Organised trips Many organised trips off camp took place and were
arranged by a dedicated few. The means of transport was the faithful
RAF Bedford truck which was on the camp registry.
Visiting places of interest in Singapore itself was the aim. One trip
enjoyed very much was to the Tiger Beer brewery. Free booze after the
tour resulted in a merry RAF wagon heading back to camp full of well
lubricated airmen singing their heads off. Other visits were to the
Union Jack club, Lord Nuffield Centre, Raffles Hotel, shops in
Singapore and many other places. Another interesting tour round a
factory was to Fraser & Neaves who produced cordial drinks. Samples
after the tour resulted in sober chaps this time heading back to camp.
There were many other trips during the time I was there and too
numerous to mention here.
Sports The only outdoor sporting facility on camp in 1958 was the badmington court. By 1962 a tennis court and football pitch had been added. Sport was arranged with camp personnel taking part
against many teams, local as well as other forces camps around
Singapore. Soccer was the favourite and there were just enough personel
on camp to make up a team. The camp teams played all over the island
with varying results. We were all budding Manchester or Liverpool stars
in the mind. We played many games against Changi teams and I enjoyed
these as much as any. This was due to the fact that the sports field
was close to the outdoor swimming pool. It was so refreshing to plunge
into the water after the game had finished. Cricket and badmington were
two other sports well practised. Many cricket matches were against
personnel at Woodbridge Hospital just down the road from the camp. If
darts can be classed as a sport it had a large following both on and
off camp. Many times Burt and myself played for pints and we were good
at the game as well. I sometimes wonder how we managed to stagger back
to camp and bed when we had a good night. Badmington was played on the
camp as we had an outside court. We played each other mainly with the
best few dominating. These sporting activities helped to occupy off
duty hours and help to keep us fit.
Christmas Parties There were many parties organised at Christmas, Easter
and other times. The first one for me was in 1957. As was the excepted
norm in the RAF the officers served the mid-day dinner. Officers from
Changi came down to do the honours for Chia Keng. Beer was laid on for
all and the meal duly served. As I have already mentioned our cooks
served us proud. I can safely say that after an hour most chaps were
pretty tispsy and others more so. After the officers had left a water
fight developed with hoses and all sorts of water propellent coming
into action. Soon tiring of that it was back to the pit for a recovery
period. That evening most of us and sobered up so it was off to the
city to do it all over again. That is the only time in my life that I
have been mildly drunk twice in one day. There were plenty of sore
heads the following day.
Christmas Parties On Camp That same Christmas a big party was organised with
invites going out to friends on other camps. Invitations to the WAAF's
and other ladies organisations were most important. The presence of the
opposite sex was most important for the success of a party. I remember
the lovely Singapore telephone exchange ladies putting in an appearance
on this occasion.
The badminton court became a dance floor and the number 2 billet became
a bar and dining lounge. Coloured parachutes were obtained from either
RAF Changi or RAF Seletar. These were used to decorate the billet and
badminton court making them very different to their everyday
use. The whole camp would be galvanised into action days before these
events with groups going about their delegated tasks. Palm tree leaves
were collected from the surrounding area to be used as decoration. Food
was organised by the cooks. Alcohol was organised with tables and
chairs appearing as if by magic. I can safely say that this party
complimented the Christmas dinner and were both enjoyed by all.
Off Duty To Seletar Many camp personnel spent time at RAF Seletar for their
leisure where there was a splendid swimming pool. We would often meet
up with Johnny Egden and spend the day there. Later, a meal and maybe
watch a camp show to finish the evening nicely. The camp cinema was
another attraction. Personally I often used to wander to where the
Sunderland Flying Boats were and chat to personel servicing them. It
was quite a thrill to see them taking off through the spray they
created. The village outside the camp was where many Indian shopkeepers
sold their wares. Jalan Kayu was a village with many shops. These were
mainly owned by Indians. It is said that wherever the British forces
set up camp in the world they would be closely followed by Indian shop
keepers. The Seletar Photo Store was a favourite where many chaps
equipped themselves with camera gear. Another favourite was the eating
places where one could enjoy good food. Two spring to mind. The Seletar
Bar & Restaurant and the High-way Bar & Restraurant. Both
served excellent meals with cold beer. Watches could be bought from
Enfiled Watch Store. Seletar was indeed a regular place to visit from
Chia Keng.
Off Duty To Changi Changi was another favourite destination when off duty.
The camp there had an excellent swimming pool as well as the village
being equipped with many shops like Seletar. I used to buy all my
clothes from an Indian tailor at Changi village. He used to make
shark-skin shirts made to measure. When we emigrated in 1977 we stopped
off in Singapore. Shopping in the new Change Alley I went into a
tailors there. Imagin by suprise when the tailor turned out to be my
old Changi taylor. Small world and he was still there in 2000 when we
called again. Many spent long hours on Changi beach swimming and sun
bathing as well as seeing shows and all that. I do remember a Christmas
do in the NAFFI there and remember a chap on a banjo singing. He was
just like George Formby and I have often wondered who he was.
Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty My eighteen months there flew by and I was soon to be
leaving that small camp in the middle of the Island. It was with
sadness that I took my leave of everyone and found myself once again at
Changi RAF camp doing the rounds signing off. I did some last minute
shopping buying presents for family in the UK. Said goodbye to the the
many shop owners I had made friends with. I was due at the airport the
following day. I finished that last day sitting on some rocks at Changi
beach and watching small yachts sailing in a race. Many of them had red
sails and a song on my small portable radio was playing “Red Sails In
The Sunset” by Tab Hunter. If I hear that song today it transports me
back to that spot at Changi all those years ago. I think the second
Changi airport runway would now go over that very spot. Soon I was in
another Hermes aircraft lifting off the runway at Paya Leba leaving
behind a very pleasant posting. Two weeks later I was a civilian again
trying to adjust to technical college life and a drawing office routine
in a factory. My thoughts have often drifted back to that small camp in
the far east and the chaps I knew there. The comradeship we all enjoyed
was special and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. We emigrated
to New Zealand in 1977 and stayed over in Singapore for three days. We
took time out to have a look at the old camp. It was still there and
guarded by the usual local guards. However. It was all deserted and
dusty. The once small palms were now four times the height I had known.
The buildings were all empty. Just dust everywhere. My wife, son and I
explored all the buildings and I explained what it had been like. I
would like to say that the voices of past occupants came drifting back
at that moment but it would have all been in the imagination. A nice
thought but in reality it was all in the past. The days of empire had
vanished into history. The RAF and British forces had all left leaving
Singaporeans with the remnants. I enjoyed that visit but never bothered
to have another look in 2000 when we passed through again. It would all
be under new buildings now and I just want to remember the place as I
knew it. That then is the story of RAF Chia Keng as I remember it. Information I have received says it was built in 1951 but I have no idea when it closed. Its final days
must have been in the sixties when the UK withdrew from the far
east. Chia Keng was a good posting for me and one I look back on with
fond memories.
Derek Lehrle. SAC 5041216. SIR
Many organised trips off camp took place and were
arranged by a dedicated few. The means of transport was the faithful
RAF Bedford truck which was on the camp registry.
Visiting places of interest in Singapore itself was the aim. One trip
enjoyed very much was to the Tiger Beer brewery. Free booze after the
tour resulted in a merry RAF wagon heading back to camp full of well
lubricated airmen singing their heads off. Other visits were to the
Union Jack club, Lord Nuffield Centre, Raffles Hotel, shops in
Singapore and many other places. Another interesting tour round a
factory was to Fraser & Neaves who produced cordial drinks. Samples
after the tour resulted in sober chaps this time heading back to camp.
There were many other trips during the time I was there and too
numerous to mention here. 
The only outdoor sporting facility on camp in 1958 was the badmington court. By 1962 a tennis court and football pitch had been added. Sport was arranged with camp personnel taking part
against many teams, local as well as other forces camps around
Singapore. Soccer was the favourite and there were just enough personel
on camp to make up a team. The camp teams played all over the island
with varying results. We were all budding Manchester or Liverpool stars
in the mind. We played many games against Changi teams and I enjoyed
these as much as any. This was due to the fact that the sports field
was close to the outdoor swimming pool. It was so refreshing to plunge
into the water after the game had finished. Cricket and badmington were
two other sports well practised. Many cricket matches were against
personnel at Woodbridge Hospital just down the road from the camp. If
darts can be classed as a sport it had a large following both on and
off camp. Many times Burt and myself played for pints and we were good
at the game as well. I sometimes wonder how we managed to stagger back
to camp and bed when we had a good night. Badmington was played on the
camp as we had an outside court. We played each other mainly with the
best few dominating. These sporting activities helped to occupy off
duty hours and help to keep us fit. 
There were many parties organised at Christmas, Easter
and other times. The first one for me was in 1957. As was the excepted
norm in the RAF the officers served the mid-day dinner. Officers from
Changi came down to do the honours for Chia Keng. Beer was laid on for
all and the meal duly served. As I have already mentioned our cooks
served us proud. I can safely say that after an hour most chaps were
pretty tispsy and others more so. After the officers had left a water
fight developed with hoses and all sorts of water propellent coming
into action. Soon tiring of that it was back to the pit for a recovery
period. That evening most of us and sobered up so it was off to the
city to do it all over again. That is the only time in my life that I
have been mildly drunk twice in one day. There were plenty of sore
heads the following day. 
That same Christmas a big party was organised with
invites going out to friends on other camps. Invitations to the WAAF's
and other ladies organisations were most important. The presence of the
opposite sex was most important for the success of a party. I remember
the lovely Singapore telephone exchange ladies putting in an appearance
on this occasion.
The badminton court became a dance floor and the number 2 billet became
a bar and dining lounge. Coloured parachutes were obtained from either
RAF Changi or RAF Seletar. These were used to decorate the billet and
badminton court making them very different to their everyday
use. The whole camp would be galvanised into action days before these
events with groups going about their delegated tasks. Palm tree leaves
were collected from the surrounding area to be used as decoration. Food
was organised by the cooks. Alcohol was organised with tables and
chairs appearing as if by magic. I can safely say that this party
complimented the Christmas dinner and were both enjoyed by all. 
Many camp personnel spent time at RAF Seletar for their
leisure where there was a splendid swimming pool. We would often meet
up with Johnny Egden and spend the day there. Later, a meal and maybe
watch a camp show to finish the evening nicely. The camp cinema was
another attraction. Personally I often used to wander to where the
Sunderland Flying Boats were and chat to personel servicing them. It
was quite a thrill to see them taking off through the spray they
created. The village outside the camp was where many Indian shopkeepers
sold their wares. Jalan Kayu was a village with many shops. These were
mainly owned by Indians. It is said that wherever the British forces
set up camp in the world they would be closely followed by Indian shop
keepers. The Seletar Photo Store was a favourite where many chaps
equipped themselves with camera gear. Another favourite was the eating
places where one could enjoy good food. Two spring to mind. The Seletar
Bar & Restaurant and the High-way Bar & Restraurant. Both
served excellent meals with cold beer. Watches could be bought from
Enfiled Watch Store. Seletar was indeed a regular place to visit from
Chia Keng.
Changi was another favourite destination when off duty.
The camp there had an excellent swimming pool as well as the village
being equipped with many shops like Seletar. I used to buy all my
clothes from an Indian tailor at Changi village. He used to make
shark-skin shirts made to measure. When we emigrated in 1977 we stopped
off in Singapore. Shopping in the new Change Alley I went into a
tailors there. Imagin by suprise when the tailor turned out to be my
old Changi taylor. Small world and he was still there in 2000 when we
called again. Many spent long hours on Changi beach swimming and sun
bathing as well as seeing shows and all that. I do remember a Christmas
do in the NAFFI there and remember a chap on a banjo singing. He was
just like George Formby and I have often wondered who he was. 
My eighteen months there flew by and I was soon to be
leaving that small camp in the middle of the Island. It was with
sadness that I took my leave of everyone and found myself once again at
Changi RAF camp doing the rounds signing off. I did some last minute
shopping buying presents for family in the UK. Said goodbye to the the
many shop owners I had made friends with. I was due at the airport the
following day. I finished that last day sitting on some rocks at Changi
beach and watching small yachts sailing in a race. Many of them had red
sails and a song on my small portable radio was playing “Red Sails In
The Sunset” by Tab Hunter. If I hear that song today it transports me
back to that spot at Changi all those years ago. I think the second
Changi airport runway would now go over that very spot. Soon I was in
another Hermes aircraft lifting off the runway at Paya Leba leaving
behind a very pleasant posting. Two weeks later I was a civilian again
trying to adjust to technical college life and a drawing office routine
in a factory. My thoughts have often drifted back to that small camp in
the far east and the chaps I knew there. The comradeship we all enjoyed
was special and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. We emigrated
to New Zealand in 1977 and stayed over in Singapore for three days. We
took time out to have a look at the old camp. It was still there and
guarded by the usual local guards. However. It was all deserted and
dusty. The once small palms were now four times the height I had known.
The buildings were all empty. Just dust everywhere. My wife, son and I
explored all the buildings and I explained what it had been like. I
would like to say that the voices of past occupants came drifting back
at that moment but it would have all been in the imagination. A nice
thought but in reality it was all in the past. The days of empire had
vanished into history. The RAF and British forces had all left leaving
Singaporeans with the remnants. I enjoyed that visit but never bothered
to have another look in 2000 when we passed through again. It would all
be under new buildings now and I just want to remember the place as I
knew it. That then is the story of RAF Chia Keng as I remember it. Information I have received says it was built in 1951 but I have no idea when it closed. Its final days
must have been in the sixties when the UK withdrew from the far
east. Chia Keng was a good posting for me and one I look back on with
fond memories.
Derek Lehrle. SAC 5041216. SIR
