XXth 1st BATTALION THE LANCASHIRE
FUSILIERS
OMNIA AUDAX
EMERGENCY DEPLOYMENT TO BRITISH GUYANA - 1965
INCORPORATING NORTON BARRACKS WORCESTER
Figure 1The Golden Arrowhead, Guyana's National Flag has five symbolic
colours.
REFLECT FOR A MOMENT ON THIS GUYANESE POEM
My Beautiful Guyana such a sweet name to me Sea of Green and Lush Scenery,
magnificent Birds overlook foaming tide Golden Tamarin Monkeys scamper
and hide Rushing Rapids and Tumbling Falls aloud Land of history that
makes us proud O sweet Guyana, land of many faces Home of peace for all
races. This is my Guyana! My Beautiful Guyana (By Dmitri Allicock)
A WORD ABOUT REFERENCING
I am concerned that I cannot reference every item contained within this
chapter, I initially attempted to do so, but it started to make it totally
unwieldy, for instance numerous stories are published in back issues of
the XX the Lancashire Fusilier Gazette, making referencing as large as
the actual story. So to reduce space they were removed.
I mention many former regimental personalities', characters in their own
right, and their accompanying nicknames. No offence or malice is intended;
to those who read this account, many are no longer with us but remain
held in high esteem by former colleagues', family and friends.
Plenty of water has flowed under the bridge since I deployed to British
Guyana in 1965 [circa 56 years ago today]. Readers'will I'm sure recognise
a little embellishment here and therebut for meonly adds to the excitement
and atmosphere of the times.
So what, you may ask? The battalion was deployed onaoperational peace
keeping mission; ahead the prospect of separating inter-communal fractions
from riots was threatening and to be honest totally expected. In the early
periods of our deployment the anticipated inter-communal trouble effectively
dissipated. The protagonists were confronted by a number of professional,
disciplined British Army battalions; andthey thought better of aggravating
the situation thereby avoiding military intervention. This resulted in
a shift of military posture with adjustment to Public Order tasks by guarding
of key points, maintaining Quick Reaction Force etc. Stand-down periods
allowed imaginative adventurous pursuits coupled with military traininginitiativesto
be created to maintain moral of officers and soldierswith sufficient free-time
to explore Guyana from many aspects.
BACKGROUND TO GUYANA DEPLOYMENT
POLITICAL DIMENSION
During the dangerous days of
the 'Disturbances,' the efficient presence of trained British troops in
sufficiently large numbers and equipped with superior weapons, communication
and transportation usually had a 'sobering effect' on terrorists. Troops
were effective in containing the wave of criminal violence and restoring
normalcy by the end of 1964.
The 1st Battalion, King's Manchester and Liverpool Regiment and the 1st
Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, then arrived in January 1965 and were
relieved by the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, which remained until
February 1966. In March, the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (Duke of
Cambridge's Own), arrived. This battalion had the historic responsibility
of lowering Great Britain's union flag on the night of 25-26 May when
British Guiana gained its independence and took the name of Guyana. The
Middlesex Regiment stayed on to work alongside the Guyana Defence Force,
departing in October 1966.
For thirteen years between October 1953 and October 1966, battalions drawn
from eighteen British regiments, in addition to several smaller support
and service units, had been stationed in British Guiana. If, at the start
of the troubles in 1953, it was felt that sending British troops to enforce
the suspension of the constitution was unjust and unnecessary, it is arguable
that, in the end, their peacekeeping role in preventing the disintegration
of the country was indispensable to Guyana's independence.
British Guiana became a Crown colony in 1928, and in 1953 it was granted
home rule. In 1950, Cheddi Jagan, who was Indian-Guyanese, and Forbes
Burnham, who was of Afro-Guyanese decent, created the colony's first political
party, the Progressive People's Party (PPP), which was dedicated to gaining
the colony's independence. In the 1953 elections, Cheddi Jagan was elected
chief minister. The British, however, alarmed by Jagan's Marxist views,
suspended the constitution and government within months and installed
an interim government. In 1955, the PPP split, with Burnham breaking off
to create the People's National Congress (PNC). The leftist Jagan of the
PPP and the more moderate Burnham of the PNC were to dominate Guyanan
politics for decades to come. In 1961, Britain granted the colony autonomy,
and Jagan became prime minister (1961-1964). Strikes and rioting weakened
Jagan's rule, much of it believed to be the result of covert CIA operations.
In 1964, Burnham succeeded Jagan as prime minister, a position he retained
after the country gained
LOCAL SECURITY ISSUES
On the security side, the maintenance of public order was still the main
military mission. In response to the suspension of the constitution, a
civil disobedience campaign was launched. This was marked by breaches
of the emergency regulations and acts of sacrilege and sabotage. For example,
in observance of 'Empire Day' 1954, the statue of Queen Victoria outside
the Supreme Court was blasted with explosives.
With the return of representative government after the August 1957 elections,
the civil disobedience campaign was called off and calm returned. This
spell was broken after the August 1961 elections. Certain fiscal measures
introduced in the 1962 budget led to widespread dissatisfaction. The British
Guyana Trades Union Council (BGTUC) called a general strike during which
rioting erupted in Georgetown's central business district on February
16, 1962 and much property was destroyed. In response, the 1st Battalion,
Royal Hampshire Regiment, was called in from Jamaica and more battalions
followed later.
The administration introduced another version of the Labour Relations
Bill in April 1963 in the House of Assembly. This was opposed by the BG
TUC, which called another general strike. Disorder broke out to be quelled
by the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards. For the most part, the British
Guiana Police Force riot squad dispersed gangs of rioters in urban areas
but the Coldstream Guards were required to patrol rural areas where some
encounters were fatal. One patrol, under a subaltern fired at a mob, killing
three persons and wounding another. During the BG TUC's 80-day general
strike, reinforce of two Infantry battalions performed peacekeeping duties.
Civil violence worsened in 1964 after the PPP called a "Hurricane
of Protest" against the British government's decision to alter the
electoral system and to hold fresh elections before independence. The
Guiana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) also called a strike in the sugar
belt ostensibly to protest the British Guiana Sugar Producers Association's
refusal to recognise the union as the bargaining agent for workers. This
strike was accompanied by arson, murder and sabotage.
DEPLOYMENT OF UK FORCES - 1964
The 1st Battalion, Queen's Own Buffs, the Royal Kent Regiment, arrived
in March 1964 to relieve the 1st battalion The Grenadier Guards in maintaining
public order. But the disturbances escalated and the 1st Battalion, Devonshire
and Dorset Regiment, was brought in after a state of emergency was declared
on May 22. The unit's first mission was to restore order in the aftermath
of the Wismar atrocity where it joined a company of Queen's Own Buffs.
In the wake of the Son Chapman launch atrocity at Heredia, 43 (Lloyds
Company) Battery of the Royal Artillery was sent out in the infantry role
to prevent a deterioration of the situation.
The GAWU strike was called off in July 1964 and normalcy returned slowly
allowing elections to be held on December 7, 1964. That month, the 1st
Battalion, King's Own Royal Border Regiment arrived.
Riots and arson broke out in Ge Over the following weeks British Army
Infantry units carried out a range of urban internal security tasks and
operations. This involved patrols, guards, road blocks and providing stand-by
platoons for anti-riot duties. The situation remained tense over a number
of years and periodically ethnic clashes would flare-up at certain flashpoints.
During the dangerous days of the 'Disturbances,' the efficient presence
of trained British troops in sufficiently large numbers and equipped with
superior weapons( bayonets), communication and transportation usually
had a 'sobering effect' on terrorists. Troops were effective in containing
the wave of criminal violence and restoring normalcy by the end of 1965.
The 1st Battalion, King's Manchester and Liverpool Regiment and the 1st
Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, then arrived in January 1965 and were
later relieved by the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, which remained
until February 1966. In March: the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (Duke
of Cambridge's Own), arrived. This battalion had the historic responsibility
of lowering Great Britain's union flag on the night of 25-26 May 1966
when Guyana became Independent of the United Kingdom.
DEPLOYMENT OF BRITISH FORCES TO BRITISH GUYANA
Political explanations for these actions are given aplenty elsewhere.
But, as far as arrangements for military operations were concerned, British
authorities would quickly discover that Guyana was ill-prepared to garrison
a large foreign military force for a long period. British infantry regiments
ready for rapid deployment to regional trouble spots were usually stationed
under the Commander, Caribbean Area in Jamaica. At first, units sent to
British Guyana were dependent on irregular and unreliable maritime transport
for supplies, spare parts, stationery and other stores from that far away
island. Further, this country's shallow river estuaries and muddy shoreline
inhibited the entry of very large ships making it necessary for vehicles
and stores to be transhipped in Trinidad's harbours.
Battalions were normally stationed at the war-time US airbase at Atkinson
Field, but adequate or appropriate accommodation elsewhere was scarce.
Government buildings had to be vacated for use as headquarters offices;
the Mariners' Club, a hostel for merchant seamen, was used as the officers'
mess; and troops could find themselves billeted in hotels not of high
repute. In rural areas, cottage hospitals and buildings on sugar estates
had to be made available. The Public Works Department laboured day and
night to build four new barracks on Camp Road in Eve Leary (now the Guyana
Police Force Training School) exclusively for British troops. The governor
named them 'Balaclava Barracks' at the formal opening on September 20,
1954
.
INFLUENCES & BACKGROUND - IN THE THICK OF IT
The 1st Battalion, King's Manchester and Liverpool Regiment and the 1st
Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, then arrived in January 1965 and were
relieved by the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, which remained until
February 1966. In March saw reinforcements comprising of the 1st Battalion,
Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own), arrived in Guyana. This
battalion had the historic responsibility of lowering Great Britain's
union flag on the night of 25-26 May when British Guiana gained its independence
and took the name of Guyana. The Middlesex Regiment stayed on to work
alongside the Guyana Defence Force, departing in October 1966.
As long as man has been alive, he has been collecting little sayings about
how to live. We find them carved in the rock of the Temple of Apollo and
etched as graffiti on the walls of Pompeii. They appear in the plays of
Shakespeare, the commonplace book of H. P. Lovecraft, the collected proverbs
of Erasmus, and the ceiling beams of Montaigne's study. Today, they're
recorded on iPhones and in Evernote.
Thebattalion operational deployment to British Guyana in 1965 is etched
and buried deep in the recesses of former comrades' minds.Such wonderful
memories are the very essence of life itself.
I invite you to travel with me through time on a return journey to Guyana
that surely would feature on one's bucket list of life's adventures. A
lifetime of adventure {at public expense} that manyformer members of the
Lancashire Fusiliers hold close to their hearts and cherish the gift of
a truly memorable posting to this day!
"I approachthis chapter in a relaxed and melancholy mood.Perhaps
a little too relaxedas if I hadjust been bitten by the dreaded tsetse
fly and caught sleeping sickness.
I simply closed my eyes tooka few deep breaths anddrifted into a deep
slumber, held suspended on an imaginary hammock of banana leaves. I became
oblivious to the worries of the modern world, daydreaming in my banana
leaf hammock, gently swaying, cossetted in thewarm tropical breeze of
yesteryear. As I gently sway from side to side I hold in my right hand
a glass of demerara rum, the quality of which is unsurpassed to this day!
This amber nectarwould be a fitting description; I hold a joyous feeling
for a wonderful alcoholic drink from Guyana! It would not be out of place
and grace any sideboard or drink's cabinet. For some a bottle of Banks
beer would be an appropriate substitute, I guess!
My hammock was fixed with twineto two up-right wooden pillars on thefirst
floor veranda of an out-building of Leonora Sugar Estate. Leonora was
short distance from Georgetown, the capital. Leonora Sugar Estate was
a beautiful location complete with its own swimming pool.
Reflecting on our stay atLeonoraI couldn't resist fromhumming quietly
to myself thatpopular West Indian melody'Big, Big Bamboo' by Emile Straker
accompanied by the Reggie-band 'the Merrymen'. Rhythmic Caribbean music
enjoyed with a littleliquid refreshmentof that fabulous, smooth-tasting
Special ReserveDemerara rum. Surely, thismagic potion of golden nectarwould
help to restore my memoryand reveal past times by the bucketful! Relaxed,
oblivious to outside interference,I drift subconsciouslyto a time in my
life, January 1965.
I recallfond memories of serving in "British Guyana". A paradise
the rest of the world simply forgot but never by any former members who
served with the Lancashire Fusiliers!Swing 'that light' and utter those
magic words 'Remember when', we served in BG' and a comforting smile spreads
across an experienced soldiers face, etched are memories unconstrained
but helped by a little alcoholic lubrication or was it medication!
I recallin the 1960-70's there was a 'mad craze' in the British Army's
established bands for West Indian 'Steel Bands' made from 44 gallon oil
drums (what the Army called 'BurmOils') converted into a variety of percussion
instruments. This was influenced by active service (1963-65) in the then
colony of British Guiana-now independent Guyana, and is still seen each
year when elements of The Jamaica Regiment visit the UK.
Furthermore, it would be remiss of me not to mentionmy cricketing hero
Clive Hubert Lloyd CBE, AO at this time and born in British Guyana. Clive
made his first-class debut as a left-hand middle-order batsman in the
then British Guyana in 1963-64 and played for Haslingden, in the Lancashire
League in 1967. He was offered terms by Warwickshire before signing for
Lancashire, making his debut for them at Old Trafford cricket ground in
1968, and winning his cap the following season. Clive Lloyd was born in
1944, Queenstown, Georgetown, Demerara, British Guyana. The connection
is relevant as Clive Lloyd joined Lancashire County Cricket Club, and
played cricket at old Trafford (Lancashire's famous cricket venue) for
many seasons and before becoming a local folk hero.
Figure 2 A heavily fruit laden Mango Tree.
My experience of Guyana looking back reminds me of the Dr. No, starring
of course James Bond, 007, although many of the big screen shots were
filmed in the Caribbean. For me I was firmly shackled to the communications
shack with Pedro Kinsella and others for company.
I offer some Lyrics of the romantic song underneath the Mango Tree you
might remember
to continue and enhance the story so far!
Underneath the mango tree
Me honey and me can watch for the moon
Underneath the mango tree
Me honey and me make boolooloop soon
Mango, banana and tangerine
Sugar and ackee and cocoa bean
When we get marry we make them grow
And nine little chil' in a row
THE BUSHYRUM CONNECTION
The adventure of a life time took many young Fusiliers by complete surprise
when after a longish flight from UK, landed at Atkinson Airfield, British
Guyana, and a country almost untouched by the modern world. It was a personal
adventure for me as part of my unit XX the Lancashire Fusiliers deployment
in 1965. A number of British Army infantry units were deployed from UK
to support an emergency peace keeping mission. The mission was to intervene
and quall communal violence thereby enabling local communities to live
peaceably together. The tasks allocated to the battalion were interesting
but not too over demanding with time available for adventure training
and to explore the beautiful interior of Guyana.
Off-duty periods were occasionally spent on sampling the local liquor,
Bush rum featured occasionally as a means of countering the tedious boredom
at the time.
At nearly every bar in Guyana you'll find discreetly a bottle or two of
Bush Rum [Bushy]-bottles of ovenproof rum from local distilleries infused
with just about every herb and fruit that grows in the country. The tradition
stems from the use of herbs for medicinal purposes-they were combined
with the rum as a sort of tincture to cure a variety of ailments. So,bush
rum comes with recommended medicinal effects. The anise-like Nannie "helps
improve your memory and decrease muscle pain," according the listings
at RumFire. Lemon grass "helps lower your cholesterol." Ginger
"helps prevent nausea and aids digestion." And then there are
the favorites you can find all around the country: the power shot from
"local herbs" that will, as one bartender up in the bush promised,
"put the booster in your rooster" (if you're looking for a natural
Viagra alternative); and the ubiquitous "under-the-table rum,"
infused with straight-up weed. So, forgive me readers for dwelling on
this alcoholic start to this chapter, I wish to 'wet your whistles' and
stir the grey cells a little. By now it will have dawned on readers that
bush rumor bushy, is illegal and if uncovered by the authorities an arrest
warrant under local law will follow such is the interest in the illicit
sale of bush rum. I add there is no truth whatsoever that Fusiliers filled
their water bottles with 'Bushy' prior to carrying out foot patrols
none
what so ever
hic, but most of us who tasted 'Bushy' the next day
were consumed with instant amnesia
such a wonderful feeling!
Figure 3 crest of the XX the Lancashire Fusiliers
MEMORIES BY THE LATE CAPTAIN [RET'D} JOESEPH EASTWOOD BEM
The Bn were split into Company and Platoon locations, "D" Company
were based first at Legionnaires in the centre of the capital, Georgetown.
The Companies were rotated through a series of these locations, ostensibly
to keep the peace between rival political and ethnic factions but in reality
having the greatest holiday of all time.
The weather was hot, the time was almost free, they were young and fit,
the ladies were available and the bush rum was as cheap as the coke they
drank with it.
Many went sick from the effects
of 10 months of overdoing these freely available pleasures, and a number
were destined for mental health hospitals before the tour was over.
Each Company went in turn to a battle camp at Takama, on the edge of the
great grass plains called the Savannah.
Following an NCO's Cadre at Atkinson field (the BG airport) Joe was promoted
to Corporal and took charge of 1 Section in 13 Platoon.
"D" Company was commanded by Major John Davis, and the CSM was
WO2 Ted Townley, Joe had great regard for both of these wise older soldiers.
Many exciting and lurid tales are told of the LFs time in BG, but they
are not for this feature.10 month is a long time to be separated from
dear old Blighty, and it was with some relief that Joe prepared to return
to Weeton Camp near Blackpool and once again join his family.
EXERCISE MINDEN MARCH - FROM OSNABRUCK TO WORCESTER IN 1964
"BOOTS" by Rudyard Kipling
We're foot--slog--slog--slog--sloggin' over Africa --
Foot--foot--foot--foot--sloggin' over Africa --
(Boots--boots--boots--boots--movin' up and down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!
Seven--six--eleven--five--nine-an'-twenty
mile to-day --
Four--eleven--seventeen--thirty-two the day before --
(Boots--boots--boots--boots--movin' up and down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!
"You'll Never Walk Alone"
I recall rolling back the years reading a book 'the British Army in India'
by the author David Gilmour in which he describes in great detail the
long marches endured by British Infantry during their occupation of India.
The author recalls in the 1830s and 1930s during the long marches troops
kept up their spirits by singing as they marched, songs were often bawdy
and usually repetitive. Fusiliers of XX the Lancashire Fusiliers set to
music Rudyard Kipling's poem 'Route marchin' - you heard the bugle blow/
there's a regiment cumin down the Grand Trunk Road - each company singing
a verse in turn and all joining in the chorus. It can't have taken their
minds off the daily slog much better than the same poets, 'boots, boots,
boots - moving up and down the line again
I just wonder how many
Fusiliers marching back from Osnabruck to Worcester would have the faintest
clue that they were marching in the footsteps of their ancestors.
Furthermore, as the Falkland Islands war proved yet again that Infantry
must always be prepared for a long slog, tactical advance to battle [tab]
or your own marching pace [yomp] - take your pick!
I initially focused on the military side of the Nijmegen event because
this is how it started designed by the Dutch Infantry pre-Great War (before
WW1), however, I must stress the idea of a march home came from a Fusilier,
although inspired by the Nijmegen event it was quite separate and more
challenging as I describe.
Starting as a military event in 1909, the 4 Day Nijmegen March expanded
annually and included civilians to the point they outnumbered the military
8:1 and to the extent that a limit on the maximum number of marchers (45,000)
needed to be imposed since the event was at full capacity. The Nijmegen
march is very popular worldwide and citizens of 60 countries attend to
march individually each year with over a dozen militaries represented
in marching teams.
A tradition I took part in, back in 1984, was to trade military badges
with other armies at the close of the march in Camp Heumensoord. However,
for the XX 1LF marching teams unofficial exchanges of plaques and badges
took place along the route home.
After graduating from JTR Troon I spent a few days on local leave prior
to joining my BattalionXX 1 LF in Norton Barracks, Worcester. The battalion
was in the process of returning from BAOR, West Germany, based at Quebec
Barracks totake up residence in Norton Barracks, Worcester, a routine
'Arms Plot' move. At the same time as my arrival it was judicious tocelebrate
the homecoming of '48 marching'Lancashire Fusiliers from Quebec Barracks,
West Germanyto the delight of the Battalion, their family and friends.
The local newspapers and the Lancashire Fusilier Gazette followed their
return in some detail to the delight of all. Welcome home lads to a pint
of Worcester scrumpy!
A vision of a pride of primrose hackles swinging jauntily down a Worcestershire
Lane in 1964 leaders wearing hi-vis jackets wasboth exciting and exhilarating.
I was as proud as punch that day for the marching Fusiliers stoic efforts!
I'm sure we heard the distant
strains of either Gerry Marsden or could it have been the famous Italian
tenor, Andrea Bocelli's version of, 'You'll never Walk Alone'. It is likely
that the anthem was adopted by Liverpool Football Club in 1963! A possible
coincidence maybe!
Their owners enthusiastically
bellowing 'pop' songs from the sixties with a marked Lancastrian brogue.
It was the end of a 460 (741 Kms) mile march by 48 Fusiliers of XX 1 LF.
They started marching on the far side of the English Channel at Osnabruck,
West Germany. 24 days later they gratefully put their feet up at Norton
Barracks, Worcester, and all 48 men finished fully fit and keen to continue,
if invited.
The idea came about when aunknown Fusilier boasted that we should march
back to UK within earshot of the CO, then Lt Col James Wilson who over
heard the boast,remarked. 'Good idea - you can' end of story.
I recall many stories in days
of old when monkey's chewed tobacco, as a fan of Rudyard Kipling. He described
in great detail that troops moving between garrisons in India took a route
march when there was no available railway. They set off very early each
morning in order to reach the shelter of the next camping place before
the full heat of the day struck. About ten miles were completed each day.
Troops never marched on a Sunday. Was this the march to Norton Barracks
being replicated over again?
At the head of the march were the soldiers - a kaleidoscope of blue, red,
green, and khaki uniforms. They were followed by bullock carts carrying
the married women and children, 'the soldier's wife in India is a great
grumbler, notwithstanding the comforts, and even luxuries, she enjoys
in that land of extra pay and of many and cheap servants'. However the
wives might have had fair reason to complain when being jolted for days
in bullock carts slowly creaking through the dust. At the bottom of the
carts was a layer of boxes with a couple of mattresses on top, all covered
by thatched straw? From time to time a wheel fell off, and pots, pans,
baggage and children went flying in all directions.
Baggage animals accompanied the column. Elephants and camels were loaded
with tents, and mules carried the soldiers' kit bags. Cleared camping
places were available at regular intervals by the roadside with trees
planted by the government to shade them. Tents were quickly erected on
arrival, including one used as a hospital. Indian cooks built fires and
earth stoves to perform 'culinary wonders'. Some of the soldiers played
cards, whilst many took the opportunity to sleep but this what not how
it was in 1960s when XX 1 LF departed Osnabruck.
NEVER VOLUNTEER!
There was no shortage of volunteers from a 'can do, will do battalion'!
Extra training took place and measures taken to harden feet commenced.Rehearsals'
practised, foot inspection followed foot inspection; boots and socks checked
and double-checked! Preparation completed - mentally ready for the challenges'
that lay ahead.
The great day arrived on a grey winter's morning the 48 men paraded at
Osnabruck to receive a message from the Ober Burgermeister to receive
a greetingsmessage to carry to the Mayor of Worcester. Cheered and waved
off by hundreds of spectators lining the cobbled streets of the city,
they set off on their long march. The reminder of the battalion and their
families departed West Germany by less glamorous means via RAF Air Trooper
bound for Worcester.
Some detail about the march worth noting! The men carried their personal
weapons and 20 lbs of equipment. The daily distance planned was set atbetween
18 (29 Kms) to 20 (32 Kms) miles per day at approximately 3.5 (5.6 kms)
miles per hour. The support party of course played a vital role proving
hot drinks, snacks, refreshments and hot meals, accommodation, first aid
and every 5th day was a rest day. The marching group of men was split
into two teams; 'C 'and 'D' Teams commanded by Lieutenant C.B.M. Carter,
the late Sgts Jess.Owen, BrianWalsh including Second Lieutenant W. R.
Litster and Sgt JackHorrocks. The 48 men comprising both teams are too
numerous to mention individually here but all deserve equal praise and
our admiration for completing this tough march.
When compared against Peter the Hermit led his Peasants' Crusade, a ragtag
force of 20,000 knights and pilgrims set out from Cologne on 20th April
1096, and arrived at Constantinople on 1st August: a distance of some
2,500km completed in 103 days. Stopping only for the occasional pogrom,
riot, or set-piece battle with government forces along the way, Peter
and his band maintained an average speed of about 25km per day for the
duration of the trek. Yet, as impressive as this performance may be, even
by modern standards, Peter's entire progress was not contested by a determined
opposition.
The XX 1 LF teams' progress was measured at 32 km per day (maximum)with
every 5th day resting. An impressive 741 Km in 24 days was completed impressive
by any standards!
Incidentally the march during the Falklands War from San Carlos to Port
Stanley is often considered a great feat of physical endurance of which
there is little doubt. Units recently conducted a loaded march (Marching
at a fast pace carrying a Bergen weighing 25kg) from Port San Carlos to
Stanley, a distance of approx. 65 miles. Spare a thought when comparing
the achievements' of the 'Marching Fusiliers.'
!
MY ARRIVAL IN THE BATTALION AND MYTASTE OF AN OVERSEAS EXOTIC POSTING
It was with much trepidation
that I boarded the train at Manchester Piccadilly travelling to Worcester.
Another phase of my military career was about to commence with little
knowledge of what to expect on arrival. After all, this was my first regular
posting and I was apprehensive of what I might find and thrilled at joining
man's service aged 17 ½ years old. I mentioned earlier that my
time at JTR Troon was fully committed, organised with little free time.
The urge to do something - anything was ever presentand at the forefront
of my mind. Idleness was frowned upon then and now. Well! All this would
soon change on my arrival at Norton Barracks! I would be gulp
unsupervised,
left to my own devices with plenty of free time - so this is what life
is really like in the regular Army!Don't be fooled I was told by an older,
much wiser Fusilier! The idea of reading routine orders daily, posted
around four thirty every day at HQ Company Office was a new routine for
me. Failure to read orders or receive a verbal brief from your friend's
meant formal sanction for sure. I might add at Worcester if warned for
weekend barrack guard duty you were committed for 48 hours - the whole
weekend written off - ugh! However, I was not that naïve, you learn
very fast to be as slippery as a fish, to be captured by the COS who often
searched the accommodation for some unsuspecting Fusilier to replace a
member of a detailed guard who had failed to show; either sick or simply
failed to attend.
Like all young Fusiliers I was quick to learn the 'rhythm' or 'drum beat'
of the battalion. It was one Saturday morning having a 'lie-in'within
the Signal Platoon accommodation billets when my friend Jeff Heginbottom
heard a whisper [intelligence by sniffing the air] that there were two
members short on guard mounting that morning and COSs' had been dispatched
to find immediate replacements. Jeff had spotted Corporal'Choppy's'Wiseman
and Corporal Albert Hart (both COSs') on the hunt for some gullible, unsuspecting
Fusiliersabout to be spammed for replacement guard duty. Well, the jungle
drums were beating, like a shot I was out of bed, dressed in double-quick
time, grabbed my wallet, and out the rear door of the Signal Platoon accommodation,
close to the main road before you could say, "Jack Robinson",
we both jumped over the fence heading towards Worcester Town Centre in
a flash. Jeff was only seconds behind me - we laughed out loudly together
- narrow escape for us but no guard for us two tonight Josephine! I should
add that COS responsibilities carried with it the authority of their CSM's
when they were not present. This was just one of many amusing incidents
that you recall when younger Fusiliers tried to pull the same stunt against
you in future!
On leaving JTR Troon as a J/RSM I was locally promoted Local Corporal.As
a young Fusilier barely eighteen years old arriving in a new environmentI
guessed regular soldiers in the battalion would rightly view me with a
certain amount of glee as I had little or no experience or knowledge of
how regular soldiers respect was to be earned. I recall while National
Service [NS} had ceased there were a number of NS guys remaining seeing
their last few months out of the Army. I thought long and hard and I reached
the conclusion that I would be wise to remove my Corporal's chevrons from
my No2 Dress (new uniform) new too many in those days, prior to arriving
at the battalion. It was better to arrive as ayoung, fresh faced Fusilier
(effectionally known as 'Red Arse' rather than an inexperienced Corporal
I thought}.It was a wise decision and one I never regretted. 'Red Arse'
is a derogatory or affectionate term {depending on your point of view}
often used by juniorranks, senior to you, which fits a near perfect description
of a newly arrived Fusilier, than a Corporal with obviously little or
no experience.It would be possible even after a number of years' service
you may still be a 'Red Arse' to some. So I started my new life in the
battalion afresh and yes
a new fresh -faced breed of 'Red Arse'.
My arrival at Norton Barracks,
Worcester coincided with the end of a long-weekend leave period for the
unit. I had the good fortune to meet a fellow Fusilier, travelling to
Worcester, Jeff Heginbottom from Stockport. He was a married {Pad} Fusilier
who travelled home to Stockport to see his family most weekends. Jeff
would return to Worcester on Sunday evenings from Manchester Piccadilly
via the Birmingham to Worcester Milk train arriving in Worcester at about
4.am. A short walk to Norton barracks followed. I often shared this journey
with Jeff on a number of occasions and as a result, became good friends.
Unbeknown to me at that time Jeff was also a Signaller and we billeted
in the Signal Platoon accommodation in those early days.
One major difficulty I found on joining the battalion understoodthe scouse
brogue. One friends explained 'I need a scouse interpreter' to keep pace
with the banter. I laughed but there is some truth for a Bury lad like
me to understand scouse beingunfamiliar with Liverpool lingo! The Battalion
was made up of a mixture of Scouses' and Lancastrian lads - a great mix!.
Scouse is also a food delicacy emanating from Liverpool. However, scouse
is primarily spoken in the Merseyside area of England and it's closely
associated with the City of Liverpool and its surrounding environs. Scouse
is highly distinctive brogue and has little in common with the lingo used
in the neighbouring regions of Cheshire and Lancashire. A nickname for
someone from this area is simply a 'scouser.' Understanding the lingo
was another steep learning curve for me as I attempted to discuss with
the late Fusilier Judda Williams, MT Platoon, and later my old pal Cass
Young a born and bred scouser. This was brilliant stuff, great amusement
and funny as hell. We all became great friends and I soon got the message!
I was still a 'Red Arse with potential' with much to learn about battalion
life.
On the second day in the Battalion I was instructed to attend Commanding
Officers' interview. This is aninformal parade (not be confused with an
'orders' which is a disciplinary parade) and is a prerequisite for all
joining your unit in the British Army.You are formally interviewed by
the Commanding Officer [CO] on arrival. The CO at the time of my arrival
was the late Lt Gen Sir Alexander James Wilson1 KBE MC, formally of the
Rifle Brigade, and a WW2 veteran. The Provost Sgt(Sgt Jack Horrocks) checked
my turnout and confirmed my surname. I was marched briskly into the CO's
office. Standing by the CO's side at his desk was the Adjutant (Adjt).
I saluted the CO, and when asked confirmed my surname once again. The
CO welcomed me into the battalion, having first read my graduation report
from JTR Troon. I was rather anunusual recruit forthe battalion, graduating
fromthe Army's Junior Service.
The CO then asked me a number of questions relating to sport, including
football. 'What position did I play at football, he asked'? I replied
"Centre-half"Sir!
I was taken aback with the casual CO's response. He said 'Ingham you should
report to the battalion football coach after this interview - we will
see how good you are even though I hear you played for Bury Boys and selected
for Manchester United colts? 'Yes Sir', I replied. The Adjutant then instructed
me to 'march out - interview over' - so I thought. I took my cue, saluted
and as I turned smartly to my right ready to marchout the CO hesitated
for a moment and said 'Oh!By the way Ingham, welcome once again and report
to the RSO (Capt. Charlie Carmichael), you are posted to the Signal Platoon.Relived
and thankful the ordeal was over; I quickly found my new Platoon Sgt;
the late George Sgt Warne a good start I thought. My goodness and with
a battalion football trial thrown in!I thought all my Christmas's have
arrived at once!
I pay tribute to my first CO because he left a lasting impression on me
during my early years of regular service.The CO's nickname at the time
he commanded XX 1 LF was known aka 'Swinging Jim' named of course after
the swinging sixties and his unorthodox approach to training and administration.
He was a popular CO but heart and soul a Rifleman I understand, and his
ambition was to go down in history as a latter-day Sir John Moore was
his long-term ambition. He was, however, better known as a football writer
for more than 30 years from the late 1950s contracted for The Sunday Times.
In his military career, he craved startling originality and was no respecter
of any form of red tape or regulations which he thought cramped initiative
or reduced versatility. Indeed, the extremes to which he would go to improve
the fighting efficiency and welfare of his men made him something of an
enfant terrible in the eyes of the military establishment, whereas his
outspoken comments on professional football endeared him to his readers
and everyone associated with the wonderful game of two half's. He became
an ardent Manchester United supporter because of reporting matches of
such high quality (apologies to Liverpool, Everton and Manchester City
fans). At this moment I paymy respects to a late scouser and former In
- Chelsea Pensioner,the late Sgt Johnny [Spartacus] Blaney, a close friend,
who accompanied 'Swinging Jim' on his visits when attendingsoccer games
as a sports writer and correspondence. Jonny, would distribute 'Swinging
Jim's' football dispatches in preparation for publication by the Sunday
Times. Another dear friend gone but not forgotten - see you buddy when
we reorg at the FRV!
On joining the Signal platoon I was first introduced to the following
senior members. The late Captain Charles Carmichael was my Platoon Commander
and the Regimental Signals Officer (RSO), supported by CSgtEddie Coomber
(his nickname was Qcumbers - I know a pathetic joke!) and the late Sgt
George Warne and to be followed later by Sgt WB Dick, Royal Signals Rear-Link
Detachment Commander (Det Comd). Furthermore, an experienced and integral
member of the team was the late Cpl Pete Singleton our experiencedtechnical
storeman. This team would guide me (light touch) through my first overseas
tour of the former British Guyana now Guyana. On deployment I took over
"A" Company signals detachment. My colleagues are too numerous
to mention here but their names will be disclosed as the story develops.
The period spent in Worcester was enjoyable, productive and valuable enhancing
my signals skills and gaining a greater understanding of the complexities
of the equipment I was to use some months later in British Guyana. My
experience of Morse code and Telegraphic procedures was extensive but
yet untried in an operational communications setting. The opportunity
would soon present itself!
Figure 4 - RADIO SET No WS 62 HF - (Used extensively in Guyana)
Figure.5 WS C 11 Radio was the Mainstay of HF Comms in British Guyana
circa 1965
The C11 radio was considered a vital piece of communications equipment
that was used on a daily basis to maintain HF comms with BHQ in Georgetown.
At Enmore/Leonora we often acted as a relay station to outlying sub-units.
The figure 4displays a complete Larkspur setup consisting of C11 TX, R210
RX, Plus PSU, No 7 ATU, J1 Box, C Box, 2xMic/Headsets, all leads, Cables,
Sliding tray and Runners ready to go straight into a Champ or set up at
unit base. The company signals detachment operated the C 11 radio in the
ground station role. For power supply we connected 4 x 75 amps. 12 volt
wet batteries in series and paroral that needed constant attention by
the duty signaller.
I recall during June 1964 participating in a platoon escape and evasion
exercise that Lasted a week in and around the Ludlow, Shropshire area
of England. I recall meeting up with Rosie, Billy Brunt and Bernie from
Blackburn at this time. This exercise actually turned into a fun week
and in our efforts to avoid capture we sought refuge on a local farm and
worked for three days hay making. The most exhausting work I have ever
voluntarily undertaken, I slept in the farmers' barn at nights with plenty
of food and drink supplied as payment by the farmer's family. A great
time was had by all before we caught a lift from a passing lorry and returned
to barracks, tired but happy and uncaptured.
Of the many duties to come my way whilst in Barracks I was detailed to
man, occasionally, thebarracks telephone exchange at nights and weekends.
The exchange was of a manual type and not fully automatic. On receiving
a phone call I would manually connect calls via a jack system to number
requested. My platoon friend, Fusilier Geordie Macdonald gave me all of
5-minutes instruction and then I was flying solo. I'm sure a number of
calls were connected wrongly by me in those days! Fortunate for me the
'grown-ups' had auto dial phones so avoided making calls via the exchange
most of the time - thank goodness!
Late in 1964 the Battalion participated in manoeuvres and joined HMS Albion,
Amphibious Force Assault Ship for Exercise Downey Dance. The exercise
consisted of a period at sea followed by a beach landing close to Ballykinler,
Abercorn Barracks, Northern Ireland. The exercise tested the battalion
in beach landings andextraction; rapiddeployment followed by a forced
march and occupied static positions on Slieve Donard and surrounding Mourn
mountains' in an effort to contain enemy forces. All ended happily after
48 hours and recovery back to HMS Albion was most welcomed. Throughout
this exercise I carried an A41 Larkspur manpack set and carried out the
role of Radio Operator for my OC, Major 'Rocky' Moorson and later to become
hispersonal driver3. I often reflect was this exercising a pre-cursor
to my service in Northern Ireland. Reading my 'tea leaves' at the time
I saw a vision of my destiny unfolding before my very eyes!
There followed a period of local training and sport in late 1964 with
the emphasis on personal fitness. One very ordinary day the battalion
was instructed to assemble in the gym. This was a 'no exceptions a scale
"A" battalion parade' - no excuses or exceptions. I wondered
what this was all about - I asked colleagues and friends - no one had
any idea. It soon became evident that we had been warned for a unit move
- but where? I was to find out very soon, excited and intrigued as a large
drop-down map of the world was displayed in the gym only added to my curiosity.
As the battalion officers assembled I observed constructive restlessness,
impatience and an obvious buzz of excitement as clearly the Officers had
been briefed in advance of the battalion.
The Commanding Officer addresses his battalion by stating "I have
some good news and some bad news for you. First the bad news Fusiliers!
You will all remember that the battalion had been warned for a posting
to 28thCommonwealth Infantry Brigade2and warned to for a tour of duty
at Terandak, near Malacca in Malaysia with a deployment date of early1966
planned. The MoD has reviewed their deployment plans and the tour scheduled
for XX 1 LF destined for this overseas Brigade was no longer required.'
Future Arms Plot moves to 28th Commonwealth Brigade are therefore cancelled.
An eerily silence fell on the 650 men of the battalion as all ranks were
clearly taken aback and surprised by this sudden announcement of bad news.You
could hear a pin drop! After a short pause the CO continued his briefing.
He took a map pointer from the Adjutant and pointedroughly to the world
map and said' does anyone know where British Guyana is? 'One smart Fusilier
stood up and said' The Caribbean, Sir' CO responded "close enough
Fusilier but not quite" the CO pointed to the map and settled on
South America, British Guyana, of which Georgetown is the capital. That's
where we are going for a 9-months unaccompaniedoperational tour to deal
with some local community disturbances involving Peace Keeping operations
- taking a stab at the map!
The CO then proceeded to deliver a verbal Warning Order tothe battalion
along the lines of the following:
Situation:
The maintenance of public order was still the main military mission. In
response to the suspension of the constitution, a civil disobedience campaign
was launched. This was marked by breaches of the emergency regulations
and acts of sacrilege and sabotage. Political unrest has led to inter-ethnic
violence, disobedience and partial breakdown of the rule of law and order
in the country.
No move before 21st January 1965. A small Advance Party will depart week
5th January. I anticipate a 9-month unaccompanied tour with the battalion
returning to UK around mid-November 1965.
Probable tasks that we might be ordered to perform are:
1. Restore normality and trust within the parameters briefed.
2. Liaison with local Police, community authorities and other government
agencies.
3. Adopt appropriate Peace Keeping and Internal Security measures to counter
the known threats. This includes bomb and booby trap threats.
4. Military support to local authorities as directed.
5. Secure Key Points and public buildings against sabotage or criminal
intent as directed.
6. Provide reassurance patrols (both mobile and foot).
7. Respond to critical incidents, emergencies and other complex or high
impact threats.
8. Provide trained and competent command and control of major operations,
including the co-ordination of joint multi-agency responses to emergencies
across unit boundaries.
9. Provide armed support, where necessary, to an operation with firearms
and less lethal weapons; and provide military support to major events.
Execution:
General Outline: Detailed G3 Ops and G2 plans are to be issued by the
Operations and Intelligence (Ops and Int) Officers by NLT 1st November
1964 and agreed by higher formation.
Co-ordinating instructions:
Timings:
Depart RAF BRIZE Norton - An
air deployment plan was developed based on the availability of Britannia
aircraft supported by Eagle airways staff. The real thing was still the
"Operation" with trouble flaring up in some part of world which
needed the swift and the distance swallowing capability of our Strategic
Transport Force. Such a situation occurred in January1965. Deterioration
in security in Georgetown, British Guiana (now Guyana) on the Northern
coast of South America, had arisen with riots after a long general strike.
Operation "Pedal" was declared and the 1st Battalion XX the
Lancashire Fusiliers plus supporting personnel, 500 men in all, were flown
out to Georgetown, Guyana by individual chalks. At least 7 aircraft would
be used to support this operation. The orders process continued unabated.
The CO then gave us a few facts to mull over: RAF BRIZE (curtesy of Eagle
Airways) Norton to Atkinson Field flying time approximately 9 hours and
3 minutes. Total distance is 4,503 miles (7246 kms). The difference is
+ 4 hours ahead of GMT and from today we start Peace Keeping training.
Atkinson Field to Georgetown distance approximately 25 miles. Guyana has
four major rivers-the Corentyne, Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo-which
flow northward and empty into the Atlantic.
This was my first experience of this type of training and deployment.
Little did I know that Hong Kong in 1968 and Northern Ireland in 1969
would follow similar patterns - different tactics, same outcome? The CO
would lateroutline the mission and concept of operations. The Adjutant
would brief on G1 matters with the QM following on G4 issues such as issue
of KD (Khaki Drill was worn as a combat uniform in the 1960's and was
most often used in desert and tropical service) uniforms.
The CO also gave the assembled troops a weather outlook on what we might
face on arrival in Theatre. High temperatures, heavy rainfall with small
seasonal differences, high humidity, and high average cloud cover provide
equatorial lowland. Temperatures are remarkably uniform. At Georgetown
the daily temperature varies from the mid-70s to the mid-80s °F (mid-20s
to the upper 20s °C). The constant heat and high humidity are mitigated
near the coast by the trade winds. Excellent news for the troops to hear!
Well, the battalion erupted to athunderous applause for the CO and immense
excitement engulfed the assembly as they disappeared back to their company
lines for pre-deployment briefings on their mission and tasks. The battalion
was instructed the deployment would take place in early January and a
possible end date of October 1965, flying in company groups from RAF BRIZE
Norton. Brilliant I thought! This was to be my first overseas posting
at the age of 19 years old. I was really chuffed!
Figure5- The General Map of British Guyana.
Independence from the United Kingdom on May 26, 1966. With independence,
the country returned to its traditional name, Guyana.
ETHNIC MAKEUP
It is important to understand the complex nature of the ethnic groups
that led to the causes of unrest in 1965 and earlier.
South Asians form the largest ethnicgroup in the country-they represent
more than two-fifths of the population-and have been increasing more rapidly
than other groups. Their ancestors arrived mostly as indentured labour
from India to replace Africans in plantation work. Today South Asians
remain the mainstay of plantation agriculture, and many are independent
farmers and landowners; they also have done well in trade and are well
represented among the professions.
Afro-Guyanese (Guyanese of African descent) make up about one-third of
the population. They abandoned the plantations after full emancipation
in 1838 to become independent peasantry or town dwellers. People of mixed
ancestry constitute about one-sixth of the population. While every possible
ethnic mixture can be found in Guyana, mulattoes (people of mixed African
and European ancestry) are the most common.The indigenous peoples of Guyana
constitute slightly less than one-tenth of the population. They are grouped
into coastal and interior groups. Coastal groups include the Warao (Warrau),
theArawak, and theCarib. Peoples of the interior include the Wapisiana
(Wapishana), the Arekuna, the Macusí (Macushí), and many
more in the forest areas. The Macusí and the Wapisiana are the
most prominent in the Rupununi Savanna region. Sizable concentrations
of Indians inhabit the far west along the border with Venezuela and Brazil.
They are rarely seen in the populated coastal areas, although some have
mixed with the Afro-Guyanese and South Asians. Since 1970, traditional
Indian lands near the international borders have come under government
control, although Indians continue to hold village lands informally throughout
Guyana's interior. Major concessions to logging and gold-mining companies
starting in the late 20th century have damaged the lands and polluted
the rivers of many Indian groups, forcing some to leave and seek work
in Venezuela and Brazil.
Like the South Asians, many Chinese and Portuguese people also entered
Guyana originally as agricultural labourers, but they are now rarely found
outside the towns. They are active in business and the professions, and
their influence is disproportionate to their numbers; they have not been
increasing, however, and together they constitute only a tiny percentage
of the population. Brazilians represent a small but growing minoritygroup.
LAND DESCRIPTION
Guyana is bordered by the AtlanticOcean to the north, by Suriname(along
the CourantyneRiver) to the east, by Brazil to the south and southwest,
and by Venezuela to the west. Guyana is involved in territorial disputes
with both Suriname and Venezuela that are legacies of colonial rule. Although
a UnitedNations international tribunal settled a long-standing maritime
boundary dispute between Guyana and Suriname in 2007, the latter still
claims the New River Triangle, a 6,000-square-mile (15,600-square-km)
area between two tributaries of the Courantyne River in southern Guyana.
The currently recognized border between Suriname and Guyana along the
Courantyne is also in contention-Suriname claims sovereignty over the
entire river and thus views its west bank as the border, while Guyana
claims that the thalweg, or deepest channel of the river, is the boundary.
The dispute between Guyana and Venezuela dates from 1895, when the British
government claimed ownership of the EssequiboRiver basin. An 1899 settlement
awarded Venezuela part of the area, but in 1962 Venezuela claimed all
the territory west of the Essequibo
ECONOMICS
The story of rum and sugar cane in Guyana started in the 1640's with the
introduction of sugar cane by the early European settlers. But it was
not until distilling was introduced into the new territories by the British
in the 1650s that the foundation of Demerara Rum production was laid down.
When Columbus first sighted Guyana in 1498, a land inhabited by the Arawak
and Carib tribes of Amerindians, he had recently introduced sugar cane
to the Caribbean from the Canary Isles.
150 years later the Dutch came to Guyana and established the first settlements
of Essequibo and Berbice, introducing the cultivation of sugar cane in
the 1640's along the coastal plain and the banks of the great rivers.
Guyana has a vast array of grass and plant life native to the territory.
Mangroves and various saltwater grasses occupy much of the coastline.
The savanna behind the coast is scattered with palms. The remaining areas
are generally occupied with dense rain forests.
The tapir is the country's largest land mammal, followed closely by the
jaguar and ocelot. Monkeys and deer are the most common animals aside
from birds and insects. Snakes, namely the giant anaconda, live in the
marshy wetlands, but the bushmaster is certainly the most vicious of the
snakes. The bird population in Guyana is immense and magnificent: the
vulture, blue sacki, hummingbird and kingfisher are just a few of such
examples.
Guyana's sugar industry was founded in 1658, before the settlement of
the provinces of Demerara and Berbice, when, under the rule of the Dutch
West Indian Company, four plantations were established on the Pomeroon
River in Essequibo. The provinces of Demerara and Berbice were settled
later.
The early sugar plantations progressed slowly. Times were unsettled. Portugal,
Holland, France, Spain and Britain were all fighting for colonies in the
West, and countries and colonies changed hands frequently so that there
was a continuous movement of settlers looking for some place to settle.
Estates were often attacked by privateers who would sail up the river
and hold the estates to ransom. Thus, new settlements were continued to
the river banks, about 30.50 miles from the coasts, partly for fear of
the pirates and also because of the high cost of empoldering and draining
the fertile but low coastlands, a cost which the early settlers were not
in a position to bear.
By 1759, there were 120 plantations along the Demerara River and 200 on
the East Bank of Essequibo. The main crop was sugar, but there were smaller
areas under coffee and ground crops. However, the inland plantations became
increasingly unproductive, owing to years of continuous cropping with
little or no attempt to maintain the fertility of the soil. The river
soils began to be worked out, and, as labour increased, the river estates
were gradually abandoned and the planters wrested the coast from the sea
and swamps, and settled there. At the close of the 18th century, there
were some 380 separate estates from the Corentyne to the Pomeroon.
In 1841, Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo were finally ceded to the British,
and, under their rule, the sugar industry progressed so that ten years
later, the colonies produced some 12 214 tons of sugar (the maximum production
under the Dutch was 4 152 tons in 1778). By the beginning of the 19th
century, there were nearly 400 plantations in Guyana.
In the drive for increased efficiency, the sugar companies vigorously
pursued modernisation, research, and new techniques. By 1967, there were
eighteen (18) estates: Albion, Port Mourant, Blairmont, Providence, Diamond,
Enmore, Lusignan, Houston, LBI, Ogle, Leonora, Rose Hall, Lochaber, Skeldon,
Uitvlugt, Versailles and Wales serving eleven (11) factories, nine of
which were owned and/or managed by Booker McConnell Limited, the other
two, by the Demerara Company. Total acreage under cane cultivation in
1967, including fallow land was 113 474 acres; sugar production for that
year (1967) was 343 922 tons (this compares with the 1950 figure of 195
652 tons and the 1975 figure of 300 350 tons).
In 1973, the main ownership of the sugar industry was in the hands of
two London-based companies - Jessels Securities which owned two factories
and accounted for about fifteen percent (15%) of the total sugar production;
five percent (5%) was produced by an independent Guyanese factory, owned
by the Vieiras and eighty percent (80%) by Booker McConnell.
Two years later, the Demerara Company estates were nationalised becoming
DEMSUCO.
In a decisive move along the road towards owning and controlling all the
resources of the nation, the Guyana Government acquired the Booker Sugar
Estates in Guyana in May, 1976.
To these were added the two nationalised Demerara Sugar Company estates
to form, in amalgamation, the Guyana Sugar Corporation - GUYSUCO - comprising
six estates of Skeldon, the East Berbice Estate (merging of Albion/Port
Mourant & Rose Hall), Blairmont, the Est Demerara Estate (almalgamation
Enmore, LBI/Diamond Estates), Wales and Uitvlugt/ Leonora.Against this
backdrop of events XX 1 LF deployed in January 1965 to Guyana in support
of the local law enforcement authorities with a mission to quell disturbances
and maintain law and order within Company boundaries. Furthermore to act
as a deterrent against would be aggressors by providing reassurance patrols
etc. This task was completely successful and to be honest not overly challenging
from a personal point of view.
RELIEF
The narrow plain that extends
along the country's Atlantic coast has been modified considerably by humans.
Much of the area, which measures only about 10 miles (16 km) at its widest
point, has been reclaimed from the sea by a series of canals and some
140 miles (225 km) of dikes. The coastalplain's inland border is generally
marked by canals that separate the plain from interior swamps.
About 40 miles (65 km) inland from the coast is a region of undulating
land that rises from 50-foot (15-metre) hills on the eastern, coastal
side of the region to 400-foot (120-metre) ones on the western side. The
area is between 80 and 100 miles (130 and 160 km) wide and is widest in
the southeast. It is covered with sand, from which it takes its name as
the white-sands (Zanderij) region. A small savanna region in the east
lies about 60 miles (100 km) from the coast and is surrounded by the white-sands
belt. The sand partly overlies a low crystalline plateau that is generally
less than 500 feet (150 metres) in elevation. The plateau forms most of
the country's centre and is penetrated by igneousrockintrusions that cause
the numerous rapids of Guyana's rivers.
Beyond the crystalline plateau, the Kaieteurian Plateau lies generally
below 1,600 feet (490 metres) above sea level; it is the site of the spectacular
KaieteurFalls, noted for their sheer 741-foot (226-metre) initial plunge.
The plateau is overlain with sandstones and shales that in the south form
the extensive Rupununi Savanna regions. The AcaraíMountains, which
rise to about 2,000 feet (600 metres), rim the plateau on the southern
border, and it is crowned on the western frontier by the PakaraimaMountains,
which rise to 9,094 feet (2,772 metres) at MountRoraima. The Rupununi
Savanna is bisected by the east-west-trending Kanuku Mountains.
MILITARY INTERACTION WITH THE
LOCAL POPULATION
On the social side, the British army's presence had striking consequences.
In the early days, accommodation had to be found in hotels, guest-houses
and private houses for families who accompanied troops on lengthy overseas
tours of duty. Later, the tours were shortened to obviate such costly
accompaniment. In addition, the influx of large numbers of single, young,
white males into a colonial society had predictable consequences. Returning
flights to the UK usually had to accommodate dozens of local brides! Apart
from the loss of young women, the British Army expended considerable energy
on the recruitment of single, young, male Guyanese youths.
A special legal framework was crafted. Orders-in-council were made, "In
respect of anything done or omitted by any member of Her Majesty's Armed
Forces in the course of giving assistance to the civil authorities in
British Guiana," to shield soldiers from being proceeded against
in local courts. Fast forward to 2019 (legacy of Op Banner), where have
we heard thisbefore - Northern Ireland perhaps, under a UK Parliamentary
discussion concerning the possible introduction of a 'Statute of Limitation'.
This legal mechanism is under serious discussion in Northern Ireland in
2019, retrospectively to protect NI veterans from prosecution.
DEPLOYMENT OF UK FORCES - 1964
The 1st Battalion, Queen's Own Buffs, the Royal Kent Regiment, arrived
in March 1964 to relieve the 1st battalion The Grenadier Guards in maintaining
public order. But the disturbances escalated and the 1st Battalion, Devonshire
and Dorset Regiment, was brought in after a state of emergency was declared
on May 22. The unit's first mission was to restore order in the aftermath
of the Wismar atrocity where it joined a company of Queen's Own Buffs.
In the wake of the Son Chapman launch atrocity at Heredia, 43 (Lloyds
Company) Battery of the Royal Artillery was sent out in the infantry role
to prevent a deterioration of the situation.
The GAWU strike was called off in July 1964 and normalcy returned slowly
allowing elections to be held on December 7, 1964. That month, the 1st
Battalion, King's Own Royal Border Regiment arrived.
Riots and arson broke out in Ge Over the following weeks British Army
Infantry units carried out a range of urban internal security tasks and
operations. This involved patrols, guards, road blocks and providing stand-by
platoons for anti-riot duties. The situation remained tense over a number
of years and periodically ethnic clashes would flare-up at certain flashpoints.
During the dangerous days of the 'Disturbances,' the efficient presence
of trained British troops in sufficiently large numbers and equipped with
superior weapons( bayonets), communication and transportation usually
had a 'sobering effect' on terrorists. Troops were effective in containing
the wave of criminal violence and restoring normalcy by the end of 1965.
The 1st Battalion, King's Manchester and Liverpool Regiment and the 1st
Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, then arrived in January 1965 and were
later relieved by the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, which remained
until February 1966. In March: the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (Duke
of Cambridge's Own), arrived. This battalion had the historic responsibility
of lowering Great Britain's union flag on the night of 25-26 May 1966
when Guyana became Independent of the United Kingdom.
DEPLOYMENT OF XX 1 LF
Figure.8 Arrivals/Departure Lounge at Atkinson airport - circa 1964.
(Today re-named Cheddi Jagan International Airport; formerly Timehri International
Airport is the national airport of Guyana. The airport is located on the
right bank of the Demerara River in the city of Timehri, 41 kilometres
(25 mi) south of Guyana's capital, Georgetown.
Figure 9 Deployment Article in local British newspaper.
Against this backdrop of events XX 1 LF deployed in January 1965 to Guyana
in support of the local law enforcement authorities with a mission to
quell public order disturbances and maintain law and order within Company
boundaries. Furthermore to act as a deterrent against would be aggressors
by providing reassurance patrols etc. This task was completely successful
and to be honest not overly challenging from a personal point of view.
I have provided you with a flavour and atmosphere of this wonderful country
and its rich history and diversity. Furthermore, I have included information
which willcomplement my fading memory of the Battalion's tour of duty
in Guyana and explain why this story is so important to me.
FOND MEMORIES CAPTURED
A number of paragraphs are extracts
taken from the 1965 Edition of the Gallipoli Gazette, a monthly Regimental
Journal of XX the Lancashire Fusiliers in circulation at that time (now
replaced by the Fusilier Journal). Memories have faded after 64 years
and therefore it is crucial to echo some of the nostalgic stories for
old time's sake!
Prior to deployment to British Guyana the battalion underwent a series
of senior appointment adjustments. The handover of commanding Officer's
was completedin 1964 with the late Lieutenant-Colonel Kevin Hill MC. OBE
assuming command of XX 1LF in British Guyana. Colonel Hill was a WW2 veteran
and was awarded an MC in 1944 in a break-through of the Gustav Line. I
understand he served circa 1970 as the Deputy Commander of the Ulster
Defence Regiment (UDR). Colonel Kevin was a popular, caring officer and
held numerous Regimental appointments during his military career. Colonel
Hill had a commendablecareer both in WW2 and beyond. For his battalions
contribution to the Guyana operation he was awarded the OBE. Colonel Hill
was ably supported by his Second-in Command, Major Ken Scragg, Adjutant
Captain Phillip Manvell (who was later to become my OC in a tour of duty
in Northern Ireland), Quartermaster, Captain Frank Alley and RSM WO1 Joe
Gidman.
For the many Fusiliers who served in British Guyana it was truly an amazing
experience. Stories abound, OK, they may be somewhat embellished over
time (some 64 years have elapsed since we saw service there) but mine
and former colleagues recollections are memorable and worthy of description
and certainly worth committing to print. I quote Abraham Lincoln "the
best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time"
My assessment of the British Guyana tour can be summarised asfollows,
the first seven months(January to July 1965) have been peaceful, although
there has been petty sabotage and arson, and some industrial unrest. The
Battalion's duties have been preventive rather than repressive. At the
lower levels, this has sometimes made arduous duties difficult to accept:
why should we lose sleep and put ourselves out when nothing is happening?
But there is no doubt that the presence and the activity of British troops
in British Guyana has been a contributory factor in the maintenance of
peace and law and order. That this is accepted in the United Kingdom is
borne out by the fact that the Battalion will be relieved-by 3 PARA {For
Geoff Pycroft to note}.
Extract from the Gallipoli Gazette in 1965 (Bn overview). "The rhythm
of the Battalion, then, has been one of patrols and searches, guards and
escorts, and no Fusilier can say that he has been underworked during the
tour. As a necessary leavening to Internal Security duties, all companies
have spent several weeks at Takama, in the savannah country, where good
training ground is available almost without limit, and where valuable
refresher training in conventional warfare has been carried out. Another
form of refreshment has been constantly available at Wineperu, where the
atmosphere is partly that ofAdventure Training Camp, partly Holiday Camp.
Parties of fifteen, (not all from the Regiment : we have run this camp
on behalf of British Guiana Garrison) have spent a week at a time there,
trying a taste of jungle navigation and survival training, and enjoying
the superb swimming, fishing and boating in the clear waters of the Essequibo
River. Truly, the Battalion has been in the steps of Sir Walter Raleigh,
who sailed up the Essequibo looking for Eldorado. The areas allotted to
the Battalion have changed as major unitsrotated: and within the Battalion,
companies have changed round from time to time. The Battalion has been
responsible most of the time for the coasts East and West of Georgetown,
while the third company has either been responsible for Georgetown itself,
or has been at Takama training or at Atkinson Airfield resting. At the
present time, 1st Bn. The King's Own Royal Border Regiment have taken
over the East Coast, whilst our "C" Company has moved to a stretch
of coast in the extreme East of the country, bordering on Surinam (or
Dutch Guiana, to give it its old name).
All the Fusiliers stationed on estates have had the use of clubs and swimming
pools, and similar facilities are available to those in Georgetown and
at Atkinson Field. Films are shown in all the outstations, and the English
newspapers are available soon after publication: on occasions it is possible
to read a newspaper the day after publication, which is a considerable
achievement. The Royal Navy have visited Georgetown several times, and
all sections of ships and Battalion have intermingled in traditional fashion.
Several Royal Navy plaques now hang in the Officers' and Sergeants' Messes
and the ships in turn have XX the Lancashire Fusilier plaques in their
Wardrooms and Messes. This pleasant extension of our social activity has
not been limited to the Royal Navy: a visit by a Royal Dutch Navy survey
ship was the occasion for exchanges of hospitality, and more recently,
a civilian ship, the Custodian,arrived from Liverpool with a crew that
very quickly met the "Scouses" in the Battalion. Six officers
munched the traditional red roses soaked in champagne in celebration of
Minden day; all the traditions were observed in Georgetown and as far
as possible in other locations as well. The roses are amongst the most
beautiful artificial flowers we have seen. Looking back as far as Gallipoli
Day, this was marked by a Church Service and a march past, followed by
a cocktail party given by the officers in the British Guiana Police Officers'
Mess because of the limitations of our own Mess, which is in reality a
small private house with accommodation for only three officers.
It is worthy to note that Cpl Dave England was awarded the Commander in-Chief's
Commendation for his brave conduct after he saved the life of a soldier
from drowning ofThe King's Own Royal Border Regiment off the coast of
Georgetown.
For the duration of my tour I was based in Enmore/Leonora. I was responsible
for "A" Company communication, providing a direct link to BHQ
in Georgetown. Leonora is a village in Essequibo Islands-West Demerara.
The neighbouring villages are Anna Catherina and Uitvlugt. Leonora encompasses
an area of about 13 square kilometres (5 square miles). Leonora was named
after the historical 7,942 acre Leonora sugar plantation, which operated
from before 1789 until the Leonora Estate sugar factory was closed down
in December 1986. Leonora Estate contained a number of wooden buildings
built on piles with garage space beneath. One of these buildings contained
company HQ and others allocated for platoon accommodation and CQMS Stores.
"A" Company was commanded by Major Charlie GAWthe 2IC was Captain
John Steeds, and CSM Frank Street and CQMS, CSgt Eric Moore. All experienced
members of the battalion.
Although I was responsible for "A" Company communicationsI never
lost sight of my Signal Platoon HQfriends, news and stories of interest
in Guyana. The role of the platoon was to maintain radio communications
with outstations and BHQ, therefore by definition the platoon was widely
dispersed and committed country-wide.
Capt. C. H. Carmichael Platoon Sergeants: Sgt D. E. Coomber Sgt W. B.
Dick (Royal Signals) The only opinion in the Signal Platoon at present
is that October 1964 cannot come fast enough; apart from that we now comprise
five little armies (Company detachments) each outwitting the other. Now
that Major Moorsom and L /Cpl. Hanslip have left "A" Company,
it is possible to penetrate that august body a little. I took over from
Alfie and suddenly earned the nickname of Lance "Steeplejack"
Ingham has taken over; the RSO said 'if one says much more of him than
that he will "mask". At least he didn't rip his pants on Enmore's
roof like I did'. The nickname came from exploits as an antenna rigger
in my attempt to obtain the best High Frequency (HF) signal'
Fusilier "Gummy" Foster joinedthe 'A' team from Atkinson. One
week-end, I went away on a swan to Takama andon my return I heard Gummy
say: "Everything is under control Les." Everything was-except
that only one outstation out of three was on the air! Fusilier "Not
So Often Sick Parade" Lea has now joined the infamous ranks of the
good livers-but not for long, we hope. Some people may remember "Kleine"
Kay in BAOR We now have a new owner for "Kilo Kilo" in "Kleine"
Kinsella-less appendix. "Sleepy" Bolton, "Gummy" Hilton,
"Geordie" Haley and "Cushy" McDonough have a perpetual
problem on their hands, for they have two members of the British Guiana
Volunteer Force working the radio at Mahaica, and allmessages have to
be deciphered from the local dialect.
STOP PRESS!
In 2009 Messer's the late Ian Hilton (sadly passed away in 2019) and Terry
McDonough; two former Fusiliers, intrepid explorers revisited Guyana's
deepest jungle to retrace the steps taken the battalion in 1965. They
captured the sites, smells and locations that served us so well in 1965.
A number of photographs can be viewed on the XX theLancashire Fusiliers
Web site - comparing then and now (2009 year of their visit). It would,
I have no doubt, been a truly nostalgic and exhilarating experience for
both of them!During the visit they visited the graveof the late Cpl Peter
Singleton, Signal Platoon, and XX 1 LF. They left fresh-cut flowers as
an act of personal remembrance and respect. As a former LF I thank then
personally for their thoughtful act and reassurance that Peter's final
resting place is not forgotten, well maintained in that far flung part
of the World which gave the battalion and Peter much enjoyment.
When attached to 3 Platoon, "A" Company, you are likely to find
yourself swimming alongside "Ottie" the Otter, whom "One
eyed Jack" Marsden inherited from Major Moorson. This was not always
a comfortable experience swimming with 'one eyed' Jack but you were safe
with "Ottie"!
I recall the late Cpl Bob Tod always in firm control of "C"
Company signallers. Bob from Rochdale was always as smart as a Pirbright
dustbin! The "C" in the phonetic alphabet has now become "CASEVAC"
for obvious reasons. When "C" Company eventually left Georgetown
for the East Coast and then Takama, the R.S.O. had to play a nice line
in the marriage guidance bureau system to save Cpl. Tod from his various
girlfriends - only joking of course. I'm sure he will forgive me for reminding
him of this fact at the FRV! Fusiliers Baxter, Highway and McGovern are
settling down well, and Fusilier Whitworth is to spend the last two months
under "Q" Coomber to become a "technical wizard with a
rubber hammer!
The late L/Cpl. Bill Dean, of "D" Company signals, flew back
to England and was presented with a baby; we all congratulate him and
Mrs. Dean and hope that everything goes tine in the future.
Furthermore, I recall a few more of my peers. Cpl. "Narrow Back"
Embley took over from L/Cpl. Dean. Fusilier "Chrome Dome" Boland
and " Fatty" Hillidge put 48 volts into a 24-volt circuit, were
fined £1 each by the C.O., and were complimented at the same time
for staying on the air. Fusilier "Desert" Rose had a trying
time when it came to sending telegrams from Takama, especially when these
ended "I love you, darling"!
" Fusilier Loftus, at the Battalion Headquarters end, is strictly
normal! "Bright Spark 83", "Sgt Rock 03" and "Ringo"
Houlston have learned to eat sardines and rice for every meal whilst working
with the Special Service Unit at Mahaica. "Q" Coomber rules
supreme over Atkinson, ever battling with the "N.C.O. in charge of
Pigeon Lofts" over aerials. The late Cpl Peter Singleton still offers
some sense of sanity in our crazy world. However, his ritual of Bed to
Stores, Stores to Naafi and Naafi to Bed was seriously interrupted twice-once
when he trod on a snake, and once when he went on a pleasure cruise on
H.M.S. Vidal: "You ever tried doing fatigues on a rolling ship?"
L/Cpl. "Wormy Toes" Lomax fights constantly with go-slow telephonists
on the Georgetown exchange. He is rapidly rising to a dubious fame by
having a photograph of his feet reproduced in a medical journal. "Ibbo"
is a fantastic sight- red hair, brown skin and mauve swimming trunks-but
he has caught the biggest 'Clutterbuck' at Wineperu.
Fusilier Howard runs the radio station at Atkinson, ably supported by
Fusilier "Not So Fat Now" Foster and "My Dad's a Docker"
Longworth. Their main problem was mosquitoes. Most of our attached Royal
Signals Troop is at Atkinson. Cpl. Jonny Howarth keeps our radios on the
road, Signalman Wilkie seems to spend most of his time at Wineperu, and
Signalman Dryden is being demobbed from here. We wish him the best of
luck in civvy Street, and welcome Signalman Gillfillan in his place.
Finally, I come round to the BHQ Command Post at Georgetown, a hub of
fanatic activity joke zzzz! Which remains under the firm management of
Cpl "Netting Call" Brunt, who is prone to sunburn?Fusiliers
O'Connor and Buckley are to be congratulated on becoming fathers, despite
the latter's remark: "It's a bit of Luck." Fusilier Clarke has
become the R.S.O's. spare driver, and we're all waiting for him inamazementchanging
gear on the radio and netting in the Lannie. Sgt Dick, Royal Signals,
has us all interested in aerials. We were given a 70-foot beauty, which
we dismantled with the help of Fusilier Hillidge, who, not realizing that
the Aerial Tuning Unit (A.T.U.) was earthed onto it fell off it screaming:
"Oh, my beautiful little pink hands have been electrified!"
We got the aerial to Georgetown, and tried to put it up. At one stage,
Signalman Brown was at the top, trying to haul up the next 30-foot section,
when he heard: "Hold it." From a window appeared the C.O's.
cine-camera, whirring busily. After Fusilier Brown had almost collapsed
from prolonged profiling, the C.O., having finished his film, said: "What
about safety belts?" Mr. Bernard Openshaw, who was the C.O's. signaller
in Kenya, helped us with the mast as well, but it's still not up, and
the R.S.O. has lost interest in it, thank goodness. Fusilier Frank Cotham
was caught up in the whirl of Georgetown and was taken off Call Sign Nina
and banished to the far reaches of Guyana. He has been replaced by Fusilier
Les Lunt, who has been rather quiet so far. This makes us all very scared
of him. L/Cpl. Heginbotham (my travel companion to/from Manchester to
Worcester) is finding the Recce Platoon hard work, but he has lasted longer
than most. The Battalion is now definitely more signalconscious: I am
reminded that a Junior Officer who signalled the R.S.O. from Atkinson
send reinforcements we are going to a dance or was it advance?
I stated earlier that after my allegiance was first to the Signal Platoon
but 'A' Company came second. I offer a few extracts of their endeavours
in Guyana.
"A" Company OC was Major Charles GAW and his 2IC was Capt. John
Steeds C.S.M. WO2 Frank Street. C.Q.M.S. C/Sgt E. Moore. It was a sad
day for the Company when our founder member, benevolent dictator, scourge
of Battalion Headquarters (he has been called many things), left us on
2nd May 1964. Major Robin Moorsom's reign lasted from July last year through
a phase of Empire-building that put the exploits of Rhodes in Africa well
into the background, through exercises in Ireland and Otterburn, through
the era of Moorsomia on the West Coast, to its glorious end in the night
clubs of Georgetown. We all wish him good luck in Bury. Major Ken Scragg's
reign lasted little over a month before he left us for the rarefiedatmosphere
of Battalion Headquarters, and was followed by Major Charles GAW, who
will, we hope, stay a little longer. In May the Company trained at Takama,
that well-known training area in the middle of . . . come to think of
it, we were short of the right maps. The pilot of the ship, Ganji Pheasant
which took us seemed to know where it was and so did our fellowpassengers
with their bananas and logs. No-one will forget the night of the chain-gang
hauling a month's supply of stores from the river to the camp, five miles
away.
Demerara River in eastern Guyana rises in the forests of central Guyana
and flows northward without important tributaries for 215 miles (346 km)
to the AtlanticOcean at Georgetown. Its narrow estuary and rapid flow
keep clear a direct channel of 16-20 feet (5-6 m) to the ocean. Oceangoing
steamers ascend 65 miles (105 km) to Linden for bauxite; smaller ships
reach Malali, 25 miles (40 km) away, the good ship 'R.H. Carr' plies the
Demerara River with grace and elegance, transporting all manner of goods
to outlying villages and terminating on the East Bank at McKenzie. I had
the pleasure of boarding this vessel on a number of occasions; often overcrowded,
livestock, bananas and humans all cramped and mixed! As Fusiliers we were
quite at home in these extraordinary conditions ha!
Figure 10Many will remember the The R. H. Carr River Ferry.
There followed a period in which we endured the trials of flies, tinned
food, and jungle exercises. All survived; some thrived, like C.S.M. Frank
Street, whose secret formula for sterilising water would have perhaps
worked better, as he admitted later, if he'd been able to get Black Label
Whisky. Sgt Male RogersonACC did so well with his ten variations on a
theme of meat balls that he stayed for three months. C/Sgt Eric Moore
was promoted to Quartermaster General in the field by the legendary rebel
leader Sheik El Steeds, and promptly celebrated his elevation by building
a jungle hide-out that would have done Grivas proud-until it rained! Cpl.
Rocky Rawcliffe and Cpl. Jack Usherkeep our vehicles moving; Cpl. Wally
Wallbanke fìred a gun at Takama, and L/Cpl. Stan Abbott over-fed
us at Minden. Cpl. Alan Marshall has made over £450 profit running
the Company shop, and the late Fusilier Eddie King saves money on haircuts,
looks after the stores, and with Phillo Phillipson hopes that he has only
days to do until he goes on the Advance Party. Phillo's quote of the month
came late one Saturday night when driving back from Georgetown with the
mail and a copy of the Bury Times. The combination of a sensitive nose
for smells, the Bury Times, and Saturday night was too much: "Eh,
there's a right smell of fish and chips from them papers!" Perhaps
the proprietors of this well-known newspaper would like to know how much
we appreciate the dispatch of this friendly and homely aroma.
No. 2 Platoon celebrated Minden Day by kidnapping their Platoon Commander.
At 0400 hours, and the whole Company got together at the Enmore Club for
lunch served by the Officers and Sergeants, as well as several members
of the Estate staff, who entered into the Minden Spirit to such an extent
that they, like the Commanding Officer and everyone else, found themselves
in the swimming pool, regardless of dress. No. 3 Platoon met with success
when Cpl. Nicky Doyle discovered eleven sticks of gelignite waiting to
be detonated beneath an aqueduct. L/Cpl. Des Sinclair and Fusilier Ron
Weatheritt stares out of the newspapers at us, bidding us to join the
Army. We are ail efficient swimmers by now, and are looking forward to
showing off our skill and our suntans at home. British Guyana has been
an experience not to be missed, but no account to be repeated.
The mysteries of the reconnaissance platoon activities can be revealed.
The Platoon Commander Officer Commanding: Lieut. Mike. Hayley and his
Platoon Sergeant: Alf Milton, despite many rumours to the contrary, the
Platoon is serving in British Guiana. The Platoons many and various travels
into the interior have left little time for entertainment or social activity.
It is alleged that one such expedition took them to the higher reaches
of the Abary River, where they met the Seven Sisters- though not in human
form. A similar expedition under Cpl. Sharkey Feidon vanished towards
Venezuela whilst the rest of the Platoon spent some three weeks on the
coasts and the Essequibo River. This was followed by R & R at Wineperu.
Our "Sahib", "Ally" Barber, found a quick way out
by helicopter, having made the acquaintance of a sting ray. It was buried
later. The "Shark" has been in territorial waters around the
coast most of the time. The most outstanding observation of the year came
from him when he saw Dr. Jagan and his entourage: "I thought it was
a . . . wedding." Congratulations to "Tiny" on his promotion.
Who said he's been offered a commission by Castro? "Wittering"
Jones, a great Playtime, is also a great bluffer. He has related at great
length the experiences of his life from the year dot. Recce's latest SITREP:
"String vest and pants awaiting collection on receipt of AFG 1033."
A military household indeed! Still extolling the virtues of Chorley and
civvy Street, Armstrong nevertheless has the distinction of catching our
first pirhai-with a bit of string and a nail. The vicious way in which
it clamped on to the matchet was too much even for "The Shark",
who swam away into quiet waters. The Platoon said goodbye to Paddy Doyle,
Jeff Wild, Dave Derbyshire, L/Cpl. Fielding, Naiken and the late Sgt Brian
Walsh, and we wish them luck in their new spheres. Their jobs may change,
but will they ever forget the word: "ARANKA"?
M.T. PLATOON Any idea readers may have that, as in England, there is a
large M.T. square surrounded by vehicles which rarely move, should be
dispelled at the start. Our 50 vehicles cover 60,000 miles every month;
all are used daily, some round the clock. Some have two drivers to overcome
the fatigue problem. Since the Battalion is so dispersed, control and
administration of M.T. is done on a sub-unit basis, and Company 2IC's
combine their roles as local M.T.Os. For their allocated transport. Each
location has a R.E.M.E. fitter for simple repairs, whilst Sgt Ireson and
the remaining fitters (never more than two) stay at the Atkinson base
for inspections and bigger repairs. Despite the mileage done and the state
of the roads (where these exist), the Battalion's transport has been between
90% and 96% available, which is phenomenally good and reflects the greatest
credit
"A" COMPANY Officer Commanding: Major C. H. Gaw Second-in-Command:
Capt. J. F. Steeds C.S.M. : W.O.II F. B. Street C.Q.M.S. : C./Sgt. E.
Moore. It was a sad day for the Company when our founder member, benevolent
dictator, scourge of Battalion Headquarters (he has been called many things),
left us on 2nd May. Major Robin Moorsom's reign lasted from July last
year through a phase of Empire-building that put the exploits of Rhodes
in Africa well into the background, through exercises in Ireland and Otterburn,
through the era of Moorsomia on the West Coast, to its glorious end in
the night clubs of Georgetown. We all wish him good luck in Bury. Major
Ken Scragg's reign lasted little over a month before he left us for the
rarefiedatmosphere of Battalion Headquarters, and was followed by Major
Charles GAW, who will, we hope, stay a little longer. In May the Company
trained at Takama, that well-known training area in the middle of nowhere
come to think of it, we were short of the right maps. The pilot of the
ship which took us seemed to know where it was and so did our fellowpassengers
with their bananas and logs. No-one will forget the night of the chain-gang
hauling a month's supply of stores from the river to the camp, five miles
away. There followed a period in which we endured the trials of flies,
tinned food, and jungle exercises. All survived; some thrived, like C.S.M.
Frank Street, whose secret formula for sterilising water would have perhaps
worked better, as he admitted later, if he'd been able to get Black Label.
Sgt Male Rogerson did so well with his ten variations on a theme of meat
balls that he stayed for three months. C/Sgt Eric Moore was promoted to
QuartermasterGeneral in the field by the legendary rebel leader Sheik
El Steeds, and promptly celebrated his elevation by building a jungle
hide-out that would have done Grivas proud-until it rained! Cpl. Rocky
Rawcliffe and Cpl. Jack Usher still keep our vehicles moving; Cpl. Wally
Wallbanke fìred a gun at Takama, and L/Cpl. Stan Abbott over-fed
us at Minden. Cpl. Alan Marshall has made over £450 profit running
the Company shop, and Fus. Eddie King saves money on haircuts, looks after
the stores, and with Phillo Phillipson hopes that he has only days to
do until he goes on the Advance Party. Phillo's quote of the month came
late one Saturday night when driving back from Georgetown with the mail
and a copy of the Bury Times.
"C" COMPANY Officer Commanding: Major R. K. Broughton Second-in-Command:
Capt. J. M. Gornall C.S.M.: W.O.II K. Bowden C.Q.M.S.: C./Sgt J. Ball
The Company has now been just about everywhere in British Guiana : from
Atkinson Field and Mackenzie, whence we reported for the last edition,
we moved to Georgetown for a spell in reserve. Our next sojourn was on
the East Coast, then the West Coast, and this was followed by a training
spell at Takama, in the savannah country. Next we returned to Atkinson
for a short period which included Minden Day, and as we write have moved
right over to the extreme right flank- in the area known as the Courentyne.
Company Headquarters, a nebulous group who change from day to day, have
acquired better suntans than most. Even the C.S.M. has got his knees brown
and destroyed the myth that C.S.Ms. are snowed under with paper work.
He has already had everyone on P.T. on a Monday morning, which was a great
shock, but lent point to his nickname, "Muscles". Company Headquarters
always seem to manage to win the swimming galas and games evenings. C/Sgt.
Johnny Ball is a dab hand at "crib", and Cpl. Bob Tod and Baxter
are the unbeaten darts team-now we know what they do in the Signal Centre
all day! Curly Rowe, the Company Clerk, is still troubled by itchy fingers,
and one can hardly stop him taking his typewriter sunbathing and swimming.
He is getting very military: we saw him in boots once at Takama (someone
had pinched his sandals), and he even fired a rifle instead of rude letters
at Platoons! We have said farewell to W.O.II Jack Warner, who has gone
to the T.A. We wish him good luck. We seem to get through C.S.Ms. at a
terrific rate! 9 Platoon since the last edition we have been moving around
the Colony at great speed. We had an enjoyable stay in Georgetown, where
cricket, football and plenty of training kept us busy. One amusing incident
occurred when the Platoon was practising riot drill with tear gas. The
Platoon was, of course, wearing gas masks, but a wayward gust of wind
cleared the Company Commander and everyone else out of the billets. It
is said that Cpl. Porter saw the sun for the first time, and the C.S.M.
got his knees brown during the tactical withdrawal from the Office. From
Georgetown we moved to an estate called La Bonne Intention (L.B.I. for
short). Here we had a swimming pool, an air-conditioned club, tennis courts,
a good volley-ball court, and horses and mules to ride. Mounted patrols
were often sent out, and amongst the escorts to the patrols were such
characters as Paddy Spence, Roy Coward, Alan Gradwell and Flags Flannery.
Their equestrian skill was limited, but was compensated for by their dash
and daring-and by the strong grip with which they clung on to the horses'
manes at speed! There were some excellent parties at L.B.I., including
a farewell party at which Sgt. Paddy Martin led the Irish contingent in
a series of laments. We were made very welcome at our next home -Uitvlugt
(say eye-flux) Estate on the West Coast. The Estate Staff were very friendly,
even when we beat them at a games evening-the Army's first win. The Platoon
Commander, Mr. Hughes, acquired a horse there, so the Platoon became known
variously as "Hughes Horse" or "The Bamboo Lancers".
At Takama, Flags Flannery became famous for his palatial trenches and
his fantastic marching pace. Stan Rostron (now engaged-another bachelor
gay fettered) and Larry Hoey with their Section were the crack shots of
the Platoon, and seemed always to be doing Section attacks. Mitch Mitchell
and Tony Moran kept up our morale, while Dasher Dale said he was going
back to his civvy job as a brain surgeon. We marched from Takama to Atkinson,
making bashes on the way, and arrived hot, sticky, longhaired, and generally
in need of sorting out by Sgt Johnny Downs and Mr. Hughes. We are now
starting our final phase in British Guiana-in the Courentyne. By the next
issue we shall be back in England, and look forward to seeing all our
readers there soon.
10 Platoon first location since the previous edition was at a sugar estate
near Georgetown called Diamond. We were looked after extremely well by
the staff: "Owl" Towle was even given an extra meal each day
because the civilians thought we were not feeding him enough! There is
a good swimming pool at Diamond, and our well-practised water-polo team
was never beaten in all our games against the rest of the Battalion and
two naval teams.
From Diamond to Versailles, across the Demerara River: Here the duties
were more onerous, but we did manage to run such things as a fishing contest.
This was won by L./Cpl. "B.P." Porter using a six-foot length
of bamboo six feet of string and a bent pin. A spell at Takama for training,
another at Atkinson, and now we are on our way to the Courentyne for the
last lap.
11 Platoon suffered two losses to the Platoon must be recorded. Sgt Bennett
was sent back to England for medical reasons, and Cpl. Hughie FitzPatrick
also had to leave us; their places were adequately filled by Sgt Frank
Dunphy and Cpl. "King" Moore respectively. Other additions include
a toucan. The Platoon has seen service at L.B.I., where horse-riding was
added to our many accomplishments; Georgetown, where our experience was
extended in other directions, and the West Coast. Whilst at Leonora, on
the West Coast, there were a couple of aqueducts blown up, and plenty
of guards and other duties to perform. But there was a swimming pool,
and in common with others, we are now all very experienced swimmers. Conventional
training at Takama got us back into the swing of Section and Platoon attacks.
L/Cpl. Smudge Smith left his petrol feet behind, and joined No. 3 Section
as 3 I.C., much to the disappointment of Fus. Tom Shipley, who is thought
to be pushing his first promotion? The culminating event of Takama was
a 40-mile march to Ituni, sleeping out in jungle bashes en route. One
night, Mr. Hinxman was heard to shout out in sleep: "Keep up on the
left No. 1 Section, level with me." Obviously he so enjoys platoon
attacks that he was just keeping in practice, although he hotly denies
the whole episode. But we have our witnesses! We are now eagerly looking
forward to our final location in British Guiana. lt is said that Skeldon
is the best place in the Colony and I would tend to agree.
Additional comments: the Swimming Officer donned his aqualung equipment
to try to recover a rifle in ten feet of dark, swirling Berbice River
water. He nearly drowned, and the rifle was recovered by a small local
boy, who held his nose and jumped in! But the swimming veterans from BAOR
are probably saying: "So what?" of all this. Yes, pools are
meant for serious swimming. One of the main activities in B.G. has taken
the form of Company or Platoon swimming competitions, and all this groundwork
culminated in a Battalion Swimming Gala a few days before Minden Day at
an estate which glories in the name "La Bonne Intention"-L.B.I.
for short. Much promising swimming was seen, and the Battalion now has
a potentially great side.
FOOTBALL AT TACARMA
My spy's inform me that the Battalion 8-a-side football team gained great
success by winning the BG 1964/65 League Championships. It was reported
that the following personnel formed the successful team for which they
are congratulated:
Messer's John Tiernegi, Vince Moran, Kenny Stone, Cass Young, Pete Healy,
Seth Adams, Bill y Davis and Stewart Barlow.
GUYANA RUM AND THE ROYAL NAVY
It would not be the complete story without passing comment on the delightful
demerara rum and rum ration issued to the Royal Navy and lesser extent
British Army over the years! Another tradition extinguished. The decision
was not popular with sailors', hence, the funeral on' Black Tot' Day,
on 31st July 1970.
The reason that the Royal Navy encouraged the rum ration was related to
scurvy-an ailment that was common to sailors, who didn't get much fresh
produce that contained Vitamin C. Don't get confused, though: Rum doesn't
naturally contain Vitamin C in any meaningful quantity. However, it goes
well with lime juice, which ships carried and gave out to sailors daily.
For Army personnel it was issued occasionally in extreme cold weather
conditions.
In 1740, concerned by the drunkenness of sailors who received half a pint
of rum per day, Admiral Sir Edward Vernon declared that the rum should
be mixed with water, to that mix was added the daily dose of lime and
some sugar-although the connection between citrus and scurvy wasn't formalized
for more than 50 year
For a very long time, the daily rum ration was an essential part of life
in the Royal Navy. But by the time Black Tot Day came around, there weren't
many in the Navy who still took advantage of the privilege they still
technically had. The Navy was no longer a body of men whose rations regularly
went rotten (or at least tasted bad). Realistically it was the advancement
of nuclear technology and electronics in the Royal Navy more than they
did with cannonballs and cutlasses-and really, really needed to be sober.
The Admiralty Board, which oversees the Navy, wrote:
The rum issue is no longer compatible with the high standards of efficiency
required now that the individual's tasks in ships are concerned with complex,
and often delicate, machinery and systems on the correct functioning of
which people's lives may depend.
31 July 1970 was the final day of the rum ration (Known as 'Black Tot'
Day) and it was poured as usual at 6 bells in the forenoon watch (11am)
after the pipe of 'up spirits'. Some sailors wore black armbands, tots
were 'buried at sea' and in one navy training camp, HMS Collingwood, the
Royal Naval Electrical College at Fareham in Hampshire, there was a mock
funeral procession complete with black coffin and accompanying drummers
and piper. The move was not popular with the ratings despite an extra
can of beer being added to the daily rations in compensation.
In later years, the political influence of the West Indian planters led
to rum being given the preference over arrack and other spirits. The half
pint of spirits was originally issued neat; it is said that sailors would
"prove" its strength by checking that gunpowder doused with
rum would still burn (thus verifying that rum was at least 57% ABV).
The practice of compulsorily diluting rum in the proportion of half a
pint to one quart of water (1:4) was first introduced in the 1740s by
Admiral Edward Vernon (known as Old Grog - hence the term grog!
MORE PERSONAL STORIES FROM GUYANA
I recall the leisurely eight hour journey from Georgetown to McKenzie
seemed to hold a quiet romance with the ferry R.H. Carr slipping through
the virgin jungles close by on either side of the meandering Demerara
River. There were the occasional scheduled stops, along with slowdowns
to allow vendors of local produce in small boats to come alongside and
sell to the passengers of the R.H. Carr.
We all remember the evil tasting rum we all drank!! We called it Russian
bear!!! Most of us preferred the beer called banks of Barbados. Although
some Fusiliers prefer Bush Rum or Bushy!
PET'S CORNER
Perhaps a little known fact that XX the Lancashire Fusiliers just love
all mammal's, animals mainly the four-legged type and sometimes
.other
species
Ginger Hodnutt had a young Cairnans (Caimans inhabit Central and SouthAmerica
from marshes and swamps to mangrove rivers and lakes. Caimans have scaly
skin, and live a nocturnal existence) in BG. It attacked a pet otter which
someone else had, but I can't remember who. The same otter attacked Joe's
Nelson the parrot, and that's why it finished up with only one eye, and
a broken leg. All that after having its wings clipped to stop it flying
away! During my time in BG, I had an Armadillo which crapped all over
the place, so I got rid of it, then I had a three toed sloth, which I
used to stick on a tree while working. It was too slow to escape. I can't
remember what happened to that; I think one of the locals ate it!
Joe's Nelson the parrot, and that's why it finished up with only one eye,
and a broken leg [a friend of Long John Silver maybe}. All that after
having its wings clipped to stop it flying away!
During my time in BG, I had an Armadillo which crapped all over the place,
so I got rid of it, then I had a three toed sloth, which I used to stick
on a tree while working. It was too slow to escape. I can't remember what
happened to that; I think one of the locals ate it!
The cat of mad Campbell's was a young, Ocelot (very small tiger) he threw
it in the swimming pool in Georgetown, and it took the locals about three
seconds to get out!!
In BG Dave Yarnall had two, one was an armadillo called Gearing until
he burrowed down into the ground and WE couldn't pull it back out! Dave
also had a sacawinkie, called Little Barsteward.
Alun Williams 69(Mad Willie) had a baby alligator when we were on the
ferry to somewhere or other that he was quite fond of until it attacheditself
to his finger when he pointed at it, called Little (expletive) and then
he threw it back into the river when it dethatched itself.
I remember two incidents whilst transiting through Atkinson Field. We
stayed a few days in double-bunked accommodation.
Returning to my accommodation at Atkinson Field after a night on the dreaded
'bushy' rum, one dark night following a poorly lit jungle track I heard
someone behind me shout 'snake' approaching from the jungle undergrowth,
OK so what I said! The voice shouted back "it's a bloody huge, giantwriggling
anaconda (water boa) snake 10 meters long at least"
how do you
know 1o meters long ..Answer I didn't stop to measure the darn thing!
After the dreaded 'Bush Rum' you are prone to exaggeration and memory
loss! Well I ran the quickest 100 meters in my life and sober as a judge
when I reached the unit lines, panting breathlessly.
One night whilst asleep I heard a disturbance in the large transit room
where we slept. I thought nothing of it and fell asleep. At breakfast
the next day there was plenty of gossip amongst the Fusiliershearing individual
Fusiliers being woken in the dead of night by a certain 'Phantom' person
doing intimate things to unsuspecting Fusiliers!! We never found out whom
or what the 'Phantom' did during the depths of night - Virgin Soldiers
springs to mind? Soldiers will be soldiers and of course each of us secretly
wondered howI would re-act with an approach of this nature! That story
remains a Lancashire Fusiliers mystery (passed into folk lore) to this
day but my guess is the original story came from a young, fit healthy
mind dreaming thoughts of his girlfriend back home! Maybe just wishful
thinking; a fertile mind or an attention seeker, and there I can confirm
where plenty of them at Atkinson Field having been there for any length
of time
ha!
This joke I recall doing the rounds the next day! Three guys go to a Atkinson
field barracks, and there aren't enough rooms, so they have to share a
bed. In the middle of the night, the guy on the right wakes up and says,
"I had this wild, vivid dream of being molested!" The guy on
the left wakes up, and unbelievably, he's had the same dream, too. Then
the guy in the middle wakes up and says, "That's funny, I dreamed
I was skiing!"
I took the opportunity once to go to Takama with a bunch of guys. I recall
one Fusilier had a Cairnans (a mini crock with sharp teeth) on the end
of a rope in the river submerged. He said "yank that rope and see
what happens" I did as instructed and from the depths of the river
came these narrow jaws ha! I let go immediately and laughed. What's his
name I asked "Tug Wilson" came back the reply - named after
a CSM! From that day on a got on very well with Tug (when at Erskine camp,
Hong Kong) Piranha in the river, however,their presence certainly made
washing your mess tins in the river very exciting!
I overheard on the ferry from Georgetown to New Amsterdam conversation
between two Fusiliers. Police have just released details of a new drug
craze that is being carried out in Lancashire nightclubs. Apparently,
Lancashire club goers have started injecting Ecstasy just above their
front teeth.
A Police spokesman says the dangerous practice is called "e by gum."
Translation available if required.
Figure.11. Beyond the crystalline plateau, the Kaieteurian Plateau lies
generally below 1,600 feet (490 metres) above sea level; it is the site
of the spectacular Kaieteur Falls, noted for their sheer 741-foot (226-metre)
initial plunge. A popular and breath taking attraction for Fusiliers but
difficult to reach.
Georgetown is the country's main port and its largest city. Located at
the mouth of the Demerara River, it lies below sealevel and is protected
by dikes along both the river and the sea. Other important towns include
the interior bauxite-mining centre of Linden and the market centre of
NewAmsterdam, located on the mouth of the BerbiceRiver. Agricultural centres,
including the sugarcane plantation of Port Mourant, east of New Amsterdam,
and the rice centre of Anna Regina, north of the EssequiboRiver estuary,
provide commercial and marketing functions in the rural areas of the coastal
zone.
SETTLEMENT PATTERNS
About three-fifths of Guyana's
population is rural, with most Guyanese occupying villages in the coastal
region. Villages range in size from several hundred to several thousand
persons. The most densely populated areas are along the estuary of the
DemeraraRiver and between the mouths of the Berbice and Courantyne rivers.
Each village's farmlands extend inland, often for several miles, and are
separated from neighbouring village lands by canals. Settlement areas
nearest the ocean are connected to one another by a coastal highway.
MINOR INCIDENT
You may recall earlier that I
mentioned Wismar, a small village, on the opposite bank of the Demerara
River yo Mackenzie,and being the nearest small mining town, where we were
based
Wismar ,was a very dangerous place to visit during the troubles; There
were scenes of mass rioting and a murders, I understand.
The African population were accused of burning down the Indian homes and
looting properties etc. Considered a most serious and volatile situation
indeed. The ferry I recall, only docked on the Mackenzie East Bank of
the Demerara River.
It was against this backdrop
of potential sectarian strife that one day I volunteered to join an "A"
Company foot patrol to show 'heart and minds' presence around the sugar
cane fields of Leanora and local villages. The patrol commander had been
given basic intelligence that some local hot-heads were hell bent on causing
trouble by intimidating their Indian neighbours. We were tasked to provide
reassurance patrols to local communities when we were approached by an
aggressive African waving a sugar cane-cutting machete who clearly wished
to do us harm. I turned to Ben, a patrol colleague who smartly fixed his
bayonet to his rifle and advanced towards the screaming machete waving
local. The African local quickly realised we were not for backing down
once Ben and other members of the patrol had adopted the 'on-guard position'.
The thoughts of being bayonetted by cold British steel were deterrent
enough and he scooted away back to his village - danger over and patrol
completed without further incident.A copy of the British Guyana 'Instructions
to Individuals for Opening Fire' is at Fig 6. In later chapters on Northern
Ireland a similar type of 'Yellow card' is produced.
Figure 12 - A rare copy of the Yellow Card issued to Individual Troops
in British Guyana.
RIVER FERRY -THE HOATZIN (A BIRD) - AKA THE CONJE PHEASENT
Over the past 65 years much has been discussed, ruminated and cogitated
about the ferry that plied the Canje River in Guyana during XX 1 LF tour
of duty in 1965. Veterans of that tour often recall colourfulstories connecting
this ferry with its local surroundings and peculiar beauty of its name
- Conje Pheasant.Perhaps it's time to dispel some of the myths surrounding
the name Hoatzin (bird)which the ferry is named after and present some
facts.
THE CONJE RIVER
The Conje River is located in north-eastern Guyana, is the main tributary
of the Berbice River. It runs roughly parallel to the Atlantic Ocean coast.
The Dutch established an outpost, Concordia Post, on the river. In 1763
a slave revolt began on two plantations on the Conje River.
The Canje River supplies water to the GuyanaSugarCorporation's Skeldon
Estate (c. 12,000 acres (49 km2)); Albion Estate (20,000 acres (80 km2));
and Rose Hall Estate (12,000 to 14,000 acres (49 to 51 km2)). The Manarabisi
Rice Cultivation (17,000 acres (69 km2)) and Black Bush Polder (17,000
acres (69 km2)) also depend on this river. To push water upstream a number
of pumps are employed to facilitate the water flow to plantations etc.
New Amsterdam which is Guyana's oldest town is presently celebrating its
127th anniversary.
The town which is located about five miles from the mouth of the Berbice
River on its eastern bank is situated at the confluence of the Berbice
and Conje Rivers.
THE HOATZIN (BIRD)
The hoatzin is known in Guyana as the Conje pheasant, relating to its
presence in the river. The hoatzin is pheasant-sized, with a total length
of 65 centimetres (26 in), and a long neck and small head. It has an unfeathered
blue face with maroon eyes, and its head is topped by a spiky, rufous
crest. The long, sooty-brown tail is broadly tipped buff. The upperparts
are dark, sooty-brown-edged buff on the wingcoverts, and streaked buff
on the mantle and nape. The under parts are buff. The hoatzin is an herbivore,
eating leaves and fruit, and has an unusual digestive system with an enlarged
crop used for fermentation of vegetable matter. The alternative name of
"stinkbird" is derived from the bird's disgusting foul odour,
which is caused by the fermentation of food in its digestive system.
Along the Conje River you will hear what sounds like a wheezy alarm call,
like a smoker's chesty cough, is the first clue. Then, as your dugout
noses further into the Amazonian backwater, a flurry of wingbeats has
you peering upwards. A big, chestnut-coloured bird lurches out of the
tangle and flaps clumsily away, like some deranged, prehistoric pheasant.
Striking, perhaps, but not especially weird, you might think. Until you
learn that this bird has claws on its wings and a stomach in its throat.
What's more, it stinks to high heaven!
This bizarre creature is widespread in swamp forest habitat across northern
South America and the Amazon Basin as far south as Bolivia - and there's
nowhere better to see one than Guyana, especially as it's the country's
national bird. Guyana itself qualifies for the description "weird",
since it is the only once British fragment of the South American mainland,
and the only place on the continent to host Test cricket.
Scientists once thought the hoatzin - pronounced "ho-AT-zin"
- traced its lineage to the Jurassic. And with its stubby wings, and spiky
crest, it is certainly a dead ringer for that precursor of all feathered
fowl: Archaeopteryx.
The claws - two on each wing - are found only on the nestlings. Should
a marauding snake or raptor approach the nest, the youngsters flop straight
overboard and into the water below. Once the coast is clear they use these
tiny grappling hooks to haul themselves out and clamber back up.
Hoatzins feed on arum leaves, and use a system called "foregut fermentation"
to digest this cellulose-heavy diet. Put simply, the food breaks down
in their enlarged crop before it passes to the real gut.
Local guides will know where the hoatzins hang out; just take a small
boat into a quiet backwater of the Conje River and listen for that smoker's
chesty cough like sound.
No jokes please - as it is Guyana's national bird.
Figure 13 The Hoatzin (a bird) aka The Conje Pheasant is present on the
Conje River.
Figure 14The remains of Leanora Estate Swimming Pool on 2nd March 2009.Last
visited by Terry McDonagh and the late Ian Hilton?
ANOTHER WONDERFUL NOSTALGIC STORY
Please join with me as I end this chapter thankful of the opportunity
to re-visit old memories of places - a wonderful adventurous country and
to create the opportunity to write about Guyana, a magnificent place with
the fading sounds of the steel band melody of 'Big, Big Bamboostill ringing
in my ears as I departed Guyana in October 1965 having just downed a glass
of 'Bushy' rum in salute of this magnificent overseas tour with mission
complete.
One final recollection was the march from Takama to Atkinson Field by
members of "D" Company towards the end of the Battalion's tour.
The total distance was 120 miles and under normal conditions would have
been a breeze but with the heat, humidity and dust became a serious physical
challenge. The march was completed in good order!
I now head for my first tour of duty at Weeton Camp, outside Blackpool,
Lancashire to open another chapter of my career. See you soon folks!
STOP PRESS - A PRIVATE COMMENT!
A message from Mr James Ryder
James was a young child who lived in Leonora with his father was the estate
engineer he still remembers CaptainCampbell who took the lads on a trip
up the Essequibo around July/ August. James writes I was one of the boys
on the trip There were several on that outing but I can't remember any
names. We went by boat from Leonora where the Fusiliers were stationed
onto the Essequibo, spent the night in a camp we made on the island pictured,
then on to another island where the Dutch fort named Kike over Al, I think.
My father was manager of Leonora at the time and I remember well Captain
Campbell for his eccentricity. We had some good parties in the Club. Most
of us were backing home from school in the UK and our up to date records
were much appreciated by the Fusiliers. I have a few other photos but
mostly scenery, liked the photograph of the Quarters at Leonora on your
site.
DEPARTURE MEDICAL EXAMINATION
Departing Guyana on "A" chalk we lined up on the runway at Atkinson
Airfield in preparation for boarding the flight back to UK. As we formed
an orderly line each departing soldier had to subject himself to a 'short-arm'
[military term] inspection prior to boarding. A medical NCO sat and reviewed
many hundreds of Fusiliers''wedding tackle' with a view to checking for
signs of sexually transmitted diseases
mmm I just wonder if such
a practise would be tolerated in today's modern Army
? Needless to
say we got a clean bill of health!
This chapter concludes with a return Worcester for a brief stopover in
anticipation of yet another one of life's adventures - a trip to the seaside.
I hope you enjoyed the 'brief visit to BG' now for Weeton Camp, located
outside Blackpool.
CONUMDRUM
Did anybody ever visit a village called Beterverwagting, also known as
Betterverwagting or abbreviated to B.V., is a village in Guyana, close
to the Surinam border on the East Coast of the Demerara River? I'm just
wondering as the name has stuck in my mind after all these years and I
can't think why?
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