By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Apr 26: The National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association Australia (NMBVAA) will mark the upcoming Sarawak reunion pilgrimage in August by making donations to four schools—SK Gumbang, SK Serebak, SK Stass, and SK Suba Buan—located at sites once occupied by Australian military forces during the Confrontation.
According to a press release issued by the NMBVAA South Australia and Northern Territory Branch, the initiative, announced in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the end of Confrontation, reflects the veterans’ commitment not only to honouring the fallen but also to contributing to the future of the communities connected to their shared history.
The press release also stated that in Adelaide, South Australia, on Saturday (April 25), the Sarawak flag was once again featured prominently at the head of a column of Malaya and Borneo war veterans who marched to honour the service and sacrifice of their comrades during the Malayan conflict which followed World War II (WWII), and also to honour all members of Commonwealth and Malaysian naval, military, air and police forces, including the Iban Trackers, who served and lost their lives.
The Sarawak Flag carried a poignant message honouring the Aussie defenders of Sarawak, and the brave Ibans who supported them.
It went on to explain that ‘Anzac Day’ is the prime commemorative occasion in Australia—a solemn ceremony to remember the landing of the Australasian soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) on the Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25, 1915.
“Since that time, the term ‘Anzac’ has come to denote courage, resilience and mateship, and is applied as an honorific for all Australian and New Zealand soldiers,” said the association. Fifty years later, a new generation of Anzacs deployed overseas to support Sarawakians in the defence of their homeland.
“Perhaps the most significant event during the Anzac commemorations is the Anzac March. This is a solemn commemoration of the sacrifice of some 103,000 Australian service personnel who lost their lives in wars and peacekeeping missions in the service of the nation,” said the press release.
Anzac Day begun with a Dawn Service representing a soldier’s funeral service, and the March that follows represents the procession of soldiers to the graveside. The commemorative service at the Cross of Sacrifice, which follows, represents the gathering at the grave of one who has made the ultimate sacrifice.
Confrontation veteran Don Cameron, vice-president of the South Australia and Northern Territory Branch of the NMBVAA, again led the contingent of Malaya and Borneo veterans in this year’s Anzac March in Adelaide.
“In doing so, Cameron was paying tribute to the Iban Trackers he had served beside in Sarawak sixty years ago during the Confrontation with Malaysia. His battalion was supported by 24 highly effective Iban Trackers, who selected Banga Rima to be their leader,” the press release said.
As Private Don Cameron, he served at the ‘Bukit Knuckle’ defensive position near Kampung Gumbang as a rifleman with 6 Platoon, ‘B’ Company of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR). The two Iban Trackers attached to Don’s platoon were Balling Ajong and Unchat Unyong, from Kapit.
Besides his military deployment in 1965, Cameron has returned to Sarawak six times, conducting and participating in commemorative ceremonies.
Also marching was Oscar Johnsson, an army veteran of operational service during the Malayan Emergency from 1957 to 1959, on the Malay Peninsula from 1963 to 1965, in Sarawak in 1965, and in South Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. He also served on Borneo with 3RAR, at the ‘C’ Company defensive position near Kampung Serikin.
Former staff-sergeant Johnsson marched in memory of the two Trackers assigned to ‘Charlie’ Company at Serikin—Bala Sigaw, who was the leader, and Ajak Badinding. For some patrols, he was accompanied by Lulut Aloh from Kapit, who was the leader of the ‘C’ Company Tracker group based at Kampung Stass in Bau.
Jeff Hiscock had also deployed with ‘C’ Company, 3RAR from March to June 1965. The other Iban Trackers assigned to ‘C’ Company were Bayak Magnetu, Balin Igam and Labok Rabar.
Jon Niejalke had deployed with ‘D’ Company, 3RAR, which was based at Bau but sent elements to relieve men in the forward posts when required. Besides Banga Rima, the other Iban Trackers assigned to ‘D’ Company were Balai Nyelang, Engan Jawan and Gani Dugu.
“NMBVAA state president Major Paul Rosenzweig OAM (ret’d) said that eight Australians lost their lives while on operational service supporting the defence of Sarawak, where four died near Kampung Stass, one near Kampung Gumbang, one near Kampung Bokah, and two were swept away during a river crossing, while a further three Australian soldiers died after being evacuated from Sarawak.
“In one of these incidents near Kampung Stass on March 23, 1965, a patrol struck an Indonesian anti-personnel mine near the border. Sergeant Reg Weiland was killed instantly, and Iban Tracker Mudah Jali died of his wounds while being carried back to the 3RAR base camp.”
Major Rosenzweig, who has visited Sarawak six times, said, “Their sacrifice was not in vain, upholding the sovereignty of Sarawak. Lest we forget”.
Rosenzweig carried the Sarawak flag to honour the eleven Australian Sarawak Defenders who lost their lives during the Confrontation, and to honour the service and sacrifice of the Iban Trackers and all Sarawakians in defence of their homeland.
This year’s event was also a special occasion, as the NMBVAA observes the 60th anniversary of the end of the Confrontation.
“The Branch will conduct a Sarawak reunion pilgrimage in August. We will honour the fallen but also look to the future by making donations to four schools located in positions which were occupied by Australian military forces during the Confrontation—SK Gumbang, SK Serebak, SK Stass and SK Suba Buan,” said Rosenzweig. — DayakDaily
