40 Cdo at Sibu

Capture an Indonesian soldier

The previous page was: "40 Commando Medical Centre"

40 Commando Sibu: In 1963 'A' Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines were temporarily based at Sibu, Sarawak, Borneo. Our job in a front line Fighting Troop, was, in the jungles of Borneo, to seek out any Indonesian soldiers on Malaysian soil and capture or fight them.

Malaysia had recently been formed: and Indonesia did not like the idea at all. A Confrontation come into effect immediately. Because Indonesia wanted to prevent Malaysia from succeeding; Indonesia started carrying out incursions into the newly formed States of Malaysia.

Malaya, Sarawak, Brunei and North Borneo united to form a union of Countries into one State. They were all very similar in many ways, they relied upon the rubber from the rubber trees, and minerals. They were producers of natural hard woods that came from their vast jungles.

All their people were friendly in their nature, including the head hunters; except if you had real cause to upset them; as the Japanese in the last war were to discover to their horror.

When they invade the island of Borneo they discovered that some of the natives had tatoos over many parts of their bodies. Some of the tatoos were designed centuries ago and had been passed down through the generations. A young Iban headhunter could look very impressive as paraded about proudly.

Many of the Japanese were also impressed with the designs, but some went too far. They started using the skin of the Ibans for lamp shades.

It was the Japanese biggest mistake for they are the best men of the jungle in the world and can cut off a man's head without him knowing he is beside him.

40 Commando Medical Centre

Leo was a Sarawak Ranger

On the day we met up before we set off at the briefing we were told that our allotted task was a secret. Corporal Johnson (a tall wirey man) was our patrol leader, he was handed an envelope which was not to be opened until we were clear of all human activity.

Then we met our tracker and interpreter Leo, an Iban; he had the familiar Iban head hunters serpent tattooed on the front of his neck. He was a Sarawak Ranger; and in my opinion they are the most skilled soldiers in the jungle in the world.

We set out early in the morning the inexhaustable jungle was all around us, except for the big wide river that was our front door. The moment we entered the jungle our experience came into effect; we were all instantly alert for any dangers that might be lurking.

We travelled along a track through secondary jungle to start with; and only because we were on the outskirts of a large Kampong, where we felt it was safe for us to use the track.

At a given reference point that I had been given I led the patrol into primary jungle; heading on a compass bearing that I had also been given. I was leading the patrol. It was my job as lead scout, it meant that I would always travel at the front of the patrol. Next was Leo the Sarwak Ranger, then there was Tom Minnock and then Corporal Roberts with the rest of the 10 man patrol following behind him.

Cpl Roberts looked at the Iban

After we had progressed for about an hour, it was time for a routine five minute break. I signalled the stop, we took up our all-round defensive positions and waited.

When I looked at the Corporal he beckoned me over, He also indicated to Sarawak Ranger to join him. We always had to know what the situation was Cpl Roberts opened the letter and read it, then he passed it to me and then I to the Iban.

Cpl Roberts said: "as you can see we have got to go over to Indonesia and grab a soldier. Then we have to bring him back to headquarters at Sibu for interrogation."

The border was about four hours away through the jungle.

We were both looking at the Corporal with our thoughts running through our minds, when he asked: "any comments?" I replied: "I have a suggestion." He asked: "what is it?" "If we run all of the way then we might nab our man, but if we do a normal patrol we will not catch him," I answered.

They both looked at me and gave my suggestion some thought.

Cpl Roberts looked at the Iban for guidance. Leo said: "he is right." The Cpl asked me: "what makes you think that?" "I am the lead scout therefore I am the very first person to enter any kampong. Each time I do this I immediately weigh up the whole situation as I see it.

My experience gives me psychological feelings as to whether it is safe for us to enter, or if we need to turn back. In most cases I get the feeling that the people of the jungle knew that we were coming, long before we arrived at their kampong." I answered. Leo the Iban nodded, he knew that I were right.

A Shrine Deep in the Jungle

Cpl Roberts asked me: "are you prepared to run all of the way and over the border." "Oh yes," I replied, he asked the Sarawak Ranger the same, once more he nodded, he called Tom Minnock over and told him the situation and asked him the same, there were no questions or doubts he was in favour.

The rest of the Troop were told what was required, they would build a camp and wait for our return, hopefully before midnight.

I set the pace at a steady jog, stopping on the hour for a short break, during this time we chose to eat part of our rations or have a drink of water, and then we continued.

At one of the stops I noticed a new Shrine. It had fresh flowers and plants it looked irresistibly attractive. I looked around to see if there was anybody close by but there was nobody. I took a closer look at it and wondered what its reason was for being there; was it where someone had died; was it a place to pray in private; or was it done to please one of the many gods of the jungle? I was fascinated and presumed it was the latter, but didn't know which god it might be.

We continued our running until we arrived at the kampong, then we ran quickly to the basher we had been told about in the letter and surrounded it. It was raised off of the ground on stilts to prevent other creatures entering or flooding in the monsoon season.

One of us covered each side with the Iban facing the entrance, the Cpl and I on the ends and Tom Minnock covering the rear of the basher. The Iban shouted for him to come out and give himself up. A lady appeared on a small platform at the top of some steps, she looked around and then said: "he is not here."

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Leo looked to Cpl Roberts

Leo looked to Cpl Roberts for guidance he said: "tell her, if he does not come out, then we will burn the basher down with a phosphorus grenade."

The Iban relayed the message she swiftly turned her head and spoke excitedly to a person inside saying: "they are going to burn our basher down." A sitting person inside slowly stuck his head through the doorway and peered out carefully looking at each of us.

Leo told him he would be safe providing he did as he was told, or he would be shot if he didn't. He agreed to conform to our demands.

It was explained to him that we had no intentions of harming him providing he did as he was told. He ran with us all of the way back to our camp; each time we stopped for a break we offered him water which he sometimes accepted.

We arrived back at camp with about an hour to spare before darkness set in. It gave us time to knock up our grub before we had to stand-to, which we did every night and every morning before dawn broke through.

At the base camp we gave him some water and a groundsheet to sit on and handcuffed him with his arms around a tree until the morning. There was a routine watch kept through the night with each commando taking it in turns for one hour.

The next day we broke camp. Before leaving we made sure that we had buried our debris and tided the place up to make it more difficult for anybody to know exactly how many of us had been there.

With our prisoner in the centre of the patrol we marched back to Sibu and handed him over. Our mission was a success; the prisoner told his story and was allowed to return home a couple of days later.

The next Link below will be: "40 Commando Garigliano"

40 Commando Sibu 40 Commando Garigliano

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