Guys,

As I'm gonna build our Tugu Negara in miniature scale for the MGB09 . So this is the place I'd like anyone to post help and resources (articles or images) related....



My first questions:
01. Looking at the pict above, can any ex-military personnel or anyone verify the period (year) base on the statues uniform

02. The uniform and gears: Is there any clear pictures or articles on the uniform sculpted on these statue...??

03. For one I've found that the dead communist supposed to have the mix khaki and jungle green colors uniform and legging similar to the Japanese army.

04. But what about the Good guys? I presume the color are jungle green. but notice that the statues only sculpted wearing back pack (British WW2 style) and surprisingly NO AMMO POUCHes???... Is this correct?

05. Weapons: It's clear that there's a BREN light machine gun, what's the rifle type with fixed bayonet and the rest (hung on the shoulders)?

Very much appreciate if you guys especially those ex-army personnel can provide any form of assistance.


thanks in advance,
CPTan

I've found some info on the net on weapon used in Malaya jungle fight

The LEE-Einfield No5 MK1 (jungle rifle)


Bayonet used in Malaya emergency period


7.62mm BREN Gun L4 (the L1 is .303 calibre and with a small circular drum shape at the back)


Are these the right weapon?

i have nothing to help... other than my support...!!!
This thing gonna be in the news again...!!!!

CP,

The guys had a very brief discussion about Tugu Peringatan during the recent MGB. Apparently, the uniform doesn't reflect our uniform (correct me if I'm wrong, guys). The sculptor of this monument is an Austrian.

Wiki info here.

haa.. the lazy way out is to paint it Bronze.. :D

I take it as uniform of a commonwealth soldier, right? Now is there a possibility our army or ranger were equip with the same gear since we know most of them are first train by SAS..... right Beachbum?

CPTan

In a way of speaking, paint it bronze or mono tone such as black and white actually more difficult than full colour....

CPTan

Which version are you planning to do? Remember that it got blown by the communist? If my memory serve me right, the restoration made got the figures or maybe the uniforms more "Malayan" ie facial, uniforms, etc

Help me guys...... or correct me if I am wrong. :D

Strictly Malaysian style, no doubt.... I remember the bombing only the destroyed the bayonet charging figure... reference Link

Regards,
CPTan

First Malaya emergency 1948 to 1960.
Mainly fought by British Commonwealth troop including our native regiment.... against the Malayan National Liberation Army or Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army... in short called CT (Communist Terrorist)

Second Malaya emergency (after Merdeka) 1967 to 1989
Malayan Communist Party (CPM) against Malaysian armed forces

From our Tugu statues uniform and gears clearly indicated they were at the first Malaya emergency. I think my project supposed to be also at this period, as it's dramatic dio to show our "Jalur Gemilang" raised victoriously at year 1957 (year between the Malayan emergency)...

But if I'm to build it as the second Malayan emergency, which mean after Merdeka.... then the uniform and weapons supposed to "upgrade" to modernized versions (camo uniform and M16, etc.... )

Personally I like the first idea, what say you guys?

CPTan

I would go with the first idea. You got my vote on it. :)

same here..
i also seconded the "fist" ops first idea :D

look more appropriate to the whole concept..

kuman

Cptan,

first i admire your effort once again.... we had a talk on this during last sunday too..

anyway just to get it right, did u mean in the second idea, you will do all modern figures on the tugu?? new uniform, weapons and equipment using the same pose??

if u try this then u have my vote.... modified tugu negara!!

Ok its been a while since I've seen the Tugu up close and personal.

CP I think the front ammo pouches may have been intentionally left out to avoid clutter or for the ease of sculpting. I've come across pics of British troops minus the front pouches though during the Emergency. Will need to see closeups to make sure if the sculptor did a variation of the British BD's of the 1950's or matches it. The variation will be in the pockets if any but in the end it probably doesn't matter coz the current Tugu will be used as the template anyway. Btw the backpack looks like the 1937 pattern similar to what I used on my Senoi Praaq.

At any rate CP I would go with your 1st option as its closer to the date of Merdeka. If you need any additional info on their uniform come over as I have some references.

For me I support both!

The Original version would be for it sentimental value of being the actual scale version of the Tugu and to remember those who fought to protect us

If you do with the modern version, it'll be a kick to see the Tugu in modern set up!

Found these photos on the net about British webbing and ammo puches...

British WW2 type webbing and pouches


British type 58 (1958 issueed) also used in Vietnam, now obsolete...


The below items are indicate at diggerhistory website that being used by Australian troop at MALAYA emergency
British 1944 issued back pack (since WW2)


and basic Ammo pouch also item used since WW2


rounded water bottle (not same as WW2 rectangle shape) with new rubber cap (the original aluminium cap makes noises in the jungle...


From the look of it, although the type 58 webbing available at the Malaya emergency period, but the troops were issued with older webbing??

Will search for more....

more photos...

Photos shows our local boys inspection before jungle patrol


This is the typical uniform of Communist at first Malaya emergency which shows a mix of British weapon and Japanese gears...


I'm trying to look for a clear picture of our boys (or commonwealth troops) in uniform and full jungle gear...

CPTan

More photos...

Found these on a figure website forum...

Australian Jungle fighter






In my personal opinion and base on my fading memory... I think the webbing and pouches are most likely accurate from these photos... BUT the "aussie" cowboy hat which is also sculpted on our tugu... I MUST say something is not so accurate about it.

Looking at this photo of our local boys who're wearing those jungle "boonie" hat,

NOT the broad rim cowboy hat... and the legging not the US canvas type but those rubber and canvas jungle boot.

Can some military expert correct me if I'm wrong here?

CPTan

since you guys brought this up... reminds me of a question i did not ask... i saw some bodies on the ground of our tugu... are those dead heroes...?? or dead enemy??

William,

We've got 5 good guys, 1 leader holding the flag, A Bren Gunner on the right, A bayonet charger at the left, one injured and another kneeling assisting the fallen.

Those 2 dead bodies are Communist dead. The status sculpted wearing Japanese type putties legging and one of the dead is wearing unique five point hat with a 5 pointed star at the center.

The head gear (hat)




The WW2 Japanese soldier type legging


CPTan

OHKEH... thanks for the info CPTan... now i can use the info u provided and tell the childrens...

Guys,

It's funny that when you looking else where, but actually what you're looking for is right under your nose...

I totally forgot to look into my "modern military uniform" reference book which display one (only one :-( ...) image of a British marine in jungle dress at Malaya emergency...



- The cotton boonie hat
- Khaki green uniform
- Jungle green pants
- No webbing
- Ammo pouches, water bottle and others simply attached to the cotton belt for easy movement in jungle
- Base on the write-up, the white patch stick on the hat indicate the unit marking
- Apparently most jungle fighters were also equiped with "parang" to cut their way around the jungle. Favour short length fire arms, such as the OWEN sub machine gun, thomson sub machine gun, LEE-einfield MK no.5 jungle carbine...


CPTan

CP I'm not to sure on the white patch as it doesn't appear to be common in the photos I've seen in my book on the Emergency which incidentally has lots of pics on all Commonwealth troops including our very own and their equipment. ;)

The other thingy on the same pic, the breast pockets do not show a mid rib section running down the middle but it appears in the pics of the Tugu. I think the ones on the Tugu are definitely more closer to the era.

Beach, I'm not sure about the unit white patch too... but the book say so.... I mean it's damn stupid to label a "white" patch on the head as you're telling the enemy sniper "hey, shoot here!!" in the all green jungle.... <_<

Yeah, notice the differences on the pocket, thanks for pointing out.

Below are more picts resources on the net:

British VIP inspection our local troops... back view of the webbing and pouches on the belt...


Our local boys on Jungle patrol... (aahhhh... no more australian here)


Australian SAS at our native village... (key to win the war is to win the people's heart)


A Jungle patrol... notice the guy in the middle is one of our "short" local boy amongst the "tall" Australian.... and they all loaded with heavy back packs.



Regards,
CPTan

First Malay Emergency Statistics:

- lasted for 12 years

- involving 350,000 personnel and cost 12,000 lives.

- nearly 900 contacts with the enemy were reported.

- 100,000 British Armed Services personnel from 60 units were involved with the police, the Commonwealth, Malaya and Ghurkha Forces.

- 6707 of the enemy were killed

- 4000 either captured or surrendered.

- 446 British Armed Forces personnel lost their lives.

- The combined security force's losses including civilians, totalled 5313 - dead or presumed missing.

The Malayan Government finally decided to declare the Emergency over on 31st July 1960.


Personal note: From the statistic, looks like our "freedom" (fight against communism) was greatly aided by the British arm forces, and other than casulties and losses of our local boys, these so called "colonial foreigners" indeed fought hard and gave their lives for our land's freedom, So in my point our Tugu Negara stands NOT only paying tribute to our own countrymen, but it's for all fallen comrade and friends (whoever)...

CPTan

More articles about the enemy (communist)...
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Emergency was not a sideshow. It was a full scale war but was "hidden" in the thick jungle from the public knowing...

The war was backed by both Russia and China. Below are photos of comminist "soldiers" and activities proven their fully armed and eqquiped army capability to overrun the government... (photos taken from site: Fight for the right to wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia











Our generation has been wrongly fabricated that "ALL" communist member are Chinese then, which is not entirely true.

Indeed most of them are Chinese, but there also exist of Malay,Indian and other races in the Malaya comminist party. For one, the great communist leader who plan, raid and massacre Bukit Kepong was a Malay name Muhammad Indera.



Why Communist lost in first Malay emergency?....
----------------------------------------------------------------------
At the near end of the Malaya emergency period, the British finally achieved success when, under the leadership of British high commissioner Sir Gerald Templer, they began addressing political and economic grievances as well, increasingly isolating the rebels. Promising independence, British officials began negotiating with the various ethnic leaders, including the UMNO and the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA), formed in 1949 by wealthy Chinese businessmen. A coalition consisting of the UMNO (led by the aristocratic moderate Tunku Abdul Rahman), the MCA, and the Malayan Indian Congress contested the national legislative elections held in 1955 and won all but one seat; this established a permanent political pattern of a ruling coalition, known first as the Alliance Party and later as the National Front, that united ethnically based, mostly elite-led parties of moderate to conservative political leanings, with the UMNO as the major force. After the Malay Federation became an independent state in the British Commonwealth (1957), the war petered out; increasing numbers of terrorists surrendered (a government amnesty was offered to them in 1955, and many accepted it). Still, a hard core of several hundred communist guerrillas continued to operate in the thick jungles along the Malay-Thai border until 1960, when they were finally defeated.

The first Malaya emergency finally ended, the once powerful and fierce communists had been reduced to a handful of vagabonds, living in hiding and reduced to eating roots and berries. Which made it much much more "easier" for our local boys to single-handle continue the "clean-up" in the second Malaya emergency.


CPTan

thank you CP for your well articulated article..lest we forget the sacrifices of our fallen heroes.. ;) ;)