New Zealanders of 22 Squadron Special Air Service patrol the Malayan jungle, August 1957

Photograph, Malaya, 1957.

British battalions normally spent three years in Malaya. As they were largely made up of National Servicemen they usually had a proportion of new troops who had to be taught how to live and fight in the tropical forests. Training occurred at a Jungle Warfare School, which also worked out the best tactics based on experience gained in the field.

From 1954 there were normally 24 infantry battalions in Malaya from a wide variety of Commonwealth countries, including the 2nd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment and 1st Battalion The New Zealand Regiment. These were supported by specialised units such as the Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment.