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Police Lieutenant Tom Turnbull - Part 3

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Subject :Police Lieutenant Tom Turnbull - Part 3
Published By : None 
Location : Tanjong Rambutan / Batu Gajah, Perak
Estimated Year : 1949
Media Type : Photograph
Source : Tom Turnbull, Australia
Remark :
  • The pictures show:

    On the left, Police Sergeant Tom Turnbull in 1949. There are three interesting features relating to his equipment as pictured. He records:

  • ”For some reason known only to equipment officers the footwear was classified as ‘Jungle Boots’. The design was surely cobbled together (sic) by a committee comprising desert, mountain, air-warfare and naval experts. Calf length boots had no place in the Malayan jungle. Most wearers modified them with a pocket knife. They were replaced by army jungle boots in 1950.”

  • “The Khaki army shirt was a valued item at the time. Jungle green material was, at the time, imported from Hong Kong and withstood very little wear in the Ulu.”

  • “Weapons were a personal choice and my Browning automatic shotgun was a great success. Modified by the police armourer with a cut-off barrel and a pistol grip to steady it was a fine close-range weapon. Browning never made a bad gun and with this one they did not tarnish their image despite the unapproved modifications.”

  • The centre picture shows Tom as a newly promoted Police Lieutenant in 1952.

  • On the right is Tom, a good Scotsman, practicing his bagpipes in Batu Gajah around 1956. You will note that he is well away from the Officer’s Mess from where he was banned as soon as his pipes were removed from their box.

    To go to Part 1, click here.

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