One of a Kind (2nd Edition)

ABOUT THE EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS

387

MAJ (RET) RAM JANAM MISIR

MAJOR (RET) ABDUL SAMAD ATHAMBAVA

LTC (RET) ERROL NEUBRONNER

Ram Janam had intended to be a lawyer, but was diverted by a friend

into the SAF when MID started recruiting for officer candidates.

After commission, he specialised in infantry support weapons before

conversion to armour, in which formation he held both command

and staff appointments in the first armour brigade. He retired in

1996 but continued to serve as a formation safety officer in the

Guards and the Army Safety Inspectorate. He was awarded a Letter

of Commendation for Bravery in 1968 at the first SAF Day Parade.

He is now fully retired and spends most of his time in Mt. Abu, Rajastan.

Abdul Samad s/o Athambava was already a Lance Corporal in the

Signals Platoon of 2 SIR before joining the first officer cadet course.

He had enlisted in the Singapore Military Forces against his father’s

wishes. As a signaller, he was deployed against Indonesian guerillas in

east and Peninsular Malaysia. After commissioning, he was posted to

the fledgling Armour formation and was trained abroad as a ‘tankee’.

Samad was a good source of material for this publication because he

had compulsively filed his records. He retired as a major and went

on a full Haj. He is currently with the Singapore Discovery Centre as a Veteran Guide and a

Commitment to Defence (C2D) Ambassador conducting national education talks in schools.

At age 18, Errol barely qualified for recruitment with the first cohort

at SAFTI. With his effervescent personality, he was got on well with

just about everybody. His earlier appointments were mostly staff and

instruction. They included Chief Instructor, School of Advanced

Training for Officers (SATO) and Senior Directing Staff of the

Singapore Command and Staff College. He was also appointed CO

74 SIR and Commander, 22

Singapore Infantry Brigade. As captain

of the SAFSA Hockey Team, he brought home several national titles

to the SAF. He retired from full-time service in 1996 and reserve service in 1998. Errol put

together the graphics and other contents in the CD accompanying the first edition of

One

Of A Kind

and his daughter Jill did the commentary. He now divides his time between taking

care of his grandchildren and consolidating his family genealogy and is happy to be called a

contented recluse.