There are two abandoned military camps along Kranji Road, between Jalan Lam Huat and Woodlands Road.
One was the Woodlands Camp II, formerly an artillery camp and School of Transport. Built of bricks and wood, some parts of the buildings have already collapsed, and thick overgrowth have covered much of the restricted compound.
Kranji area has been a military base since colonial British era. When the Japanese invaded Singapore, Lim Chu Kang, northwestern of Kranji, was one of the first landing grounds, which caught the British by surprise as they anticipated the invasion from northeastern of Singapore and Pulau Ubin.
Opposite the camp is another abandoned site formerly known as the Ordnance Supply Base (OSB) (or Woodlands Camp I). It was established in September 1970 as a storage center for weapons, ammunition and spare parts of military vehicles, but was dissolved by 1981. It was also the previous location of Singapore Technologies (ST) Logistic before its move to Clementi.
The history of OSB, however, went back to the 1930s, when it was a British military camp known as Kranji Army Barracks. During the Japanese Occupation (1942-1945), the Japanese military took over the barracks and set up a prison-of-war camp here.
Kranji Army Barracks, or Ordnance Supply Base, are listed as one of the visiting points for Kranji Heritage Trail, launched in November of 2011.
Published: 02 November 2010
Updated: 21 October 2020
Remember Singapore 
I’ve always passed by this camp on my way to outfield training in lim chu kang.. they kinda remind me of the abandoned camp in tekong..
any idea how to reach this venue by public transport?
Hi, i believe only bus 925 passes by this route..
Would the public be able to enter these locations?
I’m afraid not… Though abandoned, there are SAF properties after all 😉
My NS days were based in these camps. Lots of bitter and sweet memories there, but mostly sweet because my IC was a really nice man.
we were based in 443 bad in the 1950 we were in nissan huts so these photo’s do not ring any bells with me
HI Just having a look for memories sake I was on the fire station there in 1955/1958 happy days
I was also at 443 BAD during your time there 1956 to 1958 and worked in the Stocktaking and Reconciliation office and spent my days cycling around the ammunition storage areas with a pen and notebook,..Didn’t sleep at the base, taken back to Keat Hong barracks every evening. Warrant Officer Summers was our boss, only four of us worked in this office – really cushy,..Spent my leisure time cycling and competing in cycle races in Singapore and Malaya,….so my National Service was a very smooth and happy experience especially as I had an enormous amount of Chinese and Malay friend who were all part of the Cycling fraternity at this time.Every weekday morning there was a formal Parade of all the Base personel in the parade ground – I was the soldier who was always standing some distance from the formalities as my job was to stop the queues of lorries from crossing the area around the parade ground, so that was another cushy job which saved ne the discomfort of all the bullshit of the regimental parade,…Bob Thorpe RAOC from Birmingham England – Hello Alan Smout,, Corporal Roberts of the Stocktaking office,..
I was based in 1953 1955 at kranji we lived in nissen huts none of these photo’s none of the photo’s are known to me
Cliff,Colin Emmington & Jack Brett are still going strong,I am in contact with them.Jack has lots of photos of the lads off 443 during 1953/55..
my house near this camp, at Kranji Road. its BOD British Ordnance Base. got 2 camp. One forTanks. next to railway track, Malayan Railway. Everyday see soldiers doing servicing. they look very happy. always singing. next to it is Muslim graveyard. Still there. during Christmas go the camp, get present. feel very happy. Under the British rule, we Malays are very very very happy. now we are third class citizens. God save the Queen.
This was my camp back in 1976 .. and it was a very small camp .. and we had Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as one of out officer.
Ya, its actually Amoured Artillery. After Escercise, we used to drive the V200 to the beach to clean. PM Lee was a Lta then.
This picture does not refer to 443 b a d as far as I am aware.
As i said b4 we were in a ammunition site with 26 sheds and were billited in nissan huts.
I too was stationed at 443 BAD 1953/55,but was billeted at the Ordnance Depot at Keat Hong.Whilst there I was promoted to Corporal and was put in charge of the small ammunition sub depot on Blakang Mati island (now Sentosa)
I think this is were the confusion is Alan as I have said we were at the acual ammo depot
at Kranji The only time that I spent at Keat Hong was Xmas 1953
The actual ammo depot is still in kranji, what we Singaporeans now call Yew Tee. There used to be only one access to that camp and that was through Stagmont Ring Road after Bukit Bukit Panjang. The ammo depot mentioned still stands or should I say is still underground, it is front by a string of new camps (Police Dog Unit, Court Marshal Center & so on). If you take a walk along the river towards the reservoir you will go pass the new camps and the old watch towers of the ammo depot are still visible and so are the ammo depot grounds.
My grandfather Edgar Summerfield was CSM at Keat Hong with the ROAC around 1950 /53. I have never been to Singapore but will be there for a few days next month and would like to visit the old barracks does anyone know if it is possible ?.
Unfortunately, the old Keat Hong camp was demolished a couple of years back (see photos below).
The site’s been replaced by a new housing estate.
Alan I was at Blankang Mati 65-68 working at the top of the island at the radar site,lived at Pacific mansion river valley red and travelled by sampan each day powered by an elderly Chinese lady ( and a great lady she was weather nor time bothered her)
The old Keat Hong Camp at Choa Chu Kang was demolished last year. Its former site is likely to be developed into a residential estate.
“The actual ammo depot is still in kranji, what we Singaporeans now call Yew Tee. There used to be only one access to that camp and that was through Stagmont Ring Road after Bukit Bukit Panjang. The ammo depot mentioned still stands or should I say is still underground, it is front by a string of new camps (Police Dog Unit, Court Marshal Center & so on). If you take a walk along the river towards the reservoir you will go pass the new camps and the old watch towers of the ammo depot are still visible and so are the ammo depot grounds.”
Small correction. You have got the location of the ammo depot and the neighbouring units correct. However the ammunition depot was never underground. The warehouses were simply surrounded by earth berms which gave that appearance from afar. They and the watch towers were demolished recently, the site is still army land but is unoccupied. The modern Mandai Underground Ammunition Facility is off Woodlands Road and opened a few years ago.
Suggestion to admin: You may like to highlight the differences in your post, given there were two Kranji Camp II (old one on Kranji Rd and current one on CCK Way). There were also two pre-war ammunition depots (the coastal one was decommissioned long ago and the one within present-day Kranji Camp II (CCK Way) was in use until demolished recently) as I pointed out in my two comments today. To add to the confusion, the old Kranji Camp II (Kranji Road) and the latter depot were both demolished recently.
Thanks for the suggestion. Yes there are some confusions over the names of the these two camps. The Mindef & URA named them as Woodlands Camp I & II (or III), whereas the NHB called them Kranji Army Barracks.
The term “barracks” is usually used to associate to those former British army camps (before they were converted into SAF camps), eg Selarang Barracks, Tanglin Barracks, Gillman Barracks, etc
As the caption says the photos are of two camps. I believe the first few photos are those of a camp that housed 21sa (21st Bn Singapore Artillery) 21sa is an armoured arty unit and that time its existence was classified. Hence the camp was called Kranji Camp II if memory serves. The other was OMB. And despite what some of you have commented the Nissen Huts are in the photos. They are not so easily recognisable as their wall and roof cladding have disappeared. Only the skeletal half circle frames remain with the doors intact!
I guess this place will be gone sooner or later like Simon Road Camp or Old Keat Hong Camp (demolished recently).
After landing in Sigapore in1953 we went to Nee Soon then transferred to Keat Hong for Xmas we then went to 443 B A D kranji until 1955 .
I was the one who called them nissan huts I suppose I should have called the BASHA’s
as they were WOODEN huts
There also were no concrete building in 1953 only wooden BASHA’s and wooden offices
Hi Interesting to read all the comments about Kranji ammo dump 443BAD I was stationed there 1955/1958 in the fire station no nissen huts just wood and attap roofed bashas
I’m surprised to learn of this old Kranji Camp II which housed 21SA. The present-day Kranji Camp II also houses 21SA and is located along Choa Chu Kang Way, between Kranji Camp I and III. Today it is partially an armoured self propelled artillery unit but in the old days it was towed artillery.
You are right. They improved the tow to M113 SP unit.
The Camp opposite the Arti Camp was OSB ( Ordnance Supply Base) and not OMB. I was
servicing my NS there from Apr 1972 to Jan 1974.
I was stationed at Terror Barracks from 1973 till 1975 and i used to work in the old ammo depot near the causeway. Is this one of the camps you are referring to (Woodlands 1)
I was there in 1953 it was near the causway and it was called 443 B A D Woodlands was never mention to us while we were there All that we saw was rubber and palm trees on our way to the Naval camp
The old Ammo Depot was once (yes I say once because it is now gone) at Woodlands (entry through Attap Valley Road) and the Naval Barracks mentioned is now a Prison.
picture 4 and 5 do ring a bell. I served my NS in OSB but I was stationed in other camp. In Dec 89, I had to go for my ROD shoot and this was the camp I booked in to stay overnight. I remembered that I had to take a bus from Yishun???? and had to get off at a bus stop some 1 km away. That bus service won’t operate after 8pm or 10 pm so you got to book in early. Quite an experience walking alone along the road leading to the camp after alighting from bus. The street lights were dimmed and there were some residential houses with dogs barking at me. And yes, there was a railway track running across the road. I happened to pass by the camp again in 2007 but those houses were gone and that road leading to camp seemed much shorter than 1 Km. I think they must have done something to the road when building the Kranji MRT. Above is my memory of that place and I could be wrong as that was so long ago. Anyone has stationed in that camp around 89?
Yes Steven I tink I know you, I was Chief Clerk WO1 Encik Bakar clerk ROD on Jun 1988. Those fun and enjoyable memory still in my mind. We still in contact of those personnel that ROD on Jun 1988. I really miss this OSB camp. Actually OSB consist of 7 different camp. Camp 5 is in Mt Vernon, camp 7 is in seletar and HQ is in Woodlands camp II.
WO Bakar used to called soldiers baboons, ha ha , 2 sub base at 4 ave , Bukit Timah , OC Lta Chong 1980. The orderly room is near to the medics hut.
i was posted to this camp OSB 2 sub . During one my guard duty i saw a black figurr ghos that looks like full black manequin standing in the vehecle condemned yard
OSB was located at the junction of Clementi Road and West Coast Road before moving to Kranji. The CO was Ltc Harun bin Ismail. The base issued vehicular spares, unimogs, trucks, land rovers, staff cars, tanks and armored vehicles and also received scrapped vehicles and parts. The scrap sub-base was located at 4th Avenue, Bukit Timah. I served there until my ROD in Dec 1972.
Hi all,
I am ex Royal Signals
served in Singapore 1973 – 1975, Terror Barracks. In 73 I started at Kangaw Barracks with the Aussies, then 3 Months Later they pulled out and I was attached to the Kiwi’s. I think shortly after we moved down to Terror Barracks.
From the people who were there I remember a Jock Wilson, Rick Simpson, and should anyone want to have a natter my e-mail is mikecousins136@btinternet.com
Hope to speak soon.
Mike
Sorry to say folks, the Woodlands Camp (AKA Kranji Army Barracks) is undergoing demolition now so it will no longer be there anymore. Though I have no pictures about its demolition but hey someone will have pictures of the tear down process anyway.
are you able to give the exact position of the kranji camp as a fellow is visiting kranji singapore in APRILL 2013
Kranji Army Barracks is here http://maps.google.com.sg/maps?q=1.430284,103.754965&hl=en&ll=1.42874,103.760762&spn=0.016625,0.01929&num=1&t=h&z=16. I just drove past the site earlier today and am very sad to report that half of the camp is already demolished — the other half is likely to be gone within weeks. I am surprised at the demolition as the camp is part of the ‘Kranji Heritage Trail’ and of obvious historical significance.
Thanks for the info I will pas the message to LES REGAN who is going there about APRIL this year
I am sorry Alan I still do not recognise the names If photo’s are available is there any chance of seeing who they are? I am seeing Les Regan in April as he is coming over from Australia
Hi Cliff.Photos were passed on to me by Ex Corporal Jack Brett.How do I contact you?.
I have a photo of my group at Tanglin barracks in Nov 1954 your names do not appear
I can send my address if req I live in C astle bromwich Birmingham
Pictures 6,7,8 & 9 shows the skeletal remains of the Nissan Huts
I cannot see these photo’s the name of the huts should have been BASHA’S not nissen huts as i wrongly stated
Cliff,I was actually working in 443BAD from Nov 52 to March 53,but was billeted at 3 BOD at Keat Hong.Then was at 443 Sub Depot on Blakang Mati from March53 till Nov 54,then I was back at Kranji for just 5 weeks before returning to uk.I too lived in Castle Bromwich until 1998 when I moved to Tamworth,I lived in Selworth Road ,off Green Lane
I lived in waveney croft off tamar drive not far from you it seems now live near the Spitfire Pub.
As I said I did not arrive to Keat hong until December 1953 and moved to Kranji B AD until june 1955. I did not know of two camps the only other one that we visited was the naval camp to go to the cinema. Les regan did say a taxi driver did try to drop them off at another camp but again he does not krow where it was . we have maps ot the area but no signs of two camps.
Cliff,do these names ring a bell.Brett,Hodgkinson,Kerr,McAvoy,McMahone,Kerrigan,Scouse Jones,Anker,S/Sgt Buffham,Sgt Hoose,Sgt Chis Heaney,Murray,Scouse Guest,Pat Miles,Reg Bush,Tommy Hornby,Al Bower,Sgt Bob Moore,Cpl Jim Larvin,Capt Baker.Have got copy of the 1953 Xmas booze up at 443. You can mail me at alan20x28@btinternet.com Cheers Alan.
I have pictures of Mcinally Al bower SO we seem to be getting closer
Scouse guest was the one that I beat at darts But i think he came later to us? the names of kerrigan macmahone ring a bell there was a stf sergeant bush I think his name was Reg?
Our Captain was Mcdonald. so there is still some comnfusion the other names are not familiar and not on our parade this photo was taken at Tanglin Barracks were ever that was
Thank you for the info I will pass it on to Les Regan who will be there in March/April
Thanks for that wonderfull infomation as all that we have heard that the camps have disappeared
I am not sure about the river as we used to climb the fence in view of the watch towers.
we used to go throuugh somegrounds that belonged to chinese/malay personal that used to grow Pineapples, and used to swim in the BROOK. I do have pictures of the area if yopu are interested?
Could you tell me what trasport can be used to get there? as you may have seen ,my ex comrade
will be going to Sigapore on his way from Australia and wants to visit the site. I will be travelling to
St Austell on the 25th April 2013 to see him . Any further info or photo’s would be mostly appreciated Cliff Turner turnerclifford@yahoo.co.uk
Cliff,Unable to contact you at above address. Cheers Alan
Sorry it shoud be turnerclifford53@yahoo.co.uk
I await futher news my contact no is 01217486428
Passed by Kranji Road yesterday
Woodlands Camp II was already razed to the ground completely, leaving no traces. It had finally followed the footsteps of other vanished army camps in Singapore, such as Old Keat Hong Camp and Simon Road Camp.
The opposite Ordnance Supply Base, on the other hand, was covered up with scaffolding and sheets… Not sure if it will be demolished too
How do I post up pictures, may I ask? Thank you.
Hi there, you can post the link of your photos in the comment box and I’ll embed for you (sorry ‘cos WordPress doesn’t allow readers to post photos directly). Alternatively, you can email to me (yesterdayom@gmail.com) and I’ll post them up and credit to you
😉
Passed by the area again this morning.
The two camps were flattened completely. No traces left…. It’s ironic that they included these two old camps in the Kranji Heritage Trail, but in the end, both camps still could not escape the fate of demolition
from Brian Phillips ex Royal Signals 1951 – 52
Did my time at Pasir Panjang – in a little heard of camp known as Calcutta Camp located North of BMH Alexandra and a large BOD. We were next to the Princess Royal Barracks that was newly completed late 1952 – Still stands and now serves as a Univesity. Of our old camp that was mainly tented there was no trace on returning to Singapore 55 years later.
My name is Ken Bowater,I served at Calcutta Camp from July 1950 to September 1951 I was in Fort Canning Troop our Sgt was Miller a Leeds lad and our troop officer was Lt Gibson, the Sqdn OC was a northern Irishman Major Paddy Coyne a brilliant guy who used to belt out a tune on the NAFFI piano. Like you say it was a tented camp, and we arrived there which was on a Saturday, we were billeted in some rotten old white tents our new homes arrived on the monday morning when we were given the task of taking the old tents down and erecting the new ones. We always seemed to be busy besides doing our signal office duties we always got called on to do other duties mainly escorts and the like so much so that we were not getting proper rest and signals started going astray eventually Paddy Coyne got word as to what was going on and put a stop to it. I know I am a bit late in replying but I have only just come across your post. date:- 29July 2014
Hi Ken – Our paths must have crossed at Calcutta Camp. I arrived there Sept 51 and went onto tele op duties at Fort Canning. If memory recalls the sound of a trumpet at night then that was me. I dont know if the lad who had a pet monkey on a chain in camp was after your time, and the young L/Cpl on pay duties who was shot dead by accident at the arms kote. I visited his grave at Kranji when I went back about 2003. I now live at Orpington and thinking of retiring from work soon.
Best wishes – Brian Phillips -Dated Sept 2014
When I was at Kranji in 1953 1955 it was a amunition camp with 26 sheds coverered wit earth as previously stated and it was known as 443 B A D no artillery was around to my knownedge.
The only other camp may have been at NEE SOON . we used to visit a NAVVY CAMP to see what films that they were showing.
Cliff Turner, there is some confusion because there were two ammunition depots in the area. You mentioned 26 huts which strongly resembles the camp I served in. Did these huts each have two steel doors, earth berms on three sides and were they on four roads which ran in a sort of IIIB configuration? This camp I was in had some wooden buildings and an adjacent loop with nissen huts, and approached via Stagmont Ring Road.
There were 26 ammunition sheds with two steel doors on them and covered with earth.
As for That been eaten by termites.
I think there were 6 BASHA’s and I was in the last one nearest the causeway
Send me your name we may know each other
Cliff turner
Sorry it looks like my message got mixed up
I was in shed 26 It contained land mines and shells the boxes were wood and were
being eaten by termites It caused such a panic when they were going to be sent else where I cannot comment on the roads my memory does not serve me that all that I
know shed 26 was at the very end of the perimeter
What I recall were the nissen huts on one side of the depot. The other side had 26 concrete huts, one nissen hut, and two watch towers one of which was very tall. The approach road had one nissen hut which was the only one with windows.
Check out the area left of Sungei Kadut Loop on google earth and see if I got the location right.
I was at kranji from 1950 to 1952 there were no Nisson huts in those days . We had old wooden huts with no doors on most of them . We had a capt duffild lt smith a sgt Patrick.etc.
As have said on other occasions I was in KRANJI ammunition camp called 443 B A D
In 1953 to 1955 we lived in what we new as BASHA’s
They were wood but I believe we had doors on them
I am in touch with Les Regan who was there wih me
Roy Elmer . I was at 443bad from1950 to 1952 . In the old wooden huts with no doors on them . At least there were none on ours, Capt, Duffield was the co if I remember rightly . The guardroom was a wooden hut and at the front was a sign board with the the wording 443bad the background was the RAOC colours . A so wo2 Elliot lt smith set patric among others .
I am afraid the map does nothing for me.
We used to climb over the perimeter fence in full view of the watch tower
to go down to the creek .Our huts were over looking the causeway which we
could see quite clearly.we always went to the naval camp to see a film
Trouble was it was always CALAMITY JANE I do not think they had another film
I’m rather sure we’ve got the same depot. We had your 26 huts in four rows, and those huts to the south were on higher ground from which you could see Johore. I believe there were no dense trees during your stay, outside the depot between it and the causeway, else you couldn’t see it. The depot was dotted with concrete ponds and a few trees. And just outside it the camp had lines of wooden huts and three tall L shaped barracks around the parade square.
Just wondering what sort of ammunition was kept in there?
So if you came up the road from the city, you’d pass the army radio towers, then a row of shops before the left turn to the depot. Further north the Kranji military cemetery.
Separately you can see what little remained of the depot until recently. Those towers are the BBC broadcast station. They look deceptively near but they really are across the river from the camera.
from http://2ndshot.blogspot.sg/2009/04/gunung-pulai-from-yew-tee.html
And here is an old photo of the Woodlands area, date unknown.
from http://www.flickr.com/photos/tyersall/page1/
do not remember seeing Jahore only the causeway? I cannot remember any ponds?
only the large container of water which some used swim in. We certainly had a few trees
and no tall barracks around the parade ground and no wooden huts out side the camp
Ammunition kept the as I remember 303.bullets shells land mines also we had what was called THE JAP AREA which contained Phosphorus materials which was highly dangerous if expose to air. Our camp took a lot of ammo from the Korean conflict
We could have anything up to 25 5 ton trucks delivering ammo ay one time
Roy Elmer I can remember going to the navy camp but the kranji camp I was at was off buckatem a rd think I have spelt tha wrong . It’s a long time since 1950 haha and a single rd leading up to kranji camp l leading up to the square where we used to have a square bashing parade Saturday morning taken by one Lt Smith nasty piece of work I may add , and the old wooden guardroom over looking the square . But I did not know you I think I had left before you arrived .christopher Clark jones and peter parsons were with me at 443 bad as was sgt patric among others . I arrived there in December of 1950 and left in May 1952 I think it was national service ,
You are right the camp was on a single road off the buckatima road spelling as you may be wrong .In thro the perimeter fence past the brick guard room controlled by Malayan
soldiers. Up to the parade ground past the wooden guard room which contained the army trucks . I got there possibly in Jan 1954 as we went to Keet Hong for xmas after arriving in Nee Soon just before .the names do not mean any thing to me
Should be Upper Bukit Timah Road / Woodlands Road
No I thinker have crossed lines . There were no tall buildings around the camp at all not that I can remember . The shower area consisted of four fences of sorts with an opening in each corner and the coolies women used to stand giggling watching us shower and the showers used to be a pipe going along the top with cold water , coming down upon you not very hygienic or private coming up from the square there was an incline and the huts were on the left hand side , as I have said in another message , it could not be the same camp as before I left for. Home we were moved from the broken no doors huts and mesh windows they moved us to another camp for sleeping . Which I think was seleeter , can’t be sure of that , but they moved us lock stock and barrel as the saying goes , Roy Elmer , by the way I met capt duffield a couple of years after demob.at Colchester barracks , as I. Worked for the territorial army for a number of years after I was demobbed
You were in a different camp to me
Hi yer yes we were at different camps I think we used to go down to the naval yard to pick up ammo like 25 pounder shells 7.2 anti aircraft shells phosehose. And at odd times among the grass we would find live ammo which was left around after the war . There were a few old metal shelter affairs which housed ammo . Sorry my spelling ain’t what it used to be .,..?..some Saturday mornings we had to go out of camp and search some of the Chinese campions which sorounded the camp there was an MT section just at the bottom end of the square .near the main gate . Roy elmer
I do not know where you were as we never heard of another camp anywhere near us ????
We always went in a 5 ton truck to Singapore on to the Buckatimah road and always came
back in a taxi. This the area was either jungle or rubber plantations so we could not see
very much of anything. The naval camp was always at night so the same thing applie
I had words in Australia who was with me at the camp he did say a taxi driver did take
him to another camp but he did not no where
Cliff Turner
Roy Elmer . In my days at kranji we used to go to the raf camp for swimming , we also used Togo to nee soon a a the next village or what ever they called them where we used to get our civilian shirts made to measure from what the Chinese called shark skin that was at the next turning off buckatem a rd going towards the causeway , if you turned off buckatem a rd going to the end of the road we turned right to go to kranji , but if you turned left there was an RAF camp where we used to go swimming , there were several Aussies there I come from Suffolk and used to get mistaken for an Aussie , I have relatives there and have been there twice over the years , but I had never heard of another ammunition camp other than 443BAD where I spent my national service days , roy Elmer
We used to swim there too. 1970-74. Lived originally at Karamat Rd, then Montreal Rd off Admilitary Rd. Dad was with 9 Sig Reg ANZAC
In my days at Kranji 1953 1955 I never heard of a R A F camp? We also used to go to NEE SOON we were able to walk there. The Chinese used to make us SHARKSKIN trousers.
Crepe soled shoes ( called Brothel Creepers) As have said on other occasions we were in a camp
containing 26 ammunition sheds surrounded by a wire perimeter fence with signs on it saying
that you could be shot if the fence was breached.
We used to climb over the fence in full view of the watch towers go thro some Chinese pineapple
farm and banana plantations to reach the creek were we tried to swim.
There were 5 basha’s all made wood one concrete guard room at the entrance to the camp a
wooden guard room opposite the square which also contained the 5 ton trucks
Hi Clifford.
I was at Kranji feb 1953 to I think it was July 1954 must have been there same time as you thought I would just make contact I have plenty of photos of the time there, I was the M.O.Rs clerk in the orderly room which you called the wooden office block I can remember lots of the names put on the webb site hard these days to put faces to them I was corporal Bill Davies getting near Christmas now but in new year perhaps I can put in more information and Photos.
Thanks Bill for contacting me. Your opening comments were exactly as I remember them.
Your name does not mean any thing to me but like you I have a lot of photo’s of the place and NEE SOON . You are the first person who seems to agree with where we where with the wooden BASHA’S and the wooden orderly room that you must have been in. Does the name of Les Regan
mean anything to you as I am in touch with him although he lives in AUSTRALIA.
I have met him when he came over to ST AUSTELL First tome we had met since 1955.
Also I have had emails from ALAN HUNTER ( Hank ) he was called but I did not know him.
I live in CASTLE BROMWICH BIRMINGHAM if you want to contact me any further let me know.
Cliff Turner
Waiting for you email ???
I have news for you if you will contact me doe’s the STANDARD VANGUARD CAR
mean any thing to you???????
Hi All,
Please see this photo of myself and two other gents outside the guard room.
Thanks,
Roy.
Sent from my iPad
>
HI Roy, the photo didn’t show up… Perhaps you will want to provide the link or email me the photo (yesterdayom@gmail.com) so I can help to embed it here
I could not upload your photo?// did you see the message about the STANDARD VANGUARD that I sent.??????
Roy Elmer hi cliff , did you while being at 443 bad sleep in the camp . Because as I said last night we were moved to another camp for our living accommodation . And had to travel back and forth to work there were no trucks outside the old broken down guard room the MT section was down near the entrance to the camp joining the squar at the end of the square to left was the admin block or shoul I say hut , there was a road which went past the guard room the admin hut keeping on that road led you to the ammo dump so as we called it . Which were mainly thick concrete walls and thick steel doors . The naffi was sort of in the middle of the camp another worn out wooden building with the medics just by the naffi . It’s a long time ago since we left there but little things keep coming to mind , Roy
If you kept on the road past the guard room you would be on the high ground in middle of the depot. On either side was low ground. Nissen huts on the left and the 26 concrete huts on the right.
We were billeted at 443 for the hole period I was there in the wooden basha’s that I have mentioned. I cannot comment on the high or low ground as we had go down to the parade ground which was also the vehicle depot and march????? to work in the sheds which now I believe were much lower than the parade ground .When were you there anyway to make the comment about the guard room???
Roy Elmer . I was at 443 from 1950 to 1952, as I have said before . Some time before you arrived and they condemned the old huts and moved us all out to another camp for sleeping or living quarters if you like the co was captain Duffield wo 2 Elliot .sgt Patrick to name a few , Roy
As have said before we arrived in 1954 and they were still in use when we left
in fact a new group came there before we left our C O was capt MC DONALD
It was really an honour to have served at OSB during my NS days for 2 years from 1991-1993. I remembered clearly every single one of this pictures as I walked around most of them during my guard duties. Looking at this pictures brought back some fond memories I had with some of my great campmates.
hi farid i am withe osb 2 sub from 1990 to 1992
U must hqve known me. I Was the guy who saw the ghost during guard duty
Just curious. Do you guys happen to know who is the owner of that land now? URA? SLA? JTC? etc etc…
Hi this is Roy Elmer , I have not been on here for some , but I was reading news of remember Singapore and have tried to install a photo of the old guard room ,showing a sign with 443 bad on the board I am the young chap on the right side of the photo , I was at Kranji camp from November 1950 to 1952 , and I can tell you that most of the basha ,s were made of wood even the naffi
It looks like I may be getting somewhere it looks like you and Bill davies were at the camp that I remember I have not found your photo yet but your are right THE GUARD ROOM
THE NAFFI THE CHURCH THE BASHA’S THE LATRINES WERE ALL MADE OF WOOD the only concrete building was the guard room at the entrance to the camp and as I have said before this was manned by the Malayan soldiers
Sorry no idea I cannot help you
Hi Clifford I dont think I was there in you time as I left in April of 1952 was demobed in late may of 1952 . the CO at that time was capt Duffield , I met him again at Colchester barracks about two years later , , after demob I worked and was in the TA , for over 15 years , I tried to send a photo of myself and two other Brits taken outside the Guard room , was on guard at the time I was the soldier on the right of the three British soldiers , I will try to send it again , Roy Elmer
Roy Elmer . Well Clifford you memories of 443BAD are much like mine . One or two things vary a wee bit the toilets were rather primitive . all in one row at the top end of the camp and had to be emptied on a regular basis , the smell was none to good either . And yes there was a brick guard room at the main gate , there was also an ammo inspection unit off the other end of the square . Or should I say examiners they used it have a little badge on there sleeves with a burning flame sort of thing
IT seems at last we agree with the things that were there
When were you there?
As I have said in the past I was there from November. 1950 until I think was April 1952 so I must have missed you by about 12months or so , I have been thinking about the living quarters we were moved out of 443to brick accommodation to another camp we’re I stayed until I left for home , but you say you slept in camp , well maybe after I left , they renovated the quarters , that’s why you slept there . that’s the only thing I think could have happened ?? Roy Elmer. .
I did not get to 443 until after xmas 1953 so that is why your name did not ring a bell.
As I have said we did stop there all the time and new recruits after as well.As you say they must
have renovated them?????? you say you were put somewhere else to sleep do you know where??
Because my mate Les said they were taken to another camp but doe’s not no where as we did not know of another camp. I have found another one who was there the same time as Les and I
and Les knows of him so I found out yesterday.
Hi Cliff. yes the standard vanguard car I think I went on leave with to Malacca maybe you could come up with a bit more information for me and maybe I can come up with more details,
You went on some kind of patrol to Malacca and you were with LES REGAN and another called I think BUTTLE or similar name you contacted some Malayan soldiers who you thought were bandits and your STEN guns were in the boot as I have been told. I am in touch with LES and he has a photo of you if you look futher back to my messages you will see more info on me and les
and about the camp. I had to go into the bedding quarters for awhile as I damaged my foot.
Hi Clifford. yes that was me I am sorry I did not recognise Les but I have only just taken an interest in in this site and it is certainly refreshing my memory, we were actually on leave and the car had broken down the malay farmers had pulled up to help us but it was a very dangerous place in those days there had already been two ambushes that day.perhaps I will send you a direct Email soon with much information I think I must know you as well because I was on camp until about July 1954 do you remember Lamb and his pink milk???.
Thank you for answering quickly I will look forward to your first EMAIL.
I do not know about Lamb it looks like I missed out on quite a few things.
Just read further back and you will see further comments. Alan Hudson ? was there the same time as Les and me but I do not remember him either although I have been to Tamworth to see him as Les has photo’s of him as well.
IT should have been ALAN HUNTER NOT Hudson
Hi Clifford you really have got my memery working have put some photos on to my computer ready to send to you maybe not until after new year but I am sure Les will be interested in them and you I have one of the Basha I think I was in Basha 5 also one with all the guys standing in front of it and view of inside it be in touch soon. capt Evans was CO UNTIL capt McDonald took over at about Xmas 1953 Major Bathe was OC do you remember Fred Williams in stores on site with Lt Catlin.just a few names many more to come
I was there 1952/55. Some names 2 Scots McAvoy & McMahon, George Kerr, Ron Hodgkinson, Cpl Jack Brett, Sgt Reg Bush, Colin Emmington, Brian Dorrington,
I wonder if you can send the photo’s to my email address I have not found thwe way yet to transfer
them yet? I was looking at a photo today of the church parade to the TANGLIN barracks I found
Buttle les and myself but not you? there were two faces hidden perhaps one was yours?
WE had 2 Williams and 1 Williamson Capt Mcdonald was the one I remember in the office???
I was in the bedding store for about 6 months after damaging my foot and I was the one who won the darts competition beating Stan Guest (SCOUSE ) Keep on feeding the name
Which area do you live in?
Hi Clifford I live in east London will contact you soon with photos takes me a little while to sort and Email photos. perhaps Les can fill in the name of the guy that drove the standard vanguard I think he was a fireman on the camp there were 5 of us Les, Blondie Callow Phil Buttle me Bill Davies and the driver I am sorry I cant remember his name we were all good friends at the time but we were just Boys and 60 years is a long time.
Les only mentioned three names so I will have to ask him when next I phone him
We contact each other regularly but him living in Australia we do not do it as often as we would
like
Hi Clifford did you get Photos sent to your Email address regards Bill Davies
I have today sent your photo’s to les as he phoned me on Sunday asking if I had any more info but I said that I had not heard from you lately?
Cliff
YES I am now trying to sort them out
Hi, I’ve found an archived road map from 1974 and have marked out what I believe was the depot’s location in red dots just left of “CK VI”. The solid lines within were the roads with the concrete huts and nissen huts. The broken lines were what I remember was the depot’s fenced perimeter and the dirt track that ran around it. http://postimg.org/image/sqejimbxp/full/
As regards to Lamb & his pink milk,he had a stall at Keat Hong Barracks,all the squaddies had stuff on the slate from him,then usually tried to run up a big bill just before returning to uk,then try to leave without paying.This didn’t bother Lamb as he used to inflate his prices anyway.
Another snippet from the past.Lt Catlin was a big chap and had to sit back at his desk because of his big belly,I remembering him putting work tickets on his belly when signing them.I am not positive on this next comment,but didn’t Catlin live in some sort of bungalow type building at 443 BAD camp,I remember meeting his wife in the Naafi there once.
I am curious to know the origins of the Woodlands housing estate behind the Kranji War Memorial. Supposedly built to house Commonwealth soldiers before they pulled out of Singapore in late 1970s. How was it like living there in those days? I moved into Jalan Rasok in 1977 as a 3 year old and enjoyed growing up in the area. Believe former owners of the house were avid divers as they left behind two giant clam shells in the pond.
2017… all the former military barracks and base were gone under Kranji’s industrialisation plan
The new multi-storey Carros Centre is being constructed at Jalan Lam Huat, off Kranji Road, now
my aunt used to have a stall in this camp.
I lived at kranji 1972-3 , my father was in the australian army. We lived in a very big house that had several air raid shelters on it’s grounds – onr of them had been painted out and my brothers and i used to play in it. The house had coconut trees, durian trees ,rambutans. Apparently when the Japaneese occupied Singapore this house was used as the officer’s mess. The locals said the house was haunted. Ju
My grandpa Leslie Regan was in the 443 Ammunition Depot and would like to know the whereabouts of the 443 base as he believes that it was the site of the old Prisoners of War Camp.
Hi Christian,cant give you an answer as regards to whether it was the old POW camp or not. Although on the strength of 443 BAD in 52/55. I spent most of my service at the small sub depot on Blakang Mati island,now Sentosa. Was on ammo escort together with your Grandpa Les up country in Malaya.
I took some photos back in 2012
https://www.flickr.com/photos/57153251@N03/albums/72157630204448434/with/7406584484/
Very nice photos… thanks for sharing!
Please note my change of address, now:- ahunter20@outlook.com
As regards RAF Camps. For those billeted at 3 BOD Keat Hong, in the 1950s, the RAF Tengah airbase was only a few hundred metres away.
The only reminder of the former barracks is this heritage marker at the junction of Kranji Road and Kranji Close:
I was posted to OSB 3 Sub after my BMT in 1992 . Was the last batch of NSF there b4 it was commercialised in 1994/95
Are these camps still around ? I can’t see any trace of them anymore?
I used to work as a 3sg transport supervisor back in 1995 in camp 2
When on duty there’s only one seargent and 2 driver trainees in the whole camp
Frankly speaking we only look after the guardroom and the main entrance office – the rest of the poorly lit Camp “looks” after itself
If anyone is still reading this: no-one gives the actual location of 443 BAD. Can someone enlighten me, as accurately as possible?
Can anyone enlighten me as to the exact location of 443 BAD?