No 85 Dec 95
Tom's first piece

YAN MOOSUN
Tales from our regular contributor, Yan Moosun, of Hong Kong in the 1950s, appeared in B&C Nos 88, 89, 90 and 91. Now we have tales of Maj Harold `Wiggy’ Wigginton MBE, his Rolls Royce and visits to the Opera in Berlin in 1960. This arrived on disc and saved the Norfolk Editor a lot of typing. Thanks, Yan.

MAJ HAROLD WIGGINTON MBE
I only met Wiggy for the Berlin part of his service and that amounted to probably no more than 6 months which I think was the idea behind his last tour with the newly amalgamated Royal Norfolk/Suffolk Regiment. He was an ex-Suffolk. The character of the man had preceded him so I had an advanced feeling that he was going to provide some fun.

BERLIN OR BUST
Shortly after we had been informed, in 1960, that Wiggy was coming to Berlin, unaccompanied for 6 months, we heard he was travelling by road in a Rolls Royce manufactured circa twenties or thirties. Wiggy had asked for advice about the journey through the East German corridor from Helmstedt to Berlin, about 100 miles on the autobahn. He was advised to ensure that the car was in good mechanical condition before starting the journey as he could expect little assistance, especially with a Rolls, if he had an accident or a breakdown. Be prepared!
There came the expected day of arrival when, late afternoon, we were informed by telephone that a traveller had stopped to offer assistance to the driver of a broken down Rolls Royce. Wiggy was not prepared to leave his car by the roadside so had asked the said driver to report to the British army checkpoint at Berlin that his engine had died on him, that he could not restart it and that he would wait for assistance to arrive. As luck would have it one of the REME National Service vehicle fitters attached to the battalion had been a Rolls Royce apprentice so he was despatched to give aid and succour.
Hours later a weary Wiggy arrived at the Officers' Mess and when asked what had happened said, somewhat shortly, that he did not understand the workings of the infernal combustion engine and stumped off to bed.
The REME fitter later revealed that Wiggy’s idea of vehicle preparedness was, convinced that an old vehicle, even a Rolls Royce, had to burn oil, to keep topping it up with oil every hundred miles or so. The fitter’s task upon arrival at the breakdown scene was to drain off the surplus oil and clean the plugs, then to find that the engine started at the first attempt. There is no truth whatsoever to the story that the fitter, who travelled back to Berlin in the Rolls with Wiggy, hummed: 'Oil be seeing you'’ for most of the journey.

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
Wiggy was a character, an eccentric even, but nevertheless he was prepared to stand or fall by his beliefs. When Arthur Campbell commanded the battalion in Berlin he had this idea that the regiment could make a lot of money by breeding, fattening and then selling pigs. All the money was to be spent in teaching the troops to ski. Of course the idea was completely mad and like most ludicrous ideas it worked. (Over 400 troops went to Austria during the winter of 60/61 and, with varying measures of success, were taught to ski.) The pioneer platoon set out pens in a centrally heated garage, a national service Norfolk ex-pigman was quickly found hiding in B Coy and before you could say 'streaky bacon' piglets had been purchased, new swill bins delivered to the cookhouse and the poor old OC HQ Coy was lumbered with further responsibilities. One of the key players in the operation was a Herr Panzenhager who was employed as a clerk/interpreter/link with German civilians and luckily he too was part of the set-up of HQ Coy. (Two of his claims were that he was in the German army in both world wars and that he was proud of the fact that he had surrendered to the British on both occasions.) Herr Panzenhager was the 'fixer' for he knew where to buy the piglets, whom to employ as the vet and what is more important, where to sell the pigs on the German market for a good price.
One day I happened to mention to him that I had an interest in opera and that the one visit I had made to the Staatsoper in East Berlin was spoilt by the fact that the seats I had been sold at the box office were awful in that I could see very little. (At that time the unofficial rate of exchange, East Mark to West Mark, was at least 4 to 1 which meant that the best seats would be about the equivalent of £3 and champagne at the interval 50p a glass !!) In no time at all Herr Panzenhager had given me an introduction to a Frau Ziller who just happened to work in a department that planned the future programs for the Staatsoper and the Komische Opera both in East Berlin. I was made, for now I was able to know what was planned for both opera houses and could ask Frau Ziller - who seemed to have a soft spot for the British - to reserve for me, usually, some of the best seats in the house for whatever it was I wanted to see at prices even I could afford on a visit each month.
The telephone system between East and West Berlin at that time was worse than useless so it meant that I would be well informed of all that was planned. Needless to say I did not tell others of my contact in East Berlin.
Within a day or two of his arrival in Berlin, Wiggy told me in no uncertain terms that he was aware of my contact in East Berlin, though not who, and that he thought it only right and proper that I should introduce him. After all, he went on to say, no gentleman would be so selfish as to keep such information to himself.
With great reluctance I agreed to take Wiggy to East Berlin and effect an introduction. In his Rolls we set off with me explaining the drill for crossing into East Berlin. For those who have forgotten what it was like, it was thus:-
British servicemen in uniform had a right of entry into East Berlin; the designated routes were manned in East Berlin by the East German police, Vopos, but the UK government did not recognise East Germany so we were not to co-operate any more than necessary with them.
So, on entering East Berlin, we were required to stop at the check point, ensuring car windows were closed, and show our military identity cards but under no circumstances let the Vopos take them. Any problems then sound the car horn and our military police the other side of the border would respond by sending a military police vehicle and then we would be required to drive out following them. All were warned to adhere to these rules in order to avoid incidents.
Wiggy made no comment when I finished my explanation so I assumed all was well. We went through the Brandenburg Tor and having done so saw the check point about 50 yards ahead. We were travelling at about 25 miles an hour, with no indication by Wiggy that we were about to slow down, so I reminded him that he was required, by the rules of our side, to stop. To my utter horror Wiggy stated in no uncertain terms that he was not going to stop for any bloody German and continued down the Unten den Linden at well within the speed limit. He further added that one should always ensure that the Germans knew who was the boss.
It would be an exaggeration to say that the Vopos, about 4 of them, had to leap for their lives but they had closed in somewhat. A Rolls Royce was still a little out of the ordinary in those days and as Wiggy was sticking to his course they did have to move somewhat sharpish. Trying to make myself smaller, very much smaller, I then pondered upon the bullet stopping capabilities of the Rolls Royce bodywork whilst Wiggy drove on without a care in the world. I told him that in my view at best we would be arrested, at worst, unable to hear the last post that a member of the Corps of Drums would undoubtedly play for us.
Upon meeting Frau Ziller, Wiggy produced a huge box of chocolates for her and thereafter ensured her complete devotion to his opera, ballet and concert needs. If I had not been worrying about the impending doom awaiting us at the Brandenburg Tor - I did not know any other route out of East Berlin - I would have been quite peeved to be supplanted by Wiggy.
The journey back up the Unten den Linden gave us a chance to see a crowd of Vopos, far more than when we came in, waiting this side of the Brandenburg Tor, all armed with sub-machine guns and looking expectantly in our direction. This was in full view from about 500 yards away. Wiggy drove on at a sedate 25 miles an hour and when asked if he was going to stop this time advised me that he had not changed his views during the past hour, saw no reason to do so now and anyway I was in for a pleasant surprise. What on earth he meant by the last remark I could not fathom out, nor did I want to.
Travelling at 25 miles per hour on a course that was straight down the middle of the dual carriageway Wiggy closed the gap between us and the Vopos. No variation of speed or direction, no shouting or waving, no use of the car horn or lights we both went forward in Rolls Royce fashion to meet our destiny.
When it seemed certain that a charge of driving without care and attention was going to be added to all our other sins, all the Vopos, in unison, stepped back, came to attention and saluted as we swept by. Wiggy’s only comment, ' See, I told you so.'

A BALLET GOOD SHOW
The following story was told to me a few weeks later by Frau Ziller. How true it is one cannot say, but if there is any molecule of truth to it then the mysterious officer could have been Wiggy.
The premier company of the Bolshoi Ballet was going to give one performance only at the Staatsoper. This was unusual for several reasons, the main ones being:- at that time the premier company of the Bolshoi seldom left Russia to perform but I suppose East Germany was considered to be safe from possible defections; the coming performance was never advertised nor were any tickets for it ever on sale. Herr Ulbricht, the East German president, had decided that tickets would be given to loyal party members. Thus it was a strictly private party.
It was reasonable to assume that Frau Ziller may have mentioned this event in conversation with Wiggy when he called making theatre arrangements. But that was all.
Frau Ziller did not attend the performance as she was not a party member and was thus excluded but was told the following day that there had been an unusual occurrence just before the ballet commenced.
Herr Ulbricht entered what had previously been the royal box to polite applause from the audience and nodding his head in acknowledgement to the right and left became aware that standing by the first seat immediately outside the Royal box was a man dressed in 'tight blue trousers, a short scarlet jacket with medals, white shirt and black bow tie'. Before any one could react to what was obviously an intruder, the orchestra struck up the East German national anthem and immediately after that the house lights dimmed and the ballet commenced.
One can only assume, if the story is true, that with all the party faithful present the last thing that was wanted was an incident for there is no more to the story. I have often wondered if Wiggy had surpassed himself yet again.

Mrs Pat Wigginton requested 5 copies of the above Jun 99 article for her grandchildren. Harold was 2IC 1st Bn The Federation Regiment in Malaya from 1954-7. He was instrumental in the handing over of Malaya to Malaysia and present at the ceremony attended by HRH The Duke of Gloucester. He was made MBE in 1959 for 'perseverance in the continuous operation of successful ambushes and the elimination of terrorist organisations.'
Harold died, aged only 41, soon after retiring from the army in 1962.
Has anyone any more reminiscences of Harold Wigginton for publication?