After a short home leave in India, he returned and joined the British Army and was stationed in Taiping. This time with REME. My mother later joined him in Taiping in 1949. As for accommodation, his Unit CO (one Maj Parmenter) had a word with the famous Catholic priest, Father Clement and arranged temporary accommadation at the Old Convent. They lived there till their Quarters became available at Kamunting Garrison. The name of a John Thivvy rings a bell. He was an ex-INA officer. It is said that he was one of the first founders of the MIC whic is said to be the first political paty of Malaya. He later became High Commissioner of India to Malaya. We were very close to his family and his in-laws. I had the pleasure of meeting his son, Nirvan in Sydney a few years ago. The women in that family were a great help to my mother when I was born.

I was the 3rd child to be born in the Taiping BMH (British Military Hospital) on 4th March 1950. My British Army birth certificate records the MO in attendance as Dr ME York-Moore, Capt, RAMC.

As I was a premature child and had to stay on for a few weeks extra. At about the time I came off the incubator, the hospital was opened by Lord Louis Mountbatten, last viceroy of India and the GOC South East Asia command. He (and lady Elvira)visited my mother and I at the hospital bedside. He had me on his lap. I was told that he spent a fairly long time talking to my parents as he loved his Indian "friends" dearly. My brother Alexander(Joey) was also born at the BMH (in 1951).

I was baptised in the old Taiping Anglican (Church of England) church by a minister (pastor/father) of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church, the Rev VE Thomas).

I still have memories of my first British Army Garrison Children's Christmas Party. Something I looked forward to till dad left the army in 1963.

We left Taiping for Kluang, Johor in 1952. I have never been back since except for passing through by train on a couple of ocassions. My parents often mentioned a departmental store, similar to Globe Silk Store and wned by Sindhi merchants, and the name D'Silva come to mind. Also a Mr Krishnan who was in REME as well. He later became a councillor, I believe. We then moved to Singapore in 1957 and back to Johor Bahru in 1963. Dad demobbed from the British Army in 1963. Both my parents have passed away in 1992. I hope to visit some of their old friends to recap some old memories.

I now live in Sydney, Australia. It is great reading responses from your website visitors. I can quite share the memories of some of your visitors. Great site. Keep it up. I will come back when I get more info. May be some old photos as well. I'd love to hear from people with common links.