Major events of this period

The Straits Times, Jan 12, 1952 Excerpt from report Britain's new "strong man" for Malaya is almost to be General Sir Gerald Templer, aged 53, a former director of military intelligence, a government source disclosed in London early today. If his appointment is confirmed Gen Templer will take overall command of civil and military measures against the Communists. He will head a triumvirate which is to be formed to intensify Britain's fight... The Straits Times, Jan 16, 1952 Excerpt from report ... General Sir Gerald Templer will be charged with "full and direct responsibility" for the Emergency campaign and will be assisted on the administrative side by a deputy High Commissioner. The British Government will give the new High Commissioner a directive "reiterating and reaffirming their aims concerning political development and advancement in the Federation", said the Secretary of State's announcement. The Straits Times, Jan 17, 1952 I am looking forward to having a go at what will be a tough job. -- General Sir Gerald Templer Excerpt from report ... Slim almost sparsely built, Sir Gerald stands about 5ft 10in... Sir Gerald, who at 44 became Britain's youngest general in World War II, was badly wounded when commanding the Sixth Armoured Division. An army lorry hit a landmine just behind his jeep and its chassis fell on the jeep, causing injuries to Sir Gerald's spine. General Templer is a man of action and a soldier-administrator of the highest quality, his former ADC, Mr Tony Beamish, told the Straits Times in Penang today. ... During the war, he was the youngest corps commander in the British Army. In the early part, he did intelligence work in Prague. ... "He had a sense of humour, but no patience with incompetent people," he (Beamish) said. "He did not hesitate to remove those who showed inefficiency. "He is restless, always wanting to move forward and very optimistic..." Lady Templer, getting ready at her home in Cobham, Surrey, to go to Malaya immediately, last night said: "I go wherever my husband goes. That is the lot of a soldier's wife. "I am pretty fearless about bandits," she said. "I was in Palestine and Egypt with my husband only a short while ago and am fairly used to being in the middle of an armed conflict." Previous Moses' start page Leslie's start page Chee Beng's start page Nura's start page Copyright © 1998 Singapore Press Holdings. All Rights Reserved.