GUARD DUTY IN SINGAPORE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29383, 9 December 1960, Page 11

GUARD DUTY IN SINGAPORE

New Zealanders At C-In-C’s House [Army Information Service) TAIPING (Malaya). Forty New Zealand soldiers have been chosen as a ceremonial guard on the Singapore residence of the Commander-in-Chief in the Far East (General Sir Richard Hull) for 14 days this month. Guard duties are a big change for these soldiers from A Company. 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Regiment. After a long period on jungle operations the men have had to undergo a refresher course in drill in preparation for the guard. Standards must be high for they are relieving the demonstration platoon of the 17th Ghurka Division. The officer in charge of the party, Second-Lieutenant T. N. Turner, of Woodville, will share the duties of guard orderly officer with the company sergeantmajor, W. 0.11 K. A. Watson, of New Plymouth. The three guard commanders are Sergeants W. T. Nathan (Papakura), W»J. Sharpe (Papakura), and D. C. Keyes (Timaru).

Off guard duty, the men will have a 24-hour leave pass in Singapore every three days.

This is the second time this year New Zealanders have been called on to perform guard duties for the Commander-in-Chief in the Far East. A party from the battalion’s mortar platoon was on duty in Singapore last April. The regimental band has also served in Singapore fer a brief period as the duty band of the Com-mander-in-Chief.