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The 'A' Troop Experience - Part 6
This is the sixth part of "The 'A' Troop Experience", generously donated to us by Tom Eadie, who served throughout 1955 to 1956 in Malaya.
"During October 1955 both 'A' and 'B' Troops were withdrawn from operations and moved back to Taiping HQ for clean-up and rest and re-fit. Naturally this also meant parades, endless duties and a much resented return to a far more insistently applied military discipline, constant saluting, and bulling kit for interminable visits by brass-hats and various parades, etc. but also conferred the luxury of good amenities and time to relax and enjoy the Taiping cinemas and eating places.
On November 21st, the 'A' Troop once more rolled out of the Old Convent, this time heading for the Cameron Highlands. The climb beyond Tapah with its claustrophobic intimidating high-rising jungle crowding the eternally bending narrow roadway was enough to make everyone feel vulnerable and on high alert, though failing to prevent the Troop Leader from charging on in front standing in the turret of the Dingo armoured car making a perfect target for any watching Communist Terrorist (CT).
The first night we camped on a small plateau only to be rudely awakened in the early hours by the mother of all monsoon downpours which flooded everything and washed tents and equipment floating. The rest of that night and day saw us crammed steaming and swearing into a benevolent Planters double garage drying out and trying to sleep before next day labouring the struggling lorries, quads, limbers and guns higher and deeper into the remarkably beautiful mist laced interior of the Highlands."
The first picture from the left is that of the troops travelling Into the Highlands, the second picture is that of the 'Iron Pig' armoured troop carrier, underpowered and virtually impractical.
"Our final gun position in Malaya turned out to be the Boh Tea Estate, a remote situation requiring some spectacular vehicle maneuvering and constant uncoupling of the gun and limber units to negotiate the twisting unmetalled basic roadway before we entered the factory compound gate under the salute from a grinning Nepalese shotgun armed civilian guard.
A few more nights were spent sleeping on the floor of one of the bungalows before the powers that be arranged for us to erect our tent lines inside the wire enclosure of the Manager's tennis court where we duly created a glorious tin sheet and canvas shop cum cafe for the ever smiling Mr. Singh's indispensable team of Navy Army & Air Force Institute (NAAFI) substitute caterers and moral boosters the 'Charwallahs'."
The third picture from the left is that of Dennis McDermot (2nd from left), 'Chico' (the young boy), and Mr. Singh. Tom seems to be remember Mr. Singh had adopted 'Chico'. The next picture is that of the Boh Estate Tea Factory tennis court tent lines and the fifth picture is that of (from left to right) John Parrish, Bertie Pearl, 'Wiggy' Kempson on night guard duty on the Boh upper gun-position. Last but not least are the lovely Boh Tea Factory girls.