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The Malayan Emergency : 1948-1960
| Author | Noel Barber |
| Publisher | Bantam Books |
| ISBN # | 0553265792 |
| On-line Merchant | Amazon |
| Or Order through the BSW store: |
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| This Book was added by | Arthur Owen |
Cover Notes
On June 16, 1948, the jungles of Malaya gave birth to terror. In one bold stroke, Communist insurgents shattered Malaya's post-World War quiet with ruthless, well-planned attacks on two targets: the British colonialists, mostly planters and tin miners who considered Malaya their home and the native populace who, by sheer intimidation, were to be turned into tools of the revolution supplying food and material-and bodies-for the ambitions of the National Liberation Army.
It was a war of weird ironies: a battle for freedom, when the British had already volunteered to give Malaya its independence; a duel between bitter enemies who, a few years earlier, had shared danger and deprivation fighting the Japanese. And it was new kind of war, waged from the depths of impenetrable jungle, with hit and run tactics that forced the British to devise unorthodox responses, military and political-including the secretive, incredibly efficient SAS-that turned a rout into one of the great victories of the post World War period.
Filled with fascinating stories and colourful characters-from the British-trained Communist mastermind Chin Peng to Irene Lee, the beautiful and deadly SAS operative who, pistol hidden in her brassiere, single-handedly cracked open the Communists' courier network-this is the detailed, gripping account of the bitter, twelve-year-long "War of the Running Dogs"
Reviews
John rated this Average
My father was in the Malayan army at that time. Contrary to the book its not all about tha british commenwealth armies.In fact my father was in charge most of the time due to the british CO beingf drunk most of the time.But still I doff me hat to the commenwealth army for without them victory would not have been posssible
Lee rated this book Good
I've observed that the current paperback edition omits a few pictures that were present in earlier hardcover edition.
Can't figure why those were omited.
Abd. Manan bin S. Augustin rated this book Good
it was one of the most interesting book i ever read. once i started reading it, i knew i had to finish the book. it truly was a "battle of the hearts and minds".
David Ryves rated this book Poor
I post the comments made by my Father, H.T.B.Ryves CBE JMP, Deputy Commissioner and Director of Special Branch (1954-1960), Royal Federation of Malaya Police in respect of this book:
"For those in the know this is both a bad and extremely irritating book because it is too fictionalised. Noel Barber did not set out write a purely factual history because he had already sold his soul to the Devil in the form of Reader’s Digest for serialisation rights. That organisation with an eye on the American market (see the reference equating the size of Malaya to Florida) wanted a good 'racy' story with a 'hero'.
Barber came up with Bob Thompson - who was never exactly slow in pushing himself forward - as the 'hero'. Needless to say the exposure given to Thompson in this book is quite preposterous and gives a wildly unbalanced picture of the true situation.
For example, I know that Thompson never went anywhere near Sengai Siput after the murders of the British planters and which heralded the outbreak of the Emergency. After all, I should know as I was in command of the Special Branch in Ipoh at that time and these murders, like any others, were a matter for the police and completely outside Thompson's duties as Chinese Affairs Officer.
As for the suggestion in the Postscript that he is a World authority on Communism (this) is sheer rubbish. In fact I was offered the job on the British Advisory Mission in Vietnam but declined it, but then Desmond Palmer joined it as the real expert on Communism and counter-insurgency.
Harry Miller told me that Templer was so incensed over this book that he 'phoned up Barber and in his typically blunt manner asked 'Who the bloody hell is this bugger Thompson whom you eulogise in your book?”
It is significant that in the two really excellent books written by Harry Miller - 'Menace in Malaya' and 'Jungle War in Malaya' - Thompson is not mentioned in either of them.
Likewise the statement that David Storrier was chosen to track down Osman China is rubbish. Storrier, a good but junior Officer, was the S.B. officer for Kuala Lipis police district and as Osman operated in that district he was Storrier's No 1 target. The whole account of this affair contains too much fiction and over dramatisation just as is the case of Evan Davis and Goh Peng Tuan.
David, like Thomson, was no shrinking violet and always played to the gallery with an eye to the main chance for maximum publicity, but to give him his due he had plenty of ability.
The best books on the Malayan Emergency are the two written by Harry Miller - factual and accurate.
Harvey Ryves"
Jeroen rated this book Good
Very exiting and easy reading book, however one sided. The winner always writes history. Also good to read the other side of the story. Cheng Ping's My Side of History tells the same story but from a different view. Were the British really so noble???
Zach Taylor rated this book Excellent
I read this book while I was stationed in Balad Iraq; I thought the book had earth shattering relevance for the war the U.S. and British are currently engaged in.
The author of this book is not the finest writer however he is competant and delivers a history lesson that is greatly neglected. The importance of this story outweighs the slightly above average skill of the writer. I highly recommend this book as a introduction to the conflict, and its implications to the modern world.
R.V. Berry rated this book Excellent
Having served in Malaya in 1960, it made me think how on earth did they survive, in the beginning of the war. Perhaps that is not a good question as the new men body of men were of the same calibre,In '47 and thereon the new body of men with some of knowledge gained from their counterparts proved as good, and the eventual change in tactics and the quality of their worth,proved that the British soldier was always the best. As the war in Vietnam showed that it was not the size of the force,but the quality in leadership and the quality of the men, proved that in any circumstance they could step up to plate, and win. And it makes one very proud to have played even a small part of it. Thanks to all my mates and the ones that we followed.
ian Davis rated this book Excellent
My father served in the Malayan Police and is mentioned in the book, during the bitter ambush that cost the lives of many of his comrades..my farthers name is Sgt JLDavis.My Children will read this book when it is time because the heritage of their grandparents Chinese and English lives on..
Steven Ng rated this book Good
History is a record of past events and to those people who survived during the Japanese Invasion & Occupation ( 1941 - 1945 )and the Communist Guerrillas in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency (1948 - 1960) should learnt the very bitter lesson of cruelty and suffering that could shape the future generation to build a better world and future.
Matthew rated this book Excellent
It wasn't until i started reading this book to understand why most Malaysians (of the Emergency era) oppose to Chin Peng's return. The book allows the reader to get a grasp of the emotions of the planters and civil servants who stayed back and fought the CTs for the love of this country. The quotes from journal entries of the planters especially Lucy's was extremely hilarious, I thought.
Din rated this book Excellent
his book provide clear defination of counter-insurgency warfare and how to win it. The book is not just doctrine type of manuscript that mostly written today but provide the insight story of how the doctrine being put into application. Suggested to be read by anybody who wish to learn more about counter-insurgency warfare.
Vincent Chin rated this book Excellent
My Chinese grandma (Malaysian) served in the army during the communist terrorist time. He never liked to talked about that period but I knew he hated the CTs. He was a quiet man. When he died in year 2000, I wanted to know more about him and that period. I found this book after having it recommended by a retired Major friend, who too fought the CTs until the 80s (I saw the scar on his forehead after the failed assasination attempt on him.
I am a grown men. I shed tears when I learned what my grandpa had went through. I now realized that they are so many people of all races and countries that fought very hard to make Malaysia a great place as it is today.
Ian Davis rated this book Excellent
My father served in the Malayan Police and is mentioned in the book, during the bitter ambush that cost the lives of many of his comrades..my farthers name is Sgt JLDavis.My Children will read this book when it is time because the heritage of their grandparents Chinese and English lives on.
Arthur Owen rated this book Excellent
It gives an excellent insight into a little known but important conflict. If the Americans had followed the British example, they would have probably won the Vietnam War.
Rufus Cole rated this book Average
Secondhand knowledge presented in a third rate manner. Unbelievable in places and I was there.
Sean Dineen rated this book Excellent
The finest book ever written on resettlement and the political aspects of a war. I used it to help write a master's thesis on counter-insurgary. Good example of what went right and demonstrates the value of propaganda resettlement and the personalities which led to victory.
Bill McKern rated this book Excellent
A wonderfully exciting series of events, true happenings, and of extraordinary men and their successes in combating the wiles and wickedness of the C.Ts. A brilliant explanation of how the war was eventually won. By intelligence.
Baz Ford rated this book Excellent
Well, I have owned it for years and read it many times - 'nuff said'
Harry DeCraney rated this book Excellent
Bloody fantastic and accurate view of the emergency.
Celia Darling rated this book Excellent
Great read and well written. Details the daring exploits of men and women during the "Emergency" in then Malaya (now Malaysia) to beat the cunning Communists. A small love story in the middle of it between an officer and a nurse even.
Ali rated this book Excellent
One of the very, very few oustanding books on the Malayan emergency. I read this to know what my father fought for and what his father died for. Read this to understand the Malaysia of today. Read this to dispute the "dictator" label given to the ruling government, the same government of Malays, Chinese and Indians that made this country the success it is today and the most stable government in the region!
Ernest rated this book Good
Above average" would be a better term than just "good." These days I generally do more reading for researching things than for leisure. Learning about one thing led me to events in Malaya.
I found the authors writing style, as Rufus alluded to,less than energetic. It was the personal "shots" of people like The Lucy's, Bob Thompson and General Templer that kept me intersted. And of course Winston Churchill. Norman Cleveland was right... :)
Yusoff rated this book Excellent
Must read for those who still do not appreciate what our forefathers had done and sacrifice for what Malaysia is to be now...from war torn Malaya to peaceful and prosperous developing Malaysia. Best of all, there is no more racial and religious hatred amongst Malaysian.
Ramón Epstein rated this book Good
Nice overview of the conflict and its stages, but very little reference towards the experiences and duties of the Army and its conduct during the war.
Benjamin Teh rated this book Good
My father died in 1982, and he had read this book before. I know because my mum wrote "Bert laughed all the way through the book". I have just finished the book and in many ways, I know why my father laughed so much. Mind you, it is a good book, well written, but definitely one sided where the whites are made to be gods and the local inhabitant, mindless coolies.I live in Singapore now, but I was born in KL, Selangor and my dad grew up in KL & Penang.
Syafiee rated this book Good
Being the young Malaysian born after Independent and the defeat of the Communism in Malaya, this book provides clear understanding how the British handle the Malayan Emergency. I believe without contribution of the British Intelligent Service and Commonwealth's army, Malaysia might not prosper into what we have today.
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