In Oriente Primus – An Introduction to
the Singapore Artillery
My first encounter with the Singapore Artillery began in March
1995, when I entered the gates of Khatib Camp. We were a group
of privates who had just passed out of Basic Military Training
(BMT) and the euphoria of our Passing Our Parade (POP) had given
way to anxiety about our new units. As we moved into the gates
of Khatib Camp, the sign that announced, “Once a Gunner,
Always a Gunner,” resounded in our minds, and would remain
so up till today.
Little did I know then that this would be the beginning of a
very special relationship with a very unique organization? And
it is now, nine years after I entered the gates of Khatib Camp
that I have come to appreciate the saying “Once a Gunner,
Always a Gunner.” And because of this, came the idea of
a series on the Singapore Artillery and the role it plays in
the SAF and in Singapore at large.
The Artillery formation is not the biggest or the most glamorous
of formations in the SAF. The various SIR’s in the infantry
easily outnumber the three active gun battalions in the artillery
(20, 21 and 23 SA). And action fantasies are based around Commandos
or Guardsmen. But while small, the Singapore Artillery is a
deadly force on the battlefield. No infantry commander would
ever dream of storming a hill without the support of the awesome
firepower of the Singapore Artillery. Senior Warrant Officer,
Yeo Lay King, Head of Weapon Training Wing, School of Artillery
describes the purpose of the Artillery as, “ Making sure
that all the infantry have to do is to collect the bones.”
As Chief of Artillery, Colonel Lim Chin notes, “We have
the proud distinction of being the oldest formation in the SAF
and we are proud of the valuable role that we play in the SAF.”
And not only does the Singapore Artillery have a valuable role
to play in the SAF’s combat mission. It also has a valuable
way of being a showcase of blending technology and people to
obtain the best results. On a personal level the artillery seems
to have a way of instilling a sense of family and togetherness
in people who have been Gunners.
Manpower or the decline of it has been one of the major issues
in Singapore over the past few years. Like the rest of society
the artillery has had to adapt to this new reality. And it has
done so with the use of technology. One only needs to look at
the evolution from the M71, which required 12 gunners, to Primus,
which not only requires a crew of four but it also removes the
need for other functions – like the BRO.
The increased use of technology has also been a reflection of
the changes in society. Today’s Gunners, like much of
Singapore’s young, are better educated than their forefathers.
They are more comfortable with technology. And the SAF and the
Singapore Artillery has invested heavily in training today’s
Gunners to be comfortable with the latest technology. As Senior
Warrant Lau Peck Wah, Formation Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM)
says, “In the artillery today, it is less a question about
the number of gunners we need but the quality of gunners. We
need to train them better to do more than we used to.”
And so here lies the heart of what the artillery is about. People!
As Colonel Lim Chin says, “ We are at heart, a people
based organization. No matter how high-tech the weapons or techno-savvy
we are, ultimately the gunners make the formation. Therefore
Artillery puts a lot of emphasis on esprit de corps.”
Colonel Lim has summed up what many operationally ready NS men
feel. In camp training is about the people. The comforts of
a civilian’s job seem to lack the warmth of human friendships
formed on the fields of Lentor or Sada Hill. Colonel Lim Chin
notes, “The spirit of the artillery is stronger than before.
In the few months since I've been back, everyone's been very
committed. Since Gunners RV started, retired gunners have come
back to share stories and experience, and this has certainly
enhanced family bonding and camaraderie. With the rich tradition
we have been blessed with, we were able to create a family over
the past 100 years, a closely-knitted family where every gunner
knows one another by name.”
Singaporeans are often called Kiasu. There are times when the
adjective that best describes Singaporeans is ugly. But then
again when I think of the friends that have shared the experience
of being a Gunner – I could never have found a better
group of people to share a year and a half year with. I admit
to my foreign friends, “The average Singaporean may not
be very nice, but when you meet a good one, you’ll never
find a better person anywhere else.” And I have only the
gunners of the Singapore Artillery to thank for allowing me
to tell people that.
In the next article, I will look at HQ SA, the Heart of the
Singapore Artillery. This is where the hard and software of
the artillery lies and where the planning that makes the Singapore
artillery what it is today takes place.
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