42 Cdo Confrontation

Confrontation Was Another War

The previous page was: "42 Commando Afghanistan"

42 cdo Confrontation; When the Labour Government started pulling Britain's troops back from the Far East; the countries of Malaya, Sarawak, North Borneo, Brunei and Singapore united to form Malaysia. Singapore withdrew almost immediately. Leaving the remaining countries in Malaysia.

Indonesia objected to the combined power that Malaysia would have, making it very embarrassing for the British Government; who wanted to withdraw from the area. The Indonesians increased their military might to 60,000 troops along the border of the newly formed Malaysia.

Confrontation it was called; another name for a war. Britain didn't want to be seen getting involved; but it was prepared to support Malaysia. Britain had 15,000 troops in the area, many being Navy because of the dockyard and RAF because of the airfields.

42 Commando Afghanistan

Personnel were killed on both sides

The confrontation went on for almost four years, they would come over the border and take a pop at us, and we would go over the border and take a pop at them.

Several service personnel were killed on both sides over the period. Britain claimed that we did not go over there and they claimed that they did not come over here.

The Army Units and the Royal Marines were doing five months in Borneo and five months in Singapore or Malaya.

In 1966 42 Commando Royal Marines relieved the Gurkhas at the Lundu district on the borders around Kuching, the capital of Sarawak.

Recce Troop went and did their job

The Indonesian Suli Wongi (Indonesian SAS) were facing the Lundu positions, they were two days march away in the jungle.

When 42 CDO RM moved in the Suli Wongi moved back a further three days from the border. It took three months to find their base.

Members of 42 cdo Recce Troop went and did their job. Working in pairs they positioned themselves around the camp at Sedjingen.

They took photos, did drawings of everything they could see and wrote what in their opinion each item was or what they thought it might be or used for.

Fire in your own time

After one week they were relieved by the other half of Recce Troop, who did exactly the same but from different positions.

The SAS and the SBS both turned up at different times to check it out also.

42 CDO opened fire at first light killing most of the occupants while they were asleep. It was a fire in your own time and at your own discretion.

The Commandos were situated on three mountains looking down into a valley where the enemy camp was. One marine who was shot; the bullet went through him going through his lung.

The spotter helicopter heard the message over the radio and took his chopper in. The wounded marine was transported to Lundu where other helicopters were waiting to ferry the wounded to Kuching.

Ambush on the river

A grenade party went down and threw grenades into every basher and into every latrine. After five hours they pulled out.

Every person in the camp at Sedjingen was killed including two visiting members of President Sukano's Government.

When 42 moved out Recce Troop moved back to lay an ambush on the river. When the boats turned up to collect the dead they were sunk and their crews killed.

Communism was raising its head in Indonesia and it was seen as a more important fight than Confrontation.

For one reason or another Confrontation ended. The 42 commandos casualties were one marine lost in action, one officer killed in action and four marines wounded.

All leave had been cancelled at the military hospital in Kuching. Extra tents were erected, medical supplies were stocked; medics were on standby awaiting an unknown number of casualties.

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"Soldiers body handed over"

In 1992 a newspaper stated: "Soldiers body handed over" The body of a Britsish soldier killed in a Borneo jungle ambush 26 years ago was handed over by Indonesia yesterday.

The Remains of Royal Marine Thomas Collins, from Liverpool, which had lain in a jungle grave since he was buried by local people in 1966. Will be flown to Britain. A newspaper later stated James Callaghan saying: "Confrontation was Britain's most Secret War ever."

The next Lionk below will be: "42 Commando Helmand"

Bootnecks 42 Cdo Confrontation 42 Commando Helmand

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