Image:The Malayan, North Borneo and Sarawak Police Field Forces and Special Branch played a major role in gathering intelligence. Here an Officer inspects a unit of about 20 Iban Border Scouts. These men are armed with .303 rifle No.5 Mk1 or "jungle carbine", which was issued to the Scouts in some numbers. This cut down weapon was unpopular with British troops for its vicious kick, muzzle blast and unreliable sights. At the far left, an NCO wears the "Border Scouts" shoulder title.
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On the 28th September 1963 about 150 INDONESIAN Border Terrorists crossed into the Third division of Sarawak and attacked a small outpost at Long Jawai garrisoned by six soldiers from the 1/2nd Gurkha Rifles, 3 Policemen and 21 Iban Border Scouts. Under fire from automatic weapons and a 60 mmm mortar the garrison was forced to withdraw. Seven Iban Border Scouts were captured and later murdered. The Indonesians had scored a small victory, but were now 50 miles inside Sarawak. The Commanding officer of the 1/2 Gurkhas, The Imphal veteran, Lt Col Clements, MC, used FAA Wessex helicopters from 845 Naval Air squadron (NAS) to position ambushes on likely exit routes.
On the 1st October, the Gurkhas got their first payback, an ambush commanded by Lt Pasbahadur caught two Indonesian longboats and sank one, killing 26 Indonesians, from another ambush the radio sets from long Jawai were recovered, along with the 60 mm mortar. Survivors from the longboat ambush were later wiped out in another ambush on the 10th October, a staging area was also located two days later. Three Indonesians were also killed as they attempted to shoot down a helicopter operating close to the border. The Gurkhas tactics were to set the style for containment operations. Ambushes were set to catch Indonesians either on their way in or out for an attack, as they ran for the border. This meant the Indonesians raids were short in duration most of the time. |