Raymond: I was born on 29th November 1946 at Wanchai Eastern Maternity Hospital, the oldest of eleven children, and from 1946 to 1970 my family home was 43, Kennedy Road, Ground Floor, Wanchai. My Father, CHAN Chiu, was in the Royal Navy from 1950 until 1972 and served on several ships. I left school aged 16½ years to work as an Office Assistant in Pun U District Association School, Wanchai, before joining the Royal Navy in 1964. I was in the RN until 1966 and served with my Father on HMS Albion.

Iain: From an English-Scottish family, aged 15 years I enlisted as a Boy Soldier at Aldershot in January 1954 and, aged 19 arrived in Hong Kong, in April 1958. I was ‘A’ (Car) Platoon RASC’s Details NCO, in Victoria Barracks, Wanchai, and a Wanchai girl, CHAN Fong Kuen, ‘gave’ me my Chinese name, Lee Gat. In January 1960 I was posted away but, like a bad penny, turned up again aged 25 in February 1964. This time I was Sergeant in charge, Legal Aid Bureau, again in Victoria Bks, Wanchai and in June 1964 I fell in love with gorgeous Diane WONG. In September 1965 my heart was broken when Diane’s father split us up. However, between 1958 and 1966, I’d had sixty-one mainly happy months in Hong Kong and was sad when, on 23rd August 1966, I left Hong Kong for the very last time.

Raymond: I joined the Army on 9th January 1967 at Depot Hong Kong Military Service Corps (HKMSC), Lyemun Bks, Hong Kong Island. I completed eighteen months recruit training followed by a 10-week driving course then was posted to Hong Kong Provost Company Royal Military Police (HK Pro Coy RMP). After three months probation as a mobile driver with RMP, wef 1 October 1967 I was promoted to Lance Corporal and, in November 1970, to full Corporal. I served with the Island Det, HK Pro Coy RMP, Victoria Bks, Wanchai from 16 July 1967 to 7 February 1972. Through 75 AEC, in 1969 I completed ACE2 Map Reading and, in 1970, the Map Reading Instructor’s Course. My first 4-year engagement ended in 1971 and I signed on again. I was posted to 10 Intelligence & Security Company (Int & Sy Coy) in 1972 while from 1970 to 1973 my home was at 2-10, Johnston Road, 6/F, Flat ‘A’, Wanchai.

Raymond: In 1973 I attended the 16-week SNCO Cadre Course, at Depot HKMSC, Lyemun, to qualify as sergeant, passed second best out of sixteen students and received my sub rank. My duties as an operator with 10 Int & Sy Coy were many and varied, and included investigations into alleged involvement in triad activities by serving soldiers. In May 1974 I was posted as LEP soldiers’ Platoon Sergeant with Camp HQ British Forces, Victoria Bks, Wanchai, until my run out date of 7th January 1975. Between 1973 and 1976 my home was at 242-244, Queen’s Road East, 7/F, Flat ‘B’, Wanchai.

Raymond: On 5 November 1974 I was rebadged RMP and posted to Hong Kong Dog Coy, Shamshuipo Camp, once more as Platoon Sergeant, and signed on again in January 1975. I surmounted problems to receive a very good report and promotion recommendations and, in order to upgrade myself, attended a Unit Fire NCO course at 125 Army Fire Brigade, Stonecutters Island, and No. 184 All Arms Drill Course (3 May 1975 to 13 June 1975) at Pirbright, England. We didn’t know each other at the time but Iain “Lee Gat” Leggatt was just 40 miles away from me then, with the 5th (Airportable) Brigade in Jellalabad Bks, Tidworth. From 1976-1985 my home was at 111, Hennessy Road, 12/F, Wanchai, Hong Kong. On 31 March 1976, with the withdrawal of the RMP from Hong Kong the HK Dog Coy was rebadged from RMP to HKMSC, then the unit moved to Sek Kong, New Territories and on 1 November 1977 was rebadged RAVC.

Raymond: In early 1978, I was unexpectedly appointed RP Sgt at Sek Kong camp, to replace someone who had left under a cloud and to rectify some problems. The result of my successful efforts was I was subsequently recommended for promotion to Staff Sergeant and to carry out the role of Instructor in that rank, at the Depot HKMSC. Although I assisted Depot HKMSC instructors with training duties and upgrading course work, there was no vacancy so I couldn’t get promoted at the Depot. On 3rd January 1979, I was posted instead, to the Hong Kong Physical and Adventurous Training Centre (HKPATC) at Sek Kong, and promoted to Staff Sergeant (CQMS).

Raymond: The HKPATC was the best posting in my Army life. I spent 3½ years there, amongst many other official and unofficial tasks helping to run the Hong Kong Marathon on two occasions, and had my own group at this time, the “Service Element.” My group performed in Sergeants’ Messes and other military establishments throughout Hong Kong and, while I played Keyboard, the lead guitarist was LCpl LAU Kin Ming of Dog Coy, the bass guitarist was Pte CHEUNG Kwok Keung of 415 Maritime Troop RCT, the drummer was Pte CHEUNG Lung Sang of Guard Coy, and the singer was my youngest sister, Jennifer CHAN. One weekend I had a good night in the Mikado Bar, on Fenwick Street, Wanchai, opposite the East Town Theatre, with LCpl LAU Kin Ming, and we chatted with HKPATC Sergeant Major Instructor, WO1 Charles Cowie and his good friend, WO1 (SMI) Elsworth, SASC, as well as two bar ladies who were also invited to join us for drinks.

Raymond: During my period with the HKPATC, several promotions and cross postings involving my fellow senior colleagues of HKMSC occurred, which I didn’t always agree with, but my own work attracted an excellent report and the Master at Arms G(PT) HQBF, recommended me for a commission. For further qualifying myself within HKPATC, I attended courses in Range Management, Unit Fire Officer, Close Combat and Aikido, Unit Fitness Training Officer, Dingy Sailing up to Advanced, Squash Beginners and Unit Helicopter Handling Instructor. In early 1982 I was posted to the Hong Kong Guard Coy as WO2 (CSM), which I hoped would eventually lead to my promotion to WO1.

Raymond: However, yet again, things didn’t go quite how I had expected and I decided not to sign on beyond my next run out date. I was due to retire on 8th January 1985 but, had I done so, I would not have received the full twenty years gratuity. However, thanks to the Army, my run out date was postponed by two months and I had two months extra salary, plus the full twenty years gratuity on discharge. Because I was born and raised in Wanchai, and for many years lived and still work there, I am known in military circles as “Wanchai Kid.” As between 1958 and 1966 he spent a total of four and a half years in Wanchai, and I know he still loves and has happy memories of Wanchai, I should like to take this opportunity of awarding my good friend Iain “Lee Gat” Leggatt the special honorary name “Wanchai Kid 2.”