Minden Barracks & School

[duster]

I hope that many people who must know a great deal about what used to be Minden Barracks will write into this forum and tell us about life in the barracks while it was an active unit. There was also a school housed in the barracks, the British Army Childrens School, BACS, which I am particularly interested in. I was posted to the Station Workshops at RAF Butterworth for 6 months in 1967 & my children attended BACS but can recall very little about it now. I wonder if there were active army units at the barracks in 1967, and if perhaps they were Ghurkhas, as my daughter recalls Ghurkha soldiers being on the school buses.

[duster]

Excuse me for being a little off the current thread but I would like to ask one of the registered members Gail Bennett, to contact me initially through this forum. I am seeking a long lost friends, Charlie Bennett &/or his sisters, who lived in Malta in the late 1940's and I have to wonder if by some very remote chance Gail has a family member, or knows of this Bennett family with this qualification.
Regards.
duster

[Eric Davies]

Hi

Eric Davies here... My Mum Dad and family lived in the Bungalow next to the cinama in Minden Barracks 1962-1966

I went to Slim School groups.yahoo.com/group/slimschoolmalaya2

I also went to Bourne School groups.yahoo.com/group/bourneschoolkualalumper

There is such a big network of club sites ... far east BSAC Schools you will find links from one to another.... So Many names so many pictures so many reunions.....

Eric Davies

[phil]

I attended the British Army Overseas School (BAOC) at Minden from 1962-65 Dad was the Bandmaster and we lived there for around 2.5 years. Happy to share reflections. I have my old reports and some old photos which I~ will try to post sometime. My bro Bob went to SLIM. He pointed out the site to me

[jacquicallaway]

My name used to be Jacqueline Chamberlain. I attended Minden School from 1967-1971 I beleive I am one the class photos of 1967 on your website. We lived on Jalen Tembaga in Penang. I live in the United States now. My dad Ken Chamberlain who worked on Penang Hill died in 1998. I remember a friend "Dorothy" that went to school with me and green and white checkered uniforms.

[stevehudson]

Hi Jaqueline,

I too was at Minden from 1968 to 197, and my father also worked at Western Hill, I'm in the process of sorting through my father's slide collection at the moment, and have forwarded a number of photos to Cynthia, which I'm sure she will post on the site.

Regards

Steve

[nick]

My father was posted to Butterworth in 1965 and I was at school at the British Army School, Minden Barracks from 1965 (age fve) to 1968.
We lived at Hillside for the two and a half years, and I remember all sorts of things from these bygone days.
I re-visited Penang during the eighties, and it was great to head back up to the Ayer Itam Dam (I remember the problems my father's Daf variomatic used to have negotiating the hairpin bend), visiting the snake temple (now surrounded by buildings), the fenicular railway (the carriages are now somewhat better), and driving/walking around Georgetown which now has the Komtar skyscraper plonked in the middle.

[paul]

Hi Cynthia and everyone

Just back from sea again. :-)

Jaqueline do you have a brother called Richard? I remember having a friend with that name.

paul

[JEAN ASHFORD]

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF YOU COULD HAVE GOT MARRIED AT THE MINDEN BARRACKS IN 1952??

[David Law]

Hi,
How nice to chance upon your site
I was at Minden in 1966 with 2nd Royal Green Jackets, we took over the camp from 1st Green Jackets in '64/65. (who became 'Royal' on 1st Jan '66) When we left in 1967, the barracks became the home of a Gurkha battalion. Also accommodated in the camp were a small number of RAF guys who manned the radar station at the top of Western Hill. The main thing I recall of the camp was how well landscaped it was, and what an enjoyable walk from the accommodation to our work-place which was behind the school. Also remember the taxi ride into town quite a rural ride as I remember, except the Glugor bit and of course 'The Bridge of a Thousand Smells' (or a similar name!) as you approached Georgetown. Certainly felt lucky to have had such a posting.

[Rodney Simms]

I have just returned from Penang where my Father Rod Simms served with the 2nd Green Jackets in 1965 to Feb 1967. Looking at David Law's comments I wonder if he remembers him? I returned with my Mum who rembers it well and took a fond look down memory lane. We went to the beach where Heah Court used to be (now the Tanjong Bungah Hotel). The Chinese swimming club is still there. We walked up the Jalan Gajah to the Jalan Rusa where they lived. What happened to the Naffi? Anyone wishing any up to date photos can email me at [e-mail]

[shrimp]

We served in Penang from April 62 until January 65, 1st Green Jackets 43 & 52nd, had a great time living in Jalan Gajah, but my husband had to go over to Borneo to fight off the indonsians, but many, many happy memories.

[dave]

Hi all,
Iam trying to to trace my early days in Minden Barracks ? My father was a l/cpl or corp K O Y L I, we lived in a row of bungerlows not far from the military hospital and across from a firing range that backed onto a rubber plantatio also I remember a monkey called Charlie that was owned by a officer, I cannot remember the school I attended so Im hoping some one can send me in the right direction to find my past, my father was Giles Tomlinson (aka Charlie)
We lived in Penang, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur bfore being posted to Germant around 1952.
Thanks for any help Dave..

[piperlen]

i was on minden 1962-63 as aussie army working radio shack on hill at batu uban. also was cubmaster of the on base group. certainly remember the brits who rotated thru minden, GJ's, Howards, Koyli's, Kosb's and Ghurkas. would be keen to hear from any who knew me then. now retired in brisbane, mob is 0400242077 or leatonatecn.net.au

[binnawan]

I was at Minden barracks for 9 months in 1957/58. I was with 16 Field ambulance and we lived for most of the time in tents. I have pics of the barracks at that time.