Memories of flying in Malayan conflict

Former Shrewsbury mayor George Richey outlines his experiences and adventures as an Army pilot providing close support for troops engaged in the Malayan Emergency 50 years ago in a book called "Wings Over Malaya."

Mr Richey, who has also been a prominent county councillor, flew an Auster light aircraft on a variety of missions including artillery spotting, supply dropping, and reconnaissance during the campaign.

He says he wrote the book because it was suggested to him by a member of the Shrewsbury Royal Artillery Association.

"His view is that it is a pity that the memories of the old and bold are being largely lost as the generations that took part in some of these largely forgotten campaigns die off.

"I have had the advantage of my flying log book in which not only are the hours flown shown, but also the type of mission carried out," he said.

"I am surprised, but on reflection not so surprised, how clear my memory is of what happened, and how I thought at the time. Indeed, I have better recall of Malaya than of much more recent times. Maybe this is something to do with age," he says.

Operating from rough and ready airstrips and flying just above the jungle canopy were all skills which he was quickly to learn, and the pilots were allowed great flexibility and personal decision-making on how to best support the troops.

"It was a strange sort of life that the pilots led," he remarks in his book.

"On the one hand, during the day or night when flying on operations, we were all carrying out vitally important tasks in support of the units operating in the jungle. On the other hand, once the flying was completed, normal social life carried on," he said.

His three-year tour was due to end in March 1961, but he was given dispensation to stay another month to take part in an operation against an enemy camp which he had spotted from the air.

Mr Richey was destined to return to Malaya later in his Army career, and was struck by the amount of jungle which had been cleared.

He went back a further time in 1975 and 1976 as a Lieutenant Colonel instructor at the Joint Warfare Establishment.

"Each year we ran a week's course at the Malaysian Staff College. Its buildings were built on what had been the airstrip at Noble Field, the headquarters of the squadron. Neither the direction staff nor the students even knew this, and the name was no more."

Reflecting on his part in the Malayan campaign, he says: "I, with I suspect others who served in Malaya in the fifties and early sixties, left a little of my heart behind. It was a tour mixing fun with a sense of achievement, and I am glad to have done it."

Mr Richey, of West Felton, says of the book: "It was fairly easy to do - and I thought that I really ought to do another book about what happened afterwards."

He has had a stroke, but says: "Fortunately all that happened afterwards, so there was no problem there."

"Wings Over Malaya" is published by Bishop Street Press at Shrewsbury and costs £8.50.

It is available in Pengwern bookshop and Waterstone's in Shrewsbury and by ringing 01743 366933.