http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/03/28/commando-semut-ops-part-of-barios-history/#ixzz2OrfC8e18
Posted on March 28, 2013, Thursday
KUCHING: Commando Semut Operation, undertaken by the Z Special Unit
on May 25, 1945 during World War II in Bario, was one of the most
important events that has shaped the history of the Sarawak, according
to an Australian war veteran.
Jack Tredrea, a 93-year-old retired
warrant officer from South Australia and the only surviving member of
the unit, said that the landing was a significant step by the Allied
forces against the Japanese army in Borneo during the war.
“Back then, Bario was an ideal place for the attack as it was a low key and unassuming place to for us to be in,” he said when
relating his war experience during the Bicara Warisan, organised by the
Sarawak Museum, here yesterday, on the secret Semut Operation.
That
historic day when he parachuted down to the plains of Bario, off the
plane in the early hours of the morning, he recalled being pleasantly
surprised by the warm reception received from the locals there.
Following
the first landing, more than 80 operations were carried out with the
help of more than 2,000 indigenous people, including the Kelabits, Ibans
and Penan, who killed more than 1,846 Japanese soldiers, he said. —
Bernama
No comments:
Post a Comment