SASR Borneo.

Hi guys,

Seeing there's a lack of topics forth coming I thought you'd be interested in this story. Its regarding a couple of incidents
which happened during SAS cross border operations in Borneo (Claret ops)It concerns myself
and my mate Tom Simpson, both ex 2 Para, we took part in an operation to reccy an abandoned
RPKAD (Indo Para Kommando) training camp (no one told the Indons that it was abandoned!!)
we had a brief fire fight and the boss man (quite rightly) decided discretion was the better part of
valour gave the order to leg it back to the river crossing point held by the A&SH. (sorry! we
staged a tactical withdrawl!!)It was recrossing the swollen Sungai Sekayang that Tom and I were
nearly swept away. We were lucky, as we were dragged from the river by the A&SH and our
SAS comrades.
Attached is a newspaper clipping that Tom Simpson has sent me from Australia, this sent the
memories flooding back for us both.
 Months after our incident the Aussie SASR staged a similar Claret op. in the same location but
without the support we had. On trying to withdraw across the river two diggers became separated
from their patrol and were swept away. Although covert searches were carried out in the Kampong
Etabang and Sebakan areas of Indonesian Kalimantan no bodies were found.However unknown to
the Aussie Military authorities at that time, some local Dyak tribsmen had found the bodies and
gave them a respectful burial. It wasn't until recently, due to the sensitive nature of the Aussie
and Indon diplomatic relations (East Timor and all that) that the Australian Army History Unit,
AAHU which is a bit like our War Graves Commission, was allowed to pursue its investigations
into Kalimantan to follow up rumours regarding the graves of the two SASR men. The initial
information came from Kentua Adati, an Indon Dyak who is the keeper of the cultural history his
Dyak tribe which is local to the Sungai Sekayang.Interestingly, help from our former adversaries,
the RPKAD or as they are now known KOPASSUS or Indon Special Forces, was crucial in the
tracing and recovery of the diggers remains.Samples were retrieved from the remains and
subjected to the latest DNA technology resulting in the identification of both the SASR soldiers.
Family and relatives were informed by the Aussie Minister of Defence and a ceremony was
conducted in Halim Indonesia, where the remains were officialy handed over to the SASR, to be
returned home 44 years after the tragic event. Private funerals were held in Perth and Brisbane.
Full credit must be given to the AAHU for their tireless efforts in locating and returning the
remains of these two soldiers posted MIA on operations during the Borneo Confrontation.
The result of which has hopefully brought a sense of comfort and closure to the next of kin of these brave men.
 
The postscrip to these incidents is that Tom and I, in our dotage! have managed to contact one of the A&SH that
dragged us to safety, his name is Wullie Gallagher and he resides in Stirling. I hope to meet up with him for a few
pints (I'm buying!!) before I go out to Australia on 1st Sept. to meet up with my old mucker Tom Simpson.
  Yours Aye
  Jim(Robbie) Burns