This is another one of my purchases from the recent Borneo Philatelic Auction. This is the sort of very uncommon material that only comes up in a specialised auction even though it may rarely turned up on eBay. The first thing is a 10c North Borneo stamp used with a Keningau Sabah Malaysia postmark dated 3 JUL 64. The colonial 1961 stamp issue were withdrawn on 30 June 1964 and the SABAH overprints were put on sale the next day, 1 July 1964 together with new Sabah Malaysia dated cancellers. Though withdrawn, the North Borneo stamps were valid until 1 April 1970. 10c was the concessionary rate for Forces Air Mail as the normal rate to GB would have been 75c.
On the cover is an etiquette for Forces Air Mail and more importantly the hand stamp for 7 Fd. Sqn RAE. This is the 7th Field Squadron Royal Australian Engineers which were stationed at Keningau in the Interior Residency during the Malaysia Indonesia Confrontation.They were there between mid 1964 and early 1965 with operations extending into the surrounding jungle and border regions near Indonesian Kalimantan. Their parent unit was normally based at Enoggera, Queensland.
Their primary mission was hearts and minds projects with local infrastructure development, defensive works and supporting Commonwealth security forces deployed along the border. At Keningau, they constructed and upgraded local airfields to facilitate light aircraft and helicopter supply runs for the troops and local communities. They also build roads and tracks to connect with remote settlements. Additionally, they helped construct local water supply systems, bridges, school serving the local native population. This secured local support against cross-border incursions by the Indonesians.
In the field, they helped to prepare or build defences, helipads, tactical bridges and provided route clearance with explosive ordnance disposal assistance where required. After a 6 month tour of duty, they were relieved by 1st Field Squadron RAE who continued engineering operations in Sabah as well as Sarawak in early 1965 until mid 1965. From mid 1965 to November 1965, it was the 24th Construction Squadron, RAE. This squadron under the codename Operation Granite carried out major heavy civil infrastructure tasks including cutting supply roads through rainforest and heavy mud. Lastly, the 21st Construction Squadron continued the work from November 1965 to June 1966, winding down as peace talks progressed.
This short article has been written with the help of AI which means absolute accuracy cannot be guarantee.
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