Fifty-two years ago, on December 8th 1962, the Borneo Revolt broke out in Brunei and Sarawak. Led by Sheikh A. M. Azahari, the North Kalimantan Nationalist Army took military action to thwart the planned formation of the Federation of Malaysia. The Revolt was a turning point in the history of Malaysia and Singapore, and in its wake came the crackdown on leftists in Singapore known as Operation Cold Store.

Eileen Chanin’s book, Limbang Rebellion: 7 Days in December 1962, describing the key military action in that Revolt, has received the 2014 Royal Marines Historical Society Literary Award. The award was presented in the UK at the Royal Marines Museum, Portsmouth. Limbang Rebellion was selected among many strong contenders in a year that marks the 350th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Marines. The judges said, “This year, your riveting book ticked all the right boxes and more.” Eileen is the first woman to receive the literary prize in its 42-year history.

The river town of Limbang, an administrative centre in Sarawak, became the pivot of the rebellion that was to be the opening act of Konfrontasi.

Combining eyewitness accounts with thorough research, Limbang Rebellion reveals what it was like to be thrown into this intense and unexpected conflict in which hostages were taken and threatened with execution. It describes the involvement of the Royal Marines under Captain Jeremy Moore, MC, and the daring rescue mission he led under challenging circumstances, which included being vastly outnumbered by the rebel forces. The result is a unique military and human history of a local conflict, and a gripping account of seven dramatic days when a small town in northern Borneo suddenly seized the world’s attention.


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Sebastian Song