PROPER PROCEDURE !! by Bob Milton

It was in the middle of the night at Ekala in Ceylon. The Army had closed down the transmitters used by Army Wireless Chain Squadron that used to radiate to Singapore, Egypt, England and Australia. A couple of us were left to maintain the VF landline connections for the RAF and Navy transmitters nearby.

The transmitter hall

We were guarded by the Ceylon Army.
On this occasion I woke up and decided to have a walk about. I went from the billet to the transmitter hall which was next door. On leaving the transmitter hall, a voice called out “Halt, who goes there!" I saw the Ceylon Army sentry clearly about 10 or 12 feet away, as the site was always well lit at night. I replied “ Don’t be daft it’s me”
He responded “Halt who goes there” and this time I heard the sound of his bolt inserting a round into his rifle.
I called out “Friend !!”,---- he replied “Advance friend to be recognised”
I am glad he did recognise me when I advanced and that we were well protected.

The guard hut in the distance