Malasia Conflict

[stu_barlow]

Does anyone know anything about a conflict in malasia involving British troops in the 1950s?

[Octavius]

British power in East Asia was fatally wounded by the Japanese occupation of the region in 1942-45.

Although short-lived, the Japanese occupation unleashed the forces of colonial nationalism in Malaya as elsewhere. But Malay nationalism triggered a reaction from the Chinese, who feared Malay and Islamic domination and turned in large numbers to the Malayan Communist Party.

It took a tough military response from the British, and concessions by both the Malay and Chinese political leaderships, to end the Communist insurgency and bring about the establishment of an independent, multi-racial Federation of Malaya in 1957.

[Skids]

Ask the 22nd SAS that question.

[El D]

It was a so called secret war in that our troops were there officially 'advising', but in actual fact operating on the front line in a counter insugency role.

[heatherglen]

I have not long finished typing two books on the subject for a friend. One is called Operation Sharp End - Smashing Terorism in Malaya 1948-1958 (Memories of the Malayan Police). The other is called Smashing Terrorism in the Malayan Emergency (The Vital Contribution of the Police) this one is a reprint of the first book but with extras. Both available for sale.