Description
Object description
British private and NCO served with 1st Bn Queen's Royal Regt in Federation of Malaya, 1954-1956
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Bromley, GB, 1936-1954: family; employment. Aspects of enlistment and training with Queen's Royal Regt Regimental Depot, Stoughton Barracks in Guildford, GB, 1954: reactions to call-up, prospect of posting to Federation of Malaya and National Service; initial attitude towards basic training and dodges employed; origins of recruits; relations between conscripts; treatment by instructors during training.
REEL 2 Continues: need for methods employed by instructors during training. Recollections of operations as private and NCO with 1st Bn Queen's Royal Regt in Federation of Malaya, 1954-1956: lectures on situation in Federation of Malaya prior to posting; flight from GB to Federation of Malaya, 12/1954; arrival at and initial impressions of Nee Soon Camp, Singapore; joining battalion at Tampin, 23/12/1954.
REEL 3 Continues: convoy precautions; description of Tampin Camp; limited recreational activities; camp servants; character of training at Tampin; character of unit officers; joining C Coy at Gemas; relaxed atmosphere at Gemas; description of first patrol from Gemas; problem with leeches; single occasion when he saw a snake; degree to which helicopters used; role of Royal Air Force in bombing jungle.
REEL 4 Continues: character of operation carried out from HMS Newcastle in Johore, 1955; shooting accidents; use of tracker dogs; role and opinion of Ibans; laying ambushes; nature of insurgent ambushes; attitude towards insurgents; house searches.
REEL 5 Continues: relations with and treatment of civilians; attitude towards Chinese and Tamils; opinion of Police Field Force, Federation of Malaya Police; use of phosphorus grenades to make smoke; relations with planters; comparison between Federation of Malaya and Vietnam; state of health; pattern of postings; method of dealing with riots.
REEL 6 Continues: last operations; attitude to leaving Federation of Malaya, 1956; degree of boredom experienced; arrival in GB, 1956.