One more forgotten war hero

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Former Iban tracker Awang Raweng never forgets his life-or-death firefight with the terrorists during the Emergency — even if the nation does

Awang (second right) shares his war experiences with (from left) PRS vice-chief councillor Kamarau Entalai, exco-member councillor Bakat Gira and PRS Youth publicity chief Bit Surang.

Awang holds a framed photo showing him and two British Army officers after he received the George Cross in Singapore.

SEVERELY wounded and running out of ammo, Awang Raweng clasped a grenade and dared the enemy to attack. The fierce firefight had, by then, entered its fifth hour — since 9am on that fateful day.

Camouflaged among the bushes and rubber trees, the brave Iban tracker waited with his parang ilang (traditional machete) at the ready, hoping to down a few more communist insurgents. He had already shot five of them that afternoon.

Hiding nearby was the injured Griff Hughes, a British Army private, whom Awang had earlier pulled to cover despite his own injuries.

Awang was the only Iban tracker among the 20 men dispatched for jungle patrol in Kluang, Johor, who were ambushed by 50 terrorists on May 27, 1951.

When the shooting started, he and four comrades got separated from the rest of their unit. And in the ensuing exchange of fire, the scout leader and a section commander were killed.

“I was no longer thinking solely about surviving. It was all about standing our ground and taking down as many of the enemies as we could.

“I had no intention of abandoning my unit. If we were to die, at least we would die fighting,” the 85-year-old war hero, now a tuai rumah (longhouse chief), told thesundaypost.

Even though his weapons were close to empty, Awang managed to fend off the terrorist attacks for a good 40 minutes before reinforcements arrived.

Through it all, the man stuck to his guns gallantly, standing by his outnumbered unit through six hours of “hell” — and lived to tell the tale.

Awang, the country’s sole recipient of the George Cross, was enlisted with the British Army as a scout in December 1950.

After a months training, he was assigned to the 10th Platoon Company D under the First Battalion of Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment in then Malaya.

“That morning, I warned my officers against taking the jungle track at the foot of the hill as it would make us easy targets for the enemy who could be lurking around us.

“Unfortunately, the warning went unheeded, so we pushed on along the same trail. Then before we knew it, shots were fired and five of us were cut off from our unit.

“Two of our men were killed in the first burst of gunfire. Hughes got shot in the leg and was lying out in the open. I had to drag him to cover. The rest backtracked – probably to call for backup.

“Still, I couldn’t understand why everybody had to go at the time,” Awang said as he recounted that terrifying moment of being waylaid and having to engage the enemy almost single-handedly.

Awang was only 22 back then while Hughes was 19.

On June 2, 1997, The Evening News of London carried a story and picture of Awang’s reunion with Griff Hughes, the British private whom he saved during the Kluang firefight in 1951.

Although Hughes survived, his injury was severe, needing 35 operations and the eventual amputation of his lower right leg.

The two brothers-in-arms who faced a near-death ordeal together, went their separate ways after that. And it was only in 1997 that the valiant duo met again in London during the Reunion of Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment.

Every two years, Awang attends the function as a guest of the British government.

thesundaypost’s meeting with Awang in Kuching was arranged by the Youth Wing of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) before the former Iban tracker went to London for the 28th Reunion last month.

The decorated war veteran was among some 500 Iban trackers who served during the Malayan Emergency from 1948-1960.

He was conferred the George Cross on Nov 20, 1951, and is among nine others so honoured still alive today.

The George Cross is ranked next to the Victoria Cross, which is the highest military decoration awarded to members of the armed forces from various Commonwealth countries and former British Empire territories.

Awang joined the police force after leaving the British Army. He resigned following a short stint to become a farmer.

“I didn’t hesitate when the Army called for our service. My father was a government servant at the time while my brother was in the police force. So I felt the need to serve the country.

“What happened throughout the Japanese Occupation – a time when people were experiencing untold hardships – is still fresh in my mind. I don’t want it to ever happen again,” he said on why he signed up as an Iban tracker in the first place.

Awang’s collection of medals, including the George Cross (left).

In frail health

Age has finally caught up with Awang. This was evident when thesundaypost met him before his London trip. Beneath the decorated war hero was an old man struggling with health issues.

He complained of weak legs and frequent visits to the clinic to get medications for, among other complications, high blood pressure and heart problems.

Awang now lives at a rather rundown home in Nanga Skrang, built for him by the Army years ago. For his service, the British government has been giving him a £100 (around RM530) monthly allowance since 1963. It was only recently that he received RM2,000 per month from the Malaysian government.

Considering the costs for medication — and diesel for his boat to travel from Nanga Skrang to Sri Aman town – such allowances are barely enough, given the current economic situation.

Awang said he is willing to work but his health will not permit it.

Awang lives alone in this house, built by the British Army many years ago.

Conveniently forgotten

During his biennial fully-sponsored trips to the London gathering since the 1960’s, Awang said he had met Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace as well Prince Charles and many British leaders.

Unfortunately in Malaysia, he pointed out, the opposite is true.

With a hint of some regret, he said never once had he been included in the list of war heroes for national celebrations such as Merdeka or Malaysia Day – until 2011. That year, Awang was invited to attend the grand event in Kuala Lumpur.

Sadly for him though, despite having his travelling and accommodation expenses covered by the organiser, he was given a daily allowance of only RM20 throughout his stay.

“I asked whether I would be given food allowance for my two accompanying grandchildren and myself. In response, one of the organising committee members immediately handed me RM20. It was as though I was a peasant. I felt insulted!”

Still, Awang is a better man in more ways than one.

Upholding the country’s security and sovereignty is not the only contribution he has made to the country. In 1961, he also donated a piece of his ancestral land for the building of SK Nanga Skrang.

Three days before departing for London, Awang and his grandchildren — Kolin Kenyalang and Kennedy James Tekat — met PRS president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing for a dinner.

PRS decided to meet Awang’s travelling expenses from Sri Aman and accommodation costs in Kuching – the only sectors not covered under the Reunion programme.

In addition, the party also gave him RM4,000 pocket money for his London trip.

Masing had only praise for Awang’s gallantry and deep sense of duty to the nation.

As a token of recognition and honour for the sacrifices the veteran war hero made in defending the country’s sovereignty, the PRS chief quoted a verse from William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar: “Cowards die many times before their deaths. The valiant never taste of death but once.”

Awang (second row, left) with other surviving recipients of the Victoria Cross and George Cross. Seated (centre) is Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. Every year, members of the British Royal Family host a series of engagements for the gallantry award honorees in London. — Photo courtesy of Press Association