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FOURTEEN
quite a thrill because it represented exclusive officer status and adolescence had not quite
deserted many of the cadets. There was considerable melodrama associated with wearing a
sword belt, the sword salute and the idea of the sword being a symbol of authority.
The real problem with Colour drill was the urge to impress upon new initiates into the armed
forces the sanctity of unit Colours. It is first cousin to the hype associated with ‘sacred’ icons
among triads. One could not help wondering how many of those already serving in the units
would have been prepared to die, guarding their Colours in battle as they historically used to
when battlefields were affairs of massed troops charging massed troops across open fields.
The last British regiment to carry its Colours into battle was the 58
th
Regiment of Foot at
Laing Nek in South Africa in January 1881 during the Boer War—but to little avail as the
regiment was defeated. But, boys will be boys and the instructors for the first intake enjoyed
indulging in the iconic image of the Colours during the training, although strictly speaking,
it was to have nothing to do with the passing out parade because there were as yet no SAFTI
Colours to go on parade. To do the instructors justice, however, in the early days of the
SAF, Dr. Goh Keng Swee regarded unit Colours as a means of instilling commitment and
loyalty among National Servicemen, in particular. He had a thing about the dynamics and
brotherhood of triads. Colours were presented to nearly every unit shortly after formation
at solemn consecration ceremonies at which all the major faiths were represented to bless
the Colours. Frequently, the President or a senior Cabinet Minister would be the Officiating
Officer and Guest of Honour. The First Batch was thus able to oversee the preparations for
such parades from a position of vantage.
The ritual of casing and uncasing of the Colours apply strictly whenever the Colours are
taken from their official display site in a unit, traditionally the Officers’ Mess and returned.
When uncased, all service personnel who pass by are expected to salute or pay respect to
the Colours. As such, all drill rehearsals are conducted with simulated Colours by, typically
a blanket on a pole, though with a standard casing. Once again, Tiger managed to supply
enough such training aids for the colour drill sessions. But, there were not enough slings to
go round and since, in any case, the lessons were to familiarise the cadets and not make them
proficient, the cadets trained mainly on casing, uncasing and dressing the Colours, inserting
the Colours into the stirrup of the sling and withdrawing it and lowering the Colours. In
the latter case, sweeping the Colours in a slow arc over a wet parade square would leave the
blanket soaking wet and a problem to raise again with one hand, not to mention inserting the
‘pike’ into the stirrup guided only by feel of the left hand without looking down.
Advanced lessons integrated the format for the Colour Party on parade, the roles of the
Colour Ensign and Escorts and the Parade and Contingent Commanders with rifle drill,
sword drill and colour drill.