Singapore
- HMS Terror &
Sembawang Village
To
many like myself it was to become more home than home was. Following
the end of WW11 and the days of the Strategic Reserve the British
Navy owned a fairly sizable chunk of real estate on the Island.
HMS Terror was the name of the base and it was located on the
northern or Malaysian side of Singapore Island. Sembawang Village
is located 15 miles north of Singapore City and was the local
village catering for the vast numbers of matelots stationed in
and visiting Singapore. The Photo Below is of Sembawang Basin
(circa 1970) which was the old Royal Navy Dry Dock that was blown
up and made inoperable when the Japanese invaded in 1942. Since
then it has been used as the perfect place for ships to berth
and would accomodate the entire Royal Navy Far East Fleet. A walk
from the basin to sleepy Sembawang Village would take about 20
minutes.
HMS
Terror - although not as well appointed as its American counterparts
did have facilities such as The Armada Club - a large two story colonial
building - used as the Junior Sailors Wet Canteen. This Club overlooked
a floodlit sports field and was the scene of many a grand night during
the Fleet Rugby Union Championships.Situated
in luscious tropical grounds HMS Terror boasted a nine hole golf course,
Aggie Westons and swimming pools.
Berthing
starboard side to, south end of 'The Sembawang Basin'
I
suppose this local and well known Singaporean Brew could be called
a "Cleansing Ale"..... Just ask the Heads Dodgers the morning after
the first night in Sembawang. In the late 60's and early 70's with
the exchange rate running at $A1.00 = $S3.40, a 13oz bottle of this
stuff cost $S1.00. Ladies drinks in the Sembawang Bars were $S5.00
and consisted of anything from coke to brandy, depending on the girl,
but they we all $5.00.
Tiger
Beer - Generally consumed more in Malaysia than Singapore by us. It
was the same price but many sailors preferred Anchor Beer. One bar
in Sembawang, the New Ocean, used to have it on tap back in the late
60's early 70's and a pint of 'Tiger Tops' (tiger beer with a dash
of 7 up) was a favourite amongst the Pommy Matelots, perhaps because
it was cheaper too. We also carried this beer onboard for beer issues,
which for a few of us was great because very few blokes in the mess
would drink the stuff at sea.So,
a small number of us would draw the whole mess issue for ourselves.
My
grateful thanks to Ian Tallis another ex Chief FC who, via way of a
misspent youth,
provided most of the following Bar Cards.
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