Les Pepper Remembers July 1948

Les Pepper on the left with his Spitfire ground crew mates Les Pepper was a Radio Technician with 60 Sqn RAF stationed at Sembawang, Singapore. When the Malayan Emergency was declared in Apri 1948, he was one of the ground crew that was despatched to the RAF Station Kuala Lumpur at Sempang airfield to service the Spitfire Photo Recce aircraft of 60 Sqn.

 

I was on leave in Penang enjoying a few days leisure on this beautiful island when we were recalled to Sembawang. This was prior to my period of service (two weeks) at Kuala Lumpur.

We left Fort Auchrey in the early hours of Sat. 3rd July 1948 and caught the ferry to the mainland. A 12 hour train journey followed with very little to eat before arriving at K.L. in the early evening. We then boarded the night train for Singapore, the train was very overcrowded and we had to sleep two to a berth which was somewhat uncomfortable. Arriving early next morning at Singapore and eventually arrived at Sembawang. The next few days were very busy both in the radio workshop and for me personally as I was the station representative to the R.C. Padre and was responsible for finding another rep. in my absence. There followed several days of hectic preparations for going to K.L. but when?

Each day there was talk of going but nobody seemed to have any idea when! Finally on Thursday the 8th. it was confirmed that Dick and myself of 60 Squadron were going the next day. The following day we were up early packing etc. It was pouring with rain. We then had to be fitted out with flying kit, the ghari arrived for Seletar and we packed our equipment and kit into the Dakota and took off at about 10.30. and landed at K.L. about noon. Then to the equipment stores to hand in flying kit where I met Lionel who I was replacing, l also took over his bed.(an indication of the cramped conditions.)

The period I spent at K.L. was a never to be forgotten experience. I was young, of course, there was hectic preparation to get the Spitfires into the air for strikes on the terrorists in the jungle, interspersed with periods of inactivity when the kites were in the air, when there was little to do. There were only about six of us one for each trade, I was responsible for keeping the radio and power pack serviceable at all times, we did have a few spare sets, but if there was any major problem with them. As with the other trades, the equipment was taken back to Singapore. Of course as there were so few of us we helped each other wherever needed.

We were not allowed to take photographs ourselves but an one occasion my mate Ray Marsdon was loading rockets on to the underside of a Spit. when a photographer from The Straits Times took one of Ray, which was published the following day. Later on the 21st the station photographer took a group photo of us over the tail of a Spitfire. I have only very recently seen this photograph, since I have been trying to find photographs of my time in K.L.

Following is a narrative of my day to day activities at K.L. which I recorded in pencil in my diary, and 52 years later have found difficult to decipher. However, I have done my best.

The day after my arrival at K.L.


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