MALAYA

MALAYA-MALAYSIA

Communist revolutionary doctrine was the driving force behind the Malayan Communist Party's intention to convert Malaya into a Communist state. It fought against the occupying Japanese and it used that operational and logistic base as its combat component in the post-war period.

Following increasing civil unrest in 1948 the murder of rubber planters at Sungei Siput resulted in the declaration of a state of emergency and that led to a war of counter insurgency.

Security consideration brought about the formation of the British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve. The Australian Army component was a rotating battalion group. Based initially at Penang, it was committed to the states of Perak and Kedah on the Thai border.

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Because of LZ Sydney, it was impossible to deny the existence of Fort Ungek to anyone ,let alone the CT. This was mainly due to the fact that the Sakais were very sympathetic to them; acting as their eyes and ears whenever on the move. But our strict track, noise and litter discipline still made precise analysis difficult for any observer. But all the same however, we were routinely watched, and Ungek could be a lonely spot when only manned by small numbers - and which it generally was, due to patrol routine.
Once free of Fort Ungek, we headed for the border to the area around Pillar Post 55 - Rodent's Valley we called it and here we set up our Patrol Base. Any PI Patrol Base is virtually an 'all round defence' field version of the fort principle and it was from here, that our hunt for CTs began in earnest. Our main protagonist was a wily old Chinese fox called Ah Su Chey; one of Chin Peng's close friends and the MCP Area Commander - and Ah Su Chey, was not about to giving away free chances to anyone! Certainly not to any new kid on the block. Once in our allocated area, each day saw track search patrols, fan patrols, box search patrols, creek line patrols, spurline patrols and the most dreaded of all, the cross grain patrol - and where it would have been better to have one leg longer than the other!!

5410524 Paddy Bacskai

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                  Sketch map of CT Armoury near the Betong Salient.
      Contained a kiln, lathes, tools and various bits and pieces of      weapons.
               Captured by patrol lead by Sgt Peter Rothwell.

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1 Section 7 Platoon C Coy at Loyals pad on Malay -Thai Border Feb/Mar 60.

From Left: Terry Dillon, Brian Havers, Barry Treloar, Wally Grey (in front), Arch Foxley,George Garvin and Paddy Bacskai.

We are in regular comms with Paddy. Does anyone have phone numbers for the rest?

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1 RAR Battle Group, Parade Ground Camp Terendak 1961

Presented to Recruit Minor Kenneth Abdul Bin Whanka Johnson (Gp1)

By the President ( Cpl "Jellybelly" Hinde)

And Members (Pte "Berlin" Price, Cpl "Charwallah" Morgan, Cpl "No-Dhobe" Orford,
L/Cpl " The Bird" McClacherty, Pte "Mortarman" Johns, Pte "Ping-Pong" Caton)

of

The Kuala Kangsar Branch of The Old Soldiers and Reo Baiting Society of Persekutuan Tanah Melayu

September 1961

PHOTO - 2411945 KEN JOHNSON.

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The Conduct of Anti-Terrorist Operations in Malaya 1952.
General Sir Gerald Templer
High Commissioner and Director of Operations
Federation of Malaya.

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7 Platoon C Coy 60-61

Rear:Snow Jacobsen,?,Lance Jackson,Pete Rothwell,Paddy Bacskai,Col Green,George Garvin

Centre:Doc Holliday,?,Bob Willis,Brian Adamson,Jock Allan,Lou Lovi,Syd Knott.

Front;Rabbit Grey,Arch Foxley,Brian Hicks,Lindsay ?,Mac McNamara,Brian Havers,Terry Dillon

A section of 4 Platoon 1960 Sungei Siput.
Zeke Mundine, Jerry Martin, ?, Brit Medic, Peter Rigby,
Darrell Fragall, Keith Forden & Stupid.

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               Battalion & Assorted Brits - Demolition Course 1960.

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