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The 'A' Troop Experience - Part 5
This is the fifth part of "The 'A' Troop Experience", generously donated to us by Tom Eadie, who served throughout 1955 and 1956 in Malaya.
"Throughout August, the 'A' Troop conducted food checks and patrols in the surrounding villages of Salak North and Karai while accompanying various Infantry units on short and long patrols, the most memorable being conducted by the Gurkhas deep into the bowels of one of the great Perak rock outcrops to emerge into massive cathedral like cavern. An occasional goodwill visit to places such as the Padang at Kuala Kangsar (2nd picture from left), engaging in few football matches with the local youth and enjoying the occasional mad booze night in camp in part made up for the horrendous undertaking escorting all the withdrawn 25 pounder (pdr) ammunition down to the Royal Army Ordnance Corp (RAOC) 433 Base Ammunition Depot at Kranji in Singapore by rail with five of us being bounced around for four days of being shunted around the Malay railway system in an empty steel goods wagon, considerately placed between the two wagons filled wit the ammunition. There was of course the customary lack of concern for our well-being, i.e.; no bedding, and subsisting on C Rations cooked up on the tiny Tommy cooker burners while relying on rail-side standpipes for washing facilities.
Things progressed, very slowly, until on entering a small bend we suddenly detected a definite violent bounce in the wagon's movement, and a quick glance out of the ever open doorway confirmed the train had become derailed and were now clattering directly on the wooden sleepers. Thankfully our slow progress meant on of us could jump down and dash forward to warn the driver and we clattered to a halt with the ammunition wagons balanced in a very precarious position. The load had apparently shifted and we spent the rest of that day awaiting the breakdown crane from Ipoh while nervously guarding our precarious responsibility from the outlying undergrowth. After a night spent stranded in Ipoh Goods yard, we set off again the following day and finally reached the 433 Base to receive and invective filled welcome from the Guard Commander who resented our un-military appearance.
One of the subsequent requirements resulting from the Prematures was close examination of our gunnery techniques by a RAOC officer to detect any possibly responsibility for the accidents on our part. (the last two pictures are that of the RAOC officer's inspection)"
The first picture is that of the troops relaxing, the second as mentioned in bold is that of the troops at the Kuala Kangsar Padang, the third picture is that of Tom writing home and the fourth picture is that of the view towards Salak Bahru from the Salak North Police Post.
Click here to go back to Part 4.