Whether it was the secret nature of the conflict or just a continuation of a tradition begun some 60 years earlier, soldiers in the Malayan Emergency remembered a mates birthday and made sure other Australians in the region were okay.

Spud Spurgeon managed to fit in some time to visit other RAAF officers and their families as well as spend time training up the second pilots.

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In the latter stages of the Malayan Emergency, members of 3RAR (Old Faithful) continued to carry out patrols against the Communist Terrorists.

Private Barry Caligari was a member of a joint Australian-New Zealand operation which went into action on Anzac Day, 25 April 1959, under the command of Major R.D. Yetton.

The operation, code-named ANZAC, was to support a strong group of police in an assault on a large terrorist camp. They took up positions along a track used by the terrorists to cut off their retreat.

A patrol led by Private Caligari ambushed two terrorists, killing one, while a second escaped into the dense jungle.

Private Caligari celebrated his 21st birthday in Malaya, with his mates laying on a special breakfast for him. His invitation came in the form of a hand carved wooden key. The Invitation read: "You are cordially invited to attend a breakfast in your honour on the occasion of your 21st birthday. Breakfast to be held at 672-158 on the Kuala Kangser Map."

Private Caligari was later promoted to Sergeant and took part in the Indonesian Confrontation in Borneo.