Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen announced on Facebook that pioneer of the Singapore Armed Forces Colonel (Ret) John Morrice passed away this morning. He was 79.

A true SAF pioneer, he held various key appointments: He was the Commander of the 2nd Singapore Infantry Brigade (2 SIB) and later on, the Commandant of SAFTI. He was awarded the Pingat Pentadbiran Awam (PPA) medal for his outstanding service from the late President Benjamin Sheares in 1975.

Here are some of his best quotes from the Army Museum of Singapore:

1. He was all for welfare for soldiers

"Singaporeans need encouragement... you have to take care of them. That is why the officer's life is not just training, training and training. Men's welfare is also very important. You look after them properly, they will serve you better. "

2. He was indefatigable

"You see those days, we were used to all these additional jobs. Sometimes, you've got two units to command, sometimes you've got this plus you've got other tasks to do, like National Day. This thing, that thing, organise shooting competitions too. All these things."

3. He believed in self-defence

"We should learn to defend ourselves, we cannot rely on other people."

4. He believed in everyone

"They [the soldiers in 2 SIB] were very good boys. Of course, they were mostly gangsters, with tattoos and all that ... but when you tell them to do something they will really do it. They will grumble ... speak Hokkien ... they will grumble... but when the time comes to do it, they will do it and perform well."

5. He was proud of 2 SIB

"2 SIB was the best brigade in the SAF. We used to win shooting competitions locally, as well as with the international bodies in ASEAN countries. Five Nation... we also used to win. We used to win ... the Internal Security Exercises... sports we used to excel in too. And, operationally, we used to top everything. So, that is why it was the best time of my career."

6. He put himself behind enemy's lines on Pulau Sebatik when Konfrontasi broke out

"On one of my patrols, we nearly opened up. But because ours were reconnaissance patrols, we're not supposed to fight. We're just supposed to get information. They were passing just fifty metres in front of us, but we were behind cover."

7. He was Singapore through and through

"I received a message that I had to report to Jurong Primary School [for reassignment in the new SAF] by 2 o'clock otherwise I could stay with the Malaysian Army. And this came at at 10 o'clock! So right-away, I took the telex message and went to see the Brigadier [of the Malaysian Brigade], and told him that I had to go back to Singapore."

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Rest well, sir.

Top photo from here.

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