Description
Physical description
cap
light khaki fabric cap with soft peak and chin strap, the top being pentagonal,sewn to make corners, one above the centre of peak, one above either end of peak, two at rear, a red five-point star embroidered on front, inside white.
Label
This cap belonged to Lau Fatt, a member of the Malayan People's Anti-British Army, who surrendered to the Assistant Manager of the Kelan Estate in Kulai District in Jahore Bahru on 19 March 1957. Members of the Malayan People's Anti-British Army were usually referred to as 'CTs' or Communist Terrorists. The Communist Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army was, by 1945, 7000 strong. By 1948 it had been reconstituted as the Malayan People's Anti-British Army. Though they had fought, at the the USSR's request, alongside the British during the war, they now sought to force the British from Malaya and to initiate a communist revolution. Although it took from 1948 to 1960 to defeat the communist insurgents, the so-called 'Malayan Emergency', can be seen to have been a considerable achievement. The Director of Operation in 1950 and 1951 was Lt General Sir Harold Briggs. It was he, and later General Sir Gerald Templer, who, as High Commissioner and Director of Operations, together with Lt Colonel Robert Thompson (later Sir Robert Thompson) of the Malay Police were mainly responsible for breaking the back of the enemy offensive by co-ordinating a series of innovative anti-guerrilla measures over the years. The British Army ultimately defeated the Chinese Communist terrorists because they were prepared, by living and fighting in the jungle for long periods to take on a beat the insurgents at their own game. More than 100,000 British soldiers served in Malaya from 1948-1960, of whom, the majority were National Servicemen.
History note
Donor is the archivist of the Helicopter Operations (Malayan Emergency) Association. He states that the cap came from a Mr. K. Hampson, a planter in Malaya. Lau Fatt surrendered to the assistant manager of the Kelan Estate in Kulai District on 19 March 1957. Members of the Malayan People's Anti-British Army were usually referred to as 'CTs' or Communist Terrorists. The Communist Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army was, by 1945, 7000 strong. By 1948 it had been reconstituted as the Malayan People's Anti-British Army. Though they had fought, at the the USSR's request, alongside the British during the war, they now sought to force the British from Malaya and to initiate a communist revolution. Although it took from 1948 to 1960 to defeat the communist insurgents, the so-called 'Malayan Emergency', can be seen to have been a considerable achievement. The Director of Operation in 1950 and 1951 was Lt General Sir Harold Briggs. It was he, and later General Sir Gerald Templer, who, as High Commissioner and Director of Operations, together with Lt Colonel Robert Thompson (later Sir Robert Thompson) of the Malay Police were mainly responsible for breaking the back of the enemy offensive by co-ordinating a series of innovative anti-guerrilla measures over the years. The British Army ultimately defeated the Chinese Communist terrorists because they were prepared, by living and fighting in the jungle for long periods to take on a beat the insurgents at their own game. More than 100,000 British soldiers served in Malaya from 1948-1960, of whom, the majority were National Servicemen.