Interview with Paul William Humber

British guardsman served with 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards, 2nd Guards Bde in GB and Federation of Malaya, 1947-1950

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1929-1939: family; education. Recollections of childhood in Ropley, GB, 1939-1945: degree of how war effected area; sight of aerial activity; story of schoolboy prank on railway, 1944; lack of news regarding progress of war; contact with American troops; shortages and poaching activities. Aspects of enlistment and training as guardsman with Coldstream Guards in GB, 1947: enlistment, 10/1947; nature of basic training in Guards Depot, Caterham including Guards discipline. Recollections of public duties as guardsman with 2nd Bn Coldsteam Guards, 2nd Guards Bde in London, GB, 1947-1948: conditions in Wellington Barracks; nature of public duties at Buckingham Palace. REEL 2 Continues: reasons why Guards on duty moved inside Buckingham Palace away from public; story of Queen Mary's cats; attitude towards duties in Tower of London; attitude towards ceremonial duties and marching; relations with other Guards regiments. Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Empire Trooper from GB to Singapore, Federation of Malaya, 9/1948 including suffering from seasickness. Recollections of operations with 14 Platoon, 3rd Coy, 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards, 2nd Guards Bde, Malaya Command in Federation of Malaya, 10/1948-8/1950: arrival in Singapore, 9/1948; period with dysentery in Nee Soon Camp; move to Tapah Camp, Perak; drinking Tiger Beer; air supply drops to patrols; equipment carried on patrol; problems of mosquitoes, leeches and tinea; question of finding insurgents in jungle; low-level of casualties in unit; jungle traps laid by insurgents; capture of jungle camp; problems spending night in jungle. REEL 3 Continues: importance of dry clothing on patrols; use of bamboo to make beds in jungle; use of poncho capes; insect pests; question of damage to health; problems of jungle fauna; various diseases contracted in Federation of Malaya; company postings; problem of 'Singapore Ear'; varying geographical strength of Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents; opinion of Sakai; relations with Sakai and aid they gave against insurgents; use of Iban trackers; Sakai water supply and diet; narrow escape from snake poisoning; relations with civilians. REEL 4 Continues: problems of recognising insurgents from civilians; incident were landlord refused to serve soldiers at Smokehouse Hotel, Cameron Highlands, 1948; question of Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents achieving their aims; air support for unit; leave periods in Penang; attitude to leaving Federation of Malaya, 8/1950. Aspects of period as guardsman with 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards in GB, 1950-1953: pattern of service; attitude to having served in Coldstream Guards; amusing story of only three men on parade at Guards Depot, Caterham.