59 Squadron in Singapore

December 1965
Singapore main Base Re-titled Cloutman Barracks.

January 1966
An intensive re-training programme carried out early in the year, including: Jungle Warfare, Bridging, Combat Engineering and Field Firing.

May 1966 Operation Crown
Squadron returned to Operation Crown.

Chain of Command & Engineer Support to 3 Cdo Bde RM.
From 1966 - 1970, the Squadron was in support and under Command
of 3 Cdo Bde RM, for all Operational and Major Exercise situations.
The Squadron OC was the Engineer advisor to the Bde Commander,
with 1 Troop supporting 40 Cdo RM and 3 Troop supporting 42 Cdo RM.
The Squadron HQ provided an Engineer cell, in the Operational HQ of
the Bde, on major exercises.
Support troop & 2 Troop provided additional engineer capability, to the
Cdo Bde RM.

October 1966
Squadron returned to Singapore.
59 Field Squadron affiliated to 3 Commando Brigade – Royal Marines.
The Squadron undertook training and exercises with 3 Commando Brigade RM in: Australia, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Exercises in the Far East.

February 1967 -- Exercise Caricature
The Squadron embarked with the Brigade for Exercise Caricature in Hong Kong.
All ranks enjoyed the feeling of belonging to the Brigade and there was obviously a great deal of work needed, to put Combat Engineering into the Brigade consciousness.

Major MGL Roberts was awarded the MBE
S/Sgt Hill was awarded the BEM
These awards were for their part in Operation Crown.

May 1967 – Aug 1967 -- Exercises Firm Stride & Gedgley
Elements of the Squadron were sent to Plymouth, to undertake the Commando Training.
3 Troop remained with 3 Commando Brigade in Singapore.
They took part in two Major Exercises:
Firm Stride – where they supported the Brigade with Water Supply, digging of field defences and clearance of mines and booby traps.
Gedgley – where they were deployed on damage control and MACC tasks, which included a 130ft Suspension footbridge at Kampong Phon.

September 1967
Major Geoffrey W Preston-Jones (MBE) assumed command of 59 Field Squadron.

2nd Oct 1967 --Withdrawal from Aden
3 Commando Brigade had the task of covering the final withdrawal of British troops from Aden.
A contingent of 16 All Ranks deployed with 40 Cdo RM, they completed a a very large number of Combat Engineering and Work services tasks.
This led to a series of Troop detachments to Aden until 25th March 1968.

January 1968 -- Post Crown
Sqn returns to Post Crown, along with 54 Support Sqn and 51 Field Sqn, tasked to complete the 25kms road between Leong Nok Tha and Ban Khok Klang.

st June 1968 – 16th July 1968 -- Exercise Lath.
The Squadron was responsible for setting up the Services for 17 Divisional HQ and Umpire Control on Exercise Lath, they were deployed on 4 major MACC tasks:

Waref Tapai School

This timber and corrugated galvanised Iron construction, had originally been obtained as a MACC contribution, to a combined UK/US Phillipines exercise, scheduled for May in the Phillipines, but which was ultimately cancelled.
It was built by 1 Troop.
In the last week, they held a Cinema Show and the whole village turned out to watch.
The great sport in the evening was Frog Racing.

Ulu Sat School

Built by 1 Troop.
This was a similar design to Waref Tapai School, but smaller.
It had been flown into the sight by helicopter, as there were no access road to this very remote Kampoong.
The children of the village, had been forbidden to walk the 2 miles to the Valley School, when two children had been attacked, killed and eaten by a Tiger, about 1 year earlier.
This was therefore a very real contribution to the progress of the area.

Sungei Dura Bridge

Built by 3 Troop.
A Class 9 Timber improvised bridge, 138ft long and consisting of 8 spans. The design was done by Lt Yerbury and had to be reconsidered when the timber piling rig was damaged and the resulting trestle bridge was a sound, good looking construction.

A Pontoon Bridge was also built over the river Sungei Dura, to give HQ 17 Div access to the fabulous Marang Beach.

Denarek Suspension Bridge

Built by 2 Troop.
This was a 195ft span with a 100ft approach span. Designed by Captain Egglestone and the construction carried by Lt. Carr.

13th July 1968
The GOC 17 Divisional Major General AG Patterson, DSO, OBE, MC, flew back to the exercise area, to attend the opening ceremonies for each site.

Mid-July to Mid-August Ex. Inner Circle
An exercise run by CRE (Ops).
This involved troops from 59 Field Sqn and 11 Indep Field Sqn, moving in circles around 13 tasks, which involved Field Engineering and Infantry roles.During this exercise, S/Sgt Vowles of 59 Sqn, unable to see an entrance, due to thick high grass, fell over 100 feet down a very narrow Tin Mine shaft, he never fully recovered from this incident and was later flown home to England.
20th September 1968 Ex. Coral Sands

The Squadron, less 2 Troop, boarded HMS Intrepid to support 3 Cdo Bde.
3 Cdo Bde - including 40 Cdo Rm with 1 Troop, 42 Cdo Rm with 3 Troop, 29 Light Battery,59 Sqn and Logistics of the Cdo Bde, embarked on a Fleet of Navy ships.
The Fleet sailed from Singapore, via the Torres Strait, past the Great Reef Barrier to Shoalwater Bay, near Rockhampton.
An opposed amphibious assault landing took place, with Gurkha as the enemy.
The Squadron transfered to HMS Bulwark, closer to shore near Shoalwater, then boarded 18 Wessex Helicopters to take place in the landings.
Squadron tasks included Combat support and the construction of tracks and hoverways.
Whilst Support Troop were embarked on LSL Sir Galahad and provided a battle simulation and Engineer team for the control staff.
Relaxing on the beach and in Surfers Paradise, was well earned.
After the exercise was over, the Sqiuadron sailed round to Brisbane, for 10 days R&R.
Arrived back in Singapore, during early November.

November 1968
Under Command of CRE Division - Malaya District, with 54 Sqn, 11 Sqn and 67 Gurkha Sqn.

1st December 1968 - 31st January 1970 --Bukat Mendi
The Sqn, along with 54 Sqn, 11 Sqn and 67 Sqn, participate in Bukat Mendi MACC project in Malaya.
The project was to construct a main access road, housing for Settlers and a large Oil-palm cultivation complex, totalling 30,000 acres.
It is believed that 11 Sqn built the Hut Accommodation, 3 Troop worked on the site from March - May, 1 Troop relieved them from May - July.
Living in the huts, which later became a part of the village for the Settlers.

February 1969 - Luk Keng Road in Hong Kong
The Sqn along with 54 Sqn, 11 Sqn, 67 Sqn & 68 Sqn, became involved in building this road.
Built to give access to Starling Inlet, in the extreme North East of the Territories, the 4 mile route requiring demanding Cut & Fill. The construction of many culverts and a considerable amount of Rock Blasting.
The work continued for 3 years, though 54 Sqn remained the Heavy Plant Support Sqn, it was re-titled 54 (HK) Support Sqn.

September 1969
3 Troop was sent off with 42 Cdo RM, to the area of Perak, to assist the Orang Asli, on small bridging projects, deep in the remote jungle.

22nd September 1969
Major John B Grosvenor assumed command of the Squadron.

6th November 1969
Major Grosvenor presents L/Cpl Ellery with the Cloutman Tankard Award.

4th February 1970 - Brigade Commander Inspection - Brigadier PJF Whitely OBE

1 Troop - Lt. JM Wyatt, S/Sgt George Baker, Sgt Taff Ree
2 Troop - Lt. Charles Moorhouse, S/Sgt Mick Tracey, Sgt Tony Crawford.
3 Troop - Lt. John Yerbury, S/Sgt Dick Barton, Sgt Fawcett.
Support - Capt. Derek Stuart, S/Sgt Ginge Thorn.
QM - Capt. Joe Kite.
SSM - WO2 Ron Hurst.

1970 - Exercise Bersatu Padu.
Whole Squadron deployed for 3 months on this exercise.
This was a Large Exercise, which brought 16 Brigade - Commanded by Brigadier George Cooper (who was an ex-Sapper himself) out to the East Coast of Malaya, to demonstrate that Britain could reinforce the Far East, after the withdrawal in 1972.

1970 - Exercise Square Hole.
This was 59 Sqn and 3 Cdo Bde, deployed to a Jungle area in Central Malaya.
It involved an underground Bunker, in the form of a Cruciform - as used above ground.
The Bunker provided protection for the Joint Force HQ and when completed with Lighting and Air conditioning, the power supplied by a 27.5KVA generator, backed up by a 10KVA generator.
As the Sqn was the first Sapper Sqn dedicated to the Cdo Bde, an air conditioned bunker in the middle of the Jungle, built during heavy rain, impressed them drastically.
Just to remind them of the torrential rain above, a deliberate "leak", via a small bore pipe, was
placed by the Commanders area.

1970
The Officers and SNCO's took part in a Squadron Education programme, to operate a Certificate of Education course, for all Sappers requiring up-grades.
The Squadron carried out operations in:
Hong Kong
Laos
Ceylon
They also took part in 12 exercises, generally supporting 3 Cdo Brigade.
3 Troop took part with 42 Cdo RM, in Hong Kong in the Sek Kong Peninsula. Upon their return, 3 Troop went to assist with improvements to the Jungle Warefare School in Jahore Baru.

June to July 1970 Exercise - Bersatu Padu.
The whole Squadron took part in this large exercise.
3 Troop was based with 42 Cdo RM, living in a remote forest, dug-in, whilst the enemy tried to find them.

September 1970 Trengganu.
3 Troop with 42 Cdo RM, was involved in this exercise.

20th November 1970 - Operation Burlap Hurricane Hattie
The Squadron plus attachments, sailed for East Pakistan with Task Group 318.2 from Singapore, for Cyclone relief operations. Around 150,000 people had drowned.
This unfortunate country had been hit by a devastating cyclone and tidal wave some days earlier and the British Government were in the process of mounting the biggest external relief effort of all time. Far East Command who were mounting the relief effort (Operation Burlap), had delegated the responsibility for the relief ashore to the Commander, 3 Commando Brigade (Brigadier Pat Ovens).
The Royal Navy, by good luck, had on station both HMS Intrepid (LPD) and HMS Triumph, a converted carrier. Other ships joined the fleet at sea. After a trip of some 20 hours the recce party reached the town of Patuatchali, the seat of the local regional government, where it had been decided to set up the Relief Control HQ. A quick change of name from Recce to Tac HQ and on with the planning of the operation. This included frequent liaison with the Pakistani authorities, who were in overall charge, and representatives of many international relief organisations.
The main task of the UK force was to distribute relief supplies, some of which bad been brought by the fleet from Singapore. With the arrival of the fleet off the Ganges delta on Tuesday morning the distribution of food and supplies and the build-up of the force ashore got under way. Suddenly the horizon came to life with helicopters and small boats - a welcome sight for hungry families. The mainstay of the communications system ashore was 3 Commando Brigade Signal Squadron under Captain Sam Pope RM, whilst HMS Intrepid acted as a Command ship at sea.
After a week of flat-out work it was decided to thin out the force and withdraw it completely before Christmas. Gradually, by air and sea, detachments and individuals returned to Singapore. The main party cruised home on HMS Triumph.The final party made it home in time for the first of the Christmas parties after a most enjoyable voyage on Sir Galahad. Our reception in Pakistan had been overwhelming -- indeed as one Pakistani put it, "You have achieved as much goodwill by your efforts as in the 200 years of the Raj."

The Squadron also gave Construction and Engineering support to the local population.

HMS Triumph carried out repair work on a Liberian Tanker, during passage in the South China Sea, en-route for Aid Relief.
Photos are courtesy of HMS Triumph Site.