The Malayan Emergency & Borneo Confrontation Tweet
The fight to found Malaysia - Started by Bill Ashby
Two successful jungle campaigns that were fought by Commonwealth Forces against insurgents,
The Malayan Emergency (1948 - 1960) against Chinese Communists and The Borneo Confrontation (1962–1966) against Indonesia’s political and armed opposition to the creation of Malaysia.
In 1961 British troops put down a revolt in Brunei and release captured Shell workers.
The success of these campaigns laid the path to the founding of Malaysia.
I was with 1st Buffs Kenya 1954 - then with 1st Queens
Malaya 55/57. Stationed at Selerang (Changi) during Singapore riots. Were you there anybody? 17 days ago
I served in Malaya from April 1961 until Nov 62.My first posting was 13 Inf Workshops Johore Bahru,moving later to the Royal Dragoons LAD REME Ipoh,enjoyed my time in Malaya. 17 days ago
I served with the 3rd. Batt. Gren. Guards, Signals Platoon during The Emergency, 1948/49. I would like to make contact with two good friends, Doug Cooper and Joe Dixon, of London and Penrith. ’Ged’ Plant <.gerald@gpplant.plus.com 26 days ago
My dad Arthur William Trainor (Bill) served with the 12th Lancers in Malayia in 1950 - 55 approx know very little about his time there other than attached to the Gurkha’s, would love to hear from anyone who may remember him. Over a month ago
l was in the Suffolks D-Coy at Sungie Besi /Kajang Segarmet/ Penang Island/ Wardieburn 1950 and part 1951 Ronnie Thompson 22144920 army no anyone remember me am just 82 Over a month ago
I was in the Royal Signals Troop of 6 (Light) Regt R A
1966 to 1967 I am in regular contact with Sandy Reid (Troop Sgt). I have the P J M. 2 associations exist NATIONAL MALAYA Over a month ago
I served at RAF Tengah 64-67. During this time I was posted with my dog to a border airfield at Alor Star near the Thai border. More of a presence than anything else. Back at Tengah, we woke to a tannoy from the station commander informing us that Indonesian paratroopers had been deployed in Malaysia and that 20 Sqn Hunter aicraft had been in action against them. I was never involved in any action as such but it certainly made us all sharper when patrolling with our dogs around the aircraft and installations for the rest of the tour. I was at Tengah when three Indonesians were caught after planting a bomb in Singapore city which I seem to remember killed three people. On a later tour I was at RAF Seletar when these three were executed for this crime. I remember also a service child being killed by a booby trap near married quarters near Changi. Just looking at this page brought many memories flooding back. Over a month ago
Has any one been stationed at a camp called Batu-ling-tang??
it was an army camp and we used to stop there on our way further up country, we were in RAF vehicles and always gave them a good laugh when we unloaded or Sten guns.
Cheers Eddie Over a month ago
My father served in borneo with the fleet air arm was wondering if anyone remembered him as alas I know very little , his name was Paul Vergen not sure of his rank then but he finished his career a WO1 , please any information would be great , Dave Vergen Over a month ago
I was posted to Brunei December 1962, moved to Kuching January 1963, Sabah September 1963, UK October 1965. Returned to Sabah June 1967, Kapit, Sarawak March 1969, Pontianak, Indonesia (OP Mandau) and returned to UK January 1971. Probably the longest serving seviceman in the Borneo territories. Over a month ago
Brian Wood
Ran ammo deliveries 1957/58 out of KL. Had small detachments from many different units accompany me. Single-track railway, living in goods wagons.....scruffy life at times but looking back lots of laughs. Got GSM then, and as I was still out there after "Merdeka" got the PJM also.
Over a month ago
I was in Borneo 1965, attached to B coy 2 Para Plamanmapu,Balai Ringin. did training at Nee Soon and Jungle Warfare school Johore Baru. Over a month ago
Iwas in Borneo in 1965 attached to 2 Para (Plamanmapu) and Balai Ringin. Did training at Nee Soon transit camp and the jungle warfare school Johore Baru. Over a month ago
I spent only five months in Malaya, March-August 1954, partly based at Batu Pahat in camp with 1st Fiji Infantry Regiment. I now find it strange to read that the Fiji Armed Forces apparently did not exist between 1945 and the 1970’s, although 22 men killed from the regiment were either cremated or repatriated during the emergency. Can anyone explain this? Over a month ago
I was in Borneo 1965/1966 with the 1st Bn Kings Own Scottish Borderers, our HQ was in Sibu with the rest of the Bn spread out in Coy’s, Pltn’s along or allocated stretch of the border, we patrolled the border, patrolled the rajang river and helped in the costruction of helicopter LZ’s Over a month ago
I was in Malaya 1958=61 Royal Artillery 2nd fld Regiment was stationed in Batu Gajah and Tampin we were involved in numerous operations right up to the Thailand border against the C T s. Over a month ago
Hi, I am looking for anyone who knew my Father, his name was George Steel and to my knowledge he was with REME. I would like any information regarding his time in Malaya...many thanks. please email me on georgia1305@hotmail.com Over a month ago
I served with 5001 Sqdn, Airfield Construction Branch, as Seletar, Kuching Airport, and Labuan 63 /64 The wok was very hard but we all enjoyed our times there, monsoon rains and really violent thunderstorms which regularly flooded our work site, even found catfish on the Kuching job, tasted OK. Retired now and living in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. Still in contact with some of the lads all in our 70s now. Over a month ago
Iserved with 5001airfield construction in Seletar and labaun remember well the hard work put in by the lads I was the lucky one as I was a supplier and did the paperwork . But the lads didnot hold that against me and made me one of the lads Over a month ago
I was at J.C.U.B. Labuan from 1965-66 as an R.A.F. telegraphist. I have 3 publications that anyone may find interesting. They are: Britain´s Secret War (ISBN 13 978 1 84603 048 2), Confrontation (ISBN 9781844155958) and Drop Zone Borneo (ISBN I-84415-396-7) I deliberatly put the secret war first, because it was just that. It was a long way from home, the media was not involved and current electronic devices had not been invented. To put it in a nutshell: The Campaign was one of the best that British military forces have ever been involved in and if the conflict in Vietnam had been conducted in a similar manner maybe the outcome would have been different. Over a month ago
Ron Robinson L/Bdr with 93rd batty 25th Field Regt
on 25 pounders in malaya 1951/52. any old mates out there??I have found one mate Sid Belsey any More ? Over a month ago
Just finished ’Confrontation’ by Nick van der Bijl. Although I spent all my time on a front line helicopter squadron, visited a lot of the sites mentioned, never was aware of the scale of the conflict. A very well kept secret. Over a month ago
i served with the loyal reg,19571959,ipoh columbo camp i was n.s and and done what was asked of us.tough but well worth it.fond memories.
Over a month ago
strange really i thought i was part and parcel of this campaign but found to my dismay that i was not and was not in line for a gsm for it also appears that i don’t qualify for the new medal from the malaysian govmnt and why ? because singapore left the malay federation i think 2 months after a got there so why i ask myself was president sukarno relly threatening to sink the british aircraft carrier called singapore and because of this why was i and othererks wandering asps and dispersals with a 303 and 10 rounds which we were not allowed to put on the rifle all night still did get long service and good conduct mind that was 3 years after i should have received it still never mind eh Over a month ago
I was lucky as I did my tour 64/66 at Changi on Meteor Flt. We were a target towing unit but our aircraft were armed and ready and we also flew dawn and dusk patrols looking for indo intruders. For a young lad digging trenches and manning our 20mm cannon dawn and dusk. I flew in rear seat on target towing and reccy /observation missions.we had some scrapes when bomb was thrown over aircraft servicing fence. We also had some fun doing riot control in town and once we had to do armed escort on the Tiger beer lorry! They couldn’t stop that reaching camp! Over a month ago
3 company rasc ipoh malaya 57/58 still mates i served with, MY NAME is bill(jock) campbell....it would be great to make comtact with anyone who remembers me Over a month ago
my father was in borneo 63 to 68 attached to the s.b.s i think he served under paddy ashdown. he also mentioned aden does anyone know more about there involvment in these conflicts. and then was in n ireland in 68 to but dont no why. Over a month ago
My father was on 48 Sqn out of Changi, supply dropping to the troops in Borneo in apprx ’56-’’59. He as there again on 52 Sqn out of Butterworth flying Valletta’s in ’64-’66. I was there on both occasions. Over a month ago
From 1965 to 1966 I was part of the REME LAD attached to the 4th Tanks in Malaya . In 1966 I was sent to join them in Borneo. I flew into Sabah and with in two days embarked on a tank landing craft sailing to Kuching. When we landed in Kuching we then drove 240 miles to a camp called Onepadong. Our main task was to keep the Indonesian’s from crossing the boarder. Our secondary task was to win the hearts and minds of the local people. The 4th Tanks got on very well with the local people providing them with medical supplies and house hold equipment. The local people in return provided guides when patrols were needed. We spent 8 months there with out losing any personnel. The only thing that we found frightening was the monkey belonging to the sergeants mess. He use to leap on to you when patrolling on guard duty at night.
Over a month ago
Some yrs ago i met a vietnam vet and mentioned i was is Singapore/Malaya during the Emergency. He said the British approach to jungle warfare was recognised by the rank and file as ’the way to go’.however their ’brass’ refused to accept this and the rest is history Over a month ago
Father was posted to Borneo for one year unacompanied in 1965-1966 and the family joined him in Singapore August 1966- September1968. My favourite photo of father is when he was driving a Lorry pulling a 5.5 Field Gun near Kuching. Over a month ago
I was on the campaign 1952 to 55 F.E.F.B.W While the cts and fihermen were croosing the straits to seletar pinchind the explosives from the bomb dump and getting away with it most times to blow fish out of the river Over a month ago
Maurice,were you at Sematan just before you went to Tawau in 1964? I seem to recall your name.I was on secondment to the SBS at Sematan at that time and I think you were part of the group that we relieved.You were sent,urgently up to Tawau,to form thr Tawau Assault Group. Over a month ago
I was in Borneo Dec1964 - Dec1965, with 110 (H) Sqdn, serving at Labuan, Bario,Sibu and Nanga Gaat, Good times and bad, Iit was hard work but a most educational, tour, we even had some time off shift to play rugby. Over a month ago
I served with 40 Cdo first of all in Brunei and then a couple of times in Sarawak (Terbert Bazzar and Samenko Camp,what I hated was those damn leeches Over a month ago
I served with HQ ARMY AVIATION BITISH LAND FORCES BORNEO LABUAN from 1964 to 1966 under LT COL PE COLLINS RA i was his dr/radio op . The best 2yrs of my time in the army Over a month ago
The Application for the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal can be downloaded from the Website. Conditions for Application:
Eligible UK service personnel who served from independence during period 31st August 1957 and 12th August 1966 inclusive.
Category of Eligibility Category 1 in direct support of operations in area of Malaysia and Singapore for 90 days or more in Malaysia during period 31st August 1957 and 12th August 1966 inclusive; or Singapore during period 31st August 1957 and 9th August 1965 inclusive. Completed Applications to be sent To Mr. Fred Burden - details of UK address on Application Form. Medals are processed through Malaysian Embassy and arrive in presentation case. Presentaion ceremonies are held at local town halls or if you prefer they will be mailed to home addresses.
Over a month ago
I served with the 4th Bn Royal Australian Regt in Borneo in 1966 and fully agree with James ’ comments as we were in the same area. Very tough country to get around in especially when loaded up with 50 kg of gear. Over a month ago
Detached from RAF Tengah to Labuan with 20Sqdn Hunters in 1966;re-visited Labuan in 1990’s-found no history of RAF Labuan,pity--meant something to UK Service personnel. Over a month ago
I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF MY BROTHER IN LAW WAS ENTITLED TO THE PJM MALAYSIAN MEDAL..HIS NAME WAS KENNETH OWEN BROWN SERVICE NUMBER 23491824..JOINED ARMY 1955/1956 FOR 9 YEARS.THE FAMILY KNOW HE DID SERVE IN MALAYASIA IN THE EARLY 1960’S..ANY HELP WOULD BE GRATEFUL THANKS..MY NAME IS GEORGE HARDINGTON EX RN.. Over a month ago
I served with 230 Sqn (RAF) Helcopters based at Labuan, Sepuot and Tawau, Jun 65 to Jun 66 as a young 19 yr old and very junior aircraft mechanic. Not party to the ins and outs of the political and military reasons for the campaign all I new at the time was the support the Sqn provided to the troops and Gurkas at the front, ferry them in and out and resupply. However, as above, this campiagn was kept quiet at the time for policical reasons but was in fact a success, despite the losses. A good account of the campaign can be found from the 13 Journal of the RAF Historical Society. (go to the RAF wwbsite and follow the links) Most of you are Army, but its contributers are the commanders at the time including Brigadier A E D Smith.
I now after 40 yrs have a good understanding what it was all about. Over a month ago
I agree with all the above messages, I served with the 1st RGJ, went to Borneo for the last tour, Kuching, Bao, fort Stass, Fort bucket Knuckle, there was another fort which I forget the name, hard going at times, wished I was dead, but great memories, great pals, great stories to tell my kids and grandkids, and as long as we can pass on these bits and pieces, they will be remembered by those who count, and that doesn’t mean officialdom. James. Over a month ago
Alan Wisely, Kevin I was in Borneo in 1965/66 and was the Medic at Bokah with 4 RAR, I have a couple of old photo’s taken in the morning after getting Vic Richards out, sadly he died a week later from kidney failure, the photo on my profilr is me giving cholera jabs at Bokah. Over a month ago
I was posted to 390MU in the early 60s,and had to do armed escort from Seletar to Kuantan ,with 3 articulated trucks full of barbed wire after some one tried to sabotage the aircraft based there.Eventually i was caseevaced back to the UK. Over a month ago
I was posted to to RAF Seletar indec 1947,ithat tour iservedin changi for 6 or 7 months at CPRS/JAPICAS A PHOTOGRAPHER GENERAL . Out of the 3000who were there during that conflict,I never met one to this day, thats 62 years,strange really?Dixie lee 3502396.RAF
Over a month ago
My father was seconded from Royal Signals to the Malayan army and served in Ipoh and Taiping 1955- 1957? I attended the army school in Taiping in 1955/56 Over a month ago
I was on detachment to labaun in feb 64 with 60 sqdn
javelins and the memory that I remember most was 5001
RAF Airfield Consruction Sqdn working day and night adding
extra lenght to both ends of runway for larger aircraft, 20 sqdn Hunters were at max and one did run out of runway
pilot was killed, Javelins were able to just cope and as Labuan turned into main airfield in contfrontation war very sad to hear Mick Patricks comments about Mueums records and I all whe served there would be offended Over a month ago
I was in Borneo in 1965 and 66,with 40 LT, REGT.,Royal Artillery.No two weeks were the same,it is the forgotten war,people didnt know we were their,some didnt care,Our regt.,was in the action, when the the Gurkha won the VC, The Regt., was also mentioned in dispatches. the jungle was a none forgiving place,we vets should be remember,some didnt come home alive. Over a month ago
Was in Singapore during the riots, with The !st Kings Dragoon Guards attached to the gurkas in Johore Baru from 1956-58, We were not jungle fighters the Gurkers and Sarawaks did that for us, our job was to keep an eye on the rubber plantations, so in a way it was not our job, but as on National Service did not have any allternitive but to do what we were told,was it worth it,: "No", the same as the Afganistan war and all the rest of the stuff we are being drawn in to, a lot of young men losing there lives and limbs for what, has anything changed ? Bill Cook Over a month ago
did my time in bmh kamunting taiping 1960-1962--went back a few years ago and made a visit to taiping cemertary and paid my respect to the fallen hero.s with a wreath and a pray-i am glad to say the graves are well kept which was nice to see as i have a good friend resting there’ Over a month ago
i served with he 4Th q.o.hussars from 1948 to 1951 a solid 3 years very hard work ,we lost a few good lads. we were based at Ipoh but patrolled over a hell of a lot o fmalaya but i look back with nostalgia.harry kirk Over a month ago
charlie stuart.
we the common foot soldier, always in the thick of it will get sod all. yet we have 2 royal princes and their uncles, who will never ever be placed in harms way playing at being soldiers. dripping in medals. where is the justice in that. the same applies to senior officers obe’s mc’s etc, some of them are dodgy as well. come on play fair.
Over a month ago
it’s tommy this and tommy that and tommy will get sod all. 2 royal princes playing soldiers get every bloody madal going. however there is no chance of them ever being placed in harms way. Over a month ago
As to the address of this item, The Malayan Emergency. My I take this time to inform Bill Ashby. That I was born in Malaya in 1952 at the time my father was serving with The Queens Own Royal West Kents. At that time he was awarded M.I.D and another bar. I followed in his footsteps but stayed in the kitch en. And spent meny a good time as an Andy Caps Commando I.E A.C.C Over a month ago
I was in Brunei in Dec 1961 during the troubles with 99 Gurkha Lad REME for 11months then went to Kuching till August 1965 and surprised it is never mentioned except by vets Over a month ago
I arrived at RAF Kuching in June 1965, first job I got was to transport four flag draped coffins to a waiting aircraft heading for Singapore, some wake up call, when people ask me if I went abroad in the service I always mention Borneo, amazing how many people don’t know where it is and never knew we were there. At least they did recognise our efforts by the issue of the Pingat Jasa Medal, like so many other battles, soon forgotten.
Cheers Eddie Over a month ago
I was also in Borneo in 1966 with 4th Bn Royal Australian Regiment. We lost 4 of our chaps. It truly is a forgotten war. Some of the most difficult country I have been in. Over a month ago
yes this did happen i was there for 10 mounths and even today people still do not know we were there. Some of our lads did not return welost three 1 DLI Over a month ago
I visited the Labuan town museum in 2011 and there is no mention at all about RAF Labuan or why we were there in the confrontation. The mueum director did not reply to my e-mail asking why the protection from Indonesia for North Borneo was not recognised. The duty curator appeared to have no knowledge about it either. I was offended. Over a month ago
Much of the detail of Operation Claret, which was the combat element of the later phases of operations in Borneo remains, quite rightly, classsified. A Gurkkha VC was won at this time but even the Gurkha museum in Winchester has oly sketch details of this. Over a month ago
This did happen. Lives were lost, and others changed forever. This chapter in history has never had the recognition it truly deserves. All of us Veterans that survive must make sure our efforts have a place to be remembered. Over a month ago
