When Japanese resistance collapsed in Malaya at the end of
the Burma campaign, a number of its troops were still in the jungle. The task of dealing with the Japanese remnant was given
to the predominantly Chinese Malay guerilla army raised by Colonel Spencer Chapman. Though an effective fighting force,
his guerilla army was distrusted by the Malays who were suspicious of its communist leanings. Many believed that its aim
was to impose Chinese control over the country.
Once the guerilla army had completed its task of rounding up remnants of the Japanese army, it commenced a campaign of
terror. Persuaded by their communist mentors to turn against
the British, the leaders of the guerilla army conducted terrorist operations from their jungle bases. In response a State of
Emergency was declared in June 1948 that was to last until July 1960.
British troops were sent to destroy the guerrillas, now titled Communist
Terrorists (CTs), and New Zealand was asked to assist. In late 1955 a squadron of the Special Air Service (SAS) was raised New Zealand for service in Malaya. Consisting of six officers
and 127 other ranks, it was flown to Malaya to become part of the British
Far East Strategic Reserve. Early in 1956, having completed parachute training in Singapore, the Squadron was attached to
the British 22nd SAS Regiment which was in action against Communist terrorists in Malaya.
The Squadron spent two years on active service in Malaya, during which time its members spent an average of 17 months on jungle operations. Returning to New Zealand in late 1957, the Squadron was replaced on active service by the
1st Battalion, the New Zealand Regiment which had a strength of 38 officers and 702 other ranks.
Towards the end of 1959, the 1st Battalion was itself replaced by
the 2nd Battalion of the New Zealand Regiment which conducted operations against
terrorists along the Malay-Thai border. New Zealand's infantry presence however, was retained in
Malaysia. As part of a reorganisation in 1964, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the New Zealand Regiment were amalgamated to
form the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment which was based in Malacca, Malaysia.
In 1969 the Battalion was deployed to Singapore where it remained until 1989 when it returned to New Zealand.
Confrontation:
The newly-formed 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment was first employed on active service in Malaysia, as part of the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Group, during the period of
"Confrontation" between Malaysia and Indonesia from August 1964 until August 1966.
The Battalion was also sent on active service to Borneo on two separate occasions.
Between May and October 1965 the Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel R. M. Gurr, was attached to the 19th British Infantry Brigade Group: between May and September 1966 the Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel B. M. Poananga, was attached to the 99th Gurkha Infantry
Brigade Group. Soldiers from the latter Battalion were often referred to as the "big Gurkhas"' due to the number of Maoris in the unit and the Battalion's overall competence in jungle warfare.
Between February 1965 and November 1966, four separate New Zealand SAS detachments were deployed from New Zealand and served in Borneo under the operational command of the British 22nd SAS Regiment. The first detachment was based in Kughing, with subsequent detachments
being based on the island of Labuan. Their tasks included reconnaissance and ambush missions.
Casualties
Seven New Zealand soldiers died in action during the Malayan Emergency and seven were wounded. In addition two soldiers died during the confrontation and two were wounded. |
