We've tried to ensure the information displayed here is as accurate as possible. Should there be any inaccuracies, we would be grateful if you could let us know at info@ipohworld.org . All images and content are copyright.

(Please click on the thumbnail for a bigger image.)

Royal Marine Commandos And The Tented Colombo Camp, Ipoh

Thumbnail :

Subject :Royal Marine Commandos and the Tented Colombo Camp, Ipoh
Published By : None 
Location : Ipoh
Estimated Year : 1951
Media Type : Photograph
Source : Jim O'Connor, UK
Remark :

These two photographs were sent to us by Jim, who served during the Malayan Emergency with the 45 Commando Royal Marines (prounounced "four-five commando") from 1950 to 1952. They were taken just outside the camp perimeter. The camp, a mixture of wooden huts and many tents, was close to the Ashby Road camps and Ipoh Town, but was approached via what is today Lebuh Raya Cecil Rae and stretched from there to Jalan Papan. The old guard house to the camp which used to be opposite the Police Station adjacent to the road junction has gone, but the police station still stands. Over the 12 years of the Emergency the camp housed many famous Commonwealth Regiments who were here in support of anti communist operations.

A visit to the camp today would reveal that it has effectively vanished and in its place is the Malaysian Army Strategic command planning offices. However veterans would recognise the football field which is still in the same place, but the theatre and NAAFI shop have both gone. The bungalows that were built later as married quarters are still there and lived in. The only building remaining fom the time when the above photographs were taken is the old Police Station that was on the bend and road junction opposite the guard house. With the large numbers of troops in this one place the area became a haven for the Indian Dhobis (Laundrymen) and Chinese/Indian Tailors, many of whom lived and worked in temporary accommodation close to the camps and were seen plying their trades around them every day.

Adjacent to the camp was a detention centre and in the photo on the left the watch tower of that facility can just be seen to the left of the photograph. In the second image the apex roofs of the detention centre can also just be seen in the distance, again to the left of the photograph.

Despite its use over 12 years, these are the only photographs of the camp held in our archive to date (July 2010). We would ask you, our readers, for more.

Filename : 20100627-011