I arrive at Gillman Barracks after a 26 hour flight in a VC10, which coincidentally stopped in Bahrain for refuelling, thank goodness I didn't get posted there!
My new unit was 40 Field Park Squadron Royal Engineers in Gillman Barracks, it was a bit out on a limb just a short distance from the British Military Hospital on Alexandria Road. The Barracks were situated on a rather pretty, very well manicured complex which comprised a single steep hill overlooking the Singapore Straights.
The Headquarters Building, the Quartermasters Offices, the Officers Mess and a handful of storage buildings were on the bottom level, as were the sports fields. The kitchen, dinning room and Gymnasium were on the first level up a steep winding road, the NAAFI, and series of accommodation blocks were spaced left and right on the third and fourth level as the road wound it's way up to the top. . My block was right at the top and gave us spectacular views of the surrounding area, the amazing sunsets, and the Chinese Pagoda which stood on a hill opposite. We shared the barracks with A Malay Regiment and 39 Commando Sqn RE. Stay with me if you can be bothered, this is relevant information, or of your bored go back to a previous Blog. .
Between the first and second level in the centre of a immaculately grassed area, was a wonderfully positioned swimming pool which was for use of soldiers and families alike, this is where I spent most of my afternoons swimming and sunbathing, someone had sent me to heaven. The work was interesting, life here for a 19 year old was exciting and the sport was brilliant. I spent my time playing Water Polo, swimming for the Regiment and playing football. We also spent quite a bit of time exploring the more dubious delights of Singapore whenever we could afford it. I had a red MG B GT sports car, which had very few MG parts in it, A Vespa Scooter and a licence to kill. It was the most wonderful posting anyone could ask for. The remainder of my exploits here are censored!
I'm getting to the point now, Vin and I had decided to get a bus into town and had studied the bus routs, having decided to take a chosen route, Vin promptly decided we should take the first bus that came along. The journey on the No 970 was to take us to the Harbour Point, which at the time seemed a good a destination as any.
We were nearing the end of our journey when much to my surprise we passed Gillman Barracks, I could not contain my excitement, at which point a very well educated Chinese gentleman sitting close to us stepped in and told us all about the area and the barracks. I decided there and then to return the next day.
The following day I jumped on the No 970 bus and sure enough was deposited in front of the Old Guardroom, now a rather up market Real Estate Office. the whole area was quite a posh eating venue. Just further up the road stood the Officers Mess in all it's glory and very much as I remembered it, let me point out , that I was never at this stage of my career an Officers Mess Cook, I was allowed at times to help the Master Chef, a ferocious Geordie called Jack Frost, with the Regimental Dinners from time to time, that apart I was unworthy. The Officers Mess, where I remember the Officers charging up and down the corridors after the formal dinners on a pair of life size articulated wooden horses, was now rather fittingly a posh restaurant.
Further up the road were a number of building which I don't really remember much about, in use and turned into yet another up market eatery. At the very top of the road, stood the Officers and Families Quarters, still very much as they were in 1966, but with a fresh coat of paint and modern windows.
Alass, I could not say the same for the rest of the soldiers blocks up the hill. I approached the road leading up the hill and it just stopped dead a wall of tropical jungle. It stopped about a hundred yards up, a building which had stood at the bottom of the road was being used by a builders merchants, so I popped my head in and asked some questions.
I was given some strange looks by the workers and the office staff, 1966 was anyone born then, how embarrassing , eventually a lady of some authority turned up who knew all about the barracks. After more strange looks, she said I was welcome to look around, but she had no idea what was up the top of the hill now, but the swimming pool was still there, under the mass of jungle off to the left of the now cracked and disused road. Don't go in there they all told me, it's full of Cobras and who knows what else, one look convinced me they were right. Here is a picture of the pool, I think taken in the early 60s? Followed by a view of where I think it is now!
There was one chance to get a look at my old accommodation block on the top of the hill, an Ariel walkway that went right across the back of the old barracks and overlooked the camp ran all the way up to Mount Faber which should have overlooked the camp and was I thought where the Pagoda was. Off I set, but after a half hour slog in the heat of the afternoon sun, I had seen nothing but trees and jungle. I stopped a young couple to ask them if the Chinese pagoda was still up there, they gave me yet another strange look. Eventually I did get a panoramic view of Gillman Barracks, bitter disappointment the hill where it once stood had been cut in half and cleared to ground level on the side that faced the ocean, probably ready to make way for yet another high rise multi million pound complex which will join the thousands of others that dot the horizon of this once beautiful un spoilt island. We'll you can't stop progress.
It really enjoyed my trip back in time, it brought back many fond memories of my youth, any adventures, many a close shave with authority, good friends now lost but not forgotten, the good old days.
Just goes to prove something I've always said to myself, it's never any good looking back you'll only end up disappointed.
Lights Out.
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