Bus Ambush
By Private Richard Scott 22264495.
Regular soldier of the 1st Battalion Suffolk Regt.
| During Operation Lemon October 1949 D Coy was stationed at Kuala Kubu Bahru, under the command of 2nd Scots Guards. 12 platoon were on stand by. A report came in of a bus being ambushed on the Bentong Road, this was in the late afternoon. We were trucked to the ambush site. It was beginning to get dark by the time we debused. We began walking down a small track following tire marks in the soil. It soon became pitch black and you could not even see the man in front of you. Every one was holding on to the pack straps of the man in front so we would not loose touch. After walking for forty minutes or so we became aware of the strong smell of burnt rubber, and in front of the patrol we suddenly saw a glimmer of light, it was the last remaining embers of the burnt out bus. |  |
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The bus had burnt completely. As it was so dark it was decided that not much could be done until the next day, so we continued along the track and shortly after sighting the bus came upon a deserted basher. It was decided to stay there that night and return to the bus the next day. Early the next morning the platoon searched around the bus looking for tracks. None could be found leading into the jungle so it was assumed the bandit gang had used the track we were already on. The track was followed into the hills, sometimes there was a shear cliff on one side and a drop on the other of a few hundred feet. The perfect place for an ambush. Every one was keyed up expecting the worse. We spent nearly two weeks tracking this gang in some of the worse country I had tramped over during the three years I spent in Malaya but all to no avail. Eventually we were recalled to base. It wasn't long after this event that Sir Henry Gurney was ambushed on the road up to Fraser Hill, every one was of the opinion that this was the same gang we had been chasing. |
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