Information from National Archives Australia (Melbourne), Series MT729/8, Item 19/431/58

From: GHQ FARELF SINGAPORE

TO: Army HQ MELBOURNE

Subject: 28th COMMONWEALTH INFANTRY BRIGADE GROUP

Reference: CRFE/20023/13/SD3 dated 23 June 1955

2. The War Office have suggested that in view of the Commonwealth association with 28th Infantry Brigade in KOREA it would be appropriate to call the new formation 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Group. Please say if you agree with this.

3. Our proposed establishments for the units of 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Group were sent to you under Reference A.

4. Appendix A attached shows our proposed locations for the units of the Brigade Group, and the BRITISH Units which the AUSTRALIAN elements will join, and which will form part of the Brigade Group.

5. The time table for the moves to MALAYA will be discussed in detail at the forthcoming conference in MELBOURNE. Our suggested outline programme is as follows:

Advance Parties Expected time of arrival late August or early September

Main Bodies (Less Field Battery) Expected time of arrival late September or early October

Field Battery Expected time of arrival late November or early December

6. It is proposed to disembark your contingent at PENANG to avoid complication of transit accommodation in SINGAPORE and a 24 hour train journey from SINGAPORE to PENANG.

EQUIPPING OF UNITS

7. Equipping instructions will be issued later.

General

Commander in Chief

FAR EAST Land Forces

End of document

United Kingdom Service Liaison Staff

Room 134 "A" BLOCK

VICTORIA BARRACKS

MELBOURNE

20 July 55

DSD

Army Headquarters

Reference telephone conversation Cols TAYLOR-BIGGS and GHQ FARELF letter CRFE/20014/19/SD1 dated 29 Jun 55.

1. Para 2 of the GHQ FARELF letter forwarded a War Office suggestion that the new Infantry Brigade Group should be entitled "28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Group", in view of the Commonwealth association with 28th Infantry Brigade in KOREA.

2. A signal has been received from GHQ FARELF which states that the War Office has made a further suggestion that "28th (ANZAM) Independent Infantry Brigade Group" might be a more suitable title.

3. C-in-C, FARELF has indicated his strong preference for the former title as continuing the happy tradition of co-operation and because there will be no Malayans in the Brigade Group.

4. The insertion of "Independent" in the title appears desirable.

5. I would be grateful for your confirmation that you also prefer the title "28th Commonwealth Independent Infantry Brigade Group"

Colonel

U.K.A.L.O.

U.K.S.L.S.

Copy to: NZALO - Although NEW ZEALAND forces are not planned at present to be part of this Brigade Group, you may care to express a NEW ZEALAND view on this proposal.

End of document

MILITARY BOARD

ARMY

19-431-58 (G3)

GHQ

FARELF

C/- GPO SINGAPORE

1. Reference BM3 to CRFE/20014/19/SD1 of 29 Jun 55.

2. It is agreed that the formation designation should be 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Group.

3. The attached Appendix 'A' gives details of the designations of Australian Components of the British Commonwealth Strategic Reserve. It will be noted that the projected location of 103 Dental Sec RAADC is shown as PENANG.

Major General

Deputy Chief of the General Staff

27 July 1955

End of document

End of Document

GHQ

FAR EAST Land Forces

C/o GPO SINGAPORE

CRFE/20014/33/SD1

November 1955

The Under Secretary of State,

The War Office,

Whitehall,

LONDON SW1

Subject: FAR EAST STRATEGIC RESERVE

Reference: CRFE/20023/13/SD3 dated 23 June 1955

Appendix 23 to War Office Policy

Statement No 37 (3rd Revise)

1. The report in the following paragraphs on the formation of the Far East Strategic Reserve is forwarded for your information.

2. The main bodies of the AUSTRALIAN Component arrived in MALAYA on 19 October. The 28 Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Group is now complete to the scale laid down in reference B except for one field regiment less one battery and one LAA battery. The units comprising the brigade and their present locations are given in Appendix A attached. The provisional establishment of each unit was forwarded to you under reference A. The final establishments have been agreed with AHQ MELBOURNE and will be sent to you shortly for approval.

3. As soon as suitable permanent accommodation can be built near MALACCA, it is intended to concentrate the Brigade Group there. The High Commissioner for the Federation of MALAYA has requested that the intention to use MALACCA for the long term location of AUSTRALIAN troops should not be disclosed for political reasons.

4. The NEW ZEALAND SAS Squadron will arrive in MALAYA by the end of November. After the completion of parachute training on 5 February 1956 the Squadron will be stationed in KUALA LUMPUR with 22 SAS Regiment.

General

Commander-in-Chief

FAR EAST Land Forces

End of Document