Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960

Date from 01 January 1948
Date to 31 December 1960
Collection type Conflict
Scope note On the morning of 16 June 1948 three European estate managers were murdered in two separate incidents in Perak by members of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP). That evening, the British declared a state of emergency in several districts of Perak and Johore which were extended the following day to the whole of the two states. On 18 June a state of emergency was declared for all of Malaya. The Malayan Emergency had begun. Australia’s military commitment began in 1950 with the provision of Royal Australian Air Force transport and bomber assets to support the British. Units of the Australian Army were involved from 1955, as were ships of the Royal Australian Navy. The Malayan Emergency was officially declared over on 31 July 1960, but Australian units remained in Malaya as a deterrent. Thirty-nine Australians died as a result of their service in Malaya, although only 15 deaths were as a result of operations. A further 27 men, mostly from the army, were wounded.