Montague-Joseph, C (Oral history)

Ceylonese NCO served with Intelligence Corps in Kenya, Malaya and North Borneo, 1953-1958

REEL 1 Background in Columbo and GB, 1927-1952: family; education; role as props man with ENSA in Egypt; reaction to call up for National Service with Rifle Bde, 1952; language skills. Aspects of period as NCO with Intelligence Corps in Kenya, 1953-1954: posting to Kenya after brief posting to Korea, 1953; move to Nairobi; story of killing members of Mau Mau gang, 11/1953; operating in civilian clothes and personal weapons; role building observation posts in Kenya; observation duties; degree of danger in job; behaviour of Mau Mau gangs. REEL 2 Continues: outcome of action against Mau Mau; promotion to sergeant. Recollections of period as NCO with Intelligence Corps in Malaya and North Borneo, 1954-1958: background to attachment to 22nd Special Air Service after training; role gathering intelligence on Malaya/Thailand border; use of Claymore Mines to ambush insurgents; working undercover in Thailand; accommodation in Thai village; reaction to living with in Thai village. REEL 3 Continues: character of his agents; pattern of operations in Malaya/Thailand; three month transfer to North Borneo, 1956; involvement in psychological warfare in North Borneo, 1956; return to Johore in Malaya; duties collating intelligence in Johore; promotion to Lieutenant; use of Dyak guide/interpreter in North Borneo; ambush of insurgents. REEL 4 Continues: preference for service in Malaya and North Borneo; degree of danger in Malaya/Thailand; use of air supplies during period undercover in Thailand.