Bryan Vaughan (1937-)

National Service 1956-58

British Army: Gunner in the Royal Artillery in Malaya

Interview Date: 13.8.25

Location: Aberporth

Interviewer: Hugh Morgan

Camerman: Neil Davies

Written Description

Bryan Vaughan’s collection includes a filmed interview and photographs from his personal collection capturing snapshots of his two years spent in National Service, much of which was spent in Malaya.

In the filmed interview Bryan recalls his National Service which took place from 1956-58 and then references his 3 years and 160 days serving in the Army Emergency Reservice immediately post his discharge from National Service on 4th June 1958. 

Early Years and Call Up

Bryan was born in Eglwyswrw. North Pembrokeshire in 1937. He grew up and went to school in the village and remembers the impact of World War Two including rationing and the arrival of the American troops. After leaving school Bryan became an apprentice mechanic in Eglwyswrw, working on cars, tractors, in fact any kind of vehicle. This apprenticeship stood Bryan in good stead for his two years as a National Serviceman where he served as a driver in the Royal Artillery.

In May 1956, Bryan received his National Service call up papers and whilst he could have deferred his service until he was 21yrs old due to his apprenticeship, Bryan ‘wanted to see the world’, and therefore elected to go into the Army straight away. 

National Service:  Training

After his medical, Bryan was posted up to Oswestry for basic training then sent for training as a driver for the next 12-15 weeks in Kinmel Park, near Abergele. There are photographs in Bryan’s collection which depict his service in North East Wales. The history of the Army training which has taken place in Kinmel Park since the 1914-1918 war, can be found on Kinmel Park Training Area - Wikipedia.

After ‘passing out’ from his trade training as a driver Bryan was sent to Woolwich Arsenal in London. From there, Bryan was posted along with around with ten others, to “The Royal Guards” for training in Pirbright Camp in  Surrey. Here, Bryan was provided with weapons instruction to prepare him for service in Royal Artillery overseas. After ten days training and a brief return to Woolwich, Bryan found himself in Blackwood Airport, for a flight Singapore. The flight itself took 5 days with fuel stops.

Malaya

In Singapore, Bryan his fellow troops in the 75th Battery of the 48 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, troops received ‘jungle training’ before being posted to Malaya which is where most of his two years National Service were spent. On 31.8.1957 Malaya obtained independence from Britain and Bryan recalls this notable event in the history of Malaya. 

Bran recalls that his task in Malaya was to maintain the vehicles, and this included six week patrols in the Malayan jungle. He describes living in Nissen Huts which provided extremely basic accommodation with no hot water. He describes Malaya’s heat and humidity and the monsoons, but also the political climate, having to clear up unspent ammunition left over from the Second World War. He remembers his friends, the NAAFI’s, enjoying rest and recuperation in Penang though preferred not to go into detail.

On the return journey home by Troopship “Empire Fowey” Bryan travelled through the Suez Canal and clearly remembers the ship needing to navigate through all the ships which had been damaged or blown up during the recent Suez War.

Demob

Bryan was demobbed in Haverfordwest. He had not told his mother and father that he was coming home. After arriving home in Eglwyswrw in June Bryan could not go back to work as a mechanic until November, because he was required to serve in the Territorial Army. Gunner Bryan Vaughan completed a further 3 years and 160 days service as a member of the Army Emergency Reserve before receiving his final discharge papers on 6th December 1961, having served his country for five and half years.

Bryan continued to work with vehicles throughout the rest of his career as a mechanic. Bryan has two daughters, grandchildren, and lives in Aberporth.Brian Vaughan - Part 1