Welcome to MADAA
Malaysia Australia Defence Alumni Association, established to give Malaysian and Australian Defence personnel instant access to current news and events.
End of the Malaysian-Indonesian Confrontation
On the 11th of August 1966, Indonesia and Malaysia signed a peace treaty in Bangkok, bringing to an end four years of conflict between the two nations. Today, we remember the 3,500 Australians who served during this period, and the 23 who never came home.
Initially, Australia was reluctant to become involved in the Confrontation, and Australian forces were not formally committed until 1964. However, as the war escalated over the following two years, Australian ground troops, warships and aircraft became increasingly involved.
The greatest increase in Australia’s involvement followed the Indonesian paratroop and amphibious raids of Labis and Pontian in September and October 1964. Following this, 3RAR was formally deployed to Borneo and began conducting offensive operations against the Indonesians. 3RAR would later be replaced by 4RAR, who would remain in Borneo till the end of the confrontation.
In total, two infantry battalions, two SAS squadrons, a signals troop, several artillery batteries and parties of the Royal Australian Engineers were involved in Borneo. 12 RAN ships, including the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, served in the Confrontation, with some vessels performing multiple tours of duty. Numerous RAAF squadrons were involved as well, in strike, air superiority, lift and aeromedical capacities.
3,500 Australians served during the Confrontation. 23 Australians were killed, seven on operations, and 15 due to non-battle or accidental injuries. An additional eight were wounded in action but recovered. Because of the sensitivity of the cross-border operations, which remained secret at the time, the Confrontation received very little coverage in the Australian press.
Let us never forget their sacrifice and service.
-----------------------------------------------------
Captain Jamie Frisby (back row on the left) and the Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre had successfully organized a Gender Advisor Course Serial 1/20 from 20 July until 28 July 2020. The course objectives were to educate, cultivate and collate gender perspective in policy, strategy, planning, operationalsby and exercise; to emphasize on UNDPO requirement of implementation UNSCR 1325 Women, Peace and Security; and to train potential gender advisor at formation level. The course was participated by 21 Malaysian Armed Forces officers, an Australian Army officer and two civilian officials from Ministry of Defence. The Course Closing Ceremony was graced by Brig Gen Hajjah Fadzillah binti Hj Abdullah RMAF, Director General Defence Training Branch, Malaysian Armed Forces HQ. The course was conducted with strict adherence to Covid-19 Prevention SOP as per instructed by the government.
Today marks the 60th anniversary of the end of the Malayan Emergency.
Today we commemorate our veterans from the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force who served at various times over the 13 years of operations against communist forces in the Malayan Emergency.
The Australian War Memorial will be holding a Last Post Ceremony to remember and pay tribute to the 39 Australians who died while serving in Malaya and to tell the story of Sergeant Cecil Charles Anderson.
The Last Post Ceremony will be livestreamed on Facebook and Youtube from approximately 4:55pm AEST. For more information, visit: www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/last-post-ceremony
Really enjoyed participating in the panel discussions on Command & Leadership at the Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre as part of the Gender Advisor Course. Co-panellists were Commandant of MPC and Shree, an experienced civilian practitioner. @TenteraDarat @MINDEFMalaysia
twitter.com/ADFinMalaysia/status/1286493700344832000?s=19
twitter.com
“Really enjoyed participating in the panel discussions on Command & Leadership at the Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre as part of the Gender Advisor Course. Co-panellists were Commandant of MPC and Shree, an experienced civilian practitioner. @TenteraDarat @MINDEFMalaysia”m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2000304780103736&id=77233477623408222 July 1960: Sabre collision at 42,000ft results in pilots ejecting at 38,000ft
Did you know that on this day in 1960, two RAAF Sabre fighter aircraft collided at 42,000ft requiring their pilots to both eject at 38,000ft?
The two RAAF Sabre fighters (A94-961 and A94-976) of 77 SQN collided at 42,000ft 40nm east of RMAF Butterworth, Malaya, while on a routine mission only nine days before the Malayan Emergency was declared. The aircraft were on a morning four ship training sortie intended to simulate 2 v 2 fighter tactics. FLTLT Owen Worth, the B Flight Commander, was No 1 and lead for the training sortie.
Both pilots safely ejected at 38,000ft from their damaged aircraft and landed safely. The pilot of A94-961, FLGOFF Owen Bartrop, was soon rescued by local villagers. His aircraft exploded mid-air after he ejected. However, the pilot of A94-976, FLTLT Owen Worth, had to endure three nights in the jungle before a ground party was able to rescue him. Worth was detected within an hour of the accident and was able to be communicated with due to specialist search and rescue equipment but could not actually be seen due to dense jungle. Supplies including food, torch, were sleeping bag were dropped to him over the two-day period until he was successfully rescued.
The altitude of the ejections remains the highest altitude for an ejection by a RAAF pilot / aircraft.
Photo of RAAF Sabre aircraft including A94-961 at RAAF Townsville enroute to Malaya courtesy of Australian War Memorial Digtal Online Collection (Copyright expired, Public domain).
