Commonwealth Forces

At the start of the Malayan Emergency British forces numbered some ten infantry battalions plus the 26th.Field Regt,Royal Artillery which was converted to infantry,most were under strength and under equipped. The Royal Air Force also had a presence in both Malaya and Singapore but, again , was deficient in equipment and personnel. Reinforcements were despatched from Britain and British garrisons in the Middle East and Hong Kong,later on units from various Commonwealth countries also arrived.Due to lack of armoured vehicles casualties from road ambushes were very high and this situation did not change much until late 1949 when suitable armour started to arrive. However the build up of men and materials continued until,at the height of the conflict,British forces numbered some seventeen battalions of infantry,armour and artillery plus the 22SAS Regt.

Putting down the Brunei revolt in 1962 meant that when the Confrontation started the bare bones of a command structure were already in place in Borneo making response quicker than it might have been. Build up of men and materials proceeded quickly and peaked at approx:

Malayan Police Field Force.............2 Battalions

Infantry................................................13 "

Artillery..................................................2 Regiments

Engineers.............................................2 "

Special Forces....................................1 Battalion

Indigenous Border Scouts..................1500

plus Naval and Air support including 120 aircraft,fixed wing and helicopter.

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