This article was written by Peter Milbourn and submitted for publication in 'The Craftsman'.  (Click to download).

Kluang Revisited

Since formation in 1942 there have been periods when, by today’s standards, an almost unthinkable number of REME units have been spread across the globe. There must be thousands of former REME soldiers world-wide and, although the majority do not belong to local Association groups or receive “The Craftsman” magazine, there are often “grapevines” in place that permeate Corps-related information around the world.

One such “grapevine” began to buzz in late 2000. When I was asked if I had seen a website about Kluang, because my name was on it, Google.com found the “Kluang Revisited” website for me (www.jaring.my/msprop/kluang/). Mick Little, an Aircraft Technician in 75 Aircraft Workshop during the period 1967-70, had assembled an impressive document aimed at personnel who had served in Kluang Garrison around the same time.

Mick left the Corps to pursue a career in civil aviation and, although living in Kuala Lumpur while working as Sikorsky Helicopters’ Field Service Representative for a significant chunk of SE Asia and beyond, he had kept in touch with several former colleagues. The idea for a reunion had been floated, and he began a task that grew into a monster as that grapevine took over.  

In the late 1960s budgetary restraint for the Armed Services, as we know it, had yet to be invented and Britain continued to police the world. The Vietnam War was raging and the Americans were employing a massive Army Air Corps fleet of helicopters in combat and combat support roles. The UK MOD was gearing up to emulate the US model and Aircraft Engineering Training Wing (AETW) at Middle Wallop was in overdrive churning out Aircraft Technician courses every 1 or 2 weeks. AETW was a “Wing” of SEME Bordon co-located with our Army Air Corps “customers” at Middle Wallop and was to be re-named School of Aeronautical Engineering around 1988, before being subsumed into SEAE as Air Systems Branch in 1995. When 57 A&E course passed out with 15 students in Feb 1968 the postings available included Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Middle East, Germany, and 1 to the UK!

 Army Aviation was flourishing in the Far East and within the Malaysia/Singapore theatre there were Beaver fixed wing aircraft at 130 Flt RCT based at Changi, with a detachment in Kathmandu, Nepal. Scout helicopters were at 2 Flt AAC in Seremban, 7 Flt AAC in Malacca, 11 Flt AAC in Kluang, 14 Flt AAC and 3 Cdo Bde Air Sqn at HMS SIMBAN, Sembawang (Singapore). Sioux helicopters were everywhere, it seemed, with Air Troops in Kota Tinggi (RE), Borneo (Gurkha Infantry), Malacca (14 Lt Regt RA) as well as with 3 Cdo Bde Air Sqn. Flying Instructional Element (FIE) was based in Kluang for Theatre conversion and standards flying work under the inimitable Major Spencer Holtom RA (who didn’t take long to realise a stretcher litter would also carry a golf bag). We also provided 2^nd Line support for the Australian Recce Flight’s Bell 47s, and had a permanent RAEME technician in the unit as part of the deal.

 The 2^nd Line support for this extensive fleet was based at Kluang in the guise of 75 Aircraft Workshop REME and it’s Mobile Servicing & Repair Detachments (MSRDs). In addition to workshop-based activity MSRD teams ventured far and wide into varying degrees of civilisation for deep maintenance and recovery tasks (Change the mainplane attachment bolts on a Beaver in Kathmandu without ground support equipment and only the tools you can carry, ASM? No problem!).

 Perhaps it was the nature of the work, the tropical conditions, the distance from home (home leave, or even phone calls home, were rare in the late 60s), or just that REME Records got it right and placed a large number of compatible individuals, many of them “characters”, in the same bit of jungle at around the same time. Whatever the reason, the idea of a reunion in Kluang for those who served there during 1967-70 caught the imagination.

The success of Mick’s website in locating the whereabouts of hundreds of former “Kluangites” was amazing. As the grapevine did its job individuals on the “wanted list” were located and in many cases  were then able to give a grid for others. The purpose of the website was twofold. Firstly to drive the reunion idea, and, secondly, to put old friends in touch again. Both aims were achieved and exceeded all initial hopes.

Thus it was that on the afternoon of Sun 19^th May former Kluangites arrived in the Prime City Hotel, Kluang in Johore, Malaysia. Early arrivals had set up base camp in the foyer bar, where Tiger beer sales were set to hit figures undreamed of by the management. As obvious reunion candidates turned up at reception the game of “Who’s that then?” was played with enthusiasm. Mick, brilliantly supported by his wife Rosnah, and one of his sons, Jeremy, had organised a 3-day event programme, but his starter activity of a pool-side “get to know each other” buffet that evening was almost superfluous. There were more than 60 people gathered at the hotel and from the moment of arrival they gelled. Old friendships were re-kindled in defiance of the 35 year gap, and new ones forged immediately.

 The pool side party was a success despite the head start it had been given. Mick had organised commemorative T-shirts, caps, and replicas of unit plaques, and the partygoers were looking very smart. Tiger Brewery sponsored the event and 15 barrels of draft had to be downed – no worries!!! None of those attending will forget the delightful duo supplied by the company to keep the glasses charged – this pair of Chinese nymphs, in their Tiger uniforms and platform footwear, could have charmed Eskimos into buying iced water! They attended all 3 evening functions and distributed the amber nectar with aplomb.  

Day 2 was a day to re-discover Kluang and many of those who were accompanied when posted there visited Sunrise Park to see their old married quarter. Others checked for old haunts around the town. Since 1970 Kluang has grown enormously. Perhaps 20 times larger than when we were based there, the town now boasts a University and some high rise buildings. What did surprise many is how little much of the original town had changed. The view down the “main drag” was unaltered – exchange the Proton Wiras for Ford Anglias and the years evaporate. Traditional shop houses with the open monsoon drain separating them from the road remain. In the hoped-for cool of early evening a climb up to the microwave station on Gunung Lambak, the brooding hill/mountain that dominates the town, was planned. Lambak, with its 2 unequal humps, was the first thing you always seemed to notice looking out from the workshop hangar. This route had been used as recreational activity on foot or motorcycle, and, less enthusiastically, for military training, when we were stationed locally. The Malaysian Army guarding the facility (a sign of the times – it was unguarded in the ‘60s) went through stages of curiosity, then concern, then trepidation, as more and more middle-aged foreigners trickled their way up to the main gate. In the end we were told to go away! We did. It was less of a problem going down than going up!

 That evening we gathered in one of the Hotel’s function rooms for a Chinese banquet while Sing Yew, who had been the garrison photographer in the ‘60s, took the official photos. Individuals were invited to share their life histories since Kluang with the group during the meal, and many had brought photo albums and memorabilia for inspection. People had come from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Macao, the Caribbean, as well as the UK, and it was fascinating to discover their history post Kluang. A slide show of photographs from the past, featuring those attending, was then projected onto a large screen, and brought much ribald comment from the audience. How could we have been so slim? I don’t recall the food being of poor quality or in limited supply!

 Day 3 was to start early as we boarded the buses to take us to Mahkota Camp, the former garrison. The Malaysian MOD kindly agreed to a visit to the garrison which led to our party being entertained by 881 Sqn PUTD (Malaysian Army Air Corps) and our grateful thanks were passed to the CO, Lt Col Nordin RMAF. As the transport progressed through the camp we were astounded to find how the layout of the camp and the buildings had been adopted by the Malaysian Army to suit their needs with little change. The hangars, dispersal, and airfield were virtually as we left them – the buildings were well maintained, and there had been some removal/new build, but the sense of déjà vu was overpowering. If a Sioux had started up on the apron I don’t think anyone would have been surprised.

 We were welcomed by a delegation of the unit officers, all in their recently acquired pale blue berets, including the workshop commander who wore a cap badge of clear “REME” influence, and were addressed by Captain Adnan PUTD, one of the pilots . The Sqn operates Allouette Mk3 helicopters and is generously staffed. Security was a major issue for our hosts so I will not go into details – it is sufficient that we were “impressed” with the manning policy and felt that our MOD could learn much!

 After a briefing on the Sqn, at which Mick Little took the opportunity to present a replica of the 75 Ac Wksp unit plaque to the Sqn, and a visit to the unit museum, we were free to roam. We took in the aircraft, located in the former 11 Flt and FIE hangar, and the empty hangar next door which was the home of “75”. Of interest to those members of 656 Air OP Sqn who visited the unit last year (656 Lt Ac Sqn Wksp REME spawned 75 Ac Wksp REME in the early ‘60s) the print of Austers at Noble Field hangs in the museum. A bus ride via “our” accommodation blocks (spooky!) took us to the garrison swimming pool for a buffet of Malaysian delicacies. Apart from the lack of the high board (awfully useful for jumping off in CEFO for military swimming tests!) the pool remains unchanged and, while the excellent buffet was demolished, a lot of reminiscing and photography (permission granted despite strict instructions of “no photographs”!) went on. The visit ended with a drive through the hospital lines, formerly BMH Kluang. Liz Ashworth, ex-QARANC, and Dorothy Lim, a nurse, now living in Kluang, were particularly moist eyed over that.

 Next on the agenda was the Ayer Hitam pottery – with luggage weight limitations nobody bought much but the ladies loos were a huge favourite of the men as well as the women. This amazing structure is a grotto of incredible artistry. Entirely decorated with broken, and whole, glazed products from the pottery, every  cubicle was a work of art with birds and flowers, and the wash basin area was a fresco of brilliant colour and design. Quite what the local Malaysian women, modestly clothed in their head scarves and ankle length gowns, thought as infidel male photographers had to be ejected before they could enter, is a mystery.

The final event was a Malaysian B-B-Q laid on at the Kluang Country Club. This last night party was a perfect end to a remarkable reunion. The food was wonderful and we renewed our love affair with satay and spiced rice and meat dishes as blotting paper for Tiger beer. None of those attending, including many of the local members, will forget the karaoke – even though they would rather do so. As the Kluang Country Club observed earlier hours than we were used to, many retired to the foyer bar of the Prime City Hotel to finish off the Tiger. Our “Tiger Girls” followed the pump from function to function and they issued the last of the 15 barrels in the hotel before departing – thereafter it was hotel prices paid by those determined to resolve the Malaysian “Tiger lake” problem. Mick Ball, now an AGC officer, the last serving member of the Kluangites, should have known better than to keep the bar open until 06:45 – but, perhaps his Commando training had served a purpose.

 On 22^nd May old and new friends spread to their corners of the world again, or continued holidays in the region. Organising a reunion is a risky business – particularly for people who may not have met for 35 years. The prospect of painful silences due to having nothing to say is very real. The Kluang Re-visited one was never going to be a problem – from the first moment everyone got on famously. The unanimous view was that something very special had taken place in Kluang over the 3 days and that a huge vote of thanks was due to Mick Little for his mammoth effort in putting it all together. Will it happen again – who knows? If it doesn’t, those who were privileged to be there will have wonderful memories to relive in the future. 

The former Kluang personnel, many accompanied by family and friends, at the reunion were: Andy Reinhardt, Barrie Ward, Barrie Hill, Cyril Browne, Byron Depass, Chris Graham, Charlie Ayton, Derek Hitcham, Bernie Humphries, Joe Winter, Phil Moorhouse, Mike Ball, Moazzam Beg, Mike Wilcox, Musy Alexander-James, Martin Bojen, Peter Milbourn, Chris Patton, Peter Donnison, Phil Fougere, John Piddell, Dick Evans, Rodney Parsons, Stuart Carr, Stuart Veazey, Steve Harrison, Tom Moss, Mick Little, Colin Redman, Mike Brown, John Eaden, Kelvin Grainger, Elizabeth Ashworth, and Dorothy Lim.

The article will be submitted for publication in the “Craftsman” magazine along with the following photographs to add interest to it:

1. Kluang “main drag” viewed towards Sing Yew’s shop from the junction with the road to the station.
2. The group photograph taken by Sing Yew at the “Chinese Dinner”
3. Lambak viewed from the hotel.
4. The Lambak “walkers” strung out on the way down from the microwave station.
5. Mick presenting the replica of the “75” plaque to Major Amin RMAF.

The following article was submitted by Liz Ashworth for the National Malayan & Borneo Veterans Association: (Click to download).

The  following story was published in 'The Sun' newspaper on the 10th June 2002: (Click to download).