How Time Flies

WF, far right as a newly commissioned Naval officer with my 6th Midshipman Batch buddies.   

How times flies. It wasn't too long ago, when I was 18 years old, struggling to pass my midshipman course so I could be commissioned as a Naval officer. I was so very proud of my development in the Navy; from a boy to an officer & a gentleman. Well I made it and become a Naval officer at the tender age of 19. (as in the photo above). From there on, life was mostly about ships, sea routines, ceremony and growing up even more.

Funny how very difficult it was to be humble during those growing years. You felt like you knew almost everything and constantly had this on top-of-the-world attitude. Little did I know then, that I had lots more growing up to do before I would eventually discover who I really was. When I bought my first car, a Ford Escort 1.1 at a never again to be seen price of $4,500 I felt that Ford build the best cars and everything else, especially Japanese was second rate. I drove that car often into Malaysia, as far north as Kuantan to watch the turtles lay their eggs in the early mornings.

My first ship posting was a Red Wing class Mine Sweeper, RSS Mercury. I was posted onboard as an Additional Office (AO). which meant I didn't have a portfolio and has to do most anything I was called to do. I spent the good part of each day wresting with the typewriter.

RSS Mercury & RSS Jupiter arriving at Brani Naval Base in the early 1970s

The American Red Wing Class Mine Sweepers 

Most of my buddies when home after work and always on the weekends when there was no patrol. I stayed onboard 24/7. The option was an obvious one for me. I didn't have a home to go back to, having been booted out of the house at age 16 by my step father. He was a pommy. A British Bombardier who survived the 2nd World War and was commissioned in the field. He retired a Major and dedicated the rest of his life to the Ex Services Association of Singapore looking after war widows and organizing ceremonies, especially the yearly Remembrance Day Ceremony at Kranji War Memorial. He too was booted out of his home in Devon, England at an early age of 14 years. He immediately joined the Army and rose up the ranks. He was Maj (Ret'd) Derrick John Coupland. He would be celebrating his 92nd birthday in January, if cancer hadn't taken him 22 years ago. I have him to thank for, for giving me the booth 38 years ago as that was the single most influencing factor that accelerated my development.

As I look back all those years, I wonder if I would have turned out differently has I stayed in the security of my family home a lot longer. That home since 1965 was a per-war bungalow at 8 Upper Wilkie Road. The house has since been torn down and a new one build in the same fashion as the old one that stood in a bygone era of old Singapore. How I miss the place at Mount Emily and i do visit the site from time to time to reminiscence the 1960s & 70s when I young and fearless.

I am at home now with my 3 boys. They were babies not too long ago. They're in their 20s now. No. I didn't give them the booth when they arrived at 16. I kept them longer than I should. They still depend on me financially, emotionally and sometimes socially. I wonder when they will eventually leave the nest and explore the world on their own strength. Perhaps soon. Perhaps only after they marry. Perhaps never. That's a scary thought.

On Patrol off Horsburgh Lighthouse

Life is wonderful for me and my wife these days. We have everything we want and more. I am past the halfway mark at 54 yrs old and looking forward with eager anticipation for what the next 50 years will surprise me. I am glad that life is unpredictably predictable. It's full of surprises. I have only good ones in store for me.....

Arrived at Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1979 onboard RSS Resolution

Conducting lectures at sea onboard the LSTs

Cycling at Bitung Indonesia with Joe Cheong

WF Sailing Larks at Midshipman School