MEMORIES OF A NATIONAL SERVICEMAN.

Early in September 1953, I received a rail warrant & instructions to report to 6 Trg. Batn., Royal Engineers, Worcester, during the first week of October 1953.

During the journey from Portsmouth to Winchester I had to wait one hour for connection and decided on a haircut which transformed me from d. a. to almost shaven! I arrived in Worcester mid afternoon and was transported to the camp in a Bedford 3 ton truck.

After the usual reception, I was allocated bed space and part kit plus introduction to the DI., and told to get another haircut and had injections. The next ten days I can only remember square bashing and PT, but for sure there were other activities.

On day ten I was informed that I was to be posted to Elgin in Scotland or given a choice of the Guards at Pirbright, or the RMP at Woking. I chose the latter and spent the following four days making a rocking-horse for the CO's daughter.


I then received another travel warrant to Woking, and guess what? Another three ton Bedford to Inkerman Barracks!

I entered the driveway to the barracks passing the officer's mess on the left and formed up at the entrance by guardroom, and I became a member of 399 squad, quartered on the far left-hand side of the parade ground in very high ceilinged rooms with a combustion stove in the centre of the room with an enormous cast-iron coal box. Does anyone remember the floor bumper used to buff the floor-boards?

The next day we were up at 6.00am.washed & shaved; beds made and breakfast at 8.00am. Then, the first sight of SI-Sgt. Booth-a good fellow.

After a little less than two weeks, I, along with four other Probationers picked up food-poisoning, and with small kit were transferred to the BMH in Aldershot by 15 Cwt. truck.Feeling decidedly unwell and convinced it was the pilchards, the treatment was stryptymecin every 8 hours. This chalky substance injected into buttocks by a pretty QARANC named Yvette Galvin during the day and an RAMC corporal at night!

I think that our stay was for eight or nine days; then back in the 15Cwt. to Inkerman, where we collected our full-kit and I was back-squaded to 402 squad with SI Sgt. E. Edwards.

during the first week in this squad I was interviewed by the CO Lt.Col. Somerville-Macalister, and urged to consider signing on for three years.(the first of a number of such urgings).


if my memory is correct,the first eight weeks of a Probationer's life was in 'A' Coy. in the main building. The following four weeks was devoted to MT training in 'B' Coy. I don't recall moving to Warburg, but moving to another section of the old barracks, on the right-hand side of the parade ground. The instructor for this four-week period was Sgt. Butcher, (a mountain of a man,who could really instruct, particularly cross-country on a motorcycle.

For the final eight weeks we were in 'C' Coy.and moved into the luxury of the spiders.


Upon pass-out in March 1954 I was posted to 200 Pro.Coy.after two weeks leave and three days later ,guess what? Another three ton Bedford to Woking station en route to Liverpool for embarkation on the "Empire Halladale".

At this stage it's worth looking back over the last twenty-four weeks.

My memories today; some fifty-one years on are, on the whole, enjoyable times. I transgressed on a number of occasions and was only caught twice and sentenced to spud-bashing, Still Room & cooking pans etc. I remember twice serving in the Officer's Mess by the main road.

The whole period of training was of benefit to me. I quickly learned to accept discipline during the whole two years of national service and am sure it did me no harm, and stood me in good stead for the following years of my life.

Back to the "Halladale". I believe that there were 14 RMP's and one sergeant in charge on board. A couple got off at Port Said, three for Singapore, four for malaya and the rest for Korea. Memories of the voyage are scant. The second night on board we were in the Bay of Biscay, and until then I had never been sea-sick, but that night made up for it. The duties on board were varied ( like keeping the lads away from the married quarters) , and encouraging the 'bum boats' away at Port Said & Aden. Very effective with the help of a fire hose, but still they were able to get a line up into a port-hole,send a juvenile up and pass out anything of value to the boat below.

good memories of the suez canal down to aden. on shore leave we met up with a couple of m.p’s who took us up to crater city, followed by two hours at the services club for a swim. Next stop Bombay, but first a three-day breakdown in the Arabian sea where we wallowed in temperatures of 100 degrees. Eventually we arrived in Bombay for stores and water. No shore leave, only six hours stay and then finally to Singapore, arriving on Corps Day, after thirty-one days at sea.

What a welcome! We, plus the lads for Malaya were eventually transported by 15 Cwt. truck to Gillman Barracks, where 90% of the company strength were out of their minds celebrating on 'Tiger' & 'Anchor'. The KL lads were transported to the railway station that evening by a tee-total member who only drank 'Green-spot'.

The following day, after kit change a full company parade of forty-five members,the OC Major Geoffrey Lewis, Royal Welsh Regiment;the 2 i/c. Capt.Paddy Verlin. an Irish Regiment, Lt. Matthews Williams, RAPC., RSM Stubbs, RMP. Sergeants that I remember are: Beardmore, Smith, & Darkie Payne, 'Geordie' Barras, 'Piggy' Collins and Gray REME Cpl.Harry Thurger and Cfts. Gareth Goodwin, ACC Cpl.Harry Hyde.

During the sixteen months stay in Singapore, my duties were mainly driving Jeeps and Land-Rovers on general patrols day and night, 2 i/c's driver for a couple of months and on the only visit to Singapore by the Provost Marshall, I drew the short straw for driver.

Approximately three months after arrival in Singapore, the first SEATO conference was held in mManilla. Ten of us were flown by RAF Anson to the Phillipines as security for the British delegation for fourteen days. The journey was memorable.we put down in Labuan for re-fuelling in a temperature of 110, and then on approach to the Phillipines, got caught in a typhoon and diverted to Clarkfield, a US airfield. We were billeted there for the night. What a difference between their food to ours!

The following day we were transported by a US coach to Manilla, where we were billeted in the luxurious Manilla Hotel, the venue of the conference. Duties for the fouteen days consisted of patrolling corridors of the hotel only when the conference was in session. An absolute dawdle. We received our army pay plus 32/6 d per day, Foreign Office allowance, an absolute fortune in those days!

With a very heavy concentration of US personel in Manilla, I remember three of our number reported sick on return to Singapore, and were eventually RTU'd. (Something picked uo from a seat).

I was very happy during my stay at 200 Coy. Plenty of social activities combined at times with a heavy work-load. Overall the atmosphere at Gillman was a happy one, but still not happy enough to sign on for three years! Christmas Day was memorable for me. I couldn't believe being woken by the OC with rum laced tea and wished a Happy Christmas. The whole day was spent in an alcoholic haze!

Eventually August 1955 arrived. Approximately one month before leaving, personnel were moved from duties that may require witness duty. In my case I spent my last four weeks on 'docks' at the Godowns and Tanjong Berlayer with the SHB Police, escorting ammunition to Blakang Mati, now named Sentosa Island, and reached by cable car.

I visited Singapore a few of the haunts in 1993, and saw our old barrack block from Alexander Road.(I am told it is now demolished and a housing site).

Early September and a 'going away party'. Wow what a hangover! We embarked on the 'Captain Hobson', an emigrant boat from New Zealand for a twenty-eight days voyage to Southampton. I don't remember any other stops except Port Said.

From Southampton, a train to Woking and yet another three ton Bedford truck to Inkerman Barracks. We were about fifteen in number, ex. Korea, KL's & Singapore. A mixture of shoulder flashes.

We spent 2 days in 'C' Coy. spiders waiting for 'demob'. On the last day I collected my rail warrant and pay, and I was unfortunate enough to cross Harry Burden's path. "Where do you think you are going corporal"? "Home sergeant major"! I replied! "Not before you've had a haircut; get down to the barbers and while you are at it ,get those shoulder flashes off and report to me afterwards". He said.One hour later completely shorn, I asked in a whisper at the guardroom for the RSM. I didn't see him, and clambered aboard the three ton Bedford for Woking and home!

The older I get, the more I appreciate my national service time, mainly spent in Singapore at 200 Pro.Coy.22931943, David William Strugnell.

For the past twenty-six years I have lived in Palma de Mallorca having owned a restaurant for twenty years and now retired. My Tel.No. from UK is 0034971180996; and my address is; "son biea petit", Calle Vicente Chinchilla, 07184, Calvia. Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

In the early 1960's I worked in the construction industry and formed my own company in Cardiff, Wales. During my eighteen years in Wales I met up with the following RMP.
Cpl. Lynn Jones,(Taff), 200 Pro.Coy.
Cpl. Owen Williams, 200 Pro.Coy.and Korea.
Cpl. J. Mayo, 200 Pro.Coy.
L/Cpl. Cliff Hearsey, 200 Pro.Coy. and Korea, and an old school friend.
Cpls. L. Jones & J. Mayo served with Sgt. Smith in anti vice during 1954 & 1955.

David Strugnell.

July 19th 2004.