Australian involvement in South-East Asian Conflicts

The Malayan Emergency (1948-1960) and the Indonesian-Malaysian Confrontation (Konfrontasi) (1962-1966)

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The Malayan Emergency (1948-1960): Australians on Operations

Army Operations

Members of B Company 2 RAR about to go on a patrol in Perak in 1956. A Daimler Ferret armoured car has accompanied the patrol to its setting-off point in a rubber plantation. The patrol is responding to reports of communist guerrillas in the nearby jungle. Patrolling in search of guerrillas was the main task of the Australian Army during the Malayan Emergency. [AWM HOB/56/0751/MC]

Members of B Company 2 RAR about to go on a patrol in Perak in 1956. A Daimler Ferret armoured car has accompanied the patrol to its setting-off point in a rubber plantation. The patrol is responding to reports of communist guerrillas in the nearby jungle. Patrolling in search of guerrillas was the main task of the Australian Army during the Malayan Emergency. [AWM HOB/56/0751/MC]

The Australian Army was involved in the Malayan Emergency from 1955, and Australian soldiers remained in the region until 1963, three years after the conflict’s official end.

The 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR) arrived in Malaya in October 1955. Stationed initially on Penang Island, the battalion crossed to the mainland on 1 January 1956 to begin operations as part of the 28th Commonwealth Brigade. The battalion mainly operated in the northern areas of Kedah and Perak, which had been centres of guerrilla activity. Although there were few contacts with the guerrillas when the battalion patrolled these areas, heavy fighting took place in June 1956 during the Pipeline Ambush, in which three Australians were killed.

  • The colour party of 1 RAR parading through Kuala Lumpur in July 1960. The parade was organised to celebrate the official end of the Malayan Emergency and the victory of the Commonwealth forces over the communist guerrillas. The colour party is being followed by 100 members of the battalion. Although the Malayan Emergency was declared over in 1960, 1 RAR’s tour of duty lasted until October 1961. [AWM CUN/60/0241/MC]
  • Private John Milne of A Company 2 RAR in Malaya in 1955. Milne is with A Company’s unofficial mascot Wild Dog, who was adopted by the men of the company in 1953 when they were serving in Korea. Wild Dog did not survive the Malayan Emergency; he often chased vehicles – at one stage he even knocked a motorcyclist over – and was ultimately killed by a British truck in 1957. [AWM P05001.035]
  • Lieutenant General Sir Henry Wells, Chief of the General Staff, Australian Army, inspects troops from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment’s support company. On the far left is Lieutenant Robert Fletcher whose notebook for Operation Rubber Legs appears here. Among this group are several old soldiers who served in the Second World War and in Korea. [AWM HOB/56/0628/MC]

The 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) replaced 2 RAR in October 1957. After training at Johore in southern Malaya, 3 RAR began patrolling operations in Perak and Kedah. These operations were mainly intended to cut the guerrillas off from their food supplies. The battalion’s patrolling resulted in two notable successes: in July 1958, acting on information received from a surrendered communist, members of the battalion destroyed several local guerrilla camps; and on 20 November 1958 another camp was attacked. One of the guerrillas killed in the latter operation was found to have taken part in the infamous assassination of the British High Commissioner in 1951. The clearest indication of the battalion’s success came in April 1959 when the British announced that the state of Perak was secure.

The 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) replaced 3 RAR in October 1959. On its tour of duty 1 RAR conducted patrols in northern Malaya, sometimes crossing the border into Thailand in order to follow communist guerrillas and drive them back into Malaya. The battalion’s tour continued after the Emergency was declared over on 31 July 1960. Replacing 1 RAR, 2 RAR returned for a second tour of duty in October 1961 and carried out patrols in Perlis and Kedah. Elements of 2 RAR also took part in SEATO exercises in Thailand. The Australian Army’s involvement in Malaya ended when 2 RAR returned to Australia in August 1963.

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Malaya Patrol. This lengthy piece of film was produced by Defence Public Relations and shows the work of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, in Malaya. [AWM F11436]

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Search and seizure book. This pocket book was issued as an aide-memoire to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment’s platoon commanders during the Emergency. The battalion carried out numerous searches during its tour of Malaya. This booklet sets out very clearly how they were to be conducted and the parameters of what was permitted during these searches. [AWM PR03502.011]

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Operation Rubber Legs. Lieutenant Robert Fletcher’s notebook containing his notes based on the operation order for Operation Rubber Legs which took place from 23 February to 7 March 1957. The notes include brief, but interesting, details of the operation, setting out methods of resupply, the area of operations, the ways in which infantry would work with aircraft and the rules of engagement. It is an interesting glimpse into the planning that lay behind these complex operations and the way in which that planning was distilled into a series of notes by those who would be commanding men on the ground. Rubber Legs resulted in the deaths of two communists and the wounding of two others. Sixteen communist camps were discovered in the operation along with a quantity of weapons, ammunition and a major communist arms workshop. [AWM PR03502, reproduced with the permission of Robert Fletcher]