Each year, on 31 August, we recognise Malaya and Borneo Veterans' Day.
On this day, we remember the Australians who served in the Malayan Emergency, Thai-Malay border operations, and the Indonesian Confrontation during the 1950s and 1960s.
In June 1948, the Federation of Malaya declared the Malayan Emergency in response to rising violence from the Malayan Communist Party, seeking an independent and communist Malaya. Two years later, in June 1950, Australia answered a call for assistance, deploying a military training team, a RAAF transport squadron, and a RAAF bomber squadron.
From 1955, Australia increased its commitment. The Army sent an infantry battalion and support units; the RAN deployed warships, and a RAAF airfield construction squadron built an airbase for more squadrons to deploy later. They were supported by medical teams, including Army and RAAF nurses.
Malaya was granted independence in 1957, and the Malayan Emergency was declared over on 31 July 1960. More than 7,000 Australians served in the conflict, with 39 losing their lives.
Australian Army and RAAF personnel continued to conduct operations against insurgents in jungle areas on the Thai-Malay border after the official end of the Malayan Emergency up until 1966. Two Australians lost their lives during these operations.
In 1962, Indonesia declared its opposition to the newly federated state of Malaysia. The Indonesian Confrontation was an undeclared war fought between Indonesia and a coalition of Malaysia, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Brunei.
More than 3,000 Australians from the Navy, Army and Air Force served in the Indonesian Confrontation from 1964 to 1966, to assist in defending Malaysia. Tragically, 22 Australians lost their lives.
A treaty between Indonesia and Malaysia was signed in Bangkok in August 1966, recognising that the North Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak would continue to be part of the Malaysian Federation.
Today, we remember those who served on the Malay Peninsula, on the island of Borneo, and in the surrounding seas and skies.
Lest we forget.
To find out more about events surrounding Malaya and Borneo Veterans' Day, visit Malaya and Borneo Veterans' Day 31 August - Anzac Portal
Sergeant Jock Richardson of the 'stand by' platoon from B Company, 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR) waits for his men to alight from an armoured truck on a road through a rubber estate in Perak, 1956.
Image courtesy of the Australian War Memorial.