY -1 SG have representatives of all Foot Guard Regiments on their strength so it proved a unique gathering, giving us a chance of meeting the Blues and Scots Guards. A good dinner was enjoyed by some 80 people.
STOP-PRESS (Seremban). 24th July
The Guard was called out last night shoot a 12ft python that was terrorising the locals nearby. CoH Reynolds eventually shot it with two well aimed shots ;. 8terling. The
The reptile is now being skinned by CoH Reynolds.
CONGRATULATORY
The Commanding Officer oongratulates TQMC GARDNER CoR MILLAR, and Tpr ARNOLD on their performances in the NEGERI SEMBILAN State Athletics Championships on Friday 29 Jul 66 and Saturday 30 Jul 66.
TQMC GARDNER reached the Final in Shot Put, DiSCUS, and Javelin; CoR MLLLAR was FIRST in the Discus and SECOND in the Shot Put; Tpr ARNOLD came FIRST in the Shot Put.
HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON NOTES
We flew out on five different flights, all from London Airport via Abodan and Colombo to the New luxurious airport outside Kuala Lumpur. The Advance Party left London on Sunday 5th June and included such stalwarts as ROMC RODGER (18 Stone), TOMC GARDNER (17 St 8 Ibs), and the Master Cook (I quote "What, stripped sir? Oh, about 161/2 to 17 stone". The difference depends presumably on the time of day/night!). Other heavyweights like Cpl McCORKELL helped to make the flight very smooth Incidentally Cpl McCORKELL made his mark with 4RTR by singing a much appreciated "Farewell" to them in the JRC.
The only HO Squadron flight de layed was the rear party aerop lane with the unaccompanied OM on board. His wife was already here. Capt SANT spent three nights in Colombu, accommodated with the air hostesses, and is the only person of any Squadron who has not complained at being delayed en route. He is, of course, a very tolerant man, as Tpr DEAN knows.
There is no doubt that the Adjutant and the Chief Clerk organised the move extreme Iy capably.
Everyone was here, less one deserter whose debts in England caught up with him by Wednesday 29th June, by which time the advance Party had everything under control one way or another. They all worked extremely hard and the takeover went smoothly and efficiently thanks to cooperation on both sides. The Squadron Leader is now satisfied that he has mastered the art of decentralisation and in the handover period put on weight, and did 10 minutes work signing the takeover certificates in triplicate.
Mr SHEEFLELD and LCoH DEAN
word of praise. There are, at the time of writi ng a tota I of 127 fami Iies here and this is an achievement under any circumstances. Individual families may have problems which to them are sorted out slowly, but I am sure every family realises that their problem is one amongst scores of others for the Fami lies Staff •
Some of the locals are a bit difficult to get through to. The official photographer is Chinese and in the very early days came to the Camp to take photographs of wives for their ID Cards. Mrs BELLlS, the EME's wife, already had some photographs. The photographer was asked whether they were the right size: were they too big or were they too small? Back came the reply, "Velly good, you want two big and two small. 11
The offi c ia I doctri ne is that the locals are friendly. Tpr SCOTT had the window of his Landrover shattered by a well aimed stone in SEREMBAN on about 10th June and we reckon is the first Life Guard to be on the receiving end of a hostile missile in Malaysia. -C Sqn p lease note!
The RCM, amongst many other jobs,
TPR Shuffle Botham cleans a SMG the Families Staff, deserve a special outside his kingdom.
has become Manager of the Regimental MT with LCoH SCAMADINE as foremon ably assisted by Cpl MILLER and Lcpl WALTON. As ever the MT Troop is pushed. Trucks go out every morni ng and evening to bring in and take home the married soldiers, which means an early start. We share this chore with 'B' Sqn. Cpl RANDS, the Post Cpl needs a Landrover all day and Cpl Cook has one every morning to get the sick out of the MI Room and despatched to BMH TERENDAK. Also to TERENDAK goes the Ration Truck to get Cpl SHOTTON's indent. He looks very well fed.
The cooks are sweating it out in the Cookhouse and producing as always their now accepted high standard of food. There is no doubt that their place of work is hotter than anywhere else: they get on with it, don't complain and remain cheerful.
Another hot job is Regimental Arms Sloreman. The Armoury is a corrugatediron Nissen hut in which Tpr SHUFFLEBOTHAM works voluntari Iy in an atmosphere like the hot-house at Kew. Maybe he is trying to develope something I
The Air 'Squadron is commanded by Major SMITH who has stayed on from
the 4RTR. At Seremban they have 1 Auster and 3 Sioux and the pi lots are Maj SMITH and Mr HARCOURT SMITH. CoH SKYRING and Capt SALTER from 16/5L should be joining soon. CoH POYNTER is i/c Ground Crew. In BRUNEI there is the other half of the Squadron with Mr HAWORTHBOOTH, ROYALS, CoH FRANKLlN, Cpl TONKINS, Tprs GILBEY and WHYTE. They moved there very soon after arriving from England, much to their surprise. Tpr DIGNEY, we imagine amongst other duties, represents the Air Sqn at Welfare Meetings where he complains, on we knew not whose behalf, that the beer in the JRC is too weak. There are also a large number of very skilled gentlemen led by Sgt CATCHPOLE and Sgt NASH who bear the heavy responsibility of keeping the aircraft safe to fly. Mr HARCOURT SMITH had to make a forced landing the other day near Kuala Lumpur. When he realised he was in trouble, he radioed that he was going to make a forced landing. Back through his earphones came the comforting message from somewhere, "OK, report when you land at ParoL" With great skill he landed safely on a Sports field out in the Ulu.
There 0 two fi I"" 0 week. to be
TPR Digney about to take off!
increased next month to three, shown in the Regimental Cinema. They are run by the Royal Signals Troop,by Mr STANLEY and Sgt BROWNLlE. Cpl JOY is the projectionist. The film shows are fairly popular as there is not a fat lost to do in the evenings. Some of the films are a bit old, and the News Reels (full supporting programme) are a few months behind. It is not easy to forget that the For East is at the end of the Pipeline.
Q TWEEDIE and the Pay Staff are busy filling in forms for well earned Di sturbance Allowance and sorti ng out everyone's pay. They took on from 4RTR an ancient adding machine which is soon to be presented to the Pay Corps Museum. It still works manually, but the electric motor blows all the lights in camp and doesn't work the machine.
The Tech QM has lost another hair from his head! CoH THEAKSTON is moving to join the Blues Squadron in Singapore and it is rumoured that Cpl McCORKELL is going' to be the Tech rep of the Air Squadron in Burnei. (And he hasn't had a replacement for Lcpl HUSSEY l).
The Camp entrance is being pai .... ted. The Regimental sign is extremely smart in the correct shade of red. Other colours to be seen are blue (4RTR colour) and plenty of white. The Sheriff, lCoH JOHNSON, and his staff are really getting their knees brown by wearing shorts. The RP Staff consists of Trumpeter Lcpl WHITE, Tprs STRONG and GREEN, and Tptrs BALSHAWand POLLlTT. The latter two have been booked by the Military Police for examing Out of Bounds alleys in Seremban to ensure no Life Gurads are led astrayl At the time of writing; there have been no trumpets calls. The music lovers are looking forward to hearing the rich clear notes ring out, followed by the roar of "Play that f. againl"
A 7-aside Football League and Cup Competition is being organized by Cpl VOLLER and Tpr BLJONES. 'B' Sqn and
HQ will provide two terms each,so will the LAD, and the RAPC and Royal Signals are amalgamating to produce a team. It is an excellent thing to find something being organised by a Cpl and a Tpr and they deserve maximum support.
Everybody likes to have a dig at the Orderly Room! A mammoth sort out is going on. Power points for the electric duplicator, the Thermofax machine and the 21C's dictophone have been installed. Cpl JENKINS sits firmly on a chair in front of a typewriter with the dictaphone ear-phones plugged into his ears. From the expression on his face he might be Iisteni ng to' the Jodre 11 Bank Radid - telescope, but' in fact it is the noises made by the RCM dispersing with the telephone. Tpr MORGAN beavers away on the duplicator which, alas,does not attach annexures to lerters for him. There is plenty of paper about and the thought of having to move all the Orderly Roam Staff and their paper into the field conjures up pictures; of 10 ton lorries. To be perfectly fair the Orderly Room is the Nerve Centre of the Regiment; it is efficient; all its staff are he Ipfu I and possess a sense of humour. Heaven help them if they didn't.
HQ Squadron has plenty to do. It suffers, if that is the right word, from a high proportion of Chiefs to Indians. Guard comes round too often, particularly when I B' Sqn is out. We rightly take our turn in all the chores, like providing Swimming Pool Orderlies at Rasah Camp ,and Cash Escorts at Kua la Lumpur airport. SCM CLARKE is the rock on which Departments throw their generally good humoured abuse about getting off the Orderly Corporal roll cnd other fatigures. SQMC GIBSON wrestles successfully with the NCOs' Mess accounts and anything else you care to name. Cpl CHERRINGTON's typing is quick but a little inaccurate sometimes.
Our job is not glamorous and im(Contd to Page 11)
"8" SQUADRON (Seremban)
The Squadron flew out on various aircraft but was eventually assembled complete at Paroi Camp on 27th July. The advance party under Captain N. S. LAWSON had a satisfactory take over from A Squadron 4 RTR and the Squadron soon settled down, getting to know its new vechiles and accustoming itself to having eight Saladins of its own instead of one or two borrowed from the gunnery wing at WINDSOR.
After various troops had explored the local roads and found out which bridges were up the weight of SAC IS the whole Squadron moved to the Central Manoeuvre Areaon the 12 July. It poured with rain on the journey out but, apart from CoH LERWELVs SAC which slid into a ditch, the whole Squadron arrived at the harbour area intact.
It was not long, however, before we discovered that although the vechiles were clean and road-worthy when we took them over there were no spares held nearer than Singapore. Four cars had to be. returned to camp because we did not bold the spares
with which to repair them; jobs that would have taken a few hours at the most. In spite of this handicap we managed to achieve some useful training and the Tech QM is rapidly putting the spares situation on a proper basis.
At the time of writing (25th July) two and six troops are in KONGKOI training area, on their feet being put through paces by an enthusiastic Sergeant Major from the Royal Australian Artillery, 4 troop under SQMC STRATFORD are exploring the possibilities of training on the East Coast some 300 miles from here.
The language courses attended by the SQMCs' before the Regiment arrived here have· stood us in good stead. It was perhaps unfortunate but the Sqn Ldr overheard SQMC MILLER practising his linguistic ability on a Malay youth in the Sqn harbour area. Having politely asked him how he was in Malay and receiving no reply other than an extremely puzzled look on the youth's face, the SQMC relapsed into his native tongue wlth:- What's tile
B SON EXERCISt. 1
SCM MacDonald with Lt Charteris land in a Paddyfield
BSON EXERCISE
During a lull in the fighting Tprs Barnes, Barratt, Hallworth, Neal & CoH Whittle enjoy a pineapple.
B SON
EXE"RCiSE
(pIOsgood
has his
mosquito
bites
attended to by Tpr Aspinall, in the background 2 Tp.
B SON EXERCISE
CoH Lerweli's short cut to the exercise area
the matter with you then? Don't you speak F ••••. g Malay?".
We are taking part in several exercises with our fox-hound friends in the near future. It is interestmg to note that exercise names are no more original in FARELF than elsewhere, SHARP KUKRI and JUNGLE DRUM being two examples.
At the end of September we are due to go to the Asahan ranges for two days and in November we are due to relieve 'Cl Squadron at Wong - Padong though whether there will still be an armoured car Squadron needed there is now very much open to doubt.
STOP PRESS BUNNIES MUST WORK HARD
OR GO
Stories of inadequate service at London's playboy club hove led to 0 warning that some of the bunnies may lose the ir jobs if they do not work horder, eight girls hove been ordered to undergo intensive training during their time off to raise productivity levels.
" 8" Squadron (Seremban) ( Cont'd from Page 8.) possible to define. We do virtually anything. Tpr JEWELL, the carpenter, has made Tpr COUSINS" bay a pair of cruthches so he is now mobile, though whether he could make Tpr COUSINS a pair is questionable I There is no doubt that the Squadron is becoming more of a Squadron, rather than a collection of separate Departments all with conflicting interests.
This is a long screed keeping up the traditions of pushing out plenty of paper. It has been impossible to mention every member of the Squadron by name. For every soldier named there is another unnamed, who is just as important in keeping the administrative set up turning over. As a Iways we are undermanned. There are plenty of spare seats!
STOP PRESS
wall HAYES, APTC, IS SETTING UP A "KEEP-FIT" ROOM IN HQ SQN LINES.
On Wednesday 8th June the Main Party left Combermere for Singapore. The flight from London Airport was uneventful. although the bar. geared for a mixture of both servicemen and their families. was unable to cope with the excessive demand for beer. Memories of the flight are on the whole pleasant. luckily only a short stop at Abadan. Good food at ddd times, the final evening meal being at ten in the morning Greenwich mean time, and after each stop interesting anticipation about the next shift of air hostesses. The main party were met in the sweltering heat of Singapore Airport by Major Baillie. the Squadron Ltmder. Captain Smiley and 2/Lt Van Cutsem all looking cool. tropical and knowledgeable after their few days on the Advance Party.
In Singapore the Squadron was accommodated in Nee Soon Garrison at the Far East Training Centre. Here we met the Assault troop who were full of rugged tales of the Jungle Warfare School. These were received with a fairly ·heavy pinch of salt but also a slight leeling of apprehension.
The week-end was spent settling in, getting used to the intense heat and sampling local pleasures. It Wll6 quickly discovered that Singapore may be cheap for cameras and watches but as Corporal Major Harlow and most of the Senior NCO's found a lot of dollars could go very quickly down in the town itself.
second advance party left early for Changiand the flight across to Kuching and the main party went at a more respectable hour to the Jungle Warfare School. This is across the Causeway into Malaysia and in all about an hour away from Nee Soon. Once we had arrived our instructors from the Scots Guards explained the secrets of how to pack and fit masses of dark green webbing with which we had been issued This brought back memories of basic training but luckily no need for blanco or bras so. After various demonstrations and a film. the party. divided into two platoons. left for forty-eight hours in the dreaded "ulu" This quickly dispelled any preconceived ideas of a tropical paradise. We learnt to build bashes and make a night harbour. some very basic tactics and
Cpl Maj Harlow about to prow around the camp .. immediate action drills, compass marching and probably hardest of all how to keep quiet in the jungle. The whole thing was only a taste of what infantry men have to do but it gave everybody an idea of jungle survival and what is expected of an infantry battalion in the Far East, We were lucky in having such excellent instructors.
The return to Nee Soon was followed by a quiet week-end, most people being broke, and half the main party left for Borneo early on Monday morning. The remainder flew on Thursday 23rd June after a few spare days which included a trip to the Naval Base and some sport. An enjoyable game of basket ball was played with the Gurkhas) and Tpr Walls refereed one of their games,
Wong Padong is some 120 miles from Kuching and it is a hot and dusty four hours in the back of a three tonner. However the camp is a pleasant surprise with pretty good accommodation and the Squadron soon settled· in. One troop under Lieut Petherick and CoH Fincken is detached with a Royal Marine Company at Sungei Tenggang about forty miles away. They have their own little camp
and seem to be very happy catching butterflies and scorpions.
The remaining troops are based on Wong Padong. The Armoured Car Troops work a roster of Stand by troop, sitting in camp ready to move at five minutes notice, Duty troops providing cars for escorts, mail runs and routine patrols, and two reserve troops. These carry out day and night road blocks, further patrols, firing and maintenance. The support troop under 2/Lt Hanbury and CoH Stewart have come into their own doing plenty of patrols some with the Marines others by themselves. They have their own area and carry out routine patrols and ambushes, sometimes by the day and sometimes from four to sL'C days out. There are also two long boats and one assault boat for river patrols.
SHQ do a dull but important job manning the underground Ops room. In here there is the Squadron forward net, rear link to the Marines and daily calls to. both RHQ at Seremban and HQ Midwest Brigade. The Ops room is a reasonable place to work except when the electricity fails and, without the air conditioning unit, it rapidly resembles the Black Hole of Culcutta.
COMBERMERE SQUARE
CoH Stewart & Col Kelly
SQMC King & SQMC Bloke outside the MT Office
WONG PADONO CAMP
On right Tp Rooms, In Centre Cookhouse, and on left Combermere Square
Port of 5 Tp Rood .Iock but with Major Edgedale & Copt Hartigan talking with Lt Percy Davla
The Echelon clock up a large mileage resupplying the Squadron and the detached troop. Cpl Robinson has becGlIle the rations expert and we all trust he is not being hotted by Yong Thai who has the rations contract. CoH Theobald and the cooks provide a good fare in "Chubbley's Chop House". Tpr Knowles has one of the most vital tasks runing the "Wokers Water Board" This entails pumping water from the river below the camp up into a filtration plant and thence to a storage tank at the top From here, all things being equal, it reaches all cook..,houses and wash houses. Last but by no means least the LAD troop and the attached signallers have a very hlsy time keeping the vehicles and radios working and patching up the electricity generator.
To describe the camp itself. It is. on the side of a hill roughly in the shape of aT.. The Officer's and NCO's Messes being at the ends of the High Street, the cross piece. The Ops room and the Troops Car park is at the Junction. Coming down the hill one passes the troops rooms, named after well remembered Windsor pubs, cookhouse, NAAFI and dhobi. At the bottom of the hill there is a small square (Combermere Square) with the LAD, Tech, MT and Signals stores and a thriving Charwallahs shop. Beneath this is a further hut housing SQMC King's Aladdin's Cave and the MI room. Finally there is the Squadron Office and the day Guardroom at the Camp entrance. It is an impressive view from the camp looking across to and beyond the border and on most evenings there is a superb sunset.
There are a number of civilians working in the camp running the dhobi, tailors, barbers and Charwallah's shops. Also some local labour employed on various maintenance tasks, in particular the never ending job of patching up the appalling road that runs up the camp,Peascod Street. The locals
are both charming and friendly hlt amazingly indolent, just giggling at Cpl McIvor's threats of sacking and worst punishments. The "hearts and minds' policy is maintained by visits to long houses. These are fascinating and friendly but most visitors end up with a headache after more than a sufficiency of Tuac or the real fire water Arac. Patrols take medical orderlies to Visit Long-house and there is a daily dick parade for the locals. Cpl Mitchell and Pte Hamilton have yet to delIver a baby but the chance must come soon. (While this was being written the chance in fact came and Hamilton delivered his first baby.
To conclUde, the Squardon has a good camp and, although Confrontation appears to be politically dead, an interesting and worth while role. Every. body had settled in well and have yet to feel the effects of the lack of out-side amenities. The great distance between Wong Padong and Windsor is not just a geographical 9735 miles from the Camp gate, hlt also mental. 'Cl Squadron seem to have made the change with remarkably little upheaval.
The Guards are superior to the Li ne
not as being picked men like the French for Napoleon gave peculiar privileges to
his guardsmen and governed the ormy with
them - but from the goodness of the non
comissioned officers. They do in fact
a I1 that ·the commissioned officers in the Line
are expected to do - and don't do.
This must be as long as the present system
lasts - and I om 011 far it - of having
gentlemen for officers; you cannot
require them to do mony things that should
be done. They must speak to the man,
for instance - we should reprimond them if
they did; our system in that respect is
so very different from the French. Haw
all that work is done by the non-commissioned
they regu lady get drunk once a day - by
eight in the even'ing, and fo to bed soon
after, but then they always took care to
do first whatever they were bid. When I
had given an officer of the Guards and order,
I felt sllre of its being executed; but
with an officer in the Line, it was, I will
venture to say, a hundred to 'one against it
being done at 011.
- nates of Conversation with the Duke of Wellington 1831 - 1851.
WHY IS IT HOT? WHY
ARE THERE NO SEASONS?
The Earth turns once ill 24 hours, so it does 150 per hour.
In Seremban we are 102 0 round from Greenwich therefore our time difference from Greenwich is (accurately) 102 + 15 or 6 hours 48 minutes before GMT. That is, we get opposite the Sun (Noon 6· hours 48 minutes before Greenwich does, ie, at 0512 GMT.
Now 0512 GMT is 1242 Malaya Local because Malaya time is 7i before GMT. So at 1200 hours Bravo, the sun is still climbing and does not reach it's zenith for another 42 minutes. So our shadows are shortest not at Noon but at 1242.
Talking of shadows, we find that at the present time our Midday shadow (such as it is) points SOUTH and not NORTH, as in UK. This is because at mid-summer (June 21st) the sun pas·ses overhead of places which are of the Equator - such places as Hong Kong, Cuba, Muscat and Galcutta. In Seremban, we are only 30 north of the Equator, so at mid-summer the sun was about NORTH of us.
A day will come when we have no Shadow at noon (1242 hrs). On Septtember 21st (the Equinox) the sun is back over the Equator. So at Singapore and Wong Padong (which are 1 north) the sun will pass dead over-head about September 17, and at Seremban (3o north) we will have no noon shadow about a week before that. After that, the sun will be passing south of us more and more until mid-winter when it will be 0 south of the Equator, and so south of Seremban.
This small movement of the sun from 200 north of us at mid-summer to 260 south of us at mid-winter, is not
enough to give us much seasonal change - it always looks nearly overhead at noon.
Not like London for exampled There, in mid-summer, the sun is 28 south of overheaa, almost the as here in mid-winter. But in London's mid-winter, the noon sun 1S 750 below the zenith, or put another way, it only climbs 15 0 above the horizon; (at 90 Inverness only ) • It hardly ever clears the houses and trees. No wonder England suffers in Winter.
So that's what makes the heat-the height of the sun. The rays from and overhead sun penetrate our thin Smiles layer of air without much dissipation; of strength.. But at only 150 above the horizon (English Winter) the rays are weakened by struggling through 19 miles of atmosphere and they have little heat left after that.
The other big factor which causes the change of seasons is the length of the day - the length of time the sun is over the horiZon and available to heat the place up. Here the sun always rises nearly due East and sets nearly due West, 12 hours day, 12 hours night. In England in mid-summer we have 17 hour days and 7 hour nights and in mid-winter the opposite.
Just one furthur point, just to confuse the issue! I have been talking about the climate around sea level. If you are climbing mountains it will very quickly get colder and colderwherever you may be. For example, Mount Kenya, right on the Equator, is topped with snow. The reason for this is something quite different.
As one climbs one gets above the bulk of the atmosphere; and the rays of the sun, although having more (Contd to Page 18)
LUES SQUADRON (Singapore)
On 23rd June the Main Party of the Squadron was deposited at Singapore airport some fourteen hours pushed by British Eagle. Most of the lost time had been spent at Abadan whose attractions need no elaboration for our readers. We were quickly moved to our various destinations - the families to The Gap Hostel at the South end of the island, and the remainder to Nee Soon on the North.
Nee Soon is one of many very large military installations which cover a large part of Singapore. The Squadron occup ies a sma II corner of the barracks which houses British soldiers and Marines, Gurkhas and Malays totalling near two thousand. The barrack block is about seven minutes from the Squadron lines so a lot of ground gets covered in the work ing day.
AI most immedi ate Iy the Squadron had to prepare for Exercise "Cold Comfort" / a joint service Internal Security exerc ise controlled by Headquarters Singapore Area. The most important part of the preparation was to be able to find our way around the island and to be able to keep in radio contact by day and night. Beginning on the 27th Recce Troops were unleashed on the unsuspecting Singapore traffic system and managed to achieve the remarkable feat of failing to hit any "flying taxis". As there are almost no Rules of the Road in Singapore this was quite difficult.
The exerc ise lasted from the 5th8th July. On the morning of the 5th Major General R. F. B. Hensman, OBE/ ADC, the Area Commander/visited the Squadron. He had a look at the various "bashas" which house the Ops Room, Offices and Stores and also saw the
troops working on their vehicles. So for as the Squadron was concerned the exercise involved the Recce Troops, usually at very short notice/being despatched to co-operate with the 1st Bn Argyle and Sutherland Hi-ghlanders and the 2/10th Gurkhas on various anti-terrorist operat ions. The Support Troop was dep loyed within Nee Soon in an anti-sabotage role. Unfortunate Iy no saboteurs came their way but any unwary passer-by without proper identification was in trouble and the neighbouri ng Gurkha Transport Squadron lost a few prisoners. The Squadron signals NCOs, C of H Hunter and Cp I Cha lIenger / suffered most seriously on the exercise by having to Iisten to the Singapore Area IS Command Net. This was an experience which could well shorten the life of any Bovington trained radio instructor.
Since the exercise the Support Troop under C of H Thompson has been acting as enemy on a patrol exercise carried out by Royal Marines on their NCO Cadre Course. The first battle which took place by night resulted in a number of MarineCorporals being captured and the remainder driven off their objectives.
On 12th July the Squadron entered a team in the Singapore Area Minor Unit Althetic Competition. Considering that virtually no training had been possible and that the team were by no means properly acclimatized results were good. Trooper Pentith was third in the 1500 metres/ Trooper Edwards was third in the long jump, Trooper Harrison was third in the 800 metres and Corporal Margerison finished third in the javelin, having been fourth in the Open Competition the previous day.
In other fields the Senior NCOs darts team Scored a major success in defeating the Garrison champions in the NCOs Mess. On most normal working days the Squadron motor-boat ,based at Ponggol on the Johore Straits, is kept busy with water ski-ing parties under Lieut Palmer's supervision. So far seventy members of the Squadron have tried this sport out and most have made a successfu I start. However the eng ine is not capable of dealing with the 16 stone plus brigade and has met its match on a few occasions.
This article closes without reference to the Dai Iy Mirror or socks.
1JnW DAH HEY HlL IN CONHANP ME CANT
Why is it hot? Why are there no season? (Contd from Page 16) strength than at sea-level, have little surrounding air to heat up. Mt Kenya reaches a height of miles, which is exactly half way through the atmosphere.
As soon as one is in space proper, as in a satillite 100 miles up, there is NO air - nothing. A void can have no 't emperature'. This sounds a bit Irish, but if it could it would be273 0 centigrade. Which is the definiof A bsolute Zero. Of course that side of the satellite in sunlight would acquire tremendous heat from the sun's rays direct.
That is why the Cameron Highlands (150 miles north of Seremban), which are about one mile above sea level, have a more bracing, pleasantly cool English type climatesorry not Scotland - NOT THAT COLD.
P. S. Any further questions please contact the PaymasterI
III TO '{.' SQUADRON -r
NOTES FROM THE WOs & CsoH MESS
A Mess Meeting was held on Fri, 1 Jul66 and was most unusually enjoyed by all. The RCM being in particularly good form, on this occasion.
Three Saturday nights have so far been enjoyed by the drinkers (!) but perhaps not' by the energetic, as dancing has not yet really got under way. Perhaps Acclimatisation takes a little longer if .you are 'with'it'. The writer certainly feels 'without it' after 2100 hrs daily - but gets it just the same.
Saturday, 16 Jul turned out to be an AILES Benefit Night, with Mrs Ailes winning two houses of Tombola followed by the jackpot from the 'One arm bandit', and the ASM taking a large pool from a game of pool, on the snooker' table. I might add that this game took 1 3/4 hours which, was not, appreciated by the wives of those playing (although Mrs Allies didn't seem to mind once the result was known!).
invited out to lunch by the was & Sgts Mess of the 17 Gurkha Signal Regiment (Kids and a11) - about 20 Mess members their wives and child,ren enjoyed a very good lunch and an entertaining afternoon. The was supplied by the Gurkha Pipe Band (8 pipers, 2 SIde drum and a bass drum) who played for . us on five or six different occasions during the afternoon ind certainly sounded like the real thingalthQugh Messrs RODGER and MacbONALD noticed an in their footwork.
It has been decided that we shotiid fall in line with the rest of the by having a 'Sunshine Hour' (Ba:r; open) between 1600 hrs and 1700 hrs,.tin Fridays. I feel it may be more appropriate to refer to it as 'Four O'cwck Drink Away' - which at least sounds more Household Cavalry.
The RCM on paying a liaison visit to the local 'Wine Houses', (and perhaps the Massage Parlours - just
On Sunday. 17 Jul we were to make sure that no one was Out of
Bounds!) entered 'WAOOS Bar' to ascertain whether it was frequented by members of the Regiment. The proprietor, being very diplomatic, replied that it was not, just at this moment WO II TWEE LE entered for a 'quick one' to the amusement of all (This paragraph is not to be read by Mrs TWEEDLE in case she didn't know and perhaps gets the wrong idea about 'quick one')
We congratulate CoH WILSON, BOWDEN and HALES on their recent promotion.
We hear on the 'Grape Vine' (NOT from the Chief Clerk) that SQMO (Black Pat) PA TTINSON arrives on or about 1st September. This has caused a lot of speculation as to his future employment and more than the occassional look at the Promotion Roll.
It was decided at a SQMC's Conference on 26 July that he would take over the duties of 'Regimental Tombola Caller' on arrival, subject to passing the required test. This is also subject, of course, to him having no immigration difficulties although he should have no trouble if he states he is here to sign the 'Peace Treaty'.
'Bunker' may now be an exmember but he would be extremely pleased to· see that many Mesa Members are trying to emulate his hair style. One senior NCO has been seen in the same Hairdressers ('The Bluedbird ') three times in one week.!t is wondered if this sudden rush to voluntary baldness doesn't in any way stem from the fact that all the hairdressers in SEREMBAN employ the most attractive young ladies with very shapely legs, long pointed finger nails and well fitted white overalls - Here endeth the notes as I am suddenly in Deed of a haircut? I
CoH JOHNSON
HeR Wellington Barracks, London.
The Bush telegraph seems to be There was yet another monster experiencing a certain amount of conference on the new Knightsbridge difficulty making contact with The the other day. They are allowing for Household Cavalry Regiment. each officer who lives in to have 3 whole suits in their wardrobe and
We understand this is due to the were somewhat surprised when The new Playboy club nearby. Life Guards Squadron Leader said that he could not possibly keep his clothes
Nevertheless there is activity and in that.
we were pleased to note that the
Lt General Sir David Peel Yates, Mounted Regiment were much in GOC Eastern Command and Major evidence on the back pages of the General Blacker, Director of Staff Times 2 days running. Once with a Duties, both visited HCR recently. picture of some new polo ponies for the Life Guard band and secondly a
The Life Guards regimental Polo picture of the cloaked escort formed Team yet again got to the final of the up outside the 'French letter' shop at inter regimental polo but like last Victoria, waiting to escort King year were again beated in the finals by Hussein to Buckingham Palace. The Queen's Own Hussars.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LIFE GUARDS
"His Majesty's Guards"
Private Gentlemen
There were no non-commissioned ranks in The Life Guard5 until 1756. The men were termed Private Gentlemen and purchased their place in the Troop for £ I05 each. They also provided their own horses and forage until 1788, by which time the term Private Gentleman had become abbreviated to "Private". It was King Edward VII who insisted that the term Private be dropped and the word Tr-ooper substituted on medals struck for their services in the South African War.
1672---War with HoUlWd
Britain and France invaded the United Provinces. and detachments of the three Troops of Guards formed part of the Duke of Monmouth's forces which took the towns of ORFOY. RHEJNBERG, EMMERlCH, DUJSBURG and ZUTPHEN and later accepted the surrender of UTRECHT.
1673-Maastricbt
Leading twelve Private Gentlemen, the Duke of Monmouth stormed one of the sally-ports of MAASTRJCHT, and by example rallied a wavering English force through the defences of the city. The Dutch War cost The Life Guards about a third of their number.
167S--Tbe Horse Grenadier Guards
Grenadiers were introduced into the army in 1678, and ninety mounted Grenadiers were added to each of the three Troops of His Majesty's Guards These Grenadiers were mounted men trained to fight" on foot, and they carried long "fuzils" with spigot bayonets and drilled on foot to the drum arid hautboy. They continued to serve with The Life Guards. with one short interruption, until they were embodied in the Regiment in' 1788. The red "flash" cord on the Household Cavalry crossbelt was adopted from the Horse Grenadier Guards.
1685-Tbe Monmouth Rebellion
The Life Guards played a leading rOle in the charge of the loyalist cavalry which routed the rebel army of Monmouth at Sedgemoor. Somerset.
(To be continued next issu.e.)
THE AIGUILLETTES of The Life Guards are tipped with symbolic acorns, which figure again on the collars of The Life Guard officers' State Tunic. There is also a design of oak leaves on the Regiment's State Helmets. These are all symbolic references to the Royal Oak which sheltered Charles Il in 1651 during his flight into exile. The Royal . Oak was long a symbol of loyalty to the Sovereign, and thus it figures in the uniforms of the regiment which. designated "His Majesty's Guards", King Charles II raised on May 17th. 1660, in Holland from eighty Cavaliers who had shared his exile. His Majesty's Guards landed with Charles at Dover on May 25th, 1660, and accompanied him on his triumphal entry into London.
After the Restoration. His Majesty's Guards were to three troops and were incorporated in the first Bntish Regular Army, raised by Royal Warrant on January 26th, 1661. Like many other regiments. the name of The Life Guards has changed more than once. During the eighteenth Century they were often styled Horse Guards. but they have always taken precedence over all other regiments, whatever name they have served under. .
