Governor’s Lecture Series – “The Confrontation, 1962–1966”

Join us in the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s historic State Apartments for a compelling lecture on one of the lesser‑known yet most strategically significant conflicts of the post‑war era: The Confrontation.

About the event

Between 1962 and 1966, Indonesia launched an undeclared campaign to break apart the newly formed Malaysian Federation by seizing the northern Borneo states. What followed was a four‑year struggle fought in dense jungle, remote kampongs, and along a vast and porous border. At its height, up to 15,000 Commonwealth troops were deployed to Borneo.

This lecture will explore:

• The origins of the conflict, beginning with the Brunei Revolt
• Life and operations in the jungles and villages of northern Borneo
• How Commonwealth forces prevented the conflict from escalating into a major guerrilla war
• The defence of northern Borneo against Indonesian incursions
• The launch of the Top-Secret Operation CLARET, which took the fight across the border through offensive raids and supply‑line interdiction
• Acts of gallantry and key engagements that shaped the campaign
• The political developments that ultimately brought the conflict to an end

Although sometimes described as a “secret war,” The Confrontation was not hidden – simply under‑reported. With few journalists willing to join troops in remote jungle bases, the campaign unfolded largely out of public view. This absence of media scrutiny allowed Commonwealth forces to conduct one of the largest clandestine operations in military history without compromise.