This Story started by Denis Holroyd

11 Independent Field Squadron Royal Engineers

I'm searching for guys who took part in a trip to Laos that occurred, according to my little red book Sept 66 for a period of 18 days (were you one of the crew). I know we were flown in by chopper from Singapore/Changi to Vientiane/Laos, I think there were six of us ?.
The whole thing was a hearts and minds operation, created by extensive flooding , setting up and supplying drinking water for the local population , Scandinavian TV guy, American embassy party plus pool, British embassy staff.
Meeting with President before we left, If you were there you'll know what i mean. As you can see I need info to get some facts correct, and names of guys who were in the party. Any idea's???? Take care,

Denis Holroyd.

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From Colwyn Taff Morris
What i remember about it the Guard waking me up on a Sunday morning O.C wants you down the office now your going to Vietnam. Tell the O.C i am not in , the guard came again and told me we were going to Vientian Laos, I Reported to
O.C who asked how soon we could have the water purification kit ready to move .There was a delay as they could not make a decision to carry weapons or not eventually decision was given for us not to carry weapons.We then went to Shangi flew up to Thailand Were a helicopter flew us across the Mekong to Laos were we set up by a monestry and had 9x9 set up. We slept if my memory serves upstairs in a vets store.
Regards Taff Morris

Taff Morris
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Ian Sumpter

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From John Spriggs
MAY66-AUG67 saw many different locations including LAOS.the team that eventually did get to travel LAOS was drawn from all the different troops each having thier own skills.
Scouse Sumpter & myself for the water supply
Taff Morriss engine maintenance
Jimmy Dow electricianl
Brian Mellet was snco
( brian was my SSM when i was an instructor @DOVER 71-73)
we did some good work in LAOS
and were rewarded with a lot off parties
after the task was completed,from all the different embassy,s

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Members So Far
Dennis Holroyd
Colwyn Taff Morris
Ian Sumpter
John Spriggs
Brian Mellett SNCO Deceased
Jimmy Dow electrician
Rob Deeming
Michael Cheesley ACC new
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Photos From Colwyn Morris

Continuation From 2nd Lt Rob Cooke

Laos Flood Relief 1966

The call came to 11 Sqn on a Sunday afternoon. There was a scramble to put together the G1098 stores that might be needed amid some confusion about what we might be called upon to do. That evening the group of about 8 or 9 bodies plus stores set off for Singapore arriving in the small hours at Nee Soon Transit Camp.

That was the hurry up then came the wait. We spent the next 4 or 5 days waiting for the politicians to decide whether we would indeed be sent to Laos. In that time we were joined by a couple of reinforcements from 54 Sqn and a RAMC Field Hygiene Team. Each day as we waited more and more stores and supplies arrived as the Singapore staff tried to second guess what we might need.

Eventually the decision was made and we departed by Hercules with a small selection from the large stockpile of stores that had grown up in the Transit Camp.

The Hercules deposited us at the American airbase at Udorn in Thailand about 50 kms to the south of Vientiane. Waiting for us there was a RAF Wessex which shuttled us north to Vientiane. The British Embassy staff made us welcome and we were accommodated in a section of the embassy that was being refurbished.

Having expected to find ourselves in a disaster zone it was a bit of an anticlimax to find that whilst there was a lot of the town flooded the locals were coping pretty well and were quietly waiting for the flood to subside. The Americans had been on the ground for a while and were already providing all sorts of assistance.

The only thing the locals were short of was clean water and outpatient level medical assistance, so that’s what we got on with.

Three water points were established, one fairly close to the embassy and one by a central monument both using water drawn from the embassy swimming pool and the third further towards the town centre in the grounds of a monastery using water drawn from the monastery well. The Hygiene Team based itself at the monument water point.

It rapidly became clear that the locals were only interested in collecting water during daylight hours so life became fairly relaxed. The group were given access to the American Embassy Club where decent food and drink were available - any fear of misbehaviour was nipped in the bud with a strong warning from the club manager, an ex Coldstream Guards RSM.

There wasn’t a lot of opportunity for socialising though the doctor from the Hygiene Team managed to strike up a friendship with a lady on the embassy staff and one of the Sappers at the monastery water point got a date with the daughter of a Laotian government minister who lived across the road from the monastery. Said minister endeared himself to the monastery team by arranging several deliveries of whisky.

Towards the end of the stay we were all invited along with some of the embassy staff, as a thankyou,  to afternoon tea with the Laotian Prime Minister - all very pleasant and civilised.

We were only in Vientiane for a little over a week before being choppered back to Udorn Airbase and then flown by Hercules back to Singapore.  

Arriving

Arriving

Flooding

Embassy

Embassy Pool

Embassy Pool

Water truck

Water Point

Water Point

Monument Waterpoint

Monument Waterpoint

Monument Waterpoint

Monument Waterpoint

Monastery Waterpoint

Monastery Waterpoint

Monastery waterpoint

Tea party

Udorn going home