Whose Name We Share

31 1961 In October 1961 the Battery deployed to Malaya in order to relieve the 101 st Battery. They would join the Far Eastern Strategic Reserve, alongside the British 26 th Field Regiment in Camp Terendak. The Battery were the artillery element of the 28 th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Group and within Terendak there would be British, Australian and New Zealander Troops. Camp Terendak, located in Malacca, was no simple tent-city style base. The “camp” was a self- contained city in its own right. Member’s families could enjoy modern housing, a cinema and a school, and according to the Canberra Times , a £750,000 church was constructed. Before the appearance of the Church, most services were held in the open air and the school held many weddings and celebrations. Members could enjoy sporting events, social gatherings and of course, a hard-earned drink. Camp Terendak covered 1500 acres and the training area stretching beyond it covered another 3500. It was constructed in the late 1950’s but developments would continue onwards during the 103 rd Battery’s stay there. By the end of the 1960’s the Camp held a police detachment, an education centre, a hospital and four churches. The Terendak Garrison Cemetery hosts the graves of family members who passed during their stay, as well as soldiers involved in the conflicts of Indonesia at the time. Soon after arrival, the Battery were issued with the new 105mm L5 Pack Howitzers. In January of 1962 they would be the first Commonwealth Army Unit in Malaya to fire the weapon – which required some adjustment in comparison to the 25 pounder guns that the battery were used to at this time. They would end up firing 360 rounds as a part of a one day exercise at the Asahan Artillery Range near Malacca. The Australian Army Force Commander for Singapore and Malaya, Brigadier B.J. Bleechmore visited the gun position to oversee the new weapon’s capabilities.