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Full account of recapture of Weston; rebels kill cop
Published on: Tuesday, December 11, 1962
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When the armed uprising occurred in Brunei on Saturday morning Police Headquarters in Jesselton were called up for assistance.
A detachment of the mobile force was sent by the first available aircraft and were the first assistance to reach Brunei.
Since then they have been engaged in heavy fighting with the rebels. It is learnt that one police man was killed in the defence of the airfield. He is P.C.533, Bitti, the wellknown champion sprinter.
When reports of disturbances in the Weston area were received on Saturday morning a small force was sent down the railway line under the command of the Divisional Commander, Interior, Mr Poss.
Meanwhile, the A.D.O. Sipitang, Mr Perry, had already left Sipitang by sea for Weston as the head of a small force. A few men were landed before reaching the town to take it in the rear.
As the boat approached the wharf at Weston it was met by a fusillade of shots and was hit in several places. The fire was returned after which the boat party went back to Sipitang to get reinforcements.
The small force which had landed and which was composed of experienced jungle fighters, came under fire which they returned, later breaking off the engagement and making its way back to Sipitang.
In a jeep on the way back a bomb was thrown into the vehicle which fortunately did not explode until the occupants had jump clear.
The vehicle was not badly damaged. The insurgents appeared to have left Weston that evening for Kampong Lubak so that when the police forces under Mr Ross arrived in Weston the following morning they found the town much as usual but with the Party Ra’ayat flag flying at the masthead near the wharf.
Police forces then went to Kampong Lubak area captured some 60 people, all coastal Bruneis, of the Sipitang District, with shot-guns, ammunition, one bomb, flags and uniforms.
The prisoners were despatched to Beaufort by train escort and detained there overnight. By morning other arrests had raised the total to 80.
This morning police forces made a double-pronged drive by sea and land from Weston to Sipitang.
The sea patrol was led by the former Divisional Commander, Interior, Mr Davis, whose leave was stopped, while Mr Ross led the land forces.
Sipitang was reached without any contact with the insurgents Sindumin and Pantai were alerted to intercept any who may have escaped from the Lubak route. No incidents have been reported.
Latest reports are that further 21 persons have been arrested in the Ulu Sipitang area by a police detachment accompanying the A.D.O. Sipitang.
Mr Plunkett commented that only Bruneians appeared to be involved and that the rest of the country was solidly against the trouble makers. Everyone was going out of his way to help the police. Volunteer engineers and technicians from the Public Works and Electricity Board had gone to Brunei to help restore normal services.
A police wireless operator sent to Lawas at the request of the Sarawak Government appears to be providing the sole means of communication with that area. Posts & Telegraphs and railway staff have been working continuously to provide communications.
The planting community of the Beaufort District volunteered for duty and were accepted as Special Constables. They have acted most useful in a number of capacities.
Arrangements are in hand for accommodating wives and children of personnel from Brunei and the oilfields at Labuan and Jesselton.
Borneo Airways aircraft have been taken off normal services since Saturday to carry police and troops to Brunei and Lutong, but services to the East Coast are expected to be resumed from Monday afternoon.
The District Officer, Labuan, said today that 200 evacuees from Brunei arrived in Labuan yesterday. They were mainly families of Brunei Civil Servants, including Malayans seconded to the Brunei Government.
An Army spokesman in Labuan said this afternoon that a large number of soldiers had been flown to Brunei today from Labuan.
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