Description
Object description
British NCO served with Intelligence Corps in Federation of Malaya, 8/1957-8/1958
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Hampstead, London and Abersoch, GB, 1937-1951: family; evacuation to Abersoch; relations with Welsh children; influence of mother; social circumstances; education at Arnold House Preparatory School. Aspects of period as schoolchild at Stowe School, GB, 1951-1956: influence of history teacher; morning routine; teaching methods; sporting activities; societies; evening religious service; training with Combined Cadet Force; prep; prefects and fagging; relations with teachers; discipline; balance between sport, academic and cultural activities; qualifications and acceptance for Christ's College, University of Cambridge, 1956; call-up for National Service, 7/1956.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of basic training as fusilier with Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) Regimental Depot, Tower of London, London, GB, 10/1956-11/1956: reception, 10/1956; hair cut; kitting out and uniform; religion; role of lance corporal instructor; relations with and origins of recruits; barrack room; morning routine; preparing for kit inspections; rations and mealtime routine; drill; pay parades; unique atmosphere of Tower of London; leave; intelligence test. Aspects of period at pre-Officer Cadet Training Unit at Wemyss Barracks, Canterbury, GB, 11/1956-12/1956: origins of cadets; standards of discipline; rifle and bayonet training; relations with instructor; reaction to military lifestyle; meeting Dean Hewlett-Johnson; Bren Gun and hand grenade training.
REEL 3 Continues: question of lectures; relations with cadets; story of failing War Office Selection Board tests and return to Tower of London. Recollections of training as NCO with Intelligence Corps at Maresfield Camp, Uckfield, GB, 2/1957-7/1957: origins of recruits; political lectures; espionage exercise in Lewes; personal politics; observation training; reading habits; visits to Brighton; prior physical training course at Shorncliffe Camp; popularity of radio programme 'The Goon Show' in military; linguistic and intelligence services specialisation within unit; background to volunteering for service in Federation of Malaya; issue of tropical kit. Aspects of voyage from GB to Singapore, Federation of Malaya, 8/1957: messdeck conditions; teaching army children; learning Malay language; guard duties on empty cells; relations with Lascar stewards; visit ashore at Durban, South Africa including welcome from Perla Siedle Gibson, the 'Lady in White' and reaction to Apartheid system; impressions passing through Straits of Malacca; sweat rash. Aspects of period as NCO with Intelligence Corps at Nee Soon Camp, Singapore, Federation of Malaya, 8/1957-9/1957: initial impressions of Singapore; bus journey; visit to out of bounds Chinese coffee bar; nature of racism endemic amongst British Army soldiers.
REEL 4 Continues: question of training; venereal disease warnings; impressions of train journey via Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh. Recollections of period as NCO with Intelligence Corps in Ipoh, Federation of Malaya, 9/1957-10/1958: mixed Malay, Chinese and Indian composition of civilian population; basha accommodation; role of dhobi waller preparing 'banjos' and washing clothes; briefings at Federation of Malaya Police station and composition of Federation of Malaya Police; background to Malayan Emergency and review of situation, 1957; move into house; role keeping card index records monitoring movements of Chinese Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents; political attitude to duties and towards Chinese Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents; relations with Malayan and Chinese civilians including visits to Chinese cinema, enthusiasm for eating local food and painting on ceiling of Batu Caves; use and maintenance of Land Rover.
REEL 5 Continues: Recollections of period as NCO with Intelligence Corps at Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, Federation of Malaya, 10/1957-7/1958: terrain and climate; lorry journey and question of risk of ambush; military compound and personnel; nature of town; duties in police station office; role of Inspector Bernard Thong in accompanying Surrendered Enemy Personnel (SEPs) into jungle to seek out and negotiate with former comrades; propaganda methods and amnesty surrender terms offered; question of repatriation of Chinese insurgents to People's Republic of China; situation; story of accompanying Inspector Bernard Thong to edge of jungle and awaiting his return with surrendered Chinese Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents; story of failed ambush set up with troop of 1st King's Dragoon Guards; role collating sightings of known Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents on maps; acquisition of photographs of Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents including story use in identifying corpse; role maintaining card index recording activity of Malayan National Liberation Army insurgents; sources of intelligence; police informer; relationship with intelligence officer Captain John Lyn and acting as his driver; daily routine and lifestyle; uniforms; relations with Chinese Clerk John Lam; relations with other British military personnel.
REEL 6 Continues: question of nature of social life being delineated by class; relation with British personnel; Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1957; babysitting for Captain John Lyn; visits to Chinese café; philosophical discussions; relations with Malay civilians, Dyaks trackers and personnel of 1st King's Dragoon Guards; use of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) canteen; visits by Malayan dance troop and Sultan of Pahang; relations with Anglo-Indian postman; minimal contact with British rubber planters; visits and local leave in Ipoh; recreational activities and interest in Chinese culture during leave in Penang and Hong Kong, 2/1958; visit to tea plantation; recreational activities; climate; visit to Indian barber; pay parade.
REEL 7 Continues: attitude to demobilisation; concert party. Aspects of period as NCO with Intelligence Corps in Ipoh, Federation of Malaya, 7/1958-8/1958: recreational activities; meeting Dr Wu Lien-teh; story of send off received from Malay and Chinese friends. Aspects of return voyage from Singapore, Federation of Malaya to GB, 8/1958: reaction to cold on arrival in GB; news of race riots in London; demobilisation, 9/1958. Aspects of post-service career: acclimatisation to civilian lifestyle; reaction to attending Christ Church College, University of Oxford; interest in career as actor; holidays; work as volunteer teacher and for British Council in Sudan, 1962-1967; work as producer for British Broadcasting Corporation, 1967-1997.
