3 Comments »

peter w elliott said:
Borneo Story.
In november 1964 we were posted to 30 Signal Regt in Blandford and 536 signal Troop was born. After a period of familiarisation, training and Equiping we were on the move.
In December 1965 we arrived at Redford Cavalry Barracks in Edinburgh, where we Joined the 1st Bn, The Gordon Highlanders.
Our first thoughts were that the jocks of the regiment were very unfriendly and didn’t appreciate us being there but this was a big mistake on our part.
During the next couple of weeks of training, bonding and sampling the Haggis and chips , and the pints of heavy we began to realise that what we had mistaken for unfriendliness was infact pride of their Regimental family.
One thing that played a big part in our lives was the sound of the bagpipes . they were played [at what seemed to be] every opportunity . from the moment we opened our eyes. After a few weeks they became part of our everyday lives and it was a bit compariable to learning Morse code . It had to drive you a bit crazy before you began to like it .
We don’t think we are alone in saying that even to this day when the pipes or pipes and drums are heard , a lump comes to our throat and a distinct swagger in our step takes place.
On a cold january morning we bussed to Turnhouse Airport and flew by Caledonian Airways to Jesselton [ Kota Kinabalu ] in Sabah or what was called North Borneo. Following a long truck journey over bumpy dirt tracks We arrived at Paradise Camp which was to be our home and training camp for two months
There was a few first’s experienced by the Gordon Highlanders . They were the first Battalion to do a complete years tour in Borneo whereas other unit’s did a three or six month rotation. they were the first Infantry Regiment [ non Royal Marine Commando ] unit to deploy by helicopter from HMS Albion, a Commando Carrier , direct to their active field positions, transferring with the Commando’s,in our case being at Tawau in North Borneo.
536 Signal Troop consisted of Fred McMillan [ troop sgt ] , Pete Lavelle [ op ] ,Pete Elliott [ op ] ,Jim Cook [ R tech ] , Jim Hardwick [ R tech ] , Paddy Mooney [op ] , Jock Urquart [ op ] , Bill Morse [ op ] and Brian Green [ ED ].
The Troop Provided HF Rear Link communications to JCU Labuan using Larkspur C11 transceivers and forward communications to the Battalion by Larspur C42 and C45 VHF transceivers . Operational and Technical support was provided at platoon level, who used A40 and A41 VHF transceivers . It is of note that some of these transceivers were initially supplied incomplete and the VHF Transmitters not suitable for dense jungle Comms. Thus a stock of 62 Sets and A510 HF Tx’s were supplied from WW2 and Malaysian Emergency pools.
Our time in Borneo was not all Doom and Gloom. We had time to create quite a few lasting memories. For a time we had a pet spider in the control room [ believed to be a Bird eating spider ] but unfortunately someone threw a book at it and scored a direct hit. Another occasion happened when i [ Pete ] got into bed and felt a lump under my pillow . it turned out to be a coiled up snake . I was out of that bed so fast even Linford would have been proud of me .we were all very aware of unpopular insect’s and other creepy crawlies. hence the mosquito nets and boot’s turned upside down on sticks. etc. Our fears obviously lead to a few pranks played by one and all .
Occasionally a few of us would buy a case of Tiger beer and take it too the local Kampong . To get there involved walking around and between the Rice Fields that were situated on the outskirts of the jungle [ ulu ]. Thenarrow banked up earth between the fields were used as footpaths and while walking along there was the occasional black Bootlace snake crossing from one field to another. Once past the fields we entered the ulu and a short distance in, there was a clearing with an Eban village consisting of three or four quite long houses on stilt’s. the head-man would greet us and invite us into his house.
We would exchange the tiger beer for their infamous local brew which was Rice Wine. The wine is fermented in Bamboo sections and hung up in the tree’s. Before drinking the wine a substantial amount of large ant’s had to be scooped out. How we ever drunk the wine is beyond belief. A few of us have to admit to not remembering the return journey.
Taking part in border patrol’s were few and far between for our signal troop but even they had their memorable event’s. One such time was that we were on the outward patrol when a noise was heard up front so we took evasive action [ dived into the bushes ] only to find a wild pig come sauntering past. when we reached the sandbagged dugout on the border, complete with it’s residential snake [ they kept the rats down ] the required action took place. This consisted of firing a few mortar shell’s over the border [ normally night and morning ] just to make our presence known . They retaliated during the night and we got quite adept at rolling off the bed and straight underneath it .
We did play an active part in other way’s, for instance we designed a control box for the claymore mines that were placed around the perimeter fences. It was a simple control made from ammunition boxes using a series of switches wired together with a master switch so that anyone of the mines could be detonated at any given time .[simple but it worked ]. various aerials were designed and tested in and out of the ulu.
After six months we had well earned our R and R break . some of us going to Singapore and others to Jesselton. We then transferred to Brunei where we took Twin Pioneer Aircraft to our new home in the Central Highlands called Bario. At Bario we supported the RAF Radar Station and did a bit of guarding the poor RAF guy’s . Some of our air supplies were dropped in the marshes at the end of the runway. we hope you enjoyed our brief but true story.
Pete Elliott and Jim Cook…
# 18 April 2010 at 5:33 am

richardker (author) said:
@Pete: Thank you this wonderful story! Do you have any photos taken during your time in Tawau?
# 6 August 2010 at 8:56 pm
Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment Officer in Sebatik Island, Tawau, North Borneo | North Borneo Historical Society said:
[...] can find more interesting stories of Konfrontasi on Discover Tawau’s website. Tagged as: Borneo Konfrontasi • Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment of Havant • Major James [...]
# 11 October 2011 at 11:19 am

Write your comment below!