Anzac Day 2025 honours Confrontation's Iban Trackers, Sarawak defenders

Borneo Post

30-04-2025

The flags of Sarawak, Sabah and Malaysia on display during the march by the contingent of Malaya and Borneo veterans during Anzac Day 2025.
KUCHING (April 30): The Sarawak flag was featured prominently at the Anzac Day march in Adelaide, South Australia last Friday, as the National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association Australia Inc (NMBVAA) contingent honoured the services and sacrifices of those defending Sarawak in 1965.
In a press release, NMBVAA South Australia and Northern Territory branch state president Major Paul Rosenzweig said he carried the Sarawak flag during the march to honour the 11 Australians who lost their lives supporting the defence of Sarawak during the Malaysia-Indonesia Confrontation.
He added the Sarawak flag was also to honour the service and sacrifice of the Iban Trackers and all Sarawakians in defence of their homeland.
He revealed that eight Australians lost their lives while on operational service supporting the defence of Sarawak—four died near Kampung Stass, one near Kampung Gumbang, one near Kampung Bokah and two had been swept away during a river crossing.
He added a further three Australian soldiers had died after being evacuated from Sarawak.
Recalling one of these incidents near Kampung Stass on March 23, 1965, Rosenzweig said a patrol struck an Indonesian anti-personnel mine near the border, which caused Sergeant Reg Weiland to be killed instantly and Iban Tracker Mudah Jali perished from his wounds while being carried back to the 3RAR base camp.
'Their sacrifice was not in vain, upholding the sovereignty of Sarawak. Lest we forget,' he said.
Rosenzweig (right) carries the Sarawak flag during the march.
Anzac Day, observed every April 25, is the national day of commemoration of Australia and New Zealand for victims of war and recognising the role of their armed forces.
During the Confrontation, Australian soldiers occupied a series of defensive positions, responsible for defending their allocated areas within Sarawak and the Sarawak-Kalimantan border.
Confrontation veteran Don Cameron, who is also NMBVAA South Australia and Northern Territory branch vice president led the contigent of Malaya and Borneo veterans in this year's march.
In a press statement, Cameron said he was paying tribute to the Iban Trackers he served alongside in Sarawak nearly 60 years ago.
This Australian War Memorial image shows Lance-Corporal Andre Dor (front), Private Oscar Johnson (centre) and Tracker Lulut from the Sarawak Rangers as they conduct an early morning patrol alongside a small stream close to the Sarawak-Kalimantan border.
He said he served near Kampung Gumbang as a Rifleman with 6 Platoon, 'B' Company of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), and he recalled the name of the two Iban Trackers attached to his platoon—Balling Ajong and Unchat Unyong from Kapit.
Also marching was Oscar Johnsson, who had a long military career in the Australian Regular Army.
He had served as a Regimental Signaller in the Federation of Malaya in 1957-59 during the Malayan Emergency, on the Malay Peninsula in 1963-65, and in Sarawak on Borneo in 1965, as well as in South Vietnam in 1968-69.