GSM bar Brunei To The Queens Own Highlanders

GSM bar Brunei 22835813 PTE N ROSS Q O HLDRS

1st Queen's Own Highlanders in the Brunei rebellion - 1962-1963

The operational role of the Queen’s Own Highlanders was to maintain the internal security of Singapore, but the battalion also carried out training in the British dependencies in North Borneo, supporting the civil authorities in preventing piracy, and acting as a deterrent to Indonesian interference with the North Borneo Territories. On 8th December 1962 an armed rebellion broke out in the Sultanate of Brunei where rebel forces led by Azahari attacked the Sultan’s palace, police stations and installations throughout Brunei. The rebels took hostages and seized the Shell oilfield at Seria.

Battalion Headquarters and A Company of the Queen’s Own Highlanders moved at very short notice from Singapore to Brunei by air, while the destroyer HMS Cavalier sailed at full speed carrying B Company. 60 men of A Company landed by five Twin Pioneer aircraft at Seria and seized Panaga Police Station. Simultaneously the remainder of A Company landed by Beverley aircraft at Anduki Airfield, captured the control tower, and seized the Bailey bridge over the Sungei Bera. Next morning the battalion advanced through Seria, A Company clearing a strong rebel force from the Sultan’s summer palace, and B Company releasing 46 European hostages from the rebel held Police Station. Finally B Company 1st/2nd Gurkhas cleared Kuala Belait. The battalion returned to Singapore in February 1963 on the Commando ship HMS Albion, after its first active service since the amalgamation of the regiment.

Medal with original ribbon in box of issue and in NEF condition

Code: 51060