Subtitled: A Company, 40 Commando, Royal Marines, A Troop Commanders Journal, July to October 1965
Published by the RM Historical Society, 90pages. Slim Paperback (N8541WSO)
From the rear side cover: Konfrontasi stemmed from Indonesia's opposition to the creation of the new nation of Malaysia. The Malaysians with commonwealth troops from the UK, New Zealand and Australia were pitted against Indonesian forces who were indirectly supported by China and Russia; the Borneo Confrontation was one of many brush fire sparks in the long Cold War.
The campaign was an undeclared war, with most incidents occurring in the border area between Indonesia and East Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Indonesia's campaign of infiltrations into Borneo sought to exploit the ethnic and religious diversity in Sabah and Sarawak to unravel the proposed state of Malaysia. The campaign was typified by anti-terrorist activity and small scale operations on both sides of the border. Between 1963 and 1966 3 Commando Brigade, less 45 Cdo RM, were deployed.
In 1965 Mike Taffinder found himself as a 22-year-old troop commander in 'Iv. Company, 40 Commando RN1. "Borneo Interlude" is his very personal account of his time in command between July and October that year. The jungle terrain of Borneo and the lack of roads forced both sides to depend on long foot patrols with a reliance on air transport whilst naval forces secured the sea flanks. To deter Indonesia's campaign of infiltrations, the British launched Operation Claret, their own covert operations into Indonesian territory.
Reproduced here in its original form, warts and all, with his original words, contemporary photographs, maps and newspaper cuttings, Taffmder's raw and honest journal tells the frank story of commanding a troop, whose average age was 19, in these most testing of conditions.
Condition of the book is generally very good. The covers have one or two very minor scuffs but are clean and bright, the spine is intact and all pages are clean, intact, unblemished and tightly bound.