| Accession Number | S02873 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Sound |
| Measurement | 2 hr 2 min |
| Object type | Oral history |
| Physical description | 1/4 inch sound tape reel; EMTEC SM 911; 7 1/2 ips/19 cm.s; stereo; 10 inch NAB |
| Maker |
Mealing, Matthew John Chinn, David Alexander Australian War Memorial Brassell, Bill |
| Date made | 30 April 2003 |
| Access | Open |
| Conflict |
Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Status to be assessed |
| Copying Provisions | Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction. |
Matthew John Mealing as a leading scout Mortar Platoon (rifle platoon role) 3rd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment, Malaya 1957-1959, interviewed by Colonel David Chinn MBE (Rtd)
Description
Mealing speaks of his service background (RAN and 3 RAR Korea); introduction to 3 RAR; training for the Malayan Emergency; impression of the state of 3 RAR; 'professionals' among the warrant officers and NCOs; briefing on the strategic circumstances of British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve and the Malayan Emergency; 3 RAR training near Holsworthy and at the Jungle Training Centre (JTC) Canungra, Queensland; transit to Malaya by the troopship 'New Australia'; training at the Far East Land Forces (FARELF) Training Centre Kota Tinggi; 3 RAR accommodation in Minden Barracks, Penang Island; guarding the married quarters; weapons, clothing and equipment issued; Support Company's organisation for operations and communications; initial impressions of the operational environment: nature of movement in the jungle; elusiveness of the communist terrorists (CT) and their support from local communities; lack of CT contacts and occupied campsites; experiences as a forward scout; weapon/fire discipline to avoid clashes with own troops; firing from the hip or the shoulder; searching for signs of CT movement; use of Iban trackers and patrol/tracker dogs; resupply on operations; minimising threats to health; living and eating in the jungle environment; reducing individual loads; fitness and weapon skills of surrendered enemy personnel (SEP); nature of conventional training; leave and hospitalisation for hepatitis; employment of forward scouts as specialists; section/platoon strength; humorous events in Support Company; a trying exercise - having to do runs in standard steel-shod boots after weeks of patrolling in light rubber jungle boots; life of single soldiers when not on operations; the desirability of the two-year accompanied posing for the Emergency; staying with the Australian High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur; outstanding 3 RAR characters - the battalion commander and his platoon commander (Lt Pip Newman); other experiences in Malaya and some in South Vietnam.