On completion of 'Op Crown' a second project 'Post Crown' began. A road was to be built north west from Loeng Nok Tha to a village (Ban Khok Klang). 34 Field Squadron RE had the honour of turning the first sod in December 1966. Photo top right shows the road start. (Note dog in shadow, lower third, right edge, about to offer opinion on Sapper build quality!!!!!)
The image left shows a Caterpillar 'dozer' clearing the virgin scrub along the route of the road. The images below are from the same photo 'shoot'. It is not be certain but it's thought that Cedric Williams was the photographer. He and myself were given the task of providing photographs that reflected the reality of the conditions faced by the sappers and locals working on the road.
The sapper pictured right is thought to be the 'dozer' operator in the group of images above. to coin a modern 'footie' phrase 'Who are Ya', 'Who are Ya'!! Anyone who knows the identity of the Dozer Op, go to the contacts page and tell us who you are and what you know.
Mick Norton of 54 has forwarded some pix from John McLoughlin and Peter Melia. John's shot called 'Bookends' (below) is described thus by Mick Norton. " The 'Bookends' are myself on the left and Pete Alexander on the right. The photo was taken in 1967 whilst Pete was on detachment to Crown with 11 Sqn, and I was with 54. We the 'Bookends' were posing in a local village where they were gathering "jute." The colour slides unbelievably were taken by Pete Melia on a Kodak Instamatic, unbelievably because the quality is so good. Here's his recollections of that day. " I can confirm the pictures were taken by me on a Kodak Instamatic, at the time slides were the cheapest medium for colour photography and worked well. Mick Norton has this to say about the pix with the 'Sapper' standing center shot at the fence "The shot of the tented camp is indeed the infamous "Hong Khong Camp." The guy in the photograph is George (Squirrel) Birrell who is pleading, in vain, with the chopper pilot to take him to Ubon for a wash and liquid refreshment at Mamasans bar !!!!!! Scroll down to view the pix.
