Goodbye to Guillemard Camp, but fond memories remain

As the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (1 SIR) from 1987 to 1989, Mr Lee Wai Mun has many fond and proud memories of his time at Guillemard Camp.

- Tay Hong Yi

Being close to the old National Stadium, the camp’s location has always made it an important holding ground for rehearsals, he said.

“We are very proud to say that we were the first to introduce dynamic audience participation for the NDP (National Day Parade),” recounted Mr Lee, now 62 and chief executive of the Automobile Association of Singapore.

That was in 1989. Mr Lee said he and his servicemen placed placards on selected seats at the stadium, so that when audience members raised the placards, the words “Welcome, Mr President” would be spelt out to welcome then President Wee Kim Wee.

Yesterday, Mr Lee was back in his old camp grounds on a visit organised by the Ministry of Defence for former servicemen to bid the camp compound a final farewell before demolition.