One of a Kind (2nd Edition)

EPILOGUE

343

SIXTEEN

VII. CASUALTIES AND LOSSES

VIII. A FAREWELL TO ARMS

While the First Batch remained in good standing in the SAF throughout its tenure, it had its

share of professional casualties. Three of its number were cashiered: one for misappropriation

of funds as a Captain; one for AWOL as a Major and a third for dereliction of duty. Three

others were so severely reprimanded for oversights in the course of their respective duties that

they were persuaded to resign as Captains.

While the First Batch suffered no fatalities due to service, ten of its members as of this writing,

have passed away from natural causes. The latest was the death of Harry Wee Bak Wah on 23

Feburary 2007. He had played the key role in relocating MINDEF from Upper Barracks to

Tanglin. S. Purushothaman, the Cadet Parade Commander of the First Batch Commissioning

Parade had died of a sudden heart attack in July 2005. He was preceded by Lien Beng Thong

in February 2003; Beng Thong also succumbed to a heart attack, though while jogging. The

First Batch also lost is youngest member, William Law Chee Yin, who died in a road accident in

Beijing in 1996. The others are Chow Giak Piak, Dildar Singh Dhot, Oscar Raymond Pereira,

Lee Hock Seng, Ha Weng Kong and Roy Chua Chye Ser from various causes.

LTC Timothy De Souza was the last First Batch officer to leave the service. Although he had

attended and successfully completed the first Artillery Officers’ Course, in 1968 he had been

selected for fighter pilot training in the UK and thereafter had been with the RSAF for the

whole of his career, including being Senior Staff Officer at the Five Power Integrated Air

Defence Command Headquarters in Butterworth, Malaysia. Timothy retired on 31

October,

1999 at age 53. Age 50 is a cut-off under the National Service Act, because it technically ends a

male Singaporean’s obligation towards military mobilisation. When Timothy retired, there still

were some First Batch officers who were under 50 and theoretically liable for mobilisation. But,

they had left active service earlier, and either performed the full reserve service (Operationally

Ready National Service) or did several years of in-camp training, before being dropped to the

second tier of the reserve orbat. So Timothy’s retirement was the endpoint in the journey of

the First Batch officers that began on 1

June, 1966 as soldiers in the SAF.

Retired military officers can carry on as civilians if MINDEF requires their services. Currently,

they can work under a variety of terms and conditions until well after 55 years, depending on

the availability of the positions and the incumbents’ suitability. Dispensations are possible on

a year-to-year basis, for example as diplomats or administrators in government schools, or

even heritage information specialists in MINDEF. In Timothy’s case on his retirement from

active service he was approached by MINDEF to revamp the Singapore Youth Flying Club

at Seletar. He submitted his proposals based on his vast experience in flying operations and