HISTORY IN THE MAKING - UBIQUE 300 MALAYSIA

A PHOTO GALLERY OF THE EVENT ON 13TH JANUARY 2016

MAJ THOMAS OH RECEIVING A GIFT

LT COL ALI REPRESENTING THE DIRECTOR EXCHANGING MEMENTOS

THE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT RECEIVING A MEMENTO

THE PATRON HANDING OVER MEMENTO TO LT ROBBIE KNOWLES

THE MEMENTO FROM THE EX GUNNERS ASSOCIATION TO 43 BTY/47REGT RA

POSING WITH THE QUEEN'S BATON

FOR THE GOOD TIMES

THE TEAM WITH THE DA BRITISH HIGH COMM KL

Ubique 300 Malaysia Leg

Me proud and smiling broadly as I cradled the Baton

Hi all,

The team from 47 Regiment RA had finally arrived in Malaysia bringing along the UBIQUE 300 Baton bearing the greeting message from HM Queen Elizabeth 2 , the Captain General RA.
A simple but significant lunch was organised by the Gunners Club. Many old Gunners attended the function and had the opportunity to touch and feel the Baton.

I felt proud to be part of the RA legacy after spending more than 35 years as a Gunner.

Below is the full text of the occasion by Major Rama :

Yesterday, a historic event occurred at the Warisan Cafe, Royale Chulan Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. A Baton bearing the message of greetings from the British Royal Artillery to the Queen who is its Captain General arrived in Malaysia on its global circumnavigation. The journey started in early 2015 and has passed Europe, India and now on its way through South East Asia and Australasia. Finally, it shall arrive in the UK on completion and shall be handed to the Queen on 26th May 2016. The Royal Malaysian Artillery was born out of the Royal Artillery in 1957, upon independence. Eighty nine pioneers crossed the causeway from Belakang Mati, Singapore and formed the 1st Field Battery Federation Artillery in Kajang, Selangor. They also incidentally fired the Ceremonial Gun Salute from the Victoria Institution field on declaration of independence. Such is the richness of our history and heritage, and this event on 13th January 2016 rekindles the everlasting bond between Britain and Malaysia. A team of mountain cyclists carried out mission "PENINSULAR PEDAL". These bravehearts from 43 Battery (Lloyd's Company), 47th Regiment RA did cycling stints around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor as part of the challenge of UBIQUE 300 (the reference to the Artillery motto "Everywhere" and 300 years in existence). The local host for these fine military men, led by Lt. Robbie Lee Knowles RA, was the Ex Artillery Association of Malaysia (Persatuan Bekas Artillery Malaysia). Its patron Lt. Gen. Dato'Jaffar Mohamed (retired), who is also the senior most Artillery Officer, received the baton as a token of respect and offered best wishes from the thousands of Malaysian Gunners on its onward journey. The ceremony was witnessed by a small group of Malaysian Senior Artillery Generals, Officers and the Association Committee, together with the the current Defence Attache of the British High Commission, Col. Stephen Hall. The team now  carries the baton to Singapore.


Maj. A R Ramachandran (Retd)
Seremban NSDK


Once a Gunner always a Gunner.

Allen Lai

Photo updates September 2015

These Gunners' photo update were taken during the recent Return to Kajang Get-together. in September 2015. Some of the names are missing and I apologise not being to remember them off hand. Give me some time and I will insert the names accordingly. Heh I am seventy one years old and have the norms of forgetting names.

If you can help out, please write their names in the comments below, first name from the top of the photos without their names. I appreciate your help.

Thank you

Allen Lai

Mej. Mukhtar

Mej. Jen. Dato'Rohisha

Mej. Samsudin

Mej.Fadzil

Lt Col Mohd Nadzri

Lt Col Ab Aziz

Mej. A. Latif

Lt Col.Abdul Aziz 

Col.Bakar Salleh

Mej. Mustaffa

Mej.Jen. Dato Husin Tahak

Lt Jen.Dato Jaffar Mohammed

Lt Col Abdullah

Mej.Ganeson

Lt Col. Hamdan

Lt Col.Hamzah

Mej.Ishak

Lt Col.Maskan

Mej.Oh Teng Lim

Lt Col. Omar Mohammed

Mej (KM) Rahman

Brig Jen Dato Mohd Rais

Mej.Ramachandran

 Lt Col.Sidambaram

 Lt Col.Masoud

Brig Jen. Dato Yusri

Col Zanib

Mej (KM) Yazid

Yusuf Mahat

Kapt. Ahmad Suhaini

 Lt Col.Ali Baharom

 Brig Jen.Dato Hadi

Col.Ho Wah Juan

More Gems

We had a very good get-together during the Return to Kajang bash. There were many old Gunners which we had not met for some time. I managed to capture some photos during the occasion.

 Lt Col.Ahmad Daud

 Lt. Kamaruzaman

 Kapt.Kenny Koh

Mej.Lee Kong Kok

 Mej.Lian

 Mej. Ramlee

 Lt Col.Omar Boyce

 Mej (KM) Raj

 Kapt.Shahrul 

 Mej.Syed Hussein

Lt Col.Tony Chia 

Hope to see more of above Gunners at our get-together. Everybody is all smiles.

Allen Lai

Return to Kajang

Gunners all

1 Field Battery Federation Artillery

The above Gunners returned to Kajang for a nostalgic get-together on Saturday 19 September 2015. The official photograph of the pioneer Gunners of 1 Field Battery Federation Artillery raised on 15 August 1957 was epic and was proudly displayed during the High Tea event at the Oriental Crystal Hotel Kajang. I was glad that I was able to attend this auspicious occasion as I was able to meet many Gunners whom I had not seen for many years. I believe that Gunners who had unfortunately passed on would be present with us too.

Oriental Crystal Hotel was the main landmark to Kem Kajang, which was just 500 metres away. Sadly there were no more significant landmarks to identify the camp site. Kajang is now a busy major metropolitan, Kajang Satay and all.

We were delighted that 31ARTY will be relocated to Kajang in the near future, giving us a perpetual link to our historical past.

Take care all until we meet again year after year.

Once a Gunner

Allen Lai