Newsletter Issue 55 - RAF Changi Association

The Gala Dinner at the RAFCA Annual Reunion at The
Tillington Hall Hotel, Stafford in May. See full report on pages 10/11
Pictures by Tony Holt, our Webmaster.
RAF CHANGI ASSOCIATION
including HQ. FEAF
August 2014
Issue No 55
2
RAF Changi A
ssocia
Associa
ssociation
tion
(Including HQ.FEAF)
Founded M
ay 1
996
Ma
1996
The aim of the RAF Changi Association is to bring together all those who were stationed at RAF
Changi (including HQ FEAF) Singapore, so they can renew old friendships and make new ones
sOur website: www.rafchangi.co.uk
THE TEAM
Chairman/Archivist
John Dicks
4 Langley Crescent, Kings Langley, Herts WD4 8EW
Tel: 01923 400221
e-mail: john.dicks2@ntlworld.com
Founder Member/
Mike James
12 Shiners Elms, Yatton, Bristol BS49 4BY
Reunion Liaison Officer Tel: 01934 833170
e-mail: raf-changi-assn@tiscali.co.uk
Secretary
Pat Holt
14 Burrowfields, Basingstoke, Hants RG22 4XJ
Tel: 01256 477253
e-mail: pat.holt14@gmail.com
Treasurer
Richard Collins Sandhurst Cottage, Corsley Heath, Warminster BA12 7PW
Tel: 01373 832789
e-mail: collinsrcol@btinternet.com
Newsletter Editor
Ken Dennis
1 Warwick Close, St. Merryn, Cornwall PL28 8LH
Tel: 01841 521038
e-mail: kennethdennis1929@talktalk.net
Membership Secretary
Malcolm Flack 14 Highfield Close, Amersham, Bucks HP6 6HG
Tel: 01494 728562
e-mail: memsecchangi@telco4u.net
Publicity /PressOfficer
Brian Lloyd
32 Redwood, Burnham, Bucks SL1 8JN
Tel: 01628 661005
e-mail: brianlloyd@redwood32.freeserve.co.uk
Webmaster
Tony Holt
14 Burrowfields, Basingstoke, Hants RG22 4XJ
Tel: 01256 477253
e-mail: patony144top@gmail.com
Regalia Officer
Dolores James 12 Shiners Elms, Yatton, Bristol BS49 4BY
Tel: 01934 833170
e-mail: raf-changi-assn@tiscali.co.uk
Almoner/Medal Adviser
David Haylock 37 Pierces Hill, Tilehurst, Reading, Berks RG31 6RB
Tel: 01189 425753
e-mail: david.haylock37@btinternet.com
Local Reunion Co-ordinators:
Malcolm Flack (Amersham)
John Jones (S East Area)
Anne Moore (Romsey)
John Paul (Yorkshire)
Liaison Officers:
Iberia :
Brian Morgan
Australia:
David A Wood
New Zealand: Brian Churcher
Tel: 01494 728562
Tel: 01403 783392
Tel: 01794 322444
Tel: 01751 431793
Tel: 0034 952 196446
Tel: 0061 2 8338 9103
Tel: 0064 7 549 4230
e-mail: jbm76@me.com
e-mail: dawood1934@live.com.au
e-mail: brianbevinkati@compassnet.co.nz
COPYRIGHT WARNING
No part of this Newsletter may be reproduced in any form, or by any means, graphic, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying without the prior permission of the Chairman, or secretary either by
writing or telephone.
3
Editorial
Apologies for the
late delivery of the
April Newsletter
but it was due to
circumstances beKen Dennis yond our control.
It may be of assistance to our readers who have letters , articles or pictures they would like to have published in the Newsletter to know that
the deadline is seven weeks prior to
publication date.
For example copy for the current
edition which is published on 1st August, needed to be submitted by June
18. That may seem a long time but
this is necessary to ensure printing
costs can be kept at a reasonable
level. Copy submitted after the deadline has to wait until the next edition.
Another point worth keeping in
mind is the length of articles submitted for publication. Articles and letters that are too wordy have to be
edited to keep within the limits of
space available.
Nevertheless, don’t be deterred.
Your memoirs or comments are always appreciated. My thanks to all
who have submitted copy.
PAGE CONTENTS
1
Cover picture Gala Dinner
2
Team Contacts
3
Team Reports
4
More team reports
5
Marsiling Tunnels feature
6
Postcards of the past.
7
Shackletons Flypast Changi
8/9 Dennis Skeet article
10/11 Annual Reunion report
12/13 Searchline
14/15 Your letters and photos
16
Fire Section Party
17 The Singapore/Penang trip
18 Forthcoming events
19
Membership and Obits
20 RAF Changi Regalia
Chairman / Archivist’s Report
At long last the weather seems to be improving and
we can now start to enjoy the summer, that is if we are
not staying up to the early hours of the morning
watching the World Cup on our televisions.
The small party of members and friends that returned
John Dicks
to Singapore and Penang in late February all seem to have
enjoyed themselves, and some have expressed a wish to repeat the
experience in 2016. Details of this holiday can be found on page 17 of the
Newsletter.
The 18th Reunion week-end went well and followed the usual format
with visits to places of local interest, and no entertainment after the
dinner, which most of you seem to want. The committee have, to-date,
received no adverse reports, so we have provisionally booked the same
venue for the 2015 get together.
At 10:30 on Sunday morning we held the RAF Changi Association’s
12th Annual General Meeting in the hotel’s Garden Suite. The meeting started
with your chairman welcoming the members present and thanking them for
their attendance even though some had long journeys to make after the
meeting.
Apologies for absence were received from four committee members,
Malcolm Flack, Brian Lloyd, David Haylock and Ken Dennis, and from
eleven other members. Copies of the minutes of this meeting can be obtained
from our secretary Pat Holt.
Malcolm Flack has produced a list of “Coming Events” which
Tony Holt will be updating on the website, and can also be seen in this
issue of the Newsletter. I would remind you that we are still seeking
members to run local Mini-Reunions for those who are unable to get to the
main event. Contact Brian Lloyd or Malcolm Flack for details. May I
finish by wishing you all the very best for the coming months.
Kindest regards, John Dicks.
Press & Publicity Report
As mentioned in previous reports we continue with
our publicity for new members without spending a lot of
money. As we have found, glossy magazines are expensive
and rarely produce few or no enquiries.
Brian Lloyd
Local letters to the editor in your paper or one to one
contact by members produce results. As highlighted in my last report we are
feeling the effect of the completion of National Service because the very
last day a National Service man served was 16th May 1963.
We hope to attract new members when we attend the outside events
listed in the last newsletter.
Brian W. Lloyd.
4
Secretary’s Report
The Committee have had
two meetings since the last AGM.
Information regarding the
Association finances, Membership
numbers and Regalia sales were
dealt with.
Pat Holt The natural erosion of paint from the
aircraft Memorial in Changi Village was mentioned
although that isn’t our responsibility, but the Plaque
was in need of repair due to dampness getting in and
this is being dealt with..
Small alterations have been made to the
Constitution.
Item (2) the words ‘Membership is open to’ has been
changed to ‘Qualification for Membership’
Membership Fees:
The words ‘The Fees of those joining after the
31st August each year will carry them through until 31st
December of the ensuing year’ - this has been changed
to ’31st December of the following year’.
Item 3ii (B) Officers of the Committee - the word
‘Webmaster’ was added in item b) and item c) was
attached to item b). The following paragraphs were
then re-lettered. Also 3ii was removed, so now only
reads as 3 (B).Copies are available of the revised
Constitution if required.
As you will have seen from the last newsletter, I
took over the Raffle from Dolores James, and I am
sure that you will all agree with me a big thank you
is due to her for all the years that she has been running
this.
Webmaster’s
Report
I have literally only just
taken over responsibility for the
website from John Dicks to give him
more time to concentrate on the
Tony Holt duties of Chairman and Archivist.
I will be liaising with him to put a lot more of our
archives on to the site, as there is obviously only a
limited number of photos that can be squeezed into each
issue of the Changi-ite.
Whilst on that subject, my first idea is to make
the Changi-ite available on the website, and the four
most recent issues are already displayed. However, to
reassure you all, there is no plan to stop delivering the
paper copy. There will be no immediate major changes
to the site, but if any member has ideas for
improvements and innovations please let me know.
Treasurer’s Report
The Association’s audited
accounts for 2013 were presented
at the Annual General Meeting on
Sunday 11th May.
Richard Collins
The Association continues to be in a sound and
healthy financial state. Substantial reserves have been
accumulated over the years and funds held in the bank
at the end of 2013 amounted to £36,300.
Income for the year exceeded expenditure by £499.
The last few years have seen a steady decrease in income
over expenditure which is unsurprising since
membership is falling slightly, the last increase in
subscriptions was in 2006 and costs across the board
have inevitably increased.
Every year your committee reviews the
subscription rates and this year found that there was no
immediate need to increase the subscription. A proposal
that the subscription rates remain at the present level for
the next five years was carried unanimously at the well
attended Annual General Meeting.
A full summary of the accounts is available to
members on request to the Treasurer.
MEMBERS REQUIRING
INFORMATION.
From time to time members write in for
information and ask for help. We encourage items to
be sent in to the Newsletter.
However, when members require new information
please do not overlook approaching any Committee
member, because between us we have a wealth of
knowledge and experience and are happy to pass it on
or find out the answer. This will speed up response to
members rather than waiting for a request to be
published and then another four months before the next
Newsletter comes out.
THE OMAN RAF VETERANS
ASSOCIATION
This recently formed Association would
like to hear from anyone who served at Salalah
in The Oman or on Masirah Island in the Gulf
in the fifties until the late 1970s
Contact details are : James Andrews, a
Changi Association member (M1701), e-mail
jameswilly72@gmail.com, Or telephone 01937
522620, Wetherby, Yorkshire.
5
THE MARSILING TUNNELS
Report from Robert Lum, GM Changi Beach Club
Singapore’s National Heritage Board recently uncovered information on the Marsiling Tunnels from
documents in the UK archives revealing that the structure was formerly an RAF reserve fuel depot and
the original name of the facility was Woodlands North Depot. See below a 1950 aerial photograph where
the red circle indicates the location of the fuel depot. Marked “A” is the causeway and “B” was formerly
Woodlands Village which no longer exists.
The site was uncovered amongst foliage which preserved the site and the discovery stirred a lot of
interest and tours are now being conducted. Recently, some of the Club’s members enjoyed the tour so much
that they have asked me to get more information on the site.
As we receive your Changi-ite Newsletters, we thought you may be the right contact to help us as we are
interested to find out more about the structure and its use. We are wondering if any of your members
stationed in Singapore remember the depot or any personal experience or information that they can share with us.
Please contact Brian Lloyd (see page 2 for address details).
Pictured above an ariel view of Woodlands North Depot. Pictured below: the Tunnels as they were
discovered.
6
POSTCARDS OF THE PAST
Compiled by Mike James
I would like to thank the members who sent quite a few old postcards to me. There were so many, I have
enough to complete several issues in Newsletters to come.
How many remember the old Tongkang boat graveyard (in the 1960’s) just before you got to Merdeka
Bridge going into Singapore? My memory of it was the smell. The postcard at the top is by courtesy of Mike
Horwood (M63)
Below is Kranji War Memorial, Singapore, in the 1950s. Postcard by courtesy of Peter Chubb (M1485)
Shackletons Flypast at Changi
7
This picture of a Flypast by 205 Squadron Shackletons at Changi has been reproduced by
kind permission of the Shackleton Association from the front page of their Magazine. A number
of RAF Changi Association members either flew or worked on Shackletons from 205 Squadron.
Numbers of the aircraft in the picture are:
WR 952/B, WG 533/D, WL737/E, WL741/F, WR966/G and WL759/N.
8
WHO SAID NEVER VOLUNTEER?
By Dennis Skeet (M2290)
As an air radio fitter I volunteered for overseas service in 1962. First, I did a course at RAF
Yatesbury on Blue Silk radar, used on Shackletons to detect submarines. I flew from Stanstead to Paya
Lebar airport via Istanbul and Bombay .
On arrival at Changi I found someone else had done the course and was already working on the radar at
second-line. I was put out of a job before I started!
After the initial shock of the tropics I soon
settled to life in a barrack block. Not long after my
arrival in October 1962 I was sent with 48 Sqn. (Hastings) to India for a month. The Indian-Chinese border
was the source of a dispute and the Indian Government
had requested British assistance to ferry the Indian tea
planters back to Dum-Dum Airport in Calcutta.
For a young airman Calcutta was an amazing eyeopener. Hot, dusty and bustling with people and sacred
cows, we had an eventful thirty mile trip each day from
Barrackpore where we were billeted. This was a Ghurka
transit camp and the only place we could stay. Officers
and aircrews were based in the Grand Hotel, Calcutta.
My stint at second-line air radio servicing was
quite uneventful, being resigned to modifications and
Dennis Skeet with 48 Squadron in 1964
record keeping. I wanted more aircraft experience and
TIGHT SQUEEZE
travel.
The last one only squeezed in by a few feet at its
DOUBLE DUTY
As an air radio fitter I was responsible for the wing tip much to the chagrin of the pilot who leapt
wireless and radar, the double duty gave me an extra out of his cockpit spitting bullets. My flight sergeant
1/6d a day! On a Hastings there was quite a scope for came to the rescue and calmed the poor young man
radio and radar equipment, making the job much more down. “We’re not used to little fighters coming in at
such short notice sir,” he explained.
satisfying than record keeping.
To give aircrews long haul experience 48 Sqn
For the most part life in Singapore was highly enoften did ‘trainer’ detachments. Usually they wanted
airframe and engine fitters to accompany them, but that joyable. When Indonesia’s “Crush Malaysia” policy
never materialised since most had families and pre- came in and Sukarno threatened to invade Malaysia we
ferred not to leave home. On one occasion they reluc- were all put on heightened alert and issued with a .303
tantly agreed to take me and an instrument fitter on a rifle and ammunition. My particular duty was to guard
trip to the Middle East. We hadn’t even made the a rather lonely fuel dump at night for four hours.
After about 15 minutes a Land Rover appeared
main runway at Changi before the intercom failed when
taxi-ing. I rectified the problem on the spot and tried and an irate duty officer got out and asked how many
rounds had I got. Twenty was my reply. Whereupon he
not to smile too much at the captain and crew.
Our journey took us to RAF Gan, Khormaksar in took a clip of ten back and said ten was all I was alAden, Masirah in Oman, Bombay, Madras and Bang- lowed and don’t shoot to kill, Singapore had a death
sentence for murder!
kok.
I saved up my leave and took it all in one go.
Only part of a large strip of tarmac was occupied by
Twice
I used Indulgence flights and visited Australia
48 Sqn. which every one else used. Air Movements
were next door and various aircraft came and went, and New Zealand in 1964 and 1965 courtesy of the
including a Comet, Britannia, Valetta, Beverley, DC-6 RNZAF and our own Hastings training flight.
(RNZAF) plus a C130 and Canberra of RAAF.
I re-visited Singapore in 2008 on the way to
A lone US Navy Dakota was parked permaAustralia
for a holiday. It has changed beyond recnently at the end and was run up occasionally when
it suited embassy staff. Once, because of bad weather, ognition and Changi Airport must be up there with
we had to guide six Hawker Hunters diverted from the Seven Wonders of the World.
RAF Tengah and slot them into a rather narrow space.
9
Changi Association members interested
in aircaft of their time in the RAF may find the
photos below provided by our member Dennis
Skeet will bring back some memories
Changi Hospital photographed by Dennis Skeet on
visit to Singapore in 2008, and below he is pictured at the Changi Beach Club.
An RAAF C130 Hercules
A 52 Sqdn Valetta of FECS
Above a 205 Sqdn Shackleton II
Below 41 Sqdn RNZAF Bristol Freighter
USN Dakota
A 215 Sqdn Argosy coming into land
10
RAF CHANGI ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL
MEETING
66 Members attend event at Stafford
Report By Pat Holt, Hon Secretary
RAF Changi Association’s Annual Reunion and AGM held at the beginning of May was again
at the Tillington Hall Hotel, Stafford and was attended by 66 members and 31 guests
The weather was lovely, unlike last year. New
arrivals were soon booked in and then made their way
round, meeting up with friends. Dolores James had
her regalia table, with plenty of goodies on it.
This year I organised the raffle, and soon had
the guests buying tickets, with me promising that the
tickets I sold them would be the winners! Well, some
were!
On Saturday morning some members went to
Shrugborough Hall and with the good weather all
seemed to have enjoyed the visit.
At the Gala Dinner, the Chairman John Dicks,
welcomed everyone. Afterwards, Dolores (pictured
below) presented the treasurer Richard Collins with
two cheques, one from the 2013 raffle and the other
from the sales of Regalia and the book written by our
late President (Air Commodore H.A.Probert) 'History
of Changi'.
The Chairman’s Cup was presented to Dolores by
John Dicks for her work on behalf of the Association.
Tony Holt proposed the Loyal Toast. This was followed by the raffle which, after deducting the cost of
the prizes, made a £147 profit.
Our thanks go to all who took part by purchasing items and donating additional raffle prizes.
THANKS
A big thank you also to Patricia Learwood for
the lovely baby shawl that she had made. This was
auctioned for £15, and that money was donated to
Naomi House - a Children's hospice in Hampshire
offering respite care to life-limited and life-threatened
children and young adults.
The AGM was held on Sunday morning with a
good number of members attending. A visit was arranged for the afternoon for those wishing to visit the
National Memorial Arboretum.
AGM MATTERS
The Chairman, John Dicks, spoke of
Committee changes in the past year: Mike James
had stood down as Chairman for health reasons;
Tony Holt took over as Webmaster, and Pat Holt as
raffle organiser.
Membership, he said, was in decline, a situation
experienced by other much larger organisations. This
in spite of the hard work done by Membership Secretary,
Malcolm Flack, and Publicity Officer Brian Lloyd,
promoting the Association at Air Shows and other
venues around the country.
Get togethers are held in local areas although it
would be nice to have other mini events if we could
get co-ordinators.
John also mentioned the visit to Singapore and
Penang earlier this year with a party of fourteen members, their wives and partners - and the surprise of
Cedric Moxey when Malcolm presented him with his
PJM medal (see full story and picture on p17).
The Committee has agreed to help the other two
Far East Associations at our site in the National
Arboretum in purchasing a new and more durable bench,
as the old one was looking worse for wear.
The Treasurer, Richard Collins, said the
Association’s accounts were in a healthy state His
full report is on page 4.
(Continued on next page)
.
MEMBERSHIP
Membershiip Secretary, Malcolm Flack , in a
written report , said 92 enquiries over the year had
resulted in 47 new members. The total of 1114
paid up members at the end of December 2013 had
now reduced to 1044 due to those who had lapsed,
resigned or were now deceased .
Publicity Officer, Brian Lloyd, in his written
report, said that the Association’s publicity campaign
was continuing at small cost. As the last day for
National Service was 16th May 1963, it meant that
the youngest NS would now be 71, thus reducing
potential for new members.
He added: “Regular servicemen and women are
the people we are trying to target who served in Changi
from 1963 to 1971 when Changi was vacated”.
There was no report from Almoner, David
Haylock, but the Chairman mentioned that the
Secretary had now taken over sending out ‘Get Well’
cards for members who were unwell.
The Committee was re-elected en bloc.
Pictured below the table displaying the raffle prizes.
11
THE RAILWAY MAN
MIKE FRANKISH (M1614), a wireless
telegraphist at HQ Signals Communication Flight,
has written to us about a book entitled “The
Railway Man”, written by Eric Lomax. and
published in 1995. There was also a film made
about the book which was shown at Stamford Arts
Centre in February 2014. It tells the story of
Eric’s experiences as a Japanese PoW
Mike recommends the book and says it
prompted him to think about his memories when he
was posted to RAF Changi in 1955/6. He recalls the
long journey from Liverpool to Singapore aboard
HMS “Devonshire”, the same ship on which Eric
Lomas travelled when he was repatriated back to UK
at the end of the war.
Mike has happy memories of his tour in
Singapore. His job at Changi was to intercept morse
signals from Tokyo as well as air/ground and circuit
contacts such as Labuan, Kai Tak, Cocos Isles, Saigon,
Kuching, Iwakuni and Butterworth.
Mike concludes by saying people will go to see
this film for many reasons and will find it a moving
experience.
Do any members remember Mike Frankish as he
would be pleased to hear from them? He is already in
touch with four RAFCA members.
BWL
Write to us about your past experiences at RAF Changi.
As you will see from reports on membership and
the annual reunion our numbers are starting to diminish
and so too is the amount of material sent to us for
publication in this Newsletter.
If you want to continue receiving this Newsletter
in its present form KEEP THE ARTICLES COMING.
12
SEARCHLINE Number 55
August 2014
(All responses please direct to B.W. Lloyd, who compiled this feature)
1. DONALD COOPER (M2322) 64/7,
Airframe Fitter, spent some time with Model
Railways. Did any other member enjoy this
pastime Donald would be pleased to hear from
anyone who remembers him. His wife Shirley,
(M2323), has also joined, and was a civilian
typist at HQFEAF. Any Memories?
6. JAMES ANDREWS (M1701),Telegraphist,
Commcen and 315 SU, Second tour 68/71, Sgt.
is pictured below receiving his LSGC from
Group Captain Merriman (now deceased) CO
of RAF Changi
2. Were you a member of RAOB, 65/7?
Enquiry from Tony Reed (M2327), who worked
on Hunters and Javelins at Tengah as aircraft
fitter electrical.
3. Did you Shark Fish, 65/7? BARRY (known
as Steve) WILSON did so. Airframes at ASF
and Hydraulic Bay. Also bowling and darts. Any
memories of him?
4. HORNET CRASH 10th August 1951. Does
any member have any knowledge or information
about this accident? There were civilian
casualties when it crashed.
5. TEN PIN BOWLING. Did you take part in
this activity, 70/71? If so, Member Malcolm
(Mal) Smith (M2331) MTD, would like to hear
from you.
7. TOM STRAUGHAN (M115), 46/7
Wireless operator, using Morse Code ground
to air would be pleased to hear from anyone
who remembers him. He was billeted in Meyers
Flats near Sea View and worked initially at
Kallang and then transferred to Changi. The
Officer staff were F/Lt’s Hallam, Mitchell, Ryde
and Sinclair. Tom finished his tour at RAF
Tengah in Spring of 1947 and returned to UK
on the “Queen of Bermuda”
8. THE JUNGLE RESCUE SCHOOL. Did
you ever jump from an Aircraft, from the
Training stage in the Hangar or from a Balloon?
If so we would like to hear about it
9. Did you know anyone who played in the
Mayfair Quartet? Eric “Gig” Young
Information for ANTHONY (Tony) WILDISH.
Band formed in 50s. Eric is believed to be in
Scandinavia.
(See next page for item 10 “Sailing” with
picture)
13
10. SAILING The picture provided by Member PETER HUMPHRIES (M340) W.O Medical
lab, at Hospital. Peter is on left, then FG Officer Rosemary Partington, PMRAFNS. Lady on
right, the late Mrs. Maureen Humphries, Name unknown on far right. Keith ? in boat. Vessel
is Snipe Class “Pegasus”. Any memories?
14
A trip down Memory Lane with...
...Your letters and photos
FROM Jenny Hull (M1314) Nee Jenny
Vincent at Changi)
I read with interest in the April Editon the letter
from Bryan Millington (M2077) (about the FEAF Band). I
have several photos of the band shows around the same
time. My husband then was Russell Vincent and he stage
managed most of the shows .
If Bryan is interested I can email him copies. I can’t
remember all the names at the time but Bob Pullen, Ron
Ogden, Ken Windmill, Ivor Dolbar, Mel Walker and Johnny
Hicks are some of the names written on the back of the
photos.
I was very interested in Gordon March’s (M2194)
memories. I lived outside camp on Opera Estate to begin
with and remember all the places he mentioned. I learnt to
drive in Singapore and had a few very hair raising trips
round China Town. My instructor kept a small furry Loris
in the glove compartment and it sometimes hung under the
steering wheel for a sleep.
I really look forward to the news letter, it was a long
time ago but I enjoyed my time in Changi .
Regards Jenny Hull
FROM Eddie Heywood (M1232)
George Learwood and I served for many months
(1956/7) detached to Labuan, British Borneo from our parent
unit Changi. It was hell on earth!
We couldn’t work shifts because as the runway had
no lights all flying ceased around 18:00hrs. The reef just
off the beach was so full of fish we had to push them out of
the way to enjoy a swim. We had to play every sport
imaginable too and certainly have never been as fit.
All the time we were really upset thinking about our friends
down at Changi doing guard duties, parades etc. and really
wished we could have left this tropical paradise and been
there with them.
Here is George (on left) with me many years later
on that very same beach.
FROM L. Malcolm Cloutt (M2308)
An abiding memory of my Far East journey
earlier this year will be the great disparity between
living standards in Singapore, a City of skyscrapers and
vast apartment blocks, and Sittwe (formerly Akyab)
in northern Burma (now Myanmar) also a Cathedral
City, but with mostly dirt roads, lined with openfronted shops.
Businesses of all sorts were carried out on the
pavements (such as they were!) in the front of these
shops: cycle and motor cycle repairs to deal with the
hundreds swarming the roads; innumerable eating
places, and clothing shops, all open to the dust of the
roads. But I didn’t see poverty
Tourism hasn’t caught up with the North. The
few Hotels have satisfactory standards, but no lifts,
hence my fall down a flight of stairs when my attention
was distracted. ( Not good for a 93-year-old. Eight weeks
later I still needed occasional pain killers.)
Daniel, the Vicar of St. Marks’s Cathedral, helped
me to find my way around - a fine legacy of British
occupation in the 19th century. He enabled me to perform
the major purpose of my visit described in a Bucks
Herald article as “ War hero’s return to deadly crash
site”.
A wreath was made, bearing the names of my
deceased crew members, and I was able to explain to
his congregation (translated by Daniel) what had
happened to them. Their souls were offered up to God
for blessing. The wreath remains in the Cathedral.
The final part of my mission was to see the
names of my friends inscribed on the War Memorial at
Kranji in Singapore, and in this I was helped by Brother
Gideon members, who undertook to take charge of me
(!!) I thank God for giving me the strength to undertake
such a journey. A remarkable chain of events helped by
Changi Member Lim Tow Soon who runs Jacobs
Café in Changi Village.
Malcolm
FROM Frank Long (M1553)
FROM Brian Pelling (M2131)
15
congratulated him and cancelled the charge. But I fancy
I remember our three day journey from Blackbush
to Singapore in a Hermes of Airwork Ltd, registration
G-ALDO. On the final approach to the runway and just
before touching down, a monsoon broke over us. The choice
of landing, or going round again blinded by rain, was no
choice. We touched down and were losing speed at what
appeared to be a normal rate.
Looking out of the window on the port side, it seemed
we were cornering rather sharply, as the wing tip was
ploughing through the sand. Strangely, there were no
thoughts of any problems until the aircraft stopped and
everything was quiet, then people started to move. There
was no panic at all..
Looking out of the window, the outer engine had
its prop blades bent back over the engine cowling, just like
the pictures of wartime aircraft crashes. The pilot came
through from the cockpit, apologised for the inconvenience
and asked “would some of you lads come out of the front.”
What he really meant was would we get out through the
cockpit door down a knotted rope.
Outside, the aircraft was down an embankment some
15 foot deep with the front wheel buried in the soft bottom
of the ditch. We were told to shelter under the wing, the
wives and children were coming down the escape chute from
the main door.
The first person to arrive at the aircraft was a Group
Captain, who was watching the aircraft from the terminal
building. It was said at the time that he had dashed out of
the terminal building, spotted a car with keys in it and
“borrowed” it. He went straight to the end of the chute to
look after the families.
By this time the fire appliance had arrived and
drove straight up to the high starboard wing. There seemed
to be a discussion among the fire crew and much pointing at
the engine over their heads. The driver then tried to reverse
out, but only succeeded in bogging the rear wheels of the
appliance in the sand. The fire crew then started to throw
foam over everything, including the end of the chute, the
Group Captain raised his voice and asked them to stop!
After the incident, we were back in the airport building
and chatting among ourselves. It would appear that it
happened so fast that it did not register how dangerous it
could have been. People in the Terminal Building said the
aircraft had stood on its nose and they were frightened it
was going over on its back. We were not aware of this.
The Press were there asking what it was like out there.
Well, Service lads together you may guess, had their stories
ready such as “blood and bodies all over the place,” and
laughed like drains as the Press hurried away. The following
morning we read in the newspapers that we came off the
aircraft stunned and dazed... news to us.
The aircraft was in Singapore for some six months
being repaired, wing tip, engine change and props, after the
army used heavy recovery gear to get it out of the ditch and
on to solid ground.
his conscience never stopped being troubled by this event.
Brian Pelling
I recently enjoyed the TV documentary of the
Malayan terrorist period -1948 onward - helped out with
interviews with happy old sweats full of nostalgia. I became
reflective and not in the least nostalgic about the Virgin
Soldiers era all those years ago while in the RAF.
The Malayan Communist Revolutionaries, terrorists
of course to Western media, were well supplied with small
arms, foolishly donated by the Raj, who viewed the Far
East as a pushover once Japanese occupation had been
removed and the Utopian wonders of British colonisation
re-established.
The most popular small arm was the sten gun, a cheap
piece of pressed steel guaranteed to kill more of its users
than those it was used against.
Stationed in Changi I saw brief service in KL, Penang
and Butterworth. I was always terrified, not of the terrorists
but of the quality of leadership promised if things got dicky.
It was a resonant of Flanders, Dunkirk, Dieppe, Arnheim,
Crete and the fall of Singapore, so I was always on the alert
for catastrophe.
On one occasion I had to call in at BMH in Singapore
to sympathise with an old school buddy from Sheffield who
was recovering from the effects of six sten gun bullets fired
into him by a fellow soldier.
Derek and his patrol, lost in the jungle as usual, as the
British military rarely equipped its foot solders with maps
(while a few years previously the invading Japs always had
maps) blundered upon another lost British patrol and six
bullets was the bonus.
The Gurkas loved fighting the terrorists as they
garnered lots of human ears as souvenirs. Years later I
bumped into another old friend who saw service in khaki in
Malaya during the troubles. He confessed to me that his
patrol, of which he was sergeant, exposed and captured a
Chinese girl informer, so pinned her down on an ant hill and
smeared her with sugar. They heard her screams for hours
from way off before the ants got to the essential bits.
Late in life he had become contrite and I got the
impression he sought absolution.
I couldn’t provide it.
After this interesting atrocity his part was revealed. He
was arrested, charged and stuck in the stockade to await
court martial. But his favourite colonel came back off leave,
It takes all kinds to make the world, doesn’t it.
Frank Long
16
Changi Fire Section
FROM Richard Page (M2069)
I was stationed at RAF Changi from 1968-1971
as a Sgt. Fireman at the Changi Fire Section. My youngest son, Richard, was born at Changi Hopital on 25th
December 1968. Our other two sons, Christopher and
David, attended Changi Junior School.
We lived on Opera Estate and then moved to a
hiring at Tanah Merah Besar. On our return trip to Changi
in March 2012 we discovered what was our bungalow is
now a house, but the location was still quite familiar, apart
from the road being wider. Lloyd Leas is still across the
road. We could not get to the beach road as the land has
been reclaimed and there was a barrier blocking the entrance to the road. Some of the bungalows on Lloyd Leas
are now holiday accommodation.
For our trip we stayed at Changi Beach Club in lovely
surroundings and reasonably priced. It was nice to see
the roads around the club still have their English names
from the days of the Army and RAF, in fact the Beach Club
was on Cranwell Road. There is a wonderful walk from the
Beach Club to Changi Village with views across the creek
towards the islands.. It goes past the original yacht club.
This is a wonderful walk to do at sunset and is about a
mile long.
We visited Changi Museum and Chapel, a must for
any visitor. It is a very peaceful place giving you time to
contemplate on the terrible things that occurred there in years
prior to our tour. Thanks to the Museum and Chapel these
atrocities will always be remembered and the bravery of
the men and women never forgotten.
We were invited to the Changi Golf Club’s annual
presentation evening as guests of Kenny Goh, the Golf
Club Manager. A great evening followed with a delicious
buffet. I gave the Golf Captain a Changi Association tie
and was presented with a polo shirt from the Club. This was
a wonderful evening spent with such pleasant and lovely
people.
We used to go down to the city after a Saturday Night
at the Sgts Mess. Raffles is still there of course in all its
glory and across the road St. Andrews Cathedral still stands.
The number of high rise buildings dominates the city skyline and the traffic is horrendous.
A taxi took us back to Changi from the city; the driver
seemed to be 100 years old. He took us by the motorway and
east coast road during a tremendous monsoon. I had thoughts
of us being drowned in the monsoon drain, but the driver
was experienced and we arrived safe and sound at the Beach
Club.
Singapore is still as clean as it always was with chewing gum banned and no eating or drinking on public transport. My wife June left some shopping on the bus from
Changi Village, some books she had bought. We reported
the loss to the bus station, but the bus would be continuing
on to Tampines. We held little hope of seeing them again.
We had settled in for our evening meal when we were told
there was a motorbike waiting at the barrier to the Beach
Club. We were called over and given the bag with the books
in, the man would not consider taking a tip. I can’t help
but wonder if the same would happen in our country.
All the staff at the Changi Beach Club were without
exception polite and helpful, in fact Amy, one of the
senior staff, took us on a tour around our old haunts, a wonderful experience and a wonderful thing to do for us.
This was our visit back to Singapore after 41 years
and was a wonderful experience. Our son David has worked
for British Airways for a long time and was able to arrange
the trip for us, so the beginning and end of our trip were all
the more pleasant for having him with us during his layover
in Singapore.
Changi Association Members are made very welcome
and there is a restaurant in Changi Village called Jacobs that
gives all its members 10% off and has a large number of
photos from the old days.
I cannot recommend making the visit without some
advice, travel on the local buses, eat in the local restaurants
and enjoy the wonderful hospitality of the Singapore people. I promise you a great time.
Richard and June Page
The Singapore/Penang Holiday
17
Report by JOHN DICKS
At 0800 on Sunday 23rd February eleven members, wives and partners gathered in Terminal 3 at Heathrow
Airport ready to board our Singapore Airlines Airbus A380, which was scheduled to take-off at 1050 destination
Changi International Airport, where we would be joined by another member who would be flying from Manchester
Airport as he lives in Liverpool.
Later in the week our party would be augmented by the addition of another two people. Our flight passed off
without incident but when we landed the seven of us that had managed to procure seats on the top deck were invited
to meet the captain on the flight deck. He was very interested in the fact that we were ex-RAF and had been stationed
at Changi. We then booked into the Grand Pacific Hotel for a welcome rest and spruce up before going out for a
leisurely evening meal.
On the Wednesday we went to Kranji War Cemetery
The next morning, Tuesday, we all met up in the
and
laid
a wreath on behalf of the Changi Association and
foyer of our hotel to decide the program for the day, but first
another from the Royal Air Forces Association, in memory
we had a surprise for some one. Malcolm Flack presented
of the fallen. I can never get over the feeling of absolute
Cedric Moxey (below) with his Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal,
tranquility that I experience whenever I am here, this place
the expression on his face was one of sheer amazement and
is still kept in an immaculate condition and does great
delight, just one of the holiday highlights.
credit to the people that work there.
Thursday and Friday we did all the usual touristy
things like going on the Singapore Flyer, the Midnight Safari
at Singapore Zoo, the Gardens on the Bay and Clarke Quay
to mention just a few. On Saturday we had been invited by
Lim Tow Soon (M2000) to Jacob’s Café, in Changi Village,
for a farewell gathering, but when we arrived, at mid-day,
we discovered that a full Reunion Lunch had been arranged
for the RAF Changi Association members and the Changi
Village Merchants Association to celebrate Lunar New Year
2014. What a time we all had, meeting again with some of
the villagers that we had last seen at the Inauguration of the
Changi Camp Monument in 2010. After lunch Margaret and
I visited “Charlie’s Corner” to pay our respects to Charlie
Han Loon Juan (M2001) who, as usual, made us most
welcome. Returning to Jacob’s Café we were immediately
transported to the Changi Sailing Club as the guests of
Stephen Lim Fung Meng (M2002), where there was even
more food to consume and drink to partake of. I don’t know
how we managed it, but we did and nobody misbehaved or
made a fool of themselves. This, without a doubt, was the
best day of the holiday.
On Monday we said good bye to Bev Steed and
Theodora, who were returning to the United Kingdom, while
the rest of us were going on to Penang for complete
relaxation, at the Bay View Beach Resort Hotel, in Batu
Ferringhi. After the rigours of Singapore we still managed
to visit the Spice Gardens, the Butterfly Farm and the Penang
War Museum, but a lot of time was spent in the hotel gardens,
enjoying the odd Tiger Beer or two, then off to our favourite
restaurants for the evening meal, to Mario’s, the Living
Room, Ferringhi Beach Gardens and our out and out favourite
The Boatman where May always looked after us. After seven
days of this Betty and Cedric Moxey couldn’t stand the pace
and went home, but we all persevered for another week of
the same.Hopefully some of us will be going again in 2016,
Later the same day we visited the Changi Museum but if you cannot wait that long you could always accept
and Changi Village. After meeting several old acquaintances David Taylor’s kind invitation to go with the Seletar
we promised that we would all return later in the week.
Association in 2015.
18
FORTHCOMING EVENTS in 2014 and 2015
RAF Changi Association will be in attendance at these events
AUGUST
Sun 17th
10.00
Sat 30th
10.00
Sun 31st
10.00
SEPTEMBER
Fri 19th
11.30
Sun 21st
10.00
OCTOBER
Sat 4th
11.30
Fri 24th
11.30
NORTHANTS
Sywell Air Show off A43 Northants NN6 0BN
WEST SUSSEX
Shoreham Air Show on A27 at Shoreham Airport BN43 5F
2 day event
HAMPSHIRE
Informal Local Reunion.
Royal British Legion H.Q. Love Lane, ROMSEY SO51 8DE
Organiser: Malcolm Flack Tel: 01494 728562
Members in Adjacent Counties will be notified.
SURREY
Brooklands Aviation Day
Brooklands Museum, Brooklands Road, Weybridge. KT13 0QN
1 day event
HERTFORDSHIRE
Informal Local Reunion.
Kings Langley Cricket Club. Vicarage Lane, KINGS LANGLEY
WD4 9HS
Off Junc. 20 M25 - Organiser: Malcolm Flack
Tel:01494 728562 Members in Adjacent Counties will be notified.
ESSEX
NEW EVENT
Informal Local Reunion at the 2004 Ltd Club, 168 Station Lane,
HORNCHURCH On A124 Next to Hornchurch LT Station and
Off M25 Junc 29
Organiser: Len Daniels Tel: 01708 555077
Members in Adjacent Counties will be notified.
2015
MAY
Fri 8th
Sat 9th
Sun 10th
15.00
19.00
10.30
STAFFORDSHIRE
19th ANNUAL REUNION at The Tillington Hall Hotel
Eccleshall Road, Stafford ST16 1JJ
Arrivals (optional)
Gala Dinner
13th Annual General Meeting
Full details and booking form will be in the December 2014 Newsletter
Other & Potential Members please phone for details of these events. All are welcome
OTHER EVENTS ARE BEING PLANNED
Not one in Your Area ? We need more Local Reunions.
So why not consider arranging one.
Help from the committee and guidelines are available on request.
19
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY’S REPORT
May I remind members that the accuracy of the Association Database is dependent
on the receipt of any changes in membership details, such as changes of Address, Phone
Numbers and email. So remember, if these are wrong, not only will you miss out on
potential friendship contacts, your Newsletter may go astray!!
Enquiries have slowed up and that has reflected on new members who have recently joined.
Malcolm Flack Since my last report I have only registered four new members and one re-instated membership.
This therefore gives us a total of 1049 paid up members at 17 June 2014
WELCOME ABOARD
We welcome the four new members who have joined the Association since Newsletter No. 54
2330
First
Name
Ronald
2331
Curran
Service
Trade
No.
S1930058 Chef
Sqdn/
Section
Catering
Arrival
Date
Sep-69
Depart
Block No.
Date
Nov-71 Jalan Chempaka
Puteh
Malcolm
Smith
F4292438 M.T.D.
Sep-70
Nov-71 125
2332
Eric
Grimshaw
2756650
Dec-55
Apr-57
?
2333
Frank
Dell
131049
M.T.
Section
Changi
Hospital
52 Sqdn
Jan-45
Dec-46
Private House
used as Mess
Mem No.
Surname
Maiden
Name
Nursing
Attendant 1.
Pilot
OBITUARIES
It is with deep regret and sadness that we report the deaths of the following members
We offer our condolences to their relatives
M em
Firs t
Surname
N o.
N ame
433 Dorothy B re am
2805693
AC H. G.D.
HQ FEAF
Arrival
D ate
N ov-49
Se rvice N o.
Trade
Sqdn/Se ction
D e part
D e ce as e d
D ate
M ar-51 M ay. 2014
483
Thomas D outhwaite
G3528261
A/M ech /A.
Tech. W ing
Jun-62
Jun- 64
506
Ronald
Fowle r
3501038
Teleprinter O p.
C omcen C hangi.
Aug-49
Sep-50 Feb. 2014
911
David
Harrie s
4160022
M T Section
Jun-55
Dec-57 Jan. 2014
1089
Eric
B ave rs tock
1096300
M T Driver M ech.
C ode C ypher
N ov-45
Jan- 46
Jan. 2014
1364
K enneth N ightingale
3501836
P.T.I.
Jun-48
Jun- 49
Dec. 2013
1373
James
R itchie
U4001756
Teleg. I
HQ FEAF/Signals
Singapore
Physical
Education.
C .C .S.
Aug-66
Jul-69
2013
1953
David
Simmons
W 1060445
Telegraphist
Apr- 67
Sep-69 M ar. 2014
2053
Peter
Swans borough 4074702
Aero Fireman
315 Signals Unit
(C omcen)
Fire Section
Jan-52
Jun- 54
M ay. 2014
2104
K enneth Hartne ll
M .T.D.(O p.)
M T Section
Jun-60
Jun- 62
M ar. 2014
B4129078
M ar. 2014
Changi-ite Newsletters
Back Issues
All editions of the Changi-ite Newsletter are available
from the RAFCA Regalia Officer @ 50p each, plus
a donation towards postage.
The first few issues are printed direct from a
computer, but most are copies from the original
printers. All issues from No.1 through to the latest
edition are available.
To obtain back issues of the Changi-ite Newsletter
please state which numbered edition(s) are required
In addition to the above, if you prefer to obtain all
issues on one DVD, this is available at the price of
£10.
Cheques to be made out to RAF Changi
Association and contact:
Mrs. D.P. James (Regalia Officer)
12 Shiners Elms,
Yatton,
Bristol
BS49 4BY
REGALIA CATALOGUE
Members may be aware that a Regalia
Catalogue is now available and can be sent
free of charge either by post or by e-mail (PDF
format). Since the Association has been able
to order items on an individual basis, a number
of items (such as clothing) have been possible.
This has allowed items to be ordered both for
ladies and gentlemen in several colours.
To obtain an RAF Changi Catalogue
please contact:
Mrs. D. P. James (Regalia Officer)
12, Shiners Elms,
Yatton,
Bristol.
BS49 4BY
Tel: 01934 833170
e-mail: raf-changi-assn@tiscali.co.uk