42 Cdo Limbang

Go in action at dawn

The previous page was: "42 Commando Red-Dagger"

42 Cdo RM was called into emergency action in 1962, 42 Commando Royal Marines was the only Commando Unit available for the assault, involving in a hostage rescue mission in the town of Limbang, Brunei, Borneo.

TNKU Rebels had captured the British Ambassador and members of his staff and had threatened to kill them by hanging, at dawn the next morning if all of their demands were not met.

The Royal Marine Commando Carrier H.M.S. Bulwark, which had all of the Commandos' helicopters and landing craft on was on its way back to the UK for a refit.

H.M.S. Bulwark was replaced with H.M.S. Albion after being re-fitted out at Devonport Dockyard in the UK. The ship was updated with new Mk 10 Wessex Helicopters. The exchange of Commando Carriers took place in British occupied Aden, where the British had been based for the last one-hundered and fifty years.

42 Commando Red-Dagger

Due to be hanged in the morning

42 Cdo RM had to go into action by the first light of dawn to rescue the important hostages who were due to be hanged that morning.

Their only option was to use craft that had been commandeered locally. Obviously most were not suitable for warfare but they were a kind of transport that the Commandos could use one being an aged landing craft.

When the attack started 6 Commandos were killed they were shot whilst still in the boats by the rebel leader Salleh Bin Sambas.

He had taken the Bren-gun when the Rebels captured the Police Station killing some of the police and capturing some of the local dignitaries.

An intense battle took place the fighting was fierce with lots of the rebels being killed in the gun battles. Once the Commandos were ashore then no more Commandos were killed, and the remaining rebels were either captured or managed to escape to the jungle that surrounded them.

www.brushfirefilms.com.

Up to that date, the 42 Commando RM assault was the most successful Commando raid since World War II.

The hostages were taken alive and were grateful to the Marines on being released from their bonds.

Salleh Bin Sambas was eventually rounded up some days later. He was tried amd found guilty; then he was sent to prison.

The complete story is best told in the film 'Return to Limbang' which is available from. www.brushfirefilms.com.

Martin Spirit is the Producer/Director Margaret Dettler is also a Producer.

The film 'Return to Limbang' of which I have a copy is a reminder the action at Limbang on that day. I would highly recommend the purchase of this jungle action CD.

The film is narrated by Julian Thompson who is a former Royal Marine Officer. He is also a Royal Marine Corps Historian and head of the Royal Marine Historical Society.

I landed from helicopter at Dannar, Limbang, with 40 Commando Royal Marines and was involved in the last days of the action. From there we went on 'cordon and searches' and patrols to round up the remainder of the rebels that had not fled across to Indoneasia.

The next Link below will be: "42 Cdo Coming Home"

42 Cdo Limbang 42 Cdo Coming Home

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