Indonesian Confrontation 1962-1966

2SAS Borneo patrol (Video)

Army Minister visits Borneo troops (Video)

This film shows Dr A. J. Forbes, Minister for the Army, on a visit to troops in Borneo. A Duntroon graduate, Forbes had been a soldier himself and is seen in this film as being at ease with soldiers…

Artillery in Borneo

Australian artillery served in Malaya during the Emergency and Royal Australian Artillery units remained in the country after 1960 as part of Australia's contribution to the Far Eastern Strategic R

Australia's adversaries

Relations with Indonesia during the confrontation The Indonesians were able to draw on significant regional and international opposition to the creation of a greater Malaysia that would i

Australia's allies

During the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesian Confrontation Australians cooperated with British forces, locally raised units, and military personnel from various British Commonwealth countries including New Zealand.

Australia's involvement

Australia's involvement in the Indonesian Confrontation followed a similar pattern to involvement in the Malayan Emergency – initial government hesitation gave way to escalation until the commitmen

Australian operations in Borneo

Australian infantry, gunners, and members of the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) saw action in Borneo during the Malaysian-Indonesian Confrontation.

Claret operations

'Claret' was the codename for cross-border operations carried out by Commonwealth units into the Indonesian province of Kalimantan on the island of Borneo.

Commemorating the Malayan Emergency and Indonesian Confrontation: Wartime Snapshots No.17 (Fact sheet)

Fighting Patrol (Video)

This film shows Australian soldiers training for the type of jungle warfare they expected to encounter in the jungles of Borneo during Confrontation. These men are being trained in counter-attacking…

Gunners in Borneo (Video)

A brief piece of footage showing an Australian artillery piece in action during confrontation. (1:54 min - BW - Silent) [AWM F03688]

Interview with war correspondent Neil Davis (Video)

This excerpt of an interview with cameraman Neil Davis, features the legendary war correspondent speaking about his first experience of armed conflict; the Confrontation with Indonesia in Borneo.…

Joint operation against communist terrorists

In the latter stages of the Malayan Emergency, members of 3RAR (Old Faithful) continued to carry out patrols against the Communist Terrorists.

Malaya and Borneo Veterans' Day 31 August

Minesweeper patrols during Indonesian Confrontation

Friction between Indonesia and the newly created Malaysia forced the Australian Government to come out in support of Malaysia in 1963. Australia introduced high-speed patrol boats to intercept any seaborne infiltrators.

National servicemen took part in undeclared war

Private Michael O'Dea was called up for National Service in 1965 when his birth date was pulled out of the hat. But unlike many of his colleagues he didn't go to Vietnam. Instead he went to Borneo where Indonesian guerillas were infiltrating Malaysia.

On the Border (Video)

This film gives some insight into the type of terrain and jungle through which Australians patrolled in Borneo. The value of helicopters in lifting men to and from operations is also evident as is…

RAAF Butterworth upgraded by No 2 Airfield Construction Squadron

Australia's major area of strategic concern in 1953-54 changed from the Middle East to South-East Asia with the threat of communism and the domino theory uppermost in the minds of the government.

Remembrance Day Posters 2015 (Poster)

The Remembrance Day posters for this year feature images of Australian soldiers on patrol during the Malayan Emergency and Indonesian Confrontation.

The Indonesian Confrontation 1962-1966

Causes and general description The Confrontation or Konfrontasi was a conflict between Indonesia and Malaysia that took place mainly on the island of Borneo.

The SAS in Borneo

The Australian Special Air Service (SAS) gained its first experience of active service overseas in Borneo during the Confrontation. The first SAS soldiers reached Brunei in February 1965.

Troops by chopper-Borneo (Video)

This brief piece of footage shows Australian infantry boarding the helicopter that flies them to the point at which they must begin their patrol. The troops are then seen patrolling through thick…

War correspondents without a war!

It's a dangerous business covering wars and for journalists it is never easy, but when the war isn't a war but an anti-terrorist action, they find things even tougher.
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