Aged 18 I set sail from Southampton aboard Her Majesty’s Troopship Devonshire on November 25th 1960 bound for Singapore, but posting unknown! En route I went ashore at Cyprus, Aden and Ceylon – had Christmas in the Malacca Straits and arriving in Singapore on December 26th, when I was given my posting – Seletar. There were 3 of us posted to Seletar. Naturally it was closed for Christmas but we were paid and immediately set off for the bright lights of Singapore City.

After the Christmas break I reported for duty at the Air Radio Section, East Camp, only to be told that I was posted to 34 Squadron, Beverley aircraft, West Camp – this was not good news as I had hoped to study for a promotion exam. True to form I was detached to Ubon, Thailand, near Laos and living in a tent for 4 weeks! It was an interesting experience as I was to provide Radio maintenance coverage for all visiting aircraft. We were close to town and twice played football against the local police and teacher’s training college, went to see Thai boxing and cock fighting and helped extinguish a warehouse blaze!

On returning from Thailand I settled down to a more routine life, but soon I was on my way again – back to Thailand – this time Bangkok and living in the Oriental Hotel. Back at Seletar my days varied between my Radio maintenance and other trades – fitting a Beverley fuel tank, checking engine electrical harnesses, changing undercarriage and on one occasion pumping oil when the bowser failed. I was also lookout when on compass swings and during engine runs I had to radio the Control Tower in case we blew the tiny Pioneer aircraft off the runway. During 1961 there was a severe outbreak of dysentery after the Singapore reservoirs dried up – I was ill for about a week. I also spent a few days at Jessleton, North Borneo on a short detachment – not the hub of the Universe!

My studies did not produce a pass in my Promotion exam, so I applied for a posting to the Air Radio Section – finding out in the process that I was never officially on 34 Squadron! In 1962 I eventually got my posting but found myself flitting between Aircraft Servicing Flight on West Camp and 1124 Marine Craft Unit on East Camp, which was engaged on anti piracy activities – we had a 20mm Oerliken gun as armament and patrolled Borneo waters.

During my off duty I would go to the NAAFI, Malcolm Club, George Club, Swimming Pool, Jalan Kayu, Changi or Singapore City. I built up a substantial record collection from the Armah’s Market and bought a record player.

One day I was asked if I would like a posting to RAF Gan in the Indian Ocean – this would shorten my tour by 4 months – I took it and the rest is history, although I did take leave from Gan to Singapore and returned twice in uniform – to Changi and Malaysia in 1970 on exercise Bersatu Padu and Tengah 1973 on Vulcan Bombers.

I was at Penerak during “Bersatu Padu 1” – my helicopter squadron inadvertently dropped assault craft on top of a hill – instead of the river bank – much to the consternation of Captains Kuan Joo and William Koh.