Remembering All Those Who Served in the
Malaya & Borneo Conflicts
12th July 2026
There was a good turnout of Paignton RBL members and other ex-forces associations from around the Bay this morning as we remembered those servicemen from both the UK and Commonwealth countries who took part in the ‘Malayan Emergency’ which ended 66 years ago in July 1960.
The conflict lasted 12 years, three weeks and five days; a duration only exceeded by the troubles in Northern Ireland.
The insurgency was described as an 'emergency' because insurers would not have compensated plantation and mine owners if it had been labelled a 'war'.
The ‘Malayan Emergency’ was triggered by the murder of three British plantations managers by insurgents of the communist party of Malaya, whose ultimate aim was to overthrow the colonial government and establish ‘the Communist People’s Democratic Republic of Malaya’.
Although our armed forces had been in action since the end of the Second World War, the nature of the Malayan Emergency was unusual in that our forces were unable to act unless Malayan Police Force requested their assistance.
Malaya's original military garrison consisted of six Gurkha, three British and two Malay battalions. Reinforcements were sent from August 1948 onwards, many of which were National Servicemen.
These Newly arrived troops had to be taught how to live and fight in the tropical forests. This training occurred at a Jungle Warfare School.
From 1954 there were normally 24 infantry battalions in Malaya from a wide variety of Commonwealth countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. These were supported by Special Forces like the resurgent SAS.
The emergency started on16th June 1948 and by its end in July 1960 claiming the lives of 519 British servicemen.
We Will Remember Them
