I've read a lot of attempts by writers trying to sum up the typical jungle patrol by distilling the common features of the scores in which they took part. This is one of the best. It's written by Major 'Brunny' Short of 1/6th Gurkha Rifles, at one stage 2 i/c of the battalion, and is extracted from The Happy Warriors by Brigadier A. E. C.Bredin D.S.O., M.C. (pp. 203-208).
Lots more similar material here from a variety of units (articles mostly reprints of first-hand accounts from the early 50s and later): Slow loader, but very good: https://www.army.mod.uk/media/6558/bar-report-malayan-emergency.pdf
This is worth the few minutes of your time. Obviously a mock-up for the cameras, but a good look at kit and weaponry. A-Coy 1st Bn, The Worcestershire Regt in 1953: Brens, Stens and No.5s.
Excellent find CF, thanks very much for posting. Owen gun (much better than a sten in the jungle) carried by lead scout, and towards the end at the stream crossing every second man appears to have one (may be down to a bit of fanciful editing!) Again, thanks for posting this up. Kind regards, always, Jim.
Another good article here, from a Brigadier's perspective, which gives a pleasingly rounded picture of the whole operation. The author commanded 63 Gurkha Brigade in Malaya and also penned the excellent Red Shadow over Malaya ( London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1955), as well as other books about his more junior service in the Second World War.
I'm pretty sure that writing up a counter-insurgency campaign as a season's hunting wouldn't really 'fly' in 2021. Bandits here being winged, bagged, fattened and kept as pets. This from 2/6th Gurkha Rifles in 1951: From a section of 14th/20th King's Hussars' Journal here: Regimental Journal's 'THE HAWK' and so much more. - The 14th/20th King's Hussars A good post-war run of this series here: Regimental Journal's 'THE HAWK' and so much more. - The 14th/20th King's Hussars
Hello Charley, Found this as a result of another thread (link to which I will post in below). The pdf attached below is, I think, well worth a read. Kind regards, always, Jim. Previously posted in thread here: Croix De Guerre awarded to Lt Col K H Clark 63256 SHAEF