Your Story

Charlies Green Beret
by R.M10110 Mne J Harrop( jimmy)

After reading the stories on your website I thought that I would add an interesting extra to the story sent in by Ken Port. I too was in that ill fated patrol. In fact I was a member of "D" sub and just like Ken said, it was a really bad day for us. But these things happen on active service. On the day in question the recce group consisted of 1 N.C.O (Len Ireland, killed) and 2 Mnes- Charlie Alexander who died from wounds received and a national serviceman by the name of Ernie King, a lad from the Dover area who must have had a charmed life because with the amount of fire thrown at us he only received a bullet in the arm, the left one I believe. Naturally he went off to the local British Medical Hospital (B.M.H when we got back to safety to have it attended to.)

Now the amusing point of this letter is that I was also in the canteen at 42 Cdo in Ipoh with the rest of the lads all intent on getting p!!!!!! out of our brains but as the story goes we were brought to a rather premature ending with an announcement that the King was dead. Naturally we thought that it was our King ( Ernie King) so with shouts of protest and an explanation to those in charge that nobody dies with only a bullet in the arm we were then told rather solemnly that it was King George V1. So for that night only there were no renditions of "Take me back to the ol' Transvall" or the Planters song " My oppo lies in the ulu". You all know the rest of the words. We all made our way to our "sacks". Now that the twilight years are closing fast, can anyone explain to me that after only 5 minutes I forget my playing partners name in a game of golf, and yet I can remember all these things that have happened over 40 years ago. Could it be that we never forget good times, sad times, but above all good oppos?.

Which brings me onto Mne Charles Alexander. Leading scout D sub X troop 40 Cdo to give him his proper title. A smashing little guy - we hit it off straight away - downed many a bottle of Tiger together. The only trouble was that he was convinced that he would never get out of Malaya ( how right he was) He mentioned it many times. He said, ' when something happens to me I want you to buy my green beret'. In those days anyone killed in action had their kit auctioned off, and the proceeds sent to the next of kin. It may still happen today I don't know. The funeral was a short time later, full military honours, the whole works in fact. They certainly deserved it. It was such a sad day to say the least. Many a big tough bootneck with tears streaming down their faces. The rest unable to say anything because they were too choked up. We buried them, Charlie and Len side by side in the cemetary at Taiping in Malaya. Life went on as normal afterwards or as normal as can be., Operation Broderick still had a few more weeks to go. Of course there were a few more contacts with commies but nothing like what we had gone through. I took over Charlies job as leading scout - well, there was no way I could let anyone else do it could I ?.

At the subsequent auction, which was held later in the canteen at 40 Cdo H.Q at Kuala Kangsa the kit was duly auctioned, and true to my word I did as I was asked to do. I do not remember how much it cost me, that certainly did'nt matter. At least I got it - that beret was in my kit bag every where I went with the brigade. From Malaya we went to Malta, numerous trips to Cyprus. I think we captured that island more times than the enemy. From there to Egypt - the Suez Canal Zone - what a dump! Moasca,Tel-el Kebir, the Ban-Yan Tree, and El Ballah, - who could ever forget that place. My day of repatriation was approaching fast, at last it was here - my two and half year tour with the Brigade was over. With my kit bags packed and loaded it was time to say my farewells to my oppo's. Suddenly it did'nt seem such a happy time after all, but go I must.

We got to the troopship at Port Said and with our kit safely stowed we boarded. Unfortunately the ship was the Empire Windrush which caught fire and sunk a few days later off the Straights of Gibralter. Down she went complete with all my kit, all my "rabbits" and of course Charlies green beret, and there it lies to this day. All I hope is that it is like you, old friend, resting in peace.