A return to memories of scorpions and snakes

Published on Wednesday 12 November 2008 09:03

AS a teenage soldier, he was sent there to protect the locals from communist insurgents.

More than 50 years on, Sandy Parr's return to the village of Simpang Bekok in Malaysia could not have been more different.

The 75-year-old from Newington was treated to a civic reception from grateful locals and even bumped into former guard, now aged 80, who remembered him well.

Mr Parr served for two years from 1951-1953 during the Malaya Emergency, which saw communist guerrillas fight Commonwealth troops. As a corporal section commander with the 1st Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders, his section was sent in 1953 to protect the people of Simpang Bekok.

Last month's visit, which saw Mr Parr spend two weeks in the community with wife Caroline, 69, was the first time he had returned since.

"It was quite emotional being back," he said. "The little village which was very primitive and basic, had paved roads and was very cultivated. The biggest change was how sophisticated it was, it had progressed so much. The quality of life seemed to have improved beyond all recognition.

"The villagers treated my wife and me royally with a civic reception, speeches and the presentation of a plaque."

Sandy was reunited with 80-year-old Mamat Saman – a Home Guard between 1948 and 1963 – during the visit, saying he was overjoyed to meet him again.

But unfortunately he could find no trace of the villagers in a photograph Sandy had kept for more than five decades.

Sandy said: "I have had that photograph for 55 years and over the time I would look at it and wonder what had happened to the children and how their lives had developed.

"None of them were smiling in the photo, they were having a very hard time.

"I was hoping life had been kinder to them. Unfortunately I could find no trace of the children since all had either died or been re-located.

"But it was gratifying to see how much the village had improved."

In 1953, along with the five other members of his section, Sandy worked closely with the locals, particularly the children.

He recalled a few "hairy moments" from his time in the village including reaching out for a "branch" which was actually a hissing snake and sleeping in a scorpions' nest.

He said: "We were patrolling in Mount Ophir in Gunung Ledang when we were bedding for the night. A scratching sound kept me awake, I shone my light and to my horror I found my head lying in a nest of scorpions.

"But such misadventures were nothing compared to the hard time the communists were giving the villagers."

Sandy and Caroline have eight children and ten grandchildren between them. After his two years with the Gordon Highlanders, Sandy developed a chain of hairdressing salons – Parr Salons – which included a salon on George Street in Edinburgh.