11/08/2026
Today marks the 60th anniversary of the end of the Indonesian Confrontation.
Indonesia and Malaysia fought an undeclared war between 1962 and 1966 which came to involve troops from Australia, Britain and New Zealand. Fighting escalated when Indonesia launched a series of cross-border raids in Borneo in early 1963.
Australia's commitment to operations against Indonesia in Borneo and West Malaysia fell within the context of its membership in the Far East Strategic Reserve - a British Commonwealth force stationed in the region. 3RAR and 1 SAS Squadron deployed to Sarawak and Brunei in early 1965 and fought as part of a larger British force. 4RAR and 2 SAS Squadron served in Sarawak in 1966. Each of these units took part in secret cross-border operations code-named 'CLARET'.
Because of the sensitivity of these operations, which remained secret until 1996, Confrontation received very little coverage in the Australian press. Despite fighting an undeclared war, Australia and Indonesia maintained diplomatic relations.
Australia also sent detachments from the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, an artillery detachment and five squadrons of the Royal Australian Engineers to Borneo. Ships of the Royal Australian Navy served in the surrounding waters, and several Royal Australian Air Force squadrons were also involved during Confrontation.
Continuing negotiations between Indonesia and Malaysia ended the conflict, and the two sides signed a peace treaty on 11 August 1966.
Twenty-three Australians died as a result of their service during Confrontation, seven of them on operations, and eight were wounded.
Today we remember all who served.
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📷 Image: An Australian artillery crew from 102nd Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, fires a 105mm L5 Pack Howitzer at dawn from a forward base near the Sarawak–Kalimantan border, c. 1965. Photograph by William Cunneen. AWM CUN/65/0777/MC
