The Naval Association

The Naval Association

of Australia

VA016 22nd March 2005

MINISTER REMEMBERS 40 YEARS SINCE THE INDONESIAN CONFRONTATION

The service and sacrifice of Australian troops who fought in Borneo during the Indonesian Confrontation is commemorated today, 40 years after Australia sent forces to Borneo.

The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, De-Anne Kelly, asked all Australians to remember those who fought in the defence of the new nation of Malaysia.

"The Confrontation was a guerrilla war that began in 1962 when Indonesia was trying to destabilise Malaysia, and Australian forces helped protect the Malaysian mainland before sending forces to Borneo in 1965," Mrs Kelly said.

"The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) landed in Sarawak in northern Borneo in March 1965, where the soldiers patrolled the jungle border area to intercept enemy incursions."

A number of Australian personnel served in the region, including troopers of the Special Air Service Regiment, sappers of the Royal Australian Engineers, and later, 4RAR. Australian vessels patrolled the waters, including HMAS Teal, which was involved in a firefight with Indonesian vessels, and HMAS Yarra, which shelled the Sabah border area.

"During the Confrontation 15 Australian servicemen lost their lives in Borneo and two others died while serving in the Malay Peninsula," Mrs Kelly said.

"On this 40th anniversary of the beginning of Australian involvement in the Borneo operations of the Confrontation, it should remind us of all Australian servicemen and women who have served and sacrificed themselves in war, confrontations and peacekeeping operations.

"We remember those who fought and those who never came home, and our thoughts and wishes for a safe return go out to the servicemen and women who are currently deployed overseas."