Raid on Limbang facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raid on Limbang
Part of the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
Date 12 December 1962 Location Limbang, Sarawak Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Brunei People's Party
Commanders and leaders
Jeremy Moore	Salleh bin Sambas
Strength
One company	300
Casualties and losses
5 killed 8 wounded	15 killed 3 wounded 24 captured

The Raid on Limbang was a military fight that happened on December 12, 1962. It was between British Royal Marine soldiers and a group called the North Kalimantan National Army (TNKU). This event took place in the town of Limbang in Sarawak, which is on the island of Borneo. The main goal of the British soldiers was to rescue people who had been taken hostage by the TNKU.

Why the Raid Happened

On December 9, 1962, a rebellion started in Brunei. During this time, TNKU fighters, led by Salleh bin Sambas, took control of the small town of Limbang. They broke into the police station and took many weapons, like rifles and machine guns. Before this, they only had shotguns, so these new weapons made them much stronger.

The TNKU group then captured the British leader of the area, called the Resident, and his wife. They also took 12 other people hostage. The rebels announced that they planned to hang these hostages on December 12.

The Rescue Mission

The important job of freeing the hostages was given to a group of British soldiers called L Company, 42 Commando. Their leader was Captain Jeremy Moore. They were sent from a large ship called HMS Albion.

To get the soldiers to Limbang, two cargo boats were quickly taken over and operated by the Royal Navy. One of these boats even had a powerful machine gun on it. Captain Moore's plan was to sail his soldiers up the Limbang river. He wanted to attack the town directly and quickly. This would stop the rebels from having enough time to harm the hostages.

Approaching Limbang

The boats quietly moved towards Limbang just as the sun was rising on December 12. But the sound of their engines warned the rebels. This meant the British soldiers lost the element of surprise. As the boats got closer to where they planned to land, heavy gunfire came from the police station. Salleh bin Sambas himself was firing a machine gun from there.

The decks of the cargo boats didn't offer much protection. Sadly, two British soldiers were killed before they could even land on shore. One boat used its machine gun to fire back and cover the other boat. The first boat then quickly dropped off its soldiers.

Fighting in the Town

The British soldiers charged towards the police station. They fought bravely, and during the fight, they killed ten rebels and took back the machine gun. Salleh bin Sambas was hurt, but he managed to get away.

The hostages were found safe in the hospital. The British Resident, who was one of the hostages, was singing loudly. He did this so the soldiers wouldn't mistake him for a rebel. After all the soldiers had landed, they spent the rest of the day searching Limbang house by house. They made sure the town was safe. During this search, three more British soldiers and two more rebels were killed.

What Happened Next

British soldiers continued to operate in the Limbang area for the next few days. They captured 11 more rebels. Information they gathered showed that the fight in Limbang had really hurt the TNKU group. The most dedicated fighters had run away into the jungle. The local people who had been forced to join the group simply threw away their weapons and uniforms.

Salleh bin Sambas, the leader, was captured by British forces six months after the raid. He was found guilty of fighting against the government and was sent to prison for 15 years. He was later released in the 1970s. Today, he lives in Limbang and is a village leader.

Heroes of the Raid

Several people were recognized for their bravery during the Raid on Limbang. Corporals Lester and Rawlinson received special awards called Military Medals. Captain Moore, who led the mission, also received an award. He later became a very famous commander during the Falklands War.

Jeremy Black, a Royal Navy officer who commanded one of the boats, later became the Captain of a large ship called HMS Invincible during the same Falklands War. After this brave action, L Company became known as "Limbang Company."

Erskine Muton, a civilian from the Brunei State Marine, piloted the boats into Limbang. He was awarded the MBE for his bravery.

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