BRITISH CONFLICTS IN THE FAR EAST SINCE WORLD WAR II

Modern History lessons tend to omit any reference the wars in the Far East that Britain and the Commonwealth have been involved in. For those of you who are wondering. The majority of our ordinary members have served in one or more of the conflicts listed below. Some have fought in the 'forgotten wars' of Burma or Korea but as they both have their own Associations they are not included here.

SOUTH EAST ASIA 1945 – 46
The area included Java, Sumatra, Malaya, Siam, French Indo-China and the Andaman Islands.
British Forces not only re-established pre-war administration for the Crown but also did so temporarily for those Governments which had only just been liberated from the Germans. During this period the activities included the removal of prisoners of war and internees along with counter insurgency operations.

MALAYA 1948 – 61 (THE MALAYAN EMERGENCY)
In June 1948 the Malayan Communist Part and its Guerrilla organisation began a war to end British rule in Malaya.
The twelve year fight against the Communist Terrorists, in a country predominantly covered in thick jungle, proved to be one of the most vicious and protracted wars fought by the British, Commonwealth and Local Forces.
The eventual defeat of the Communist insurgency proved to be one of the most successful anti-guerrilla operations ever mounted.

BRUNEI 1962 – 63 (THE BRUNEI INSURRECTION)
The Borneo, Brunei and East & West Malaysia campaigns are linked by political events and geographical considerations.
In December 1962 insurrection broke out in the British Protectorate of Brunei. The Sultan requested military assistance to quell the rising. Troops were flown in from Singapore.

BORNEO 1962 – 66 (THE BORNEO CONFRONTATION)
President Sukarno of Indonesia refused to recognise the new Federation of Malaysia made up of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and North Borneo (Sabah). He vowed to fight and destroy it.

EAST & WEST MALAYSIA 1964 – 66
The creation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963 meant that instead of it being a Colonial war it became an action in support of a Commonwealth ally. Malaysian, British, New Zealand and Australian forces combined to clear the area. During this period Indonesian infiltrators landed on the mainland but were dispelled. In Singapore the communists incited Chinese rioting against Malaysia. Order was restored by the Police and troops.

HONG KONG 1967
Riots broke out carefully orchestrated by the communist Chinese. The disturbances eventually led to the death of five policeman killed by machine gun fire. British and Gurkha troops were moved up to the border. They were involved in a series of incidents in which Chinese guards would rush across the boarder and surround the British outpost knowing that they were under strict orders not to open fire. Hong Kong itself was racked by bomb explosions which killed two servicemen. The violence died down after an agreement on border exchanges was signed by London and Peking.