-- 12/4/2007 8:10:29 AM: post edited by Santosh.

Where were 1/10 based?

I am looking for anyone stationed with the Gurkha regiment on Blakang Mati, a small island in the middle of Singapore harbour, especially those who went to school there, or on Pulau Brani (where I lived) when the school moved.

 

 

  I moved from 1/10 G.R. to 2/10 in 1993 when 1/10 G.R. moved from Maidee Camp in Johor Bahru to Sungei Udang Camp. near the ANZAC base, Terendak Camp.

 

I went to live with ny sister's family in 1963 inBlakang Mati iasland and stayed there until 1967. My brother-in-law  Keshav Tamang,was a Queen Gurkha Officer.  My nephew Durba Tamang  and niece Bhagawati Tamang went to British Army Children school in Pulau Brani and later moved St John's Army School near Slim Barracks in Singapore island. We used to board on  a military ferry or a LCT from Pulau Brani when we travelled to Jardine Step IN THE MAIN ISLAND FROM THE jETTY IN bLAKANG mATI ISLAND.  eNGLISH OR bRITISH COUPLES--LOVE BIRDS USED TO HAVE A GREAT TIME IN THE "jUNGLES" OF bLAKANG mATI ISLAND.  i WROTE A POEM "Ode to Blakang Mati island" in English as my tribute to this eqatorial paradise.

 

I left 10 Gurkhas after 1st and 2nd battalions amalgamted  in Penang island in 1968. I flew to Britain via RAF Changi--VC 10-- to RAF Brize Norton to train as State Registerd Nurse. Became a SRN and   then trained as Regitered Mental Health nurse and became  a ward churge nurse and in 1990  Ward Manager and in 1995  Day hospital Manager. Thanks to my good days in Blakang Mati and upbringing in both 1/10 and 2/10 Gurkha Rifles. In 1972 my mother, a Gurkha Midwife who served 10GR. for 34 years and was awarded British Empire Medal, first Gurkha woman, retired home.  10G.R was my home for 22 years of my formative years.  Magic of Blakang Mati, only those who lived or stayed their knows is enchanting.  Rajen Chhetri ,Woking Surrey.

 

 

I lived on Blakang Mati 1951-1954 & attende school there. My father was a sargent in the Royal Artillery, he was already in Malaya in 1950 before we were sent out.

Trying to contact old mates from those days.

I also went back ther in 1964 and worked the film projectors for the  retreat on Mount Serapong. It was good fun!

Ian Muckersie

 

 

I went to Blakang Mati school from 1956 (I think!) and my father was a Sergeant in the Royal Artillery as well. We moved back to Larkhill, Salisbury Plain in 1958. Maybe our Fathers knew each other??......!

7th Duke of Edinburgh Own Gurkha Rifles took over from the Royal Artillery in the early 1960s and was visited by the Duke HRH Prince Phillip. 2/10 Gurkha Rifles took over fro 7th G.R. in 1962. My siste's children went to British Army Children School in Pulau Brani, an island between Singapore Harbour and Blakang Mati island. This Gurkha Regiment remained inBlakang Mati island until 1966 and in 1967 moved to Minden Barracks in Penang island in north Malay as 10 Gurkha Rifles prepared for Amalgamation of 1/10 and 2/10 when 1/10 arrived there from Hong Kong. I left for UK in December 1968 for General Nursing Training. By mid 1970s most Gurkha Regiments including Gurkha Signal, Engineers and the Transport Regiments had moved to Hong Kong. One one Gurkha Battalion at two yearly tour of duty came toChurch Crookham's QEII Barracks; the first being 7TH gURKHA rIFLES. uNTIL ONLY 1ST, 2ND AND 3 RD gURKHA rIFLES TOOK TURN IN THE TOUR OF dUTY WHICH INCLUDED fALKLANDS FOR 7TH g.r. AND cYPRUS cRISIS FOR 10 G.R. followed by Bosnia, Kosova, Iraq and East Timor. The rest is Afghanistan. HISTORY REPATS FOR GURKHAS--AFGHANISTAN. JAI GURKHAS.

Rajen Chhetri, student of the history of Gurkhas and "British Justice for Gurkhas" SOLO cAMPAIGNER SINCE 1997