MEMORABLE PAST: Sue Gopsill (left), holding a portrait of her husband, speaks to reporters about the 1st Battalion’s experience, while Twiggs looks on. — Photo by Chimon Upon
Col Mahendra Sundram
KUCHING: The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) will be producing a book as a tribute to the Malaysian and British veterans who had served in the First Battalion Malaysian Rangers (1963-1967).
Some 25 former servicemen and their family members from the United Kingdom arrived in town for a 5-day visit. About 700 other former army personnel from within Malaysia will be joining them for a historic reunion this Saturday.
“Our team is tasked to document this event, which is a very significant moment for the Army. This is the first time we get to meet all the veterans after almost half a century.”
“We will write a book titled ‘Down Memory Lane’ to pay tribute to these veterans,” said Colonel Mahendra Sundram from the Army’s Chief Office (Pejabat Panglima Tentera Darat) after welcoming the British veterans at Kuching International Airport yesterday.
“There are many things the Royal Ranger Regiment can learn from this event. This event is organised for old friends to meet up with each other as well as for them to exchange and share ideas and experiences, which the generation of army personnel today can learn from,” he said, adding this is the first time such an event has been organised.
Meanwhile, group leader Col (Rtd) David Twiggs said they had been looking forward to this visit for about a year and were honoured by the warm welcome accorded them upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur and subsequently Kuching, yesterday.
“It is unfortunate our former commanding officer Lt Col (Rtd) Fairy Gopsill could not make it, but we will take back to him many memories of the wonderful party that he missed and he will be very envious indeed,” he said laughingly.
Gopsill, who was the first commanding officer in raising the battalion, is ill and is represented by his wife Sue.
“It was a very important experience for the 1st Battalion rangers. Everyone who had left and went back to England remained close friends,” said Sue.
She noted that it was a very rare opportunity to raise a new regiment and that had been part of the fun and adventure, almost 50 years ago.
According to Twiggs, it took Gopsill three years to raise, train and put the battalion into operation, which was a unique feat.
“Usually three separate units were required and it will take more than a year each. Under Fairy’s leadership and the Iban warriors’ skills in the jungle as well as the adaptability of British instructors, the battalion achieved a lot in such a short time,” he recalled.
For the purpose of planning for this visit, Twiggs came last October to meet local organising committee chairman Major (Rtd) Edmund Abitt and Col (Rtd) Fabian Wong.
Besides this Saturday’s reunion dinner, the group will also be participating in side events such as visits to army camps and sightseeing.