The Sharp End
Royal
Marine Tony Daker's Recollection of the Limbang Raid
I recall we were the first troop of 42 Royal Marine Commando to arrive in Brunei. This was L Company and our section of MMGs. When we arrived in Brunei City we were informed of the situation up river at Limbang and were ordered to commandeer river transport, which were 'Z' crafts (this is a large craft with the front ramp welded up and planking surrounding it).
It
was afternoon and it had been decided that my MMG (Vickers) would go up
front on the port side and the second MMG on the port side by the bridge
of the craft. The bridge was quite high with lots of glass. At the centre
of the craft there was a bulldozer, which would hopefully offer cover from
the starboard side. Some of the planking was removed from the side and
the decision was made to have the MMGs in the 'lowest service position'.
It was at this time that it started to rain, as only it could in this part
of the world. Towards evening we were taken to the Brunei Hotel to rest,
dry out and get our weapons cleaned and in order ready for action. With
this done we had an 'O' group and were informed of the general layout of
the town. From our point of view it was decided to mount the MMGs on one
pin and swinging travis on the tripod.
At
around midnight we re-embarked on the 'Z' craft, the weather was then dry
and there was a good moon. Off we went, not knowing what lay ahead. I think
most of us were tense at this time, and after a short time my sergeant,
'The Baron' Wakeling, told me to relax as by now my knuckles were white
as I gripped the gun handles. Approximately an hour later we pulled into
the trees at the side of the river and were told that we had to be at Limbang
by dawn. At this stage, everyone seemed to relax and unwind. I sat with
my back to the ramp and thought of the family back home in England sitting
in front of a good coal fire and then my thoughts drifted to the 21st birthday
I had just had and the sort of celebrations made as if I had been home.
Then I was thinking of the Coy, all the good mates I had, and the many
good memories of things I had seen and done since I had become a Royal
Marine.
It was then time to move on, so we all got into our positions as we made the final approach. I was lying on my back with my number two's, Shoebridge, legs tucked under my head. He was lying on the right side of the gun to enable him to feed in the canvas belt of 250 rounds of .303, as when it fired it tended to shake the rounds out if not done correctly. There were 3 men to the crew, and our large packs were put in front and our personal weapons were to hand on the deck.
It
was now starting to get light and we could see the town on the riverbank.
The river, at this point, was on a bend so all I could see was the shore-side
firing at us. I looked to the bridge, where the number one gun was with
my mate Pete Stubbs, and we gave one another the nod waiting for the order
to "fire". We could see several targets, as by now it was getting light.
The order was given to open fire and all hell was let loose. People were
shouting out directions where to fire, at windows and doorways, as we moved
up towards the town. The Sergeant was moving up and down the deck looking
after his lads as though we were on the ranges back home. He said the police
station was coming up front and at this point the craft seemed to start
to drift and the other MMG had ceased firing.
I
looked down and Pete signalled that he had a stoppage. At this point I
could see that the bridge had been hit, most of the glass had gone, and
someone was using a brush as a crutch. The rebels in the police station
could see us and the firing coming into us had intensified. I could only
fire through some fuel pumps and a Land Rover, which was on the jetty.
The jetty was a lot higher than us with a number of oil barrels on it and
amongst them was a rebel shooting a double-barrel shotgun at point blank
range, giving off two big blue smoke rings. The front of the craft started
to turn out into the river and at this point I could see the front of the
police station properly for the first time. I gave it all I could, and
this had the right effect, silencing the Bren gun, which was on top of
the police station.
It was difficult to see through the brickwork dust, steam from the MMG condenser can, and smoke from the gun. Sergeant Wakeling ordered me to "hold fire". We sailed past the police station, a large jetty, and the next large building was the hospital. It was here I saw a Marine on the road at the side of the river. I could not say if he was an officer or NCO, and he was pointing to a type of bungalow to the right of the hospital that was giving off rebel fire. We again opened fire with the MMG and took the bungalow apart.
The craft pulled into the side and as only an officer can, we heard the command, "Royal Marines -over the side-lets go!", leaving only us, the support company troop, aboard. The 'Z' craft was then starting a manoeuvre to turn around when a fast motorboat tried to get across the river. This was shot out of the water and we continued to sail back down the river, giving covering fire to 'L' Company, who secured the town. As I moved over to the starboard side, I saw a Marine behind us on the deck. We tried to help him but there was nothing we could do but cover him with a poncho.
When we returned back to the small jetty by the hospital and put the MMGs on the side of the road, to secure that part of town that had not been cleared of rebels. Around mid-afternoon 3 jets off HMS Eagle came in to buzz the area; what a glorious sight!
As darkness fell more Marines from Support Company came with ammunition. I then heard a voice, "Have no fear-Pony's here", and turned around to see my mate Dennis Moore, and that was Limbang.
Tony Daker
May 2002
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To all the Royal Marines who have felt |
Also See
Official After Action Report and map |
Limbang Raid |
Never seen before pictures of the Raid |
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