The senior NCOs we found were intelligent and acted fairly toward us. The Troop SM was BSM Baglow “Baggy” a surveyor, and as we got to know him found he was something of a character. Our Surveyor Sergeants were Hale and Mason and “Nobby” Hall the Signals Sergeant. Sergeant Hale was the senior, most intellectual and somewhat distant, Mason, the other surveyor sergeant younger, an accomplished amateur artist and friendly while Nobby had seen long and hard service and liked his beer. They were Regular soldiers and had had much experience in survey units and under active service conditions. We got to know our sergeants well when working with them in close proximity out in the field on survey activities in relaxed conditions. Between us there was a mutual respect. On parade they could be as regimental as the occasion required.
Bombardier ‘S’ was still with us if in body and not as a surveyor. I cannot recall him ever being of use or assistance in that field. But given us to order about he was in his element. It was Sergeants Hale and Mason with whom we spent our time on survey matters. There was another Bombardier named Smith who was a happy enough fellow. I cannot remember other NCOs, but there must have been some. From time to time we also became aware of the other Troop officers and NCOs, but who they were I cannot now recall.
Conditions at Camp
Conditions in camp to say the least were primitive. The approach was a dry, dusty and rough track that wound through the paddy fields for some distance. In the monsoon conditions the track quickly turned to mud and vehicles using it vehicles regularly bogged down. When stuck, if they could not be winched or hauled out by another truck, we were called out to retrieve them by setting to and with our shoulders, pushing them out of the deep mud and muck.
This awful track made the conditions in camp worse. Most serious of these was that there was no laid on water supply. All the drinking water was trucked in by tanker, as well as that for washing. Our situation became somewhat precarious when the tanker got stuck. Similarly our food supply was short when the ration truck got stuck – the food itself was inadequate and poor and we were often hungry. When the mail truck could not get through, mail from home was disrupted and delayed. Mail was most important to us. We became in those circumstances rather isolated.
With this lack of a proper water supply to the camp site and with only water delivered by tanker and needed primarily for drinking and cooking there was consequently a great shortage of it for washing and other necessities. Another crudity was that the latrines were open pits. In the heat and humidity these became exceedingly obnoxious infested with flies and the like. The Naafi and mess hall were huts.
Pretty accurate description, the plane you mention was a ‘Mustang’, after the radio station in Shum Chun.
Thank you John for those remarks and your interest in my story. It’s even more interesting that after sixty five years the event is remembered. It did too at the time make an impression. It all happened so suddenly and was over so quickly. Not something that usually occurred at morning parade.
It appears you have some knowledge of the incident, can you add anything more about it?
Hi John.
I have followed you account with much interest.
You have the facts.
Perhaps you remember the typhoon that followed almost directly after we erected the tents, and demolished the lot. Incidentaly, i remember that after the rain, while a mob of naked soldiers were trying to get some order, a concert party called ‘The Four Aces. appeared and were quickly ushered the Officers Mess to avoid embarrassment ( not ours, I think).
Hey ho.
John.
John, it is apparent from your remarks you and I served time together at Lo Wu, will you say in what capacity?
I can’t say I can recall you directly but in some manner your name seems familiar. I look forward to learning a little more about you.
I think the plane incident and the typhoon were two particularly memorable events at Lo Wu, though it’s probably also true to say the whole experience of Lo Wu is unforgettable.
And I’ve certainly forgotten about that concert party but I can’t forget the hilarity that ensued in course of the torrential rains and its consequences. Something along the lines of a schoolboy lark.
One other matter I have since learned about was the strenuous effort involved in manpacking all the gear up to the OP was subsequently avoided because mules were later employed on the duty instead of of us squaddies. Some had it cushy!
So glad you got in touch, and If you have anything more to add please feel free to do so. How long ago it all was.
My regards,
John.
Hi,John.
As far as I was involved in the in the “man packing’ exercise, the practice of using mules never happened, as it was thought that the animal could carry little more than a soldier and was not as docile.
John, It was after our time. It seems remarkable that mules were employed at all. Why use a mule when you have a squaddy?
Character forming yes, and it did us no harm. It makes me smile when I hear complaints from teen agers about some aspects of their lot today. As was said “…they need to get their service in..”
Please keep up your remarks and tell us something of your NS experience. You clearly retain memories of it.
Regards,
John.
Hi,John ,
I was a regular, a fourth generation ‘gunner’,Your observations as a National Service man are very interesting.I was sorry to hear of Tim Tate-Smith, I bumped into him in Moulton(?) in ’71,while I working on the Shale belt.Bill Hale.Captain Ret.and Major Tilburn Ret,have now gone, but I was lucky enough to serve with them later and they both supported me at my wedding.I left the Army as a W.O. Surveyor 1, A.R.I. working overseas most of the time, including seven years with the S.O.A.
My infrequent visits to the U.K. persuaded me that I would not live there, We now live happily in a small town in France, where I am accepted as a welcome foreigner, not the case in the United States of Britain. So now you have it,Take care,
John.
Very interesting John, sad about Tim TS-we were good friends and he was best man at my wedding-and delighted in Sergeant Hale making Captain well deserved and at which I am not surprised and Capt Tilburn, as was, getting his majority. He was a gentleman and respected us. I thought highly of him. As I did also of Surveyor Sergeants and Warrant Officer’s, accomplished Surveyors RA and good soldiers who set a good example to us squaddies.
Can you say a little more about your service and the gentlemen in question?
I’m not surprised at your living outside of the UK, the USofA has been good to our sons and to us and we could not visualize living elsewhere. I’m glad you are happy with your new life. As we are here. There’s something to be said for starting one in later years. What is amusing about ours is that one day we were residents of staid Tunbridge Wells and immediately on my retirement, of Montana. Different in so many ways!
You did inquire about Brian’s story. I’m sorry there I can’t provide the translations you sought but I can say its purpose is a placeholder for subsequent contributions. The most likely first one is of a Surveyor RA with 15 Locating Battery as it became, and his experiences in Korea.
I now realize you don’t have the same tale as mine, but we do have shared expereinces and if you would care to let us know about them there will be any number of interested readers. And, of whom I should be one. If so please let me know and I can arrange it.
It was so very kind of you to get in touch and I do so appreciate it.
And you too, take care.
John.