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The experienced gained from serving in the Malayan Emergency served the troops well in Indonesia, as it soon would in Vietnam.
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Major Blue Hodgkinson had been serving in Malaya when he got the call.
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Claude Ducker also served in Borneo.
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INDONESIA ATTACKS ACROSS THE BORDER |
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During the Confrontation in Indonesia, the status of peace negotiations also meant continually changing orders for troops on the ground.
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MUM'S THE WORD |
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Due to the absolute secrecy of the operation nothing could be left behind, no prisoners, no casualties, no personal effects, not even food scraps. Major Blue Hodgkinson was involved in Operation Claret.
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AUSTRALIA GETS INVOLVED |
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Indonesia continued its campaign of attacks across the border and Australian troops from 3 RAR became involved for the first time against a group of infiltrators which landed from the sea at the mouth of the Kesang River.
Australian naval operations in Malaysia were increased to counter the threat of seaborne infiltration with HMAS Yarra and HMAS Parramatta involved in interception of fast patrol boats and submarines.
The coastal minesweepers Hawke, Snipe, Gulf and Curlew began to patrol off the coast of Borneo, Malaya and Singapore and were joined later by Ibis and Teal.
Alan Smoothy served on Snipe in 1955-56, taking part in patrols, searching of suspect boats, including fishing boats and mine sweeping duties.
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FLASHPOINT ON THE WATER |
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"Snipe along with other minesweepers, picked up several contacts on radar which we suspected were Indonesian. These boats were small canoe like with large outboard motors and very fast.
"After firing several rocket flares and pursuing these boats for quite a while, we were successful in turning them back.
There was a curfew on boats operating after 6pm. During patrols off the coast of Malaya and Borneo we would pick up several contacts on radar. On picking up contact we went into action stations and proceeded to close the contact.
"We carried a Malayan interpreter who called out for the boats to stop. If they didn't we would open fire with the flag deck mounted Bren Gun, always over their heads.
"This always had the required result. We then brought the boat along side where an armed boarding party would carry out a search."
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