Sarawak Rangers

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A line-up of armed Sarawak Rangers. Sarawak; a line-up of armed Sarawak Rangers. Photograph. Wellcome V0037401.jpg
A line-up of armed Sarawak Rangers.
Sarawak Rangers comprising Ibans leap from a Royal Australian Air Force Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter to guard the Malay-Thai border from potential Communist attacks in 1965, two years before the Second Malayan Emergency starting in 1968. Malaysian Rangers, Malay-Thai border (AWM MAL-65-0046-01).JPG
Sarawak Rangers comprising Ibans leap from a Royal Australian Air Force Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter to guard the Malay–Thai border from potential Communist attacks in 1965, two years before the Second Malayan Emergency starting in 1968.

The Sarawak Rangers were a paramilitary force founded in 1862 by the second White Rajah of the Raj of Sarawak, Charles Brooke. [1]

Contents

History

Sarawak rangers evolved from the fortmen which were raised to defend Kuching in 1846.[ citation needed ]

The Sarawak Rangers were first commanded by William Henry Rodway, from 1862 until 1870 where Major F.A. Walter, a retired officer from 97th foot, succeeded him. [2] Rodway assumed control again on Sarawak Rangers from 1872 to his retirement in 1881, and were highly skilled in jungle warfare and general policing duties, being equipped with various western rifles, cannons and native weaponry.

They were based in a number of forts constructed at strategic locations in towns and at river mouths. Aside from protecting Sarawak's borders, they were used to fight any rebels and were engaged in a number of campaigns during their history. In times of emergency or war, they could depend on the support of the local population and tribespeople.

The Sarawak Rangers were disbanded for a few years until 1932, [3] only to be reformed as Sarawak Constabulary and mobilised for the Second World War in which they attempted to defend Sarawak from Japanese invasion in 1942 at the start of the Pacific War. After the abdication of Charles Vyner Brooke in 1946 and the creation of the Crown Colony of Sarawak, the Sarawak Rangers became a colonial unit under direct British control and saw action in both the Malayan Emergency and the Borneo Confrontation. [4] [5]

In 1963, upon the formation of Malaysia, the Sarawak Rangers were transformed into the 1st Battalion, Royal Ranger Regiment. [6]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Sarawak</span>

The flag of Sarawak, officially known as Ibu Pertiwi ('Motherland'), is the official flag of Sarawak, a state in Malaysia. It is based on the flag of the Raj of Sarawak of the White Rajah, and includes the yellow of Southeast Asian royalty — a similar yellow and diagonal black are in the flag of Brunei, although Brunei's yellow is of a brighter shade.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Sarawak</span>

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The communist insurgency in Sarawak was an insurgency in Malaysia from 1962 to 1990, and involved the North Kalimantan Communist Party (NKCP) and the Malaysian Government. It was one of the two communist insurgencies to challenge the former British colony of Malaysia during the Cold War. As with the earlier Malayan Emergency (1948–1960), the communist insurgents in Sarawak were predominantly ethnic Chinese, who opposed British rule over Sarawak and later opposed the merger of the state into the newly created Federation of Malaysia. The insurgency was triggered by the 1962 Brunei revolt, which had been instigated by the left-wing Brunei People's Party in opposition to the proposed formation of Malaysia.

Sarawak issued stamps that functioned as both postage and revenue purposes from 1869 to 1949 from the period of Raj of Sarawak, Japanese occupation, British Military Administration, to Crown Colony of Sarawak.

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Sarawak Day, officially known as Sarawak Independence Day is a holiday celebrated on 22 July annually by Sarawak, celebrating the establishment of de facto self-government on 22 July 1963.

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References

  1. Nicholas Tarling (29 August 2003). Imperialism in Southeast Asia. Routledge. pp. 319–. ISBN   1-134-57081-3.
  2. "The Sarawak Gazette Tuesday March 1st 1932" (PDF). The Sarawak Gazette. LXII (942): 49–50. 1 March 1932. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  3. DeWitt C. Ellinwood, Jr.; Cynthia H. Enloe (1978). Ethnicity and the Military in Asia. Transaction Publishers. pp. 201–. ISBN   978-1-4128-2290-9.
  4. A. J. Stockwell; University of London. Institute of Commonwealth Studies (2004). Malaysia. The Stationery Office. pp. 70–. ISBN   978-0-11-290581-3.
  5. Robert Rizal Abdullah (2008). My Adventure. Metier Books. pp. 79–. ISBN   978-1-60594-145-5.
  6. J P Cross (21 February 2008). Jungle Warfare: Experiences and Encounters. Pen and Sword. pp. 203–. ISBN   978-1-84415-666-5.