HMS TERROR (HMS MULL OF KINTYRE)
HMS TERROR was only a part of the greater SINGAPORE NAVAL BASE which also contained the DOCKYARD. Each of them have their own pages within this section of the website but I begin by describing
A 'Married-Accompanied' Draft to Singapore in 1964.
A 'Married-Accompanied' Draft to Singapore in 1964.
HMS TERROR was the Barracks that provided personnel offices, accommodation and recreation facilities for the Fleet. The DOCKYARD contained the Commander in Chief's headquarters and dockyard management offices.
I have to say here that my Draft was to HMS MULL OF KINTYRE, a minesweeper maintenance ship in the Dockyard but as it remained as 'fixed' as TERROR the title of my website is truthful. In any case calling it 'HMS Ganges to Mull of Kintyre' could have sent you off in a totally wrong and cold northerly direction couldn't it!
I have to say here that my Draft was to HMS MULL OF KINTYRE, a minesweeper maintenance ship in the Dockyard but as it remained as 'fixed' as TERROR the title of my website is truthful. In any case calling it 'HMS Ganges to Mull of Kintyre' could have sent you off in a totally wrong and cold northerly direction couldn't it!
HMS MULL OF KINTYRE in her early years
She was, on my arrival in May 1964, and remained, upon my departure in May 1966, securely moored adjacent to KGVI Dock in the Dockyard. During those two years she didn't move; not even a pitch or roll as far as I remember but what she did do was provide a 'mothering' service to the 'Ton' class - active and reserve - minesweepers on the Far East Station.
MULL OF KINTYRE, a repair ship, was built in Canada at the North Vancouver Ship Repair Yard where she was laid down in December 1944. She was launched less than 5 months later in April 1945 and in October that year she was completed, just as peace was breaking out. Her dimensions were 441' (134.42M) x 57' (17.37) x 30' (9.14) and she displaced around 10,500tons. Propulsion came via two Foster Wheeler water tube boilers and a single shaft to give a speed of 11kts with a range of around 11,000nm. The wartime long-range requirement well and truly met.
Ready for sea in November 1945, the war in Japan at a close, she was sent to the Pacific to join the many other ships there in the huge task of locating and repatriating Allied servicemen in what became known as the 'Pacific Train'.
By the autumn of 1946 she was at Rothesay in the Firth of Clyde being used by the Experimental Target Trials Teams as their HQ ship. She then went to Harwich where she was engaged in Reserve Fleet Armaments Maintenance for a couple of years before being moved to Rosyth in the Firth of Forth to be used as an accommodation ship. In 1955 she arrived in Portsmouth where she was layed-up until being taken in hand in 1959 for conversion to a Minesweeper Support Ship.
The conversion completed she commissioned in the late summer of 1961 then sailed, via Suez, for the Far East and Singapore to fulfil the role of maintenance and support ship for the fleet of both active and reserve mineseepers there. Though technically put into 'Reserve' herself the MULL went on to provide workshop support and maintenance for those minesweepers for the next decade.
This time the UK's crystal ball reading, or if you prefer, anticipation, was much improved and as Indonesia intensified her incursions into the States of the newly formed Malaysia in 1963 we were prepared. In 1964 the UK formally agreed to support Malaysian forces in countering this 'Indonesian Confrontation' as it became known. As far as the Royal Navy was concerned that agreement meant that defensive patrols fell, in the main, to the 'Ton' Class minesweepers, including those of the class within the Malaysian Navy, Australian and New Zealand navies.
I had been drafted from HMS ECHO in May soon after we had lost two of our company in the Thames Estuary so, as you can imagine, I had very mixed feelings about it. The good news came in the 'Remarks' column of my Draft Chit with the words 'Married accompanied' so a bit of packing and kissing of relatives later I, my wife Brenda and our 10 month old daughter Julie, found ourselves on Chatham Railway Station late in the afternoon of the 12th of May 1964 heading for London and the Far Flung.
Having settled them in the waiting room I returned upstairs to the booking hall to buy the evening paper but on seeing the headlines 'XXX die in airliner crash' decided to leave it on the stand and hope that a) Brenda wouldn't read it over the shoulder of someone else and b) our first-ever flight would be more successful!
In no time at all we found ourselves in Knightsbridge Air Terminal then Heathrow and subsequently being ushered up the steps into a Bristol Britannia jet-prop aircraft belonging to British Eagle International Airways (we had by now bought a couple of their shoulder bags of course). Our journey to the Orient and Paya Lebar Airport in Singapore via Istanbul, Bombay and perhaps another stop long since forgotten, was about to take-off. Some 26 hours or so later we stood on Singapore soil, well concrete, feeling like death warmed up and knowing not much more than we would be provided with transport to Johore Bahru, Malaysia.
MULL OF KINTYRE, a repair ship, was built in Canada at the North Vancouver Ship Repair Yard where she was laid down in December 1944. She was launched less than 5 months later in April 1945 and in October that year she was completed, just as peace was breaking out. Her dimensions were 441' (134.42M) x 57' (17.37) x 30' (9.14) and she displaced around 10,500tons. Propulsion came via two Foster Wheeler water tube boilers and a single shaft to give a speed of 11kts with a range of around 11,000nm. The wartime long-range requirement well and truly met.
Ready for sea in November 1945, the war in Japan at a close, she was sent to the Pacific to join the many other ships there in the huge task of locating and repatriating Allied servicemen in what became known as the 'Pacific Train'.
By the autumn of 1946 she was at Rothesay in the Firth of Clyde being used by the Experimental Target Trials Teams as their HQ ship. She then went to Harwich where she was engaged in Reserve Fleet Armaments Maintenance for a couple of years before being moved to Rosyth in the Firth of Forth to be used as an accommodation ship. In 1955 she arrived in Portsmouth where she was layed-up until being taken in hand in 1959 for conversion to a Minesweeper Support Ship.
The conversion completed she commissioned in the late summer of 1961 then sailed, via Suez, for the Far East and Singapore to fulfil the role of maintenance and support ship for the fleet of both active and reserve mineseepers there. Though technically put into 'Reserve' herself the MULL went on to provide workshop support and maintenance for those minesweepers for the next decade.
This time the UK's crystal ball reading, or if you prefer, anticipation, was much improved and as Indonesia intensified her incursions into the States of the newly formed Malaysia in 1963 we were prepared. In 1964 the UK formally agreed to support Malaysian forces in countering this 'Indonesian Confrontation' as it became known. As far as the Royal Navy was concerned that agreement meant that defensive patrols fell, in the main, to the 'Ton' Class minesweepers, including those of the class within the Malaysian Navy, Australian and New Zealand navies.
I had been drafted from HMS ECHO in May soon after we had lost two of our company in the Thames Estuary so, as you can imagine, I had very mixed feelings about it. The good news came in the 'Remarks' column of my Draft Chit with the words 'Married accompanied' so a bit of packing and kissing of relatives later I, my wife Brenda and our 10 month old daughter Julie, found ourselves on Chatham Railway Station late in the afternoon of the 12th of May 1964 heading for London and the Far Flung.
Having settled them in the waiting room I returned upstairs to the booking hall to buy the evening paper but on seeing the headlines 'XXX die in airliner crash' decided to leave it on the stand and hope that a) Brenda wouldn't read it over the shoulder of someone else and b) our first-ever flight would be more successful!
In no time at all we found ourselves in Knightsbridge Air Terminal then Heathrow and subsequently being ushered up the steps into a Bristol Britannia jet-prop aircraft belonging to British Eagle International Airways (we had by now bought a couple of their shoulder bags of course). Our journey to the Orient and Paya Lebar Airport in Singapore via Istanbul, Bombay and perhaps another stop long since forgotten, was about to take-off. Some 26 hours or so later we stood on Singapore soil, well concrete, feeling like death warmed up and knowing not much more than we would be provided with transport to Johore Bahru, Malaysia.
I don't think this is the one we flew in but if you want to know the Bristol Britannia specifications were:
Length: 124ft 3in (37.9m), Wingspan: 142ft 3in (43.6m), Engines: 4 x Bristol Proteus 765 turboprops., Cruising speed: 357mph (630km/hr), Service height: 24,000ft (7,300m), Passengers: c. 100-130.
Length: 124ft 3in (37.9m), Wingspan: 142ft 3in (43.6m), Engines: 4 x Bristol Proteus 765 turboprops., Cruising speed: 357mph (630km/hr), Service height: 24,000ft (7,300m), Passengers: c. 100-130.
The Ticket out and arrival accommodation! An identical building (Summer House) exists at the Governor's Palace along the road
Was this exciting or was this exciting? The temperature and humidity were vying with each other at about 92degs(F) and we were leaking like sieves. I had only been this hot once before and that was in Bombay not very many hours earlier where I walked down the steps from the aircraft thinking the heat was from the adjacent engines and was surprised to find it wasn't. Quite soon we were bouncing along narrow winding roads then across the Johore Straits Causeway where we turned left then right to find ourselves being evicted from the 'RN' bus beneath a palm tree outside a white balconied building bearing a sign saying 'Straits Guest House'. (1964 picture)
Formalities completed we were given a room and found a toilet. The room met our every need - it had a bed, a ceiling fan and shutters to darken it. The toilet didn't meet any of our needs as it was already full to overflowing - a 'humming' fantastic start! Alternatives were soon found and we fell into bed but as we dozed there was a loud 'splatttt' on the floor - I dived under the covers as you do and Brenda got out to investigate. It turned out to be a suicidal chit-chat, tits-up, having apparently failed in its attempt to sleep on the ceiling! Serves it right I thought.
Rested and partially rejuvenated the next day we set about finding somewhere to live and quite soon settled for a newly built bungalow in Johore Bahru's Century Gardens. Then it was off to the Government Offices for permits etc before seeking out the 'recommended' Chop Ban Lee's furniture emporium from where we could buy a bed and a green covered mattress stuffed with ???? but anyway quite comfortable.
We enjoyed our time there and the people, especially those beetle-nut chewing ladies who took our blonde-haired daughter to their hearts and bosoms so enthusiastically. I like less the masses that poured from JB Railway Station each morning, raised the palm of their hand towards your car and walked out across the road with supreme confidence that we would stop in time to miss them. I always did and so did most, but not all, others! We soon became indifferent to the Sweet Water Canal and Durians but then who didn't?
Rested and partially rejuvenated the next day we set about finding somewhere to live and quite soon settled for a newly built bungalow in Johore Bahru's Century Gardens. Then it was off to the Government Offices for permits etc before seeking out the 'recommended' Chop Ban Lee's furniture emporium from where we could buy a bed and a green covered mattress stuffed with ???? but anyway quite comfortable.
We enjoyed our time there and the people, especially those beetle-nut chewing ladies who took our blonde-haired daughter to their hearts and bosoms so enthusiastically. I like less the masses that poured from JB Railway Station each morning, raised the palm of their hand towards your car and walked out across the road with supreme confidence that we would stop in time to miss them. I always did and so did most, but not all, others! We soon became indifferent to the Sweet Water Canal and Durians but then who didn't?
Johore State Government Buildings and Chop Ban Lee - still going strong in 2002
Added excitement came in the form of a middle-aged Chinese couple a few doors down who entertained us with fairly frequent and heated high volume discussions. We only confirmed that they were really arguments when, one day, he ran up the road a la Roger Bannister with her in hot pursuit wielding a meat cleaver at arms length in front of her and still shouting! He survived to shout another day! Not to be out-done, a few weeks later, just after we had turned-in one night we spotted a young local - who I'm sure we had previously employed to cut our grass - 'fishing' through our bedroom window with a stick and hook. Brenda shouted and I hurtled naked up the road after him. Not a pretty sight and, perhaps fortunately, I didn't catch him!
In political terms all was not straightforward in the Region. In 1963 Singapore, Malaya, Sarawak and North Borneo
formed a unified 'Malaysia'. Some Malay/Chinese unrest, particularly in Singapore, led to Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia in 1965 to become an independent state.
Living, as we did in 1964-5, in Johore Bahru, Malaysia we did for a short time utilise 'Aid to Civil Power' patrols but our day-to-day life continued largely unaffected. A major exception was in the Causeway crossing 'formalities' which became more rigorous and time-consuming on our daily crossings. It was popularly believed that both the Singapore and Malaysia sides competed in extending those delays.
Some months later we came to the top of a list somewhere and moved over to the Naval Base to take up residence at 19 Hawkins Road, Rimau. Very soon after our arrival there we acquired a brown and white mongrel from our immediate neighbours who had to return to UK urgently. What we didn't know then but soon discovered was the dog 'Patch' - well what did you expect, 'Nelson' - much enjoyed the sport of herding and containing local traders upon the tops of their tricycle-boxes. In complete contrast he allowed our daughter to ride around on his back and drag him by the tail until he signalled with a menacing growl that playtime was over!
One of Patch's best sketches he saved for a Sunday lunch time - presumably to maximise his audience size - when he decided he needed, so took, a bitch. Being the extrovert and poser that he was he did it midway between our house and the submariner's mess that were about 500 yards apart across a valley and the main road through the Base. There must be many submariners still laughing at the memory of the 'chuck-up' they gave my wife and her friends as they staggered down the grassy path to throw buckets of water over the dogs when they became 'indivisible'. Just what 'Patch' needed to keep him cool enough to go round the buoy I thought! When we left I had to have the old fella put down but it took two tries, many pints of Anchor/Tiger and a not a few tears before I finally handed him over.
Now where was I. Oh yes!
My arrival on the MULL OF KINTYRE had me detailed off to look after the Reserve sweepers on a trot close by the ship where, in the early days, we found time for the odd game of cards but soon found there was more to do as the decision was taken to bring some forward for service. The names escape me at this distance but SANTON, HICKLETON (RNZN) and maybe PICTON were amongst those that formed the 11th Minesweeping Squadron to support the existing active 6th MSS as operations against the Indonesians escalated. For those who served in them there were times of anxiety and danger and I recall one of them, again I can't remember which but maybe it was PUNCHESTON or MARYTON, coming back with machine gun damage to her bridge and tales of a very near miss for her bridge watchkeepers of the time.We gave them the best support and maintenance we could but then had the good fortune to be able to escape to the canteen in the evening where the worst we faced was the occasional boisterous exchange between us, the Aussies and the Kiwis. There was, as well, also the risk of an overdose of 'Good ole Fred' in the Cinema. It wasn't a bad life was it! Threats were, from time to time, made to me about going to sea in one or other of the sweepers but thanks to my good luck and our Ordnance Officer, Lt Mervyn Bond, who found me useful in the Office, that never happened.
Then, as the Indonesian 'confrontation' subsided and my terminal date came and went we planned and looked forward to our return to the UK. Eventually - the fridge/freezer and various other goodies crated up and despatched - an RN bus came to pick us up from our house at Rimau in the Naval Base at the end of our 25 month sojourn. First stop on the 24th of May 1966 was the Singapore Hotel, not to be confused with the Singapura Hotel in Orchard Road, this one was in Geylang and a star or three short of the Singapura but it was an adequate, if compulsory, pre-flight accommodation.
Then, as the Indonesian 'confrontation' subsided and my terminal date came and went we planned and looked forward to our return to the UK. Eventually - the fridge/freezer and various other goodies crated up and despatched - an RN bus came to pick us up from our house at Rimau in the Naval Base at the end of our 25 month sojourn. First stop on the 24th of May 1966 was the Singapore Hotel, not to be confused with the Singapura Hotel in Orchard Road, this one was in Geylang and a star or three short of the Singapura but it was an adequate, if compulsory, pre-flight accommodation.
Next day we went to Singapore's, then international airport, at Payar Lebar. I well remember we were cleared through Customs and Immigration and eager to board our British Eagle flight to London but British Eagle were not quite as eager to take us!
First it was '...delay due to the late arrival of the aircraft from Australia…' later superseded by '…the seat configuration has to be changed…' but eventually we all climbed aboard and set off down the runway in a flurry of flame, noise and vibration, our turbo-prop-engines at full tilt until, at, or immediately before the point of no return we were all flung forward in our seats as the aircraft was brought rapidly to a stop. '…sorry but we have a technical fault that makes it necessary for us to return to the terminal…' so we did and dis-embarked.
You'll know the story now, anxiety, young children and babies hungry and noisy with parents tempers fraying etc etc, then the official was saying '…sorry, you have cleared the country and we cannot allow you back through to the restaurant…' They stood their ground as long as they could but 'we' prevailed and the 'authorities' let us back across that invisible line and into a restaurant to feed and pacify the children and ease our nerves with another 'Tiger' or two.
The next try, two or three hours later, saw the ground drop from under us, the wheels clear the fence and the aircraft heading up to Colombo through a tropical storm which resulted in a later announcement along the lines of '…Ladies and Gentlemen there is no cause for alarm BUT because of the storm earlier the captain wants the Control Tower at Colombo to check the aircraft before we land so we shall be making a low pass before…' It was later rumoured that a cargo hatch had been damaged. Whatever it was must have been acceptable to the driver as we landed, fuelled and continued on our way to the next fuelling stop then London.
First it was '...delay due to the late arrival of the aircraft from Australia…' later superseded by '…the seat configuration has to be changed…' but eventually we all climbed aboard and set off down the runway in a flurry of flame, noise and vibration, our turbo-prop-engines at full tilt until, at, or immediately before the point of no return we were all flung forward in our seats as the aircraft was brought rapidly to a stop. '…sorry but we have a technical fault that makes it necessary for us to return to the terminal…' so we did and dis-embarked.
You'll know the story now, anxiety, young children and babies hungry and noisy with parents tempers fraying etc etc, then the official was saying '…sorry, you have cleared the country and we cannot allow you back through to the restaurant…' They stood their ground as long as they could but 'we' prevailed and the 'authorities' let us back across that invisible line and into a restaurant to feed and pacify the children and ease our nerves with another 'Tiger' or two.
The next try, two or three hours later, saw the ground drop from under us, the wheels clear the fence and the aircraft heading up to Colombo through a tropical storm which resulted in a later announcement along the lines of '…Ladies and Gentlemen there is no cause for alarm BUT because of the storm earlier the captain wants the Control Tower at Colombo to check the aircraft before we land so we shall be making a low pass before…' It was later rumoured that a cargo hatch had been damaged. Whatever it was must have been acceptable to the driver as we landed, fuelled and continued on our way to the next fuelling stop then London.
Arriving at Heathrow at about 0730 on a gloriously sunny, BUT cold 1st of June 1966 we were met by Brenda's Mum and Dad , who, with much grace and kindness, took us into their home where, in return, we demanded a fire be put in the grate to keep us warm.
Only on becoming grandparents ourselves, did it really come home to us just how much they must have 'sweated' at both the prospect and reality of providing two twenty-somethings plus a two year old child and another on the way, with food and shelter for an indeterminate period of time with the added prospect of me becoming 'unemployed'. As most parents do they rose to the challenge magnificently; saw us through the birth of our daughter Sarah and were then rewarded by us moving into a house a few roads away, still close enough to call upon them for baby-sitting duties amongst all sorts of other things.
Only on becoming grandparents ourselves, did it really come home to us just how much they must have 'sweated' at both the prospect and reality of providing two twenty-somethings plus a two year old child and another on the way, with food and shelter for an indeterminate period of time with the added prospect of me becoming 'unemployed'. As most parents do they rose to the challenge magnificently; saw us through the birth of our daughter Sarah and were then rewarded by us moving into a house a few roads away, still close enough to call upon them for baby-sitting duties amongst all sorts of other things.
Despite the homeward delays we decided I would not 'request' extra time to 'recover' but would instead get myself to Portsmouth the next morning, hand in my kit and get my card withdrawn. A big mistake! Entering HMS VICTORY Barracks I couldn't find anyone behind a counter or desk in any office nor much sign of life anywhere else for that matter so returned to the gate and explained my situation to a PO. His wry smile told me I was making his day then he said ' Yer won't find anyone ear terday itsa bank olidee'. My exclamation was born out of frustration rather than his parentage - oh alright then, perhaps it was a bit of both!
Within a couple of return visits all the rubber stamps were pressed upon the bits of paper and devoid of Bag, Hammock and Hat Box off I went to Terminal Leave stopping on the way at the White Swan on the A27 at Bosham, with another lad in (or should that be out of) the same boat! NB. In 2009 the White Swan, in common with so many other 'Pubs' in the UK, was closed and up for sale.
Life has since dealt me a good hand - I wonder what happened to him?
Within a couple of return visits all the rubber stamps were pressed upon the bits of paper and devoid of Bag, Hammock and Hat Box off I went to Terminal Leave stopping on the way at the White Swan on the A27 at Bosham, with another lad in (or should that be out of) the same boat! NB. In 2009 the White Swan, in common with so many other 'Pubs' in the UK, was closed and up for sale.
Life has since dealt me a good hand - I wonder what happened to him?
HMS MULL OF KINTYRE - the first and last warship to use the name - clearly unable to survive without me, was paid off in 1967. She was then bought by a Hong Kong company and towed away from Singapore in 1969 to be broken up.
TERROR itself, now called 'Singapore Institute of Naval Technology and Operations' is still wholly recognisable the only real changes being the addition of some new buildings at the old Main Gate end of the site.
Returning for a moment to a personal note I, like many of you, greatly enjoyed the climate, lifestyle and people of Singapore and Malaya and, as well, witnessed Singapore's move to independence from Malaysia. Since then a lot has changed in both countries but particularly in Singapore where there are still recognisable sights to be seen but not all that many.
If you have not been there since your RN days, or at all, I would encourage you to go. I know you will be received warmly (excuse the pun) if you do. You mustn't miss looking round Johore Bahru and after that perhaps go on to see the rest of peninsula Malaysia as well.
TERROR itself, now called 'Singapore Institute of Naval Technology and Operations' is still wholly recognisable the only real changes being the addition of some new buildings at the old Main Gate end of the site.
Returning for a moment to a personal note I, like many of you, greatly enjoyed the climate, lifestyle and people of Singapore and Malaya and, as well, witnessed Singapore's move to independence from Malaysia. Since then a lot has changed in both countries but particularly in Singapore where there are still recognisable sights to be seen but not all that many.
If you have not been there since your RN days, or at all, I would encourage you to go. I know you will be received warmly (excuse the pun) if you do. You mustn't miss looking round Johore Bahru and after that perhaps go on to see the rest of peninsula Malaysia as well.
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This HMS TERROR section first published online 2000 and since revised.
