Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Communist Ambush on a platoon of the Royal West Kent Regiment at the Caledonian Estate in Tanjong Malim 1951
Friday, February 16, 2007
An account of the Communist Terrorists Ambush inflected on a platoon of the Royal West Kent Regiment, probably ranking amongst the worst during the Malayan Emergency
The place –
The Ulu Caledonian Rubber Estate, near Ulu Yam, Selangor, Malaya
22nd October1951
Preamble …
There was a prelude to the events of that day, a typical murder of a planter and his guard that could have had some bearing on the resources available for the follow-up operations of above.
Number One Platoon ‘A’ Company the Royal West Kent Regiment was based at Tanjong Malim accommodated in a gymnasium at the Malay Agricultural College just outside the town. The platoon was commanded by Lieutenant K S Beale, (later MC) and for a short time Sergeant F Bucknell MM was the platoon sergeant until transferred to another company.
Like most platoons at that time it was under strength with only two sections as apposed to the normal three. Corporal W Harris commanded No.1 Section and I (Corporal J Burrows). commanded No. 2 Section On the fateful day of the 22nd October most of the platoon was on a routine patrol in a rubber estate a few miles from Tanjong Malim. I had been left in charge of the base with several others; we had been on an uneventful night ambush and were resting after the ordeal.
It was about midmorning when a Malayan police inspector rushed into the base to report that firing had been heard coming from another rubber plantation a short distance to the west of Tanjong Malim, and there was much concern for the manager and his police guard who had not returned to the estate office. Could our platoon provide support to his jungle squad as there few police available to follow-up and investigate the incident. He expressed concerned about the lack of protective armour to the police Gharry vehicle.
I explained, the platoon was operating in different area and were not due to return until later that afternoon, but I, could provide back-up in the Dingo scout car, and I would man the twin Brens. There was just the driver and I; we kept fairly close to the Gharry, the police, just young men, seemed very nervous, aware it could have been a ploy by the CTs to draw them into a trap. I like to think the presence of the scout car with its menacing Brens probing from side to side may have deterred any attempt at that. Continued here.....
