Fwd: NigerianID | The Cameroon Involvement (British Army, 1960-62)

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Subject: NigerianID | The Cameroon Involvement (British Army, 1960-62)
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The Cameroon Involvement

By Alan Parkinson

Kings Own Royal Border Regiment from 1960-62


My name is Alan Parkinson and during my time as a National Serviceman
I served as a Private in the King's Own Royal Border Regiment from
1960-62. It was during my service with the battalion at Barnard Castle
in County Durham, after a request by the United Nations, that the war
office instructed the Regiment that they were being sent to the
British Cameroons in West Africa. The purpose of our involvement was
to oversee a plebiscite that gave the British Cameroons a choice of
joining Nigeria or joining the French Cameroons.

There were no ifs ands or buts; it was a simple choice at a time when
all our Empire was gaining their own independence. There had been
terrorist activity on the border of the British and French Cameroons
for years, more so on the French side. The French military had quite a
substantial force stationed in the Cameroons that had been trying to
suppress terrorism for years.

Our Regiment had been in a state of readiness for quite a few months,
for any part of the world, if required. Everyone was fit after the
many hours of route marches and battle training on the nearby Bowes
Moor and being sent abroad was a relief from all of this.

After an overnight journey on a special troop train to Southampton the
battalion, along with detachments of RE, REME, RAOC, RS, RAMC, RASC,
ACC and QUARANCS set sail on August 31st on the SS Devonshire for the
Cameroons. The voyage took two weeks and the Devonshire anchored just
off Victoria in the British Cameroons. The country itself was 250
miles by 80 miles and was, until our arrival, being policed by the
Queen's Own Nigerian Regiment. We were the first British regiment to
be stationed in the Cameroons.

This was the last time the Regiment was together as a regiment for
nearly ten months; this was because the Regiment was being split up
into three camps.

Camp one was at the capital, named Buea, about twenty miles from
Victoria, and the occupants of this camp, were "C" company and "HQ"
company. The billets were made of aluminum corrugated sheeting divided
up into sections for three or four men, which was quite good
accommodation. The advance party of Engineers and local native labour
had erected these billets only weeks before the main party arrived.
The camp itself was on the lower slopes of Mount Cameroon, which
naturally had good views of the surrounding countryside. "C" company
patrolled all the delta regions, sometimes using motorized boats, and
had quite a few successes in apprehending terrorists and smugglers in
these areas.

Camp two was allocated to "B" company at Kumba about 50 miles from
Buea; this camp was in a jungle clearing where the climate was hot and
sticky. The billets were open planned, made of aluminum and housed
forty to fifty men. I have to mention mosquito nets and a paludrine
tablet were essential commodities.

"B" company had, during their stay at Kumba, many successes in
capturing known terrorists etc, and they also captured a large
terrorist camp.

One hundred and fifty mile from Kumba was a place called Mamfe, a very
flat jungle area where the RAF had made an airstrip and camp. The
climate was the same as Kumba, very hot and clammy. I must add the RAF
were not very sociable but I won't go into that

The last camp, named Bamenda, was in the savannah upland, 90 miles
from Mamfe. This camp was high up on an escarpment, which gave wide
views of the surrounding countryside below. The camp was allocated to
"A" and "S" Companies, of which I was a member of the latter.

All billets at this camp were large tents on a concrete base that
housed 8 to 10 men, and huts were erected for dining and stores etc as
time went on. Between the tent lines, in the early days, was just a
stream of mud, which got everywhere in the tents, clothes, bedding
etc. The arrival, after a few weeks, of duckboards was a much-needed
bonus. On arrival at Bamenda the rainy season was just coming to an
end, and things certainly got better when the dry season started, as
the mud turned to red dust making the occupants of the motor patrols,
look like red Indians. Basically everyone got a kick up the backside
in life.

The Bamenda region was very hilly with valleys infested with bamboo
thickets and patrols were mostly on the border regions of the British
and French Cameroons. The French had been having trouble with
terrorists for years and one could witness now and again a lone
propeller plane bombing a hillside close to where we patrolled.

My own company, which was "S", had only a month prior to embarkation,
been turned from a support company into a rifle company for the
duration of the stay in the Cameroons. The patrolling was arranged
that one company stayed in camp for a month doing fatigues, weapon
training and the odd motor patrol showing the flag etc, while the
other company went to the out stations. These out stations were tents
in specific areas near to the French and British Cameroon border,
where one set out on patrols.

One station was named Sante Coffee, which was an abandoned coffee
estate. One was named Sante Customs, which was close to a terrorist
burned out custom building and the other was named Pinyin. All patrols
mostly started out from these camps, which were occupied by platoons
of that company, with sections of the platoon patrolling different
areas, and always one section stayed behind at the out station. "A"
and "S" Companies had many successes in capturing known terrorists
over the months.

I personally was in a large patrol that was backup to another large
patrol led by a Lieutenant Olsen, that went into French territory,
looking for a terrorist camp that intelligence had reported in a
certain vicinity. Each member of the first patrol carried a Sterling
submachine gun, while the backup patrol, barring the NCOs, carried the
SLR.
More by luck, the first patrol stumbled on this camp during the night
and waited until the daybreak. In the early morning mist the terrorist
camp was completely over run in typical British fashion, catching them
all with their pants down! I won't go into details about fatalities
etc, but I will say not one of our lads got a scratch.

The camp itself was truly amazing, being well camouflaged with
corrugated sheeting accommodation twenty yards long, stepped down at
different levels of a bamboo infested hillside. It must have housed,
at its maximum, a hundred people. It had pens for stolen livestock and
poultry, and there were areas for stores such as food and cigarettes,
etc. There was even a primitive forge for making weapons that fired a
twelve bore cartridge. There were plenty of weapons of an age gone by
lying all over the place, with plenty of ammunition to go with them. I
never saw one automatic among the stockpile, because I am sure if
these terrorists had automatics, I think it would have been a
different ball game in the Cameroons. The camp had been so well
camouflaged that the French had been bombing the wrong hillside for
weeks, which was truly amazing. There was no doubt these terrorists
had been trained by professionals, but better ones had trained us in
the Regiment.

Lieutenant Olsen deservedly was awarded the Queens Commendation for
this action. Patrolling and roadblocks went on all the time, mostly
routine with the odd one having success, but it had to be done and the
people of the Cameroons were happy we were there. I must add the
people of the Cameroons were very poor but friendly and considering
they had nothing, we were always met with a smile.

The vote for the inhabitants to see if they wanted to join Nigeria or
the French Cameroons went off quite peacefully with just the odd bit
of violence. The outcome of the vote went overwhelmingly to join the
French and form the now Cameroon Republic. The result came as no
surprise to the battalion, because the people in our area alone hated
the Nigerians. This was probably because Nigerians had policed them
for years and it must have swayed the vote in the long run. With the
plebiscite over and done with, the handing over had to be done
peacefully.

The battalion had been in the Cameroons 9 months and was being
replaced for the handing over by the First Battalion of the Grenadier
Guards. The main body of the Grenadier Guards arrived late in May 1961
on the troopship Devonshire. Our regiment, The King's Own Royal
Borders, handed all equipment and camps, bar our rifles, over to the
Guards and we sailed home on the Devonshire. The Regiment's venture in
the Cameroons was over.

Considering the Regiment was spread out over the 250 miles, on
hindsight they did a fine job in helping to bring peace and stability
to the Cameroons. At the time the Regiment had quite a lot of National
Servicemen in the ranks, who were lucky to have been trained by men
such as CSMs, Sgts., and other NCOs who had fought in the Second World
War and Korea. To their credit and experience not one man lost his
life on any patrols in the Cameroons. The only fatality was due to an
unfortunate road accident when a Lance Corporal named Gardener was
killed. I have no information about the Grenadier's time out here

Known terrorists captured by the KORB, were 73
Suspected terrorists captured by the KORB, were 239
Although mentioned on the initial itinerary, no medal was issued.

I can not finish without mentioning the wonderful work done by the
various Corps, in particular the RASC drivers and 59th Field Squadron
of Engineers; they were absolutely magnificent in making life a lot
easier out there.

Alan E Parkinson

http://britains-smallwars.com/RRGP/Cameroons.html
---------------
Cameroons another view

ALAN F ROWBOTHAM - NATIONAL SERVICE 1959 to 1961

I served with the Kings Own Border from November 1959 to November
1961. Basic training was at Fulwood barracks, K passage, Kilmanjaro
platoon. Our platoon instructors were Sergeant Bill Thomason [Loyals],
Cpl Tom Myers and Cpl Brian Mason both K.O.R.B.

On completion of basic training we joined the battalion at Humbleton
camp, Barnard Castle, where we were paraded on the M.T. park to be
posted to various companies. Ray Corrigan[Manchester], Charlie
Colclough[Preston], Bill Gannon[Salford], Brian Handley[Bolton] and
Pete Henthorn [Oldham] went to "A" coy at Westwick camp, Tom
Gormley[Manchester],Tony Duffy[Salford] and Dave Heslop[Blackpool]
went to "S" coy also at Westwick. Dave Atkinson[Blackpool] went to
H.Q. COY to join the M.T.section. I was posted to "B" coy, 6 platoon
along with Kev Lambert[Bolton], Jack Pollard[Blackburn], Jim Tither[St
Helens], and Derek Whewell[Liverpool]. They were a great bunch of lads
and in the main we all stuck together right through our service

After a short time with the battalion we were part of a detail posted
to The Army School of Civil Defence at Haverigg Camp, Millom. Our job
was to prepare the camp for the T.A. and civil defence units who would
carry out their drills and training there. The C.S.M. was Royal
Artillery and he did not like infantry especially Kings Own Border and
we knew it. He was always looking to catch somebody out for the
slightest thing even the N.C.O's and our Sgt Elwood warned us to be
aware and of course we were. We had numerous barrack room inspections
and kit inspections and you could be sure that he would jump on some
poor unfortunate individual and in most cases it was unwarranted. He
was a typical bully, named W.O.2 Seabrook and he was a complete waste
of space. It was a relief when we were told that the battalion was
being posted to British Cameroon in West Africa and we were returning
to Barnard Castle in preparation . I had some misgivings because I was
married with a little girl and another due at any time but I reasoned
that if we were sent abroad then I wouldn't be trying to get home at
every opportunity. I suppose I could have applied for a compassionate
posting but somehow I don't think I would have been successful. The
general feeling in those days was National Service was something that
most young men had to do so we just got on with it. Incidentally my
wife Ellen gave birth at home to our second daughter Ann on Saturday
24th June and I was home on a weekend pass. Thankful that the birth
had gone well and both wife and new baby were fine I then saw an
opportunity to extend my weekend pass to at least a weeks
compassionate leave. I 'phoned the guard room back at Humbleton Camp
and spoke with the duty sergeant who's name I can't remember and I
explained that my wife had given birth at home that very day and I was
requesting some compassionate leave. He said that he couldn't give
such permission
but would speak with the orderly officer and I would have to call
back later. Eventually after further 'phone calls I was told that the
orderly officer had been informed and that he had instructed that his
best wishes be conveyed to both my wife and myself and my weekend pass
had been extended for a further twelve hours!!

So much for compassion.

Anyway we returned to Barnard Castle from Millom and were soon back in
"B" coy lines

where we were joined by some new lads who had recently joined the
battalion from the depot at Preston. Some of those who joined 6
Platoon were Fred Owen, Ced Wilson, Harry Ward, Bob Haydock, Les
Lowther, Bob Singleton, John Goode, Bernard Darwin,Roy Pritt, Derek
Lydon, ? Hadwin, Jock Foy and Tony Wills. Our platoon sergeant was
Danny Cross who was ram rod straight, who looked like he had been
poured into his uniform, ex S.A.S. and as hard as nails. Our platoon
corporal was Eric Smith a regular soldier from Ormskirk.

Eventually and after a number of false calls we left Barnard Castle to
travel over night down to Southampton where we were to join the
troopship "Devonshire" which would then transport us to West Africa. I
remember as though it were yesterday the voyage as we left England via
the Solent into the Atlantic, across the Bay of Biscay, into Dakar for
water and then on to British Cameroon and the harbour at Victoria.

As we were boarding at Southampton one of the first persons I saw was
Steve Long a lad who I had served my time with as apprentice plumbers
at Manchester Corporation, he was with the R.A.M.C. Another lad with
the K.O.R.B. who was also aboard was Fred Wagstaffe a driver in
H.Q.coy. Fred and I started school together as five year olds and sat
together at Manor Road Primary, Droylsden; Fairfield Road, Droylsden;
and at Ashton Tech, Ashton-U-Lyne until we left as fifteen year olds
to go out into the big wide world. Incidentally over the years we have
worked together on numerous occasions and we still meet every so often
for a drink and a chat. Another Droylsden lad I see round and about is
Les Higgins who was in "C" coy and was stationed at Buea.

Aboard the "Devonshire" we were allocated the lower deck which at
first we didn't fancy but proved to be ok and not as smelly as those
decks above . When fatigues were handed out Derek Whewell, Kev
Lambert, and me were detailed to work in the ships laundry and this
proved to be a good number. The laundry was run by a Petty Officer
with a team of Lascar seamen and it was our job to assist them, but as
they were so nimble and quick in everything they did I don't think
they really needed us. We worked a four hour shift on alternate
mornings and afternoons then we were relieved by another detail from 5
platoon. This gave us plenty of free time and as the UP.O. had told us
that we were to report to him immediately should anybody try to detail
us further then we felt pretty much untouchable.

I will never forget the blue colour of the ocean as we sailed off the
coast of Africa, seeing the Canary Islands on the horizon, the whales,
dolphins, flying fish etc, Then we pulled into Dakar in Senegal to
take on water and what a sight that was with the locals showing their
goods on the end of those long poles while our lads pretended they
needed closer inspection before trying to snatch whatever was being
offered.

We eventually reached Victoria and found that we were among the last
of those to disembark. We remained on board for almost another week
before it became our turn and we left the ship and boarded the trucks
taking us to Kumba, which would be "B" coy's home base during our time
in the Cameroons.

The camp had been constructed in a clearing amongst trees and bush and
was situated off the road to Kumba police station which was about a
half mile away. Accommodation was corrugated iron huts with low walls
and sloping roofs which finished about four feet from the ground and
each with space for approximately sixteen men. Although conditions
were rough to start with everybody got stuck in and very soon things
became quite tolerable. Because Kumba was situated in the rain forest
area we were subjected to very high temperatures along with excessive
humidity and there were many instances of skin complaints such as
prickly heat, ring worm and dhobi rash , all of which seemed
eventually to respond to the liberal application of "Whitfields
Ointment" as issued by the M.O.

The personnel at Kumba consisted of 4,5&6 platoons, attached H.Q.coy
drivers, R.E.M.E., A.C.C. & R.A.M.C.

We were soon involved on active patrols looking for smugglers, illegal
immigrants, and terrorist camps.and "B" coy were quite successful. We
discovered a large camp in the Tombel region which turned up arms,
ammunition, grenades, primitive home made pistols, blow pipes and bows
and poisoned arrows. I was on another successful operation this time
with 5 platoon when along with the Nigerian police we surrounded a
collection of huts and bagged a gang of ten or twelve suspected
terrorists and their leader who was allegedly known as Captain
Antoine. Most of this work was carried in the rain forests and the
border areas of Cameroun Republic. Platoons would rotate between Kumba
camp, Edibinjok coffee plantation, Tombel cocoa farm and Essosong
which was an area of plantations owned by the Cameroon Development
Corporation, a government concern. If we were operating out of
Edibinjok or Tombel then our accommodation was in the cocoa and coffee
sheds but Essosong
was a large stone building built by Germans prior to the 1914/18 war
on the lines of a German schloss. It was a good billet to return to
after patrols and Tom Wilson our cook would serve up the grub. He
didn't do a bad job considering that in civilian life he worked on a
farm some where near Ulverston.

Kumba town wasn't much more than a few huts on either side of the
river with a few bars and a market, the people were generally poor but
a smile was never far away in spite of the hard life they endured. Any
free time we was had was usually spent swimming in the Crater Lake
which was formed over an extinct volcano and it was a good place to
relax. There was one section which belonged to the "European Club" and
was out of bounds to O.R's and the locals, a bit of a liberty when it
wasn't theirs to exclude anybody. Never the less we used it at every
opportunity.

About February 1961 6 platoon was transferred up to Bamenda for a
couple of weeks and we met up with our old mates from "A"&"S" coy's
who we hadn't seen since they had disembarked from the"Devonshire". It
was good to see Ray Corrigan and Charlie Colclough again and we shared
their tent in "A" coy lines. Tom Gormley and Tony Duffy from "S"coy
were also in attendance and a few others and a good time was had.
After a couple days we were on the move again to patrol an area in the
hills, the name of which I can not remember. I do remember that the
area was very hilly with much grass land and Fulani horsemen with
hobbled horses. The few days we were there we spent on routine patrols
and were quite uneventful although the cooler air of the higher ground
was a relief from the humidity of the Kumba area.

Then with our short time at Bamenda completed we boarded the trucks
for our return to Kumba via the escarpment and Mamfe. The weather
deteriorated as the rain season began and as the roads turned to mud
many timber wagons, mammy wagons, and fuel tankers overturned or
crashed ending up in the ditches or the bush. It was only due to the
skill of our drivers that we were unharmed. As we continued our
journey back to Kumba we met up with one of our wagons going in the
opposite direction, it was the lads from 5 platoon going to Bamenda
for their change of scenery. As the wagons slowly passed Alan Gardner
shouted across to me " Hey, you lucky sod, your names up on company
orders and your going home on the advance party! " It took some time
to sink in and it was only when we arrived back in Kumba that I was
able to read orders and see it for my self. Yes I was on the advance
party going home in six weeks.

Meanwhile it was business as usual, duty platoon and guard, local
patrols, drill etc. Then one day when we were out patrolling in the
Tombel area I felt my shins were very hot ,and sore and so during a
break I examined them and was stunned to find them blistered from my
knees down to my ankles. My immediate thoughts were that I would be
withdrawn from the advance party and I felt sick at the thought of
that. There were plenty of suggestions from Kev Lambert, Derek Whewell
and Harry Ward and the others of what the problem was ranging from
elephantitis, smallpox, leprosy, and even the plague. When we returned
to camp I immediately reported to the M.R.S. and was examined by the
duty sergeant, who told me that I had picked up a rare skin infection
but with treatment it would clear in three to four weeks. I explained
that I was due to fly home in four weeks and was worried that this
could put the block on things. His immediate response was that I shave
my
legs, throw away my razor [to prevent further infection], and to
report for treatment twice a day. This treatment involved the infected
areas being bathed in a solution, lint dressings being applied for
about thirty minutes per session, and then my legs were covered with
Whitfields ointment. After treatment I had to return to my quarters
and rest and I was given a chit that showed I was excused all duties
plus the wearing of socks, boots, hose tops, puttees, in fact the only
thing I wasn't excused was shaving. This didn't go down too well with
Sgt Stewart of 5 platoon who came into our hut one time while the lads
were on muster parade and I had just returned from the M.R.S.. Seeing
me sat on my bed he ordered me to stand to attention , I explained
that I had just returned from receiving medical treatment and that I
was resting as instructed. He then told that in his opinion I had
rested enough and he ordered me outside to clear rubbish [ non
existent]
from around the showers. I replied by telling him that I was excused
and I couldn't do it and I then produced the magic chit. He read it
then told me " It's not fit to be arse paper" then after dropping it
on the floor "ordered" me to pick it up. Then he turned and left. A
sweet moment. The infection cleared in just under three weeks and I
was on my way home.

Sid Allison of 5 platoon was "B"coy's other advance party member and
we left Kumba camp for the last time as we boarded the truck to take
us to Buea where we were to meet up with the remainder of the advance
party. We arrived at Buea in the late afternoon and I was pleased to
see that Tom Gormley was down from Bamenda and he was also on his way
home. Most of the other lads were strangers to me but they were a
friendly lot and soon we were all talking as though we had known each
other for ages. Our stay at Buea was a short one,just one night and
then after breakfast we were paraded to board the trucks which took us
down to the harbour at Victoria where we transferred to motor
launches. These launches were just like the " African Queen" and
chugged along at a slow rate of knots across the mouth of the Mungo
river to Doualla in French Cameroun , a journey of six or seven hours.
When we landed at Doualla we transferred to French army trucks which
then took
us to the airport where our aircraft, a Bristol Britannia, was being
refuelled on the tarmac. We had a wait of just over an hour and then
we boarded and we were soon up and away. The flight was uneventful
with one stop for refuelling at Libya and then we set off on the last
leg to England where we touched down in the green and pleasant land at
Stanstead airport, some twenty seven hours after we first boarded the
trucks at Buea.

We were soon through customs and then we boarded a coach which
transported Tom Gormley and me to Euston station and the train to
Manchester. The train journey was the longest three hours I have known
but eventually we arrived at London Road station and as the train was
pulling in Tom opened the window and turning to me he said, " smell
that smoke Al, we're home ". Then Tom went home to Wythenshawe and I
went home to Droylsden to Ellen and my two little girls.

My leave passed much too quickly and then it was back to Barnard
Castle, this time at Barford camp. Our job was to get the camp ready
for when the battalion returned and for this short time I became a
store man with Sid Allison and we worked under C/Sgt George Wood who
came from Manchester. I found him a very fair man and easy to work for
and as long as we got the job done he was happy. This was different
than the attitude of Sgt "Bull" Whitham who would try and interfere at
every opportunity but as "Woody" had the final word then it didn't
really bother us. This was a good time spent with a good crowd of lads
all from different companies, the majority of whose names I am sorry
to say I can no longer remember. Although I do remember Ronnie Phair
from Liverpool, Grimshaw from Bury, Livesey from Barrow. It was summer
time and in the evenings we would play cricket, football, or knock a
ball around the tennis court. Though we still had to do the odd guard
it
was a relatively easy time.

Then the battalion returned from leave and I was back with 6 platoon
and the lads who I had last seen at Kumba.This only lasted for a
couple of weeks when the lads of our draft and the draft before were
moved out of the various rifle companies to form "Training Coy". All
O.R'S. and some of the junior N.C.O'S were due for discharge before
Christmas 1961. So the majority of the lads who had started training
together at Fulwood Barracks were back together for the final three
months of service.

Our platoon Sergeant was Tom Hewetson who had just returned to the
battalion from Preston where he had been a drill instructor. We were a
bit wary of him at first but soon found his bark was worse than his
bite and he was fair. Incidentally I met him about five years ago at a
regimental weekend at Carlisle castle and he remembered those days. I
was surprised when he told me that he progressed to become the R.S.M.

Our last few months were spent either on the square drilling in
preparation for " Arroyo" day, weapon training or field training.
Sometimes I got lucky and was detailed to go with the truck taking the
laundry to Catterick where we dropped off the bundles for cleaning in
exchange for the freshly laundered lot. Then we would return to camp
but not before we had taken a diversion down the A1 to a transport
cafe It was here that we got 3x egg and bacon on toast for the price
of one just because our driver new the waitress.

In the August of that year we went on a scheme called "Operation
KAPE", that is" Keep The Army In The Public Eye. On the Monday morning
we were assembled outside the company office for muster parade when a
new C.S.M. appeared, brought us to attention and then introduced
himself thus, "Good morning, I'm Sgt Major Driver otherwise known as
Bobby The Bastard. You don't know me yet but you soon will". He was
right on that score.

We went off to the Lake District on what proved to be a good time, the
idea being that we would be seen around the recruiting area showing
arms and equipment to the public. We were supposed to be under canvas
for the whole of the scheme but with the threat of rain in the air Sgt
Hewetson said he had no intention of sleeping out, and somehow he
arranged that two nights would be spent in Threlkeld village hall and
another two nights in church hall in Keswick! The other two nights
were under canvas in Ennerdale. The rest of the time was spent riding
around and being seen .Incidentally Arnie Marquis was with at this
time although I can't remember why.

We returned to Barford camp at the end of August and it was mainly
general duties and drills in preparation for the Arroyo day parade. We
were involved in the inter company football knock out competition for
the Arroyo cup which we won, though memory fails me yet again
regarding the opposition.

Eventually the17th November came round and that was it, Demob. All the
lads from the Manchester , Merseyside, Bolton areas made our way to
Darlington for the train home. We had a wait of a couple of hours so
we had a few drinks in the pub near the station until we boarded the
train and then a few more on the train. Eventually we arrived at
Manchester we all shook hands, said our farewells and went on our
separate ways.

Over the years I have often wondered how life has treated those lads
who for two years in my life were the best friends one could wish for.
Ray Corrigan who I used to see from time to time passed away five
years ago and I attended his funeral as did Charlie Colclough who had
kept in contact with Ray. Maybe with a bit of luck I may yet meet up
with some of the others. I hope so.

Best Wishes,

Alan F Rowbotham.

[ 23649583].

Postscript - updated August 2005:

Dear Alan,

I find it difficult to believe that at the end of this month it will
be exactly forty five years since we, as young National Service men,
boarded the MV Devonshire to sail to West Africa and the then British
Cameroon's. It was for most of us a place unheard of and yet would
become a place which we would never forget. I can remember the places,
events and good friends as though it had only happened yesterday.

I remember the experience of sailing to another continent for the
first time, life aboard the ship and working in the laundry with
Indian crew, the throbbing of the ships engines, crossing the Bay of
Biscay, the different colours of the sea which amazed me because
previously I had only ever seen the sea at the Lancashire seaside,
flying fish, whales and dolphins. It was all a new experience. Then
calling in at Dakar in Senegal to take on water and watching the
antics of the lads as they bartered with the locals on the quayside
before sailing off on the last leg of our journey south. Eventually we
saw the Cameroon coast line appear on the horizon and we all stood at
the ships rail looking and wondering what was in store for us there?

We watched the other companies disembark to go off to Buea and Bamenda
and then it was our turn, B company, and we were to be stationed at
Kumba. The camp was in a forest clearing and I can still remember the
barrack rooms with low side wall formed from light weight corrugated
metal sheets mounted on a timber frame and the mud everywhere, the
chlorine in the water, the smell of wood smoke from the fires of the
local people and the lights from tilley lamps. From there, Essosong
and Tombel we carried out patrols, searches, had some of our little
adventures, all done in the heat and oppressive humidity of the forest
areas. There are abiding memories of prickly heat, insect bites,
stomach upsets, various rashes and sores which in the main were
treated with Whitfields cream which usually did the trick.We patrolled
the forest areas, the French Cameroon border, searched villages
looking for terrorists, illegal immigrants and smugglers We had our
share of
successes in the capture of terrorists and their weapons, some of
which are now on display in the regimental museum at Carlisle.

I remember the nights before payday when with my pal Derek Whewell we
would pool our cigarettes, check what money we had between us and if
we where lucky we would have enough for two cans or bottles of beer,
if not we would buy one and share it. I remember guard duties when
mates would help each other to prepare kit and personal weapons,
parcels from home which were shared with room mates. It seemed in
those days that what affected one affected all so it was in
everybody's interest to think not only of themselves. Looking back it
is almost unbelieveable of the speed that friendships were formed
between lads who less than a year earlier had been complete strangers
and now trusted each other one hundred per cent.

In my minds eye I can clearly recall the sights and sounds of the
forest areas, the different colours and shades of the foliage,
screeching monkeys and barking baboons,

squawking brightly coloured birds with large wing spans, rotting
vegetation. Village huts with palm covered roofs and some covered with
corrugated sheets, the poor people with ready smiles, women carrying
large enamel bowls or baskets on their heads, I even saw some women
carrying hefty logs in that fashion. I remember the market at Kumba
town and the Hausa traders, theYoruba women in their brightly coloured
dresses and head wear, the stall selling meat with thousands of flies
buzzing around while the stall holder was fast asleep on the stall,
the over loaded mammy waggons and their religious slogans bouncing
along the rutted roads at an alarming rate.

We were there to do a job and we did it well, we carried out all our
duties, we had our laughs, we had a few moans but in the main we got
on with it. Sergeant Danny Cross and Corporal Eric Smith, two of the
best, wouldn't have had it any other way.

These are just a few of the memories from the hundreds I still have
from those long ago days but the most important ones are those of the
friends who were the young soldiers of the then newly formed Kings Own
Royal Border Regiment following the amalgamation of the the Kings Own
and Border regiments. Now many will be grand fathers, some even great
grandfathers and others sadly will no longer be with us .

Although we never actually met our paths must have crossed at sometime
and I sincerely hope that the years have been good to you and yours.

Best Wishes

Alan Rowbotham ( 23649583)

Ex B Company.


http://freespace.virgin.net/alan.parkinson32/NSM/html/cameroons_another_view.html



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The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in
a thing makes it happen.