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Gordon Highlanders, in 1964
written by peter elliott
 Borneo Story.
In november 1964 we were posted to 30 Signal Regt in Blandford and 536
signal Troop was born. After a period of familiarisation, training and
Equiping we were on the move.
In December 1965 we arrived at Redford Cavalry Barracks in Edinburgh ,
where we Joined the 1st Bn, The Gordon Highlanders.
Our first thoughts were that the jocks of the regiment were very unfriendly
and didn't appreciate us being there but this was a big mistake on our part.
During the next couple of weeks of training, bonding and sampling the
Haggis and chips , and the pints of heavy we began to realise that what we
had mistaken for unfriendliness was infact pride of their Regimental family.
One thing that played a big part in our lives was the sound of the
bagpipes . they were played [at what seemed to be] every opportunity .
from the moment we opened our eyes. After a few weeks they became
part of our everyday lives and it was a bit compariable to learning Morse
code . It had to drive you a bit crazy before you began to like it .
We don't think we are alone in saying that even to this day when the pipes
or pipes and drums are heard , a lump comes to our throat and a distinct
swagger in our step takes place.
On a cold january morning we bussed to Turnhouse Airport and flew by
Caledonian Airways to jesselton [ Kota Kinabalu ] in Sabah or what was
called North Borneo. Following a long truck journey over bumpy dirt tracks
We arrived at Paradise Camp which was to be our home and training
camp for two monthsThere was a few first's experienced by the Gordon
Highlanders . They were the first Battalion to do a complete years tour in
Borneo whereas other unit's did a three or six month rotation. they were
the first Infantry Regiment [ non Royal Marine Commando ] unit to deploy
by helicopter from HMS Albion, a Commando Carrier , direct to their
actve field positions, transferring with the Commando's,in our case
being at Tawau in North Borneo.
536 Signal Troop consisted of Fred McMillan [ troop sgt ] , Pete Lavelle
[ op ] ,Pete Elliott [ op ] ,Jim Cook [ R tech ] , Jim Hardwick [ R tech ] ,
Paddy Mooney [op ] , Jock Urquart [ op ] , Bill Morse [ op ] and Brian Green
[ ED ].The Troop Provided HF Rear Link communications to JCU Labuan
using Larkspur C11 transceivers and forward communications to the
Battalion by Larspur C42 and C45 VHF transceivers . Operational and
Technical support was provided at platoon level, who used A40 and A41
VHF transceivers . It is of note that some of these transceivers were
initially supplied incomplete and the VHF Transmitters not suitable for
dense jungle Comms. Thus a stock of 62 Sets and A510 HF Tx's were
supplied from WW2 and Malaysian Emergency pools.
Our time in Borneo was not all Doom and Gloom. We had time to create
quite a few lasting memories.For a time we had a pet spider in the control
room [ believed to be a Bird eating spider ] but unfortunately someone
threw a book at it and scored a direct hit. Another occasion happened
when i [ Pete ] got into bed and felt a lump under my pillow . it turned out to
be a coiled up snake . I was out of that bed so fast even Linford would have
been proud of me .we were all very aware of unpopular insect's and
other creepy crawlies. hence the mosquito nets and boot's turned upside
down on sticks. etc. Our fears obviously lead to a few pranks played by one
and all .
Occasionally a few of us would buy a case of Tiger beer and take it too the
local Kampong . To get there involved walking around and between the
Rice Fields that were situated on the outskirts of the jungle [ ulu ]. The
narrow banked up earth between the fields were used as footpaths and
while walking along there was the occasional black Bootlace snake
crossing from one field to another. Once past the fields we entered the ulu
and a short distance in, there was a clearing with an Eban village
consisting of three or four quite long houses on stilt's. the head-man
would greet us and invite us into his house. We would exchange the tiger
beer for their infamous local brew which was Rice Wine. The wine is
fermented in Bamboo sections and hung up in the tree's. Before drinking
the wine a substantial amount of large ant's had to be scooped out. How
we ever drunk the wine is beyond belief. A few of us have to admit to not
remembering the return journey.
Taking part in border patrol's were few and far between for our signal troop
but even they had their memorable event's. One such time was that we
were on the outward patrol when a noise was heard up front so we took
evasive action [ dived into the bushes ] only to find a wild pig come
sauntering past. when we reached the sandbagged dugout on the border,
complete with it's residential snake [ they kept the rats down ] the
required action took place. This consisted of firing a few mortar shell's
over the border [ normally night and morning ] just to make our presence
known . They retaliated during the night and we got quite adept at rolling
off the bed and straight underneath it .
We did play an active part in other way's, for instance we designed a
control box for the claymore mines that were placed around the perimeter
fences. It was a simple control made from ammunition boxes using a
series of switches wired together with a master switch so that anyone of
the mines could be detonated at any given time .[simple but it worked ].
various aerials were designed and tested in and out of the ulu.
After six months we had well earned our R and R break . some of us going
to Singapore and others to Jessleton. We then transferred to Brunei where
we took Twin Pioneer Aircraft to our new home in the Central Highlands
called Bario.At Bario we supported the RAF Radar Station and did a bit of
guarding the poor RAF guy's . Some of our air supplies were dropped in
the marshes at the end of the runway. we hope you enjoyed our brief but
true story. Pete Elliott and Jim Cook...
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