British colonial Singapore Guard Regiment

[kitinsignia]

Dear all,

Requesting help on photographs, biographies or any materials on SGR.

I am trying to gather more information on SGR for my website http://singaporeguardregiment.webstart.com/index.html.

Any sharing is much appreciated.

Regards Kit.

[peter monahan]

I've never heard of this unit! perhaps you can share a little of what you do have, Kit? When were they formed and do they still exist?

[kitinsignia]

Hi Peter, sorry about your experience with the above link. You may wish to do a google search on Kit's history & insignia of Singapore Guard Regiment.

British Colonial SIngapore Guard Regiment

The Locally Enlisted Personnel (LEP) Guard Unit from the Royal Military Police, Singapore was formed in March 1948 in Selerang Barracks by trained soliders of R.A.S.C, R.A.O.C and some veteran soldiers from the former Malayan and Singapore Units such as the Royal Artillery and Royal Signals.

The Guard Unit duties included senrty duties at the General Officer Commanding, Singapore Base District, 443 Base Ammunition Depot and 41 Base Workshop. The unit also performed guards-of-honour parades to the searching for old Japanese shells in the West Johore Straits. At times the Guard Unit were required to escort ammunition convoys travelling in to Malaya.

The Unit became a regiment in its own right in 1955, when it servered its connections with the Royal Military Police. The Unit was renamed as the "Singapore Guard Regiment" and recieves its independant in 25th April 1955. SGR with the strength about 600 strong had eventually severed all connections with R.M.P. Compianies took up additional operational duties in Masai Johore, Malaya from 1955-1956.

In Jan 1964 a platoon was ordered at very short notice to asssit in the defence of Kuching Airfield and RAF stations, Malaysia and by Apr 1964 the the defence of the Airfield in Kuching became the entire resposibility of the Regiment. For that reason, the detachment was increased to a Company strength and enable it to assume a major role in the security of the local defence sector with regular patrol area. The detachment finally discontinued their deployment at Kuching in Aug 1966 when Confrontation with Indonesia finally ended. However the last member of the detachment did not returned to Singapore until Jan 1967.

In Jan 1965 the regiment was once again re-organised and the Companies were re-designated as X, Y and Z Companies. In Mar 1971 the Regiment was reduced to a Head-quarter Company and two Rifles Companies and was finally disbanded on 1st Nov 1971.

[peter monahan]

Thank you for the synopsis, Kit. Interesting unit history! Are you a veteran of the unit, or simply an interested historian?

Edited December 29, 2013 by peter monahan

[1314]

If I remember correctly the C.O of this Unit was usually a seconded British Officer: similarly the C.O of the Singapore Police Gurkha Contingent ( in this case from the Brigade of Gurkhas).

Both very desirable postings.Those were the days !!

[kitinsignia]

I agreed that it was a wonderful posting for the Europeans Officers posted in Singapore.

Thank you for your interest. I am not a veteran and I had simply done up the website for our local forgotten regiment. Although they were many more, but I shall cover them within my availabilities. In future, given enough materials and time, I would like to cover the British SAS trained Police Field Force, Jungle Squads/Company as well as 'Senoi Praq/Pra'aq/Praak' also known as native aboriginals scouts.

[Hugh]

I agreed that it was a wonderful posting for the Europeans Officers posted in Singapore.

Thank you for your interest. I am not a veteran and I had simply done up the website for our local forgotten regiment. Although they were many more, but I shall cover them within my availabilities. In future, given enough materials and time, I would like to cover the British SAS trained Police Field Force, Jungle Squads/Company as well as 'Senoi Praq/Pra'aq/Praak' also known as native aboriginals scouts.

Thanks for this, Kit. I lived in Singapore for 7 years, and would love to hear more about these units, especially during the Emergency and Konfrontasi.

Best,

Hugh

[kitinsignia]

Hugh - Cheers mate.