59 Fd Sqn returned to Crown on the 21st September 1964. They had spent the intervening period since leaving Thailand in June, on exercises and trades training. Off duty leisure time in Singapore helped recharge energy levels and build up morale. Husbands were able to spend time with their families who had missed them dearly, especially as those families had spent little time in Singapore before their husbands and fathers had departed to Thailand for nigh on five months.

A number of 59 Sqn personnel moved up to 9 Gurkha Engineer Base Camp to attend a Combat Engineer B2 course. L/R Jim Curtis, Carlton Brown, Trevor Letford, Pete Guerin, Mick Allen, Greg Schofield, Stewart Hulley and Bill Moore. The rollover shows Stewart Hulley walking up a ramp out of the sea at Blakang Mati island on a Heavy Ferry exercise. Whether this watermanship training element of the B2 was performed here, is not remembered by any of the participants.

The image above is the Passout picture of the B2 course mentioned above. All the 59 Sappers are present along with Sappers from other units, who's identities are unknown except for the men in 'Slouch or KFF' hats. these men are Australian Sappers of 2 Troop 11 Ind Fd Sqn. Rear row far left is L/cpl JW Barnett, far right is Spr Jock (WM) Oliver. Center row far left is Spr Les Mc Namara, center is Cpl Stan Limb, far right is Spr Murray Aitken. Thanks to John Tomczak for the Aussie info.

The Sappers of 59 Sqn and their families, continued to work and play in 'Singers' as it was fondly named. Enjoying such places as The Britannia Club, where families could spend the day swimming, eating and relaxing. Bugis Street was a venue where risque, adult night entertainment could be had. Change Alley, where the latest Japanese cameras and watches could be purchased for half the price back in the UK and The Tiger Balm Gardens a popular exotic family venue enjoyed at weekends.

59's main party returned to Thailand aboard a Caledonian Airways Bristol Britannia. The plane landed at Ubon Airport and must have caused quite a stir as it would have been one of the largest planes to have landed there at that time, although at least one Britannia had landed there previously (the USA had not officially entered the Vietnam war and were not at Ubon in any numbers).The airline subsequently changed its name and livery to British Caledonian and operated as an independant airline until 1987.

What the Sappers and their families did not know was, they would not be returning to 'Singers' until after the opening of the Airfield. There was to be a lot of hard, sweaty, very dusty and extremely dirty work ahead. Although some of the earthworks had been done, the airfield profile was nowhere near the finished article. The Sappers had to work on the main infrastructure as the dozers and scrapers built up the profile around their work sites. Hard, hot, sweaty and dusty work indeed.

2Troop were tasked with laying the main runway culvert. Here Cpl's Deuchar and McCarthy are mortaring up the section joints before it's moved into position. At the top of the picture more Sappers are getting on with the job. The size of the task can be estimated by the viewer by the amount of culvert sections awaiting use. Overleaf the apron access road culvert requires the earthworks infill to be bought up to level. When that is completed and the tarmac phase begins the blacktop road surface will be added.

The plant operators continued to infill the airfield profile, they hit a brick wall literally, in the guise of a rather big lump of rock. It was buried in the middle of the soon to be runway and was too large to be moved by bulldozers. A young troop officer (who shall be nameless) was given the task of blowing up the rock. His charge of choice was plastic explosive or PE4. On completing his calculations, a perimeter was set up with a safety margin for his workforce to stand well clear of any fallout. Read this Sappers account of the explosion HERE.

Time passed quickly for the 59 Sappers, an intensive work load made it so. Seven weeks after arriving back at Crown, a change from working dress to best bib and tucker was required. Soldiers of all persuations got out their tins of black polish and dusters. They bulled their best boots, (the Dhobi girls had laundered and ironed their best OG's to perfection) and prepared for the first ever Remembrance Parade on Crown. It proved an emotional and sombre occasion for me as always.

Parade over and the troops marched off with Lt Colonel Orrell taking the salute. On the rollover above, Major Chris Bramwell OC of 59 leads the Squadron followed by SSM Harold Yates. 1 Troop march behind in column of route. The image right shows Lieutenant Jack Castle saluting with S/Sgt Gerry Farnworth leading 2 Troop. The rollover shows S/Sgt Welby at the head of 3 Troop with Sappers Walmsley, St. Julian and Callander at the head of the columns.

HQ Troop bought up the rear with MT Sgt Terry O'Neil is senior man, Sgt James Hopkins follows, amongst the OR's are Sapper Peter (Storky) Porter and Corporal Gwilt. Adjutant Capt T Hardy ex SAS brings up the rear. The rollover shows Sappers Ford, Shelds-Probett and Pass pre inspection parade before the Remembrance parade. Standing behind side on is George Smart. This enhanced colour image shows how well they scrubbed up on the day considering the environment they were working in.

What we didn't know at that time, was there had been a FEPOW camp in Ubon Ratchathani just some eighteen years earlier than we were there. The POW's were there to build an airfield some 9 klms to the north of Ubon which is still there to this day.

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