Each year on 31 August, Australia commemorates Malaya and Borneo Veterans’ Day. It's the day we recognise and remember the Australian service and sacrifice of veterans who served in the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesian Confrontation.
Significance of the date
The date, 31 August, coincides with Merdeka Day (Freedom Day), marking the Federation of Malaya's independence from the United Kingdom in 1957. This commemorates both campaigns fought on the Malay Peninsula, in Sabah, in Sarawak and on the Malaysia-Thailand border.
Malayan Emergency 1948 to 1960
The Malayan Emergency was declared by the Federation of Malaya on 16 June 1948 in response to rising violence from the Malayan Communist Party (MCP). The declaration was sparked by MCP gunmen attacking 2 plantations in Perak and killing 3 British staff.
Australia committed to the conflict in June 1950, deploying a training team and 2 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) squadrons (transport and bomber). Australia increased its commitment from 1955 onwards, deploying Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army and further RAAF elements.
The Malayan Emergency was officially declared over on 31 July 1960.
More than 7,000 Australians served in the Malayan Emergency between 1950 and the conflict's official end in 1960. The Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour names 39 Australians who died on active service in the Malayan Emergency (2 RAN, 29 Army, 8 RAAF); others were wounded, injured in accidents or medically evacuated.
Approximately 2,000 Australians served in post-emergency counter-insurgency operations on the Thai-Malay border between 1960 and 1966. The Roll of Honour names one Australian (Army) who died in Thai-Malay Border operations.
Sergeant Jock Richardson of the 'stand by' platoon from B Company, 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR) waits for his men to alight from an armoured truck on a road through a rubber estate in Perak, 1956. AWM HOB/56/0749/MC
Soldiers from the 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, moving from hut to hut in a village as they carry out a routine patrol along the Malaysian-Indonesian border, Borneo, June 1966. Left to right: Corporal John Maloney, Private Bill McBride on the steps of the hut, and Private Arthur Francis, watched by local children. AWM FIL/66/0241/MC
Indonesian Confrontation 1962 to 1966
The Confrontation (Konfrontasi) resulted from Indonesian attempts to destabilise and destroy the new federation of Malaysia, which formally began on 28 September 1963.
Australia initially rejected British and Malaysian requests for troops to be deployed to Borneo. However, Australia agreed to help defend the Malay Peninsula against external attack. Australian troops helped in operations against Indonesian paratroops and seaborne raids on the peninsula. Although easily repelled, Indonesia’s attacks threatened to escalate.
In January 1965, Australia agreed to deploy soldiers to Borneo. The first Australian infantry arrived in Borneo in March 1965. These troops, and their successors, were involved in combat on both sides of the border. Many suffered landmine casualties.
Two squadrons of the Special Air Service, several artillery batteries and parties of the Royal Australian Engineers were also deployed to Borneo. Ships of the RAN were involved in the surrounding waters.
Because of the sensitivity of cross-border operations, which remained secret at the time, Confrontation received very little coverage in the Australian press. Indonesia and Malaysia signed a peace treaty in Bangkok in August 1966, ending the conflict.
The Roll of Honour lists the names of 22 Australians who lost their lives during the Confrontation.
Australian personnel of 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), at Arawak, Borneo, boarding an RAF Belvedere helicopter for transport to a jungle clearing so they can patrol for Indonesian infiltrators, Borneo, 1965. AWM P01706.003
Glossary
- artillery
- infantry
- veteran