Border operation

At the Tampin railway station, Malaya a British Army band welcome the arrival of 'A' Coy 2 RAR, destination unknown, but definately dated between 1961-1963. Two members of A Coy have been identified, Ron Gildersleeve and Jock Andrews (patting the bald soldier on the head) who was subsesquently killed in action with the AATTV in South Vietnam. At the O-Group later RSM Bill Turley gives the orders somewhere in Malaya 1961-1963. A 'Public relations' patrol in Malaya 1961-1963 shows S/Sgt Haterfield carrying an Owen SMG, second in the patrol and futher back L/Cpl Neal (Killer) Kinnane with an Owen Gun as well. One of the earliest clashes with Communist Terrorists (CT) involved A Coy 2 RAR. The patrol managed to come across an enemy camp near the Thai-Malay border. Two males with weapons were suprised, but managed to attempt an escape. The 2 RAR Bren gunner fired a burst from his hip in their direction and luckily dropped one of the CTs, the other escaped. After consolidating and securing the camp the men moved through the area to discover a fairly well organised set up. Bottles of Chinese beer (a local brew) were hidden inside hollowed out water filled trees (their refridgerators). Cooking utensils were on a make shift BBQ plate and a tiny kitten was discovered alive nearby. Whether it was a pet or a meal no one really knew. It was subsequently named Chin-Peng after the famous CT leader. The members of the patrol were as follows: Patrol Commander 2/Lieut Bien Honnor; Corporal Keith Bryant; L/Cpl Neal (Killer) Kinnane; Pte Raymonnd Butler; Pte Phillip Cartledge; Pte David Gleeson; Pte Vince Roberts; Pte Keth Walsh and Pte Brien Woods. Incidently Cpl Keith Bryant was with a 3 RAR patrol in an earlier tour of Malaya that was invloved in the capture of two and killing of several CTs, amazingly it was also the first clash for 3 RAR as well. [Transcribed from information provided by L/Cpl J D Twomey Curator 2/4 RAR Historical Collection Lavarack Barracks Townsville Qld.]