As referenced in 'further reading' part of Britain's Vietnam: wargaming the Malayan Emergency article

Wargames Illustrated, October 2018

Robert Jackson's book 'The Malayan Emergency and Indonesian Confrontation', is a well-researched account of what could have become Britain's Viet Nam. In 1948, the western alliance was attempting to block the spread of communism across Europe; in what became known as the Cold War with Russia. In Asia, restless India was given its Independence, Burma swiftly followed. France and Holland also had problems with their restless colonies in North Africa and the Dutch East Indies driven by nationalist seeking independence The Malayan Emergency in 1948, was Britain's first post-war, 'hot' colonial war, driven mainly by the Malaya Communist Party and composed mainly of Chinese. Its aim was to forcibly replace British colonial rule with an all races left-wing government.

At first the insurgents were known as bandits but soon named communist terrorist or CTs. They raided villages, ambushed buses and civilian vehicles and carried out hit and run attacks on the security forces. Robert Jackson describes the gritty war faced by 18 year old, fresh faced National Servicemen who pursued the CTs to hide-outs deep in the jungle. It was a war of attrition both side suffering heavy losses.

The war, although the term was avoided and overshadowed by the Korean War, spawned three Special Forces units designed to carry out search and destroy communist bases deep in the jungle. Normally seven days 'jungle bashing' was the limit expected of the young National Servicemen, but with helicopter support some Special Forces patrols spent 103 days in the Ulu (jungle). The first two ad hoc Special Forces were Ferret Force and Shawforce, were led by former SOE Force 136 and Chindit officers. The third Special Forces, led by the iconic Chindit leader Mike Calvert, was the Malayan Scouts, better known as the reborn SAS, the elite 22nd Special Air Service.

Robert Jackson's 'Malayan Emergency and Indonesian confrontation' is a well written, composite description of what has become Britain's forgotten war.

Richard Gough, Military Author and Historian

Those with an interest in either Post-World War II British military history, Royal Air Force operations in Asia, or military operations in the (British) ‘Far East’ may find this volume of value, as could former service personnel who participated in the conflicts it describes.

On a Rating Scale where 1: very poor, 10: excellent, I have given this volume a 9.

NZ Crown Mines