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National Commemoration of Post War Malaya/Malaysia Operations

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National Commemoration of Post War Malaya/Malaysia Operations NATIONAL COMMEMORATION OF POST WAR MALAYA/MALAYSIA OPERATIONS SATURDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2017 HALL OF MEMORIES PUKEAHU NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL PARK WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND M-2882-F New Zealand soldiers carrying supplies after an air drop in the Malayan jungle. Photograph taken by an unidentified New Zealand Army photographer 27 July 1958, during the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960) Front Cover Image M-2893-F NZ soldiers leaving a Malayan village northwest of Ber base, circa 27 July 1958, during the Malayan Emergency (1948-1969) soldiers leaving a Malayan village northwest. Part of Department of Internal Affairs: War History Branch: Photographs relating to the Malayan Emergency. NEW ZEALAND MILITARY OPERATIONS IN MALAYA/MALAYSIA New Zealand sailors, soldiers and airmen were involved in military operations in Malaya, and later Malaysia, from the late 1940s to the mid- 1960s, first in the so-called Malayan Emergency (1948–60) and then in the Confrontation Campaign with Indonesia (1964–66). The Emergency arose out of an attempt by the Malayan Communist Party to overthrow the British colonial administration of Malaya. Over the twelve years that the conflict took place, New Zealand forces made a significant contribution to the Commonwealth effort to defeat the communist insurgency. New Zealand’s first involvement occurred in 1949 when a flight of RNZAF 41 Squadron’s Dakotas were used to drop supplies to anti-guerilla forces. By the time the flight was withdrawn in December 1951, it had carried out 211 sorties, dropping 284,000 kilograms of supplies. Several New Zealand Army officers served in Malaya while on secondment with British units from 1949, and in January 1951 ten officers and fourteen NCOs also went there with 1st Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment. In 1954 a RNZN frigate, HMNZS Pukaki, carried out a bombardment of a suspected guerrilla camp, while operating with the Royal Navy’s Far East Fleet. This was the first of a number of bombardments by RNZN ships over the next five years. New Zealand became more directly involved in 1955, following its decision to contribute forces to the British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve. The Army’s initial contribution, a Special Air Service (SAS) Squadron commanded by Major Frank Rennie, was particularly suited for operations seeking out the guerrillas in their jungle sanctuary. Meanwhile RNZAF units in the Strategic Reserve were also operating against the guerrillas. On 1 May 1955 Vampires of 14 Squadron carried out the RNZAF’s first operational strike mission since the Second World War and the first in jet aircraft. Between April 1955 and March 1958 the squadron, now equipped with Venoms, mounted 115 strike missions. The Canberras of 75 1 Squadron, which replaced 14 Squadron in July 1958, were also used on bombing missions. From March 1958 1st Battalion, New Zealand Regiment, which had replaced the SAS Squadron in the Strategic Reserve, took part in operations designed to clear Perak of insurgents. By the time it was replaced by 2nd Battalion NZR in late 1959, most of the guerrillas had retreated across the border into southern Thailand. The greatly improved security situation was reflected in the official termination of the Emergency on 31 July 1960. Twenty-two New Zealand servicemen lost their lives during the Emergency – three as a result of enemy action. For the New Zealand Army, the operations in Malaya marked a new departure. They were an important stage in the movement of New Zealand military forces from a non-regular to a regular framework of organisation. They also offered an opportunity to develop professional skills, and laid the basis for effective service in the Vietnam War. In 1964 New Zealand began helping the new federated state of Malaysia to fight Indonesia’s attempt to wrestle control of the North Borneo territories in what was known as the Confrontation Campaign. The following year a small SAS detachment, together with the 1RNZIR, were deployed in Borneo. RNZAF and RNZN units were also involved. On 11 August 1966 representatives of Indonesia and Malaysia signed a peace treaty in Bangkok. Hostilities were officially at an end. The New Zealanders completed their withdrawal from Borneo in October the same year. 2 THE ARRIVAL Official guests The Honourable Christopher Finlayson QC, Attorney-General representing the Government HE Mr Leasi Papali’l Tommy Scanlan High Commissioner for Samoa and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Mr Rino Tirikatene MP representing the Leader of the Opposition Air Vice Marshal Kevin Short Vice Chief of Defence Force Mr Suresh Raja Kandan Acting High Commissioner for Malaysia Councillor Chris Calvi-Freeman representing the Mayor of Wellington Col David Moloney OBE (Rtd) representing the National President of the Royal New Zealand and Returned Services’ Association Mr David Fenton National President of the New Zealand Malayan Veterans’ Association Heads of Mission and representatives of Singapore, Australia, Fiji, Indonesia and the United Kingdom The Representatives of the Chief of Navy and Chief of Army Official Guests are welcomed at Anzac Square by Rear Admiral David Ledson ONZM (Rtd), Chair, National War Memorial Advisory Council, and Mr Matthew Oliver, Ministry for Culture and Heritage 3 ORDER OF SERVICE RESPECTS PAID AT THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR Whakamaharatanga, the Remembrance Bell, tolls four times, as the Official Party pay their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior KARANGA The karanga is called by June Jackson MNZM, supported by Koro Alex, Taranaki Whānui, as the Official Party moves up into the Foyer of the Hall of Memories Please stand PROCESSIONAL Whakamaharatanga, the Remembrance Bell, tolls as the Official Party processes to the front of the Hall of Memories THE FLAG OF THE NEW ZEALAND MALAYAN VETERANS ASSOCIATION IS MARCHED IN Flag Bearer: Mr Eddie Chua, New Zealand Malayan Veterans Association 4 NATIONAL ANTHEMS Malaysia Soloists: Michelle Melly Henry and Aina Aqilah Rosli Negara ku Tanah tumpahnya darahku, Rakyat hidup bersatu dan maju, Rahmat bahagia tuhan kurniakan, Raja kita selamat bertahta, Rahmat bahagia tuhan kurniakan. Raja kita selamat bertakhta. English Translation My country, my native land. The people living united and progressive, May God bestow blessing and happiness. May our Ruler have a successful reign. May God bestow blessing and happiness. May our Ruler have a successful reign. Words by: Tunku Abdul Rahman Music by: Pierre Jean de Beranger In use since: 1957 5 New Zealand Soloist: Rebecca Woodmore E Ihowā Atua, O ngā iwi mātou rā Āta whakarangona; Me aroha noa Kia hua ko te pai; Kia tau tō atawhai; Manaakitia mai Aotearoa God of nations, at thy feet in the bonds of love we meet; hear our voices we entreat, God defend our free land! Guard Pacific’s triple star from the shafts of strife and war, make her praises heard afar; God Defend New Zealand! Words by: Thomas Bracken Music by: John Joseph Wood Arranged by: Philip Walsh Uniformed personnel salute Please be seated 6 WELCOME AND OPENING PRAYER Chaplain Class Three James Molony PROLOGUE Rear Admiral David Ledson ONZM (Rtd) Chair, National War Memorial Advisory Council COMMEMORATIVE ADDRESS The Honourable Christopher Finlayson QC Attorney-General VOCAL ITEM Rebecca Woodmore sings E Pari Rā Words: Paraire Tomoana HISTORICAL READING Mr Rino Tirikatene MP, representing the Leader of the Opposition delivers the first historic reading WO2 W J White, 1 NZ Regiment describes the sounds of the Malayan jungle: The insect noises are unbelievable, especially at night. As soon as it gets dark, every imaginable species of grasshopper, cicada, and tree frog tunes in. Some quite tuneful, others somewhat awful. One makes a noise like an alarm clock ringing, others like bicycle bells, one like the brakes on Joe’s car. If you can imagine a band made up of cymbals, road drills, bicycle bells, those clickers the boys play with a clicker on, all played by mad musicians in a sawmill going full blast, you might get the idea. Quoted in Chris Pugsley, From Emergency to Confrontation (Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 2003) 7 HISTORICAL READING Mr Bill Russell, National Vice President, New Zealand Malayan Veterans Association delivers the second historic reading From the memoirs of Richard Mountford, 1RNZIR “At the beginning of April 1966, I went with the advance party for A&B Companies to Borneo. From Kuching we flew in helicopters to the Gunan Gajak base which our companies were to occupy. This and other bases were five or six thousand metres from the border ridge in such a position that the 105 pack howitzers of the Commando lightbattery could fire to support patrols on the border and mutually support the next base along. As far as the eye could see there was jungle. The border ridge looked much like the Kaimai Ranges behind my Tauranga home. The base itself consisted of underground bunkers of corrugated iron and sandbags in which we were to sleep, and if necessary fight. These were linked by communications trenches. Outside the bunkersand trenches was barbed wire and sharpened bamboo pungis stakes, and the defensive ring encircled the two 105 pack howitzers, the command post and the administration buildings. The only entrance other than the helipad was via a steep bridge across astream. Down below the Guning, which is hill in Malay, was the kampong of Bunan Gega with its Padang (village green) into which our supplies were parachuted. As I knew the area my platoon got the first border patrol. I went round and checked each member of the platoon, and have the section commanders orders for the next day. We had with us a Forward Observer from the Commando Light Battery. DuringStand to, the period during nightfall or dawn when all were in their fighting positions, I called down gunfire and registered a target on the ridge in front of our position.
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