Wally 'Brummie' Gee was in the advance party for 11 Ind Fld Sqn's involvement of Op Crown. This is his account of those early days. "Early in December 1963, I was informed that the OC, the troop officer, myself and a small section of 1 troop, 11 Independent Fld Sqn would be departing in the next couple of days, to do a reconnaissance for the start of ”Operation Crown” which would take place on the north east border of Thailand." pix right from left to right. Dave Mears, Kenny Williams, Colin Guy, Rodgers, Brummie Gee, Ferny Tout, Ron Heaton, Brummie Fogerty, Lt. Caddy (cont. below right) .
"The operation would involve building an all weather airstrip for the Thai Air force along with huts for accommodation and such other infra structure that was needed. Our job was to check all roads, culverts and bridges and anything else that might impede the movement of heavy plant to its destination of Kok Talat, along a very dusty and outdated road system. We found out that there always seemed to be plenty of snakes that seemed to hang around these places but luckily they were always in a hurry to get away, and we never bothered them if they did not bother us. We were quickly given visa’s to enter Thailand, and quickly loaded two Land Rovers & trailers with such tools and other stores that we thought we might need. As the NCO one of my jobs were to ensure that all possibilities were catered for. This included asking the Sergeant Major for a gross of 'French Letters' to which he informed me that we were going to do a job of work and not as he put it “To root yourselves to death”. He finished up giving me I think, about a dozen. A quick dash down to Singapore, loading the Land Rovers onto a Beverly and away landing in Ubon." You can read Wallys blog by clicking on the link HERE
Hank Lawrence as a young sapper (photo right), was a member of the group of Royal Engineers who found themselves travelling up a bumpy potholed dirt road from Ubon to Leong Nok Tha in the North East of Thailand. It was New Years Eve 1963 and his homeland of England in the UK was enjoying the freedoms of the 'swinging' sixties some thousands of miles away. The only 'swinging' Hank was doing was in the back of the truck he was hanging onto for dear life, as he and his fellow 'squaddies' bumped and banged their way to the back of beyond, arriving at what was to become their home for the next three months (photo above). Hank and his mates stayed for three months first erecting the tented camp. 59 Sqn had arrived by this time and some of 11 Sqn stayed to help start the permanent hutted camp.