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Malayan Scouts (Special Air Service Regiment)
Founded	June 1950
Disbanded	1960 (End of the Malayan Emergency)
Country	Federation of Malaya (1950–December 1951) United Kingdom (from 22 December 1951)
Branch	Federation of Malaya security forces (1950–December 1951); British Army (from 22 December 1951)
Type	Special forces
Size	5 combat squadrons, 1 manhunt squadron, and 3 support company (HQ, Logistics, and Intelligence)
Part of	Malaya Command
Headquarters	Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur
Nickname(s)	Malayan Scouts (SAS), Malay Scouts, Tentera Bersayap (Malay for 'Winged Soldiers')
Engagements	Malayan Emergency Operation Termite
Commanders
Notable commanders	Mike Calvert, George Lea, Tony Deane-Drummond

The Malayan Scouts (Special Air Service Regiment), commonly referred to as the Malayan Scouts, was a temporary special forces unit established in 1950 by the British de facto protectorate government of the Federation of Malaya during the Malayan Emergency. Tasked primarily with conducting guerrilla warfare in dense rainforest terrain, the unit’s mission was to locate, harass, and neutralise insurgents from the Malayan Communist Party.

The Malayan Scouts were formed as a successor to the Ferret Force, an earlier but short-lived special operations unit. Unlike the 21st Special Air Service Regiment (21 SAS) based in the United Kingdom, the Malayan Scouts initially operated as an independent entity with no formal connection to the existing SAS. However, their effectiveness in counterinsurgency operations quickly earned them official recognition. On 22 December 1951, the British Army formally incorporated the unit into its order of battle, renaming it the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (22 SAS).

Despite the official renaming, the unit continued to be widely known as the Malayan Scouts throughout its operations in Malaya. It was only formally recognised as 22 SAS after its headquarters was relocated from Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur, to Worcestershire in 1958 and later to Herefordshire in 1960.

The success of the Malayan Scouts played a pivotal role in shaping the future of British special operations. At the time, the British government had considered disbanding the SAS following the conclusion of World War II. However, the Scouts’ performance during the Emergency demonstrated the enduring relevance and effectiveness of special forces in modern conflicts, ultimately securing the SAS’s survival. Moreover, the Malayan Scouts served as the foundational model for several elite units around the world, including the Rhodesian SAS, the New Zealand SAS, and the Australian SAS.

History

Origins: The Malayan Emergency and Ferret Force

Main articles: Malayan Emergency and Ferret Force

In 1945, Malaya plunged into armed conflict when one of Britain's former World War II allies, the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), launched an anti-colonial campaign against British rule. The insurgency was fuelled by various factors, including economic instability, high unemployment, and the MCP's desire to establish a communist state. The MCP’s paramilitary wing, the Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA), which had fought alongside the British against Japanese occupation, was reorganised as the Malayan Peoples' Anti-British Army and later renamed the Malayan Races Liberation Army (MRLA). The MRLA began targeting British colonial assets, attacking government buildings, rubber plantations, and tin mines.

The turning point came in April 1948, when MRLA insurgents assassinated three European rubber plantation managers in Sungai Siput, Perak. In response, the British de facto protectorate government of the Federation of Malaya declared a state of emergency in June 1948, marking the beginning of the Malayan Emergency.

The MRLA, well-versed in guerrilla and jungle warfare and trained by the British Special Operations Executive's Far East branch, Force 136, proved to be a formidable force. Recognising the need for an effective counterinsurgency unit, Lieutenant Colonel Walter Walker, GSO1 of Malaya District Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, sought approval to form a specialised force to combat the MCP guerrillas. A veteran of the Burma Campaign, Walker aimed to leverage the experience of recently demobilised Force 136 operatives.

Established in July 1948, this unit—known as Ferret Force—was composed of former Force 136 commandos, including two troops each from the Royal Malay Regiment and Gurkha Rifles, as well as a combat support detachment consisting of Royal Signals personnel, trackers from the Sarawak Rangers, and Chinese interpreters from Hong Kong.

Ferret Force proved highly effective, destroying at least 12 MRLA jungle camps and eliminating 27 insurgents in just six months. However, the British administration in Malaya was hesitant to support military action against the MRLA, preferring instead to win over insurgents through negotiations. There were also concerns that some former Force 136 members might sympathise with the MCP due to their wartime alliance. As a result, Ferret Force was disbanded in December 1948.

Despite this shift in strategy, efforts to peacefully integrate the MRLA into the government failed, and the conflict worsened. Eventually, the authorities reverted to a more aggressive military approach.

Mike Calvert assesses the situation in Malaya

General Sir John Harding, Commander-in-Chief of the British Far East Command, sought officers with expertise in jungle warfare. Among those who volunteered was Major Michael "Mad Mike" Calvert, a veteran of the Chindits—a British India special forces unit active during World War II—and the last wartime commanding officer of the SAS.

Calvert had commanded the Special Air Service Troops—a brigade-sized SAS formation—during the war but was demoted from Brigadier to Major as part of post-war military downsizing. At the time, he was serving as a G1 Air Training Officer in Hong Kong.

Over the course of six months, Calvert conducted an extensive assessment of the insurgency, gathering intelligence from diverse sources. His methods included visits to Malay sultans’ palaces, local brothels, and even posing as a prisoner. Covering an estimated 1,500 miles (2,400 km), his findings proved invaluable in shaping British counterinsurgency strategies.

The Briggs Plan

Main article: Briggs Plan

Major Calvert presented his report to Lieutenant General Harold Rawdon Briggs, Director of Operations (Malaya). He advised the police and military to revise their standard operating procedures for patrols and recommended the creation of a specialised deep-penetration patrol unit similar to the dissolved Ferret Force. This unit would be tasked with locating and destroying enemy camps as well as conducting reconnaissance to support conventional military forces.

In 1950, Lieutenant General Briggs incorporated these recommendations into the Briggs Plan, a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy. However, due to declining health, he was unable to witness its full implementation and passed away in 1952.

The founding of the Malayan Scouts

In 1950, as part of the British Malayan government's implementation of the Briggs Plan during the Malayan Emergency, approval was granted for the creation of a special forces unit specifically designed for deep-jungle operations. Although initially intended as a temporary measure, this initiative gave Major Mike Calvert the opportunity to revive the Special Air Service (SAS) under a new identity. He named the unit the Malayan Scouts (Special Air Service Regiment), establishing its first headquarters in Kota Tinggi, Johor.

Unlike earlier iterations of the SAS, the Malayan Scouts were established directly under the authority of the Federation of Malaya’s government and placed under Malaya Command, with operational support from the Far East Land Forces—the successor to the Far East Command. This arrangement effectively made the Malayan Scouts a security force of the Malayan government, akin to the Federal Malayan Police Force, a British colonial paramilitary and law enforcement body. However, this structure also imposed strict recruitment limitations on Calvert, restricting him to personnel already stationed in the Far East or those involved in the region’s security services or colonial administration.

Despite these constraints, Calvert successfully assembled an initial force of around 100 men. The core of this force was drawn from former Chindits and veterans of the Ferret Force, both of which had experience in jungle warfare. He also recruited a small number of ex-SAS operatives from his wartime Special Air Service Troops, as well as trusted colleagues based in Hong Kong. Additionally, he incorporated a handful of deserters from the French Foreign Legion in French Indochina, along with select military and police personnel from the Malaya Command. These men would become the founding members of the Malayan Scouts.

Recruitment beyond the Far East

Recognising the unit's early successes, the British protectorate government in Malaya granted Lieutenant Colonel Calvert—who had since been promoted—permission to recruit soldiers from outside the Far East in 1951.

His first stop was the United Kingdom, where he recruited Z Squadron of 21 SAS, a unit recently formed for the Korean War. This squadron was subsequently integrated into the Malayan Scouts as B Squadron.

Next, he travelled to Southern Rhodesia, where he conducted a rigorous selection process involving 1,000 applicants. From this pool, he selected 120 Rhodesian World War II veterans, forming C Squadron of the Malayan Scouts.

Upon their arrival in Malaya, B Squadron members were dismayed by A Squadron’s indiscipline, including reports of drunkenness and unprofessional behaviour both in and out of the jungle. Complaints were escalated to 21 SAS headquarters in Britain, tarnishing the Malayan Scouts' reputation. To resolve tensions, A Squadron was relocated to Ipoh, Perak, while B and C Squadrons remained in Kota Tinggi, Johor.

In June 1951, Lieutenant Colonel Calvert was hospitalised with hepatomegaly. His condition worsened, leading to his evacuation to military hospitals in Singapore and later Britain. This ended his service in the Malayan Emergency. On 27 July 1951, Lieutenant Colonel John Sloane of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who just finished his tour of duty at Korean War took command of the Malayan Scouts. An infantry officer with no special forces or jungle warfare background, Sloane enforced stricter discipline and military regulations within the unit.

During Sloane’s tenure, the headquarters of the Malayan Scouts was relocated to Sungai Besi—a site that would later become known as Sungai Besi Camp in 1959.

Integration into the British Army

Despite facing internal discipline issues, the Malayan Scouts quickly gained a reputation as masters of jungle warfare. Their effectiveness during the Malayan Emergency was highly praised by the General Headquarters, Far East Land Forces, which described them to the Under Secretary of State at the War Office in London as the Corps d’Elite and the most valuable force in the conflict.

As a result, on 22 December 1951, the Malayan Scouts were officially absorbed into the British Army and designated 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (22 SAS). Although formally renamed, they continued to be referred to as the Malayan Scouts until the end of the Emergency in 1960. To mark their new status, they were issued the maroon beret of the Parachute Regiment, but with the SAS cap badge.

Expansion and structural changes

With official backing from British Army leadership, Major John Woodhouse, a founding member, was sent to Britain in 1952 to establish a selection and training program for future SAS candidates. His efforts laid the foundation for the modern UK Joint Special Forces Selection.

In 1953, C (Rhodesia) Squadron returned home, leaving only A and B Squadrons in Malaya. In early 1955, the Malayan Scouts expanded recruitment to soldiers from New Zealand, Australia, and Britain’s Parachute Regiment, leading to the formation of three additional squadrons by the end of the year.

In 1956, General Gerald Templer, the High Commissioner of Malaya, requested the War Office in London to authorise the formation of a second regiment of Malayan Scouts to accelerate counterinsurgency efforts during the Malayan Emergency. However, the request was denied. Undeterred, General Templer initiated the creation of an auxiliary special forces unit to support the Malayan Scouts.

This new unit, officially named the SAS Auxiliary Forces but commonly known as Senoi Praaq (Semai language for 'War People'), was formed in 1956 and comprised indigenous Orang Asli tribesmen. Naturally skilled in jungle survival and tracking, these recruits underwent military training and were equipped by the Malayan Scouts to enhance their combat effectiveness.

Relocation to Britain

On 15 November 1958, the headquarters of 22 SAS was relocated from Sungai Besi, Malaya, to Worcestershire and later, in 1960, to the renowned Stirling Lines in Herefordshire, United Kingdom. Following this move, the unit was increasingly referred to by its official designation—22 SAS—rather than its former name, the Malayan Scouts.

Although the Malayan Emergency officially ended in 1960, at least one squadron of 22 SAS remained in Malaya. Their continued presence involved routine deep jungle patrols and overseeing operations at the British Army's Jungle Warfare Training School, which had served as a key training centre for the SAS since the establishment of the Malayan Scouts in 1950.

Structures

During the Malayan Emergency

Structure of the Malayan Scouts (SAS) as of 1956

Name	Functions/Roles	EST.	Notes
A Section (later HQ Company)	Administrative and operational support	1950
Q Section	Logistics, acquisition, and ordnances support	1950
Int Section	Intelligence and training support	1950
A Squadron	Special forces	1950
B Squadron	Special forces	1951
C Squadron	Special forces	1951
D Squadron	Special forces	1955
Independent Parachute Regiment Squadron	Special forces	1955
SAS Auxiliary Forces (Senoi Praaq)	Special forces (tracker)	1956

A Section

The A Section, short for Administration Section, served as the headquarters company of the Malayan Scouts. Established in 1950, it was one of the four original components of the unit. As the name suggests, it was responsible for both administrative and operational support. Over time, A Section evolved into the Headquarters Company of the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (HQ Coy, 22 SAS).

In the early days of the Malayan Scouts, the unit was initially seen as a temporary formation. Consequently, the personnel assigned to A Section and Q Section by the Malayan Command, often did not meet Major Mike Calvert’s high standards. Nevertheless, Calvert made the most of the available manpower, provided the unit remained effective in operations. After the formal integration of the Malayan Scouts into the British Army in 1951, both sections saw an influx of more capable and experienced personnel.

Q Section

The Q Section, short for Quartermaster Section, was tasked with logistics and supply duties for the Malayan Scouts. Like A Section, it was one of the four founding elements of the unit, established in 1950.

In its early days, Q Section faced significant logistical challenges, as the Malayan Scouts lacked sufficient assets to sustain operations during the Malayan Emergency. However, as the unit gained support from the British military and Commonwealth allies, including helicopter and aeroplane support, its logistical capabilities improved considerably.

Int Section

Established in 1950, the Int Section (short for Intelligence Section) was another founding component of the Malayan Scouts. Major Calvert personally recruited Captain John Woodhouse of the Dorset Regiment, who was then serving as G3 Intelligence for the 40th Division in Hong Kong, to lead the section as its first Officer Commanding (OC). In addition to its military intelligence responsibilities, the Int Section also played a key role in conducting selection and training for the Malayan Scouts.

To mitigate the risk of infiltration by Communist agents or sympathisers, Calvert and Woodhouse enlisted several Chinese interpreters from Hong Kong. Most members of this section were drawn from the Special Branch of the British Military Administration (Malaya), consisting primarily of European and Malay intelligence officers stationed in Johor. In his 1964 book, Fighting Mad: One Man’s Guerrilla War, Calvert praised Woodhouse and the Int Section, describing them as the best recruits he had secured for the Malayan Scouts.

A Squadron

Established in 1950, A Squadron was the first combat unit of the Malayan Scouts. Due to initial recruitment restrictions, Major Calvert was only permitted to enlist personnel already stationed in the Far East. As a result, A Squadron was primarily composed of former members of the Chindits—a special forces unit of the British Indian Army during World War II—and veterans of Ferret Force, which included former Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents and jungle warfare specialists from the Royal Malay Regiment and the Gurkha Rifles.

Additionally, Calvert recruited deserters from the French Foreign Legion—soldiers stranded in French Indochina who refused to return to their unit after the war. He also brought in former SAS members who had served under him when he commanded the Special Air Service Troops at the end of the war. As a result, A Squadron became a multinational special forces unit, featuring a unique blend of mercenaries and regular military personnel.

Many of the original members returned to their home countries after completing their two-year service in the Malayan Scouts. However, some chose to remain, transferring to other squadrons to help standardise training and operational effectiveness across the unit.

B Squadron

Formed in 1951, B Squadron was created by absorbing the newly established Z Squadron of the 21st Special Air Service Regiment. Although initially intended for deployment to the Korean War, the squadron was instead redirected to Malaya. This unit marked the first time that Calvert was granted permission by the British-Malayan colonial government to recruit personnel from outside the Far East. During its training phase under Calvert’s command, the squadron was renamed M Squadron, 21 SAS, with "M" standing for "Malaya Squadron".

Upon completing its training, the squadron was fully absorbed into the Malayan Scouts and reorganised as B Squadron, Malayan Scouts (SAS). It was later redesignated as B Squadron, 22 SAS, when the Malayan Scouts were officially integrated into the British Army in December 1951. Unlike A Squadron, which consisted of experienced veterans, many members of B Squadron were reservists with no prior combat experience, having enlisted after World War II. The squadron’s first Officer Commanding was Major Anthony Greville-Bell.

C Squadron

After recruiting personnel in Britain, Calvert travelled to Southern Rhodesia, where he received over 1,000 applications from the Rhodesia region. After a rigorous selection process, 120 World War II veterans were chosen and brought to Malaya, where they were retrained as special forces operators and designated as C Squadron, Malayan Scouts (SAS). The first OC of C Squadron was Major Peter Walls. The unit was later redesignated as C (Rhodesia) Squadron, 22 SAS. It was dissolved in March 1953 when its members returned to Rhodesia at the end of their tour of duty.

At the end of 1955, following a major recruitment drive across three Commonwealth nations, C Squadron was reformed with soldiers recruited entirely from New Zealand. It was officially renamed C (New Zealand) Squadron, 22 SAS. Approximately one-third of its members were Māori, and its first OC after reformation was Major Frank Rennie.

D Squadron

Officially named D (Australia) Squadron, 22 SAS, this squadron was composed entirely of Australian recruits as part of the 1955 Commonwealth recruitment drive. It was commanded by Major John Woodhouse, a founding member of the Malayan Scouts, who returned to Malaya after completing his tenure in Britain as the head SAS training officer.

Independent Parachute Regiment Squadron

The proposal to recruit Parachute Regiment personnel into the Malayan Scouts came from General Sir Geoffrey Bourne, then Director of Operations in Malaya. Initially, this move was met with tension and hostility between the Parachute Regiment and the SAS. Due to the clandestine nature of the SAS’s operations during World War II, their accomplishments were known to only a select few, leaving many—including members of the Parachute Regiment—unaware of their contributions. According to an interview with Alastair MacKenzie, Major John Woodhouse, OC of D Squadron, Malayan Scouts, recalled that paratroopers viewed the absence of parachute qualification wings on the Malayan Scouts' uniforms as a sign of inferiority.

Despite the early tensions, the Malayan Scouts were facing significant manpower shortages, making the inclusion of Parachute Regiment personnel a necessity. The initial selection took place at the Airborne Forces Depot in Aldershot, where paratroopers from all three battalions of the Parachute Regiment were tested—most of whom successfully passed the selection process. Those selected were then assigned to the Malayan Scouts as its fifth squadron, officially designated the Independent Parachute Regiment Squadron, 22 SAS, under the command of Major Dudley Coventry.

Following their selection, the squadron was deployed to the British Army Jungle Warfare Training School in Malaya. There, the paratroopers underwent additional training to transition from conventional airborne infantry roles to special forces. Through this intense training, mutual respect gradually developed between the SAS and the Parachute Regiment. However, internal rivalry remained, particularly between the Independent Parachute Regiment Squadron and C (New Zealand) Squadron.

SAS Auxiliary Forces

After the War Office denied a request to establish a second regiment of the Malayan Scouts, a special forces tracker unit composed entirely of indigenous Orang Asli tribesmen was formed in 1956. Officially designated as the SAS Auxiliary Forces, it became best known by its Semai name, Senoi Praaq, meaning "War People".

Before the creation of this auxiliary squadron, British forces had already employed indigenous trackers—including Iban, Dayak, and Orang Asli tribesmen—dating back to the pre-World War II era. However, their roles had been more operation-specific rather than as a standing unit.

The Senoi Praaq was led by Colonel R.O.D. Noone, a military intelligence officer attached to the British protectorate government of the Federation of Malaya. The unit proved highly effective, leading to some of its members, including Noone himself, being loaned to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) during the Vietnam War to help establish and train the Montagnard Scouts, a special forces unit composed of indigenous Vietnamese tribes-people.

Identity and uniform distinctions

Maroon beret

The formal headdress of the Malayan Scouts was the maroon beret, worn with the Special Air Service (SAS) cap badge. They were officially authorised to wear this combination on 22 December 1951, following their formal absorption into the British Army. The maroon beret had been in use by the SAS since World War II, when the regiment began operating in Europe. Prior to that, during their campaigns in North Africa, SAS personnel wore white berets, later replaced by sand-coloured ones. The Malayan Scouts, and later 22 SAS, continued to wear the maroon beret until 1963, when they were deployed to the Middle East and reverted to the sand-coloured beret to reflect the region’s desert environment.

SAS pattern parachute wings

As a regiment within the British SAS structure, the Malayan Scouts wore the SAS-pattern parachute wings on the right shoulder of their uniform. This distinctive insignia signified their airborne qualification and alignment with the broader SAS tradition.

Malayan Scouts tactical recognition flash

Originally, as a combat unit under Malayan Command, the Malayan Scouts wore the standard green Malayan Command formation insignia on their uniforms. This insignia featured a yellow keris (a traditional Malay dagger) set against a green background. The Malayan Scouts—later redesignated as 22 SAS—adapted this design by changing the background colour to maroon or purplish tones. This modified insignia became their Tactical Recognition Flash, distinguishing them from other units while maintaining a link to their operational origins in Malaya.

Malayan Scouts (SAS) and the Continuity of the SAS and UK Special Forces

The Malayan Scouts played a crucial role in ensuring the survival and continuity of the Special Air Service (SAS) and UK Special Forces as a whole. At the end of World War II, the SAS Regiments—1st Special Air Service (1 SAS) and 2nd Special Air Service (2 SAS)—along with their parent brigade, the Special Air Service Troops, were disbanded in 1945. Although the SAS was revived in January 1947 as the 21st Special Air Service Regiment (Artists Rifles) and incorporated into The Rifle Brigade, it was initially set to be converted into a conventional Territorial Army infantry unit.

In July of the same year, 21 SAS was transferred to the Army Air Corps (AAC), possibly intended as a reconnaissance element. However, with the disbandment of the AAC in 1949, 21 SAS was left as an independent unit with no clear purpose. The turning point came during the Malayan Emergency when Major Mike Calvert, a brigadier and the last Commanding Officer (CO) of the Special Air Service Troops, took the opportunity to revive the SAS and restore its role as a special forces unit. The success of the Malayan Scouts during the conflict solidified its future as a permanent part of the British Army. As a result, the Malayan Scouts were officially renamed the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (22 SAS) on 22 December 1951.

Despite securing its status as a regular army unit, the SAS once again faced an uncertain future after the Malayan Emergency ended in 1960. British military leadership questioned the necessity of a dedicated special forces unit and considered absorbing 22 SAS into the Parachute Regiment as an airborne infantry battalion. However, John Woodhouse, then the OC of the Malayan Scouts/22 SAS, deployed the regiment to the Middle East during the communist insurgencies of the Dhofar War. This deployment reaffirmed the SAS’s value in modern warfare and convinced military leadership that a specialised force like the SAS was essential. From that point forward, the SAS cemented its place as an integral part of the British Army Special Forces—and the rest is history.

Commanders

From its formation in 1950 until the end of the Malayan Emergency in 1960, the Malayan Scouts were led by five commanders:

Commanding Officers of the Malayan Scouts (SAS)/22nd Special Air Service Regiment

Rank	Name	Years of service	Previous unit	Previous WWII unit(s)	Fate
Lieutenant Colonel	Mike Calvert	1950–1951	40th Division	Chindits; Special Air Service Troops	Mike Calvert was dismissed from the British Army in 1952 after being convicted of sexual indecency stemming from an incident in 1951.
Lieutenant Colonel	John Sloane	1951–1953	Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders	Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders	John Bramley Malet Sloane retired with the rank of Major General, marking a distinguished career.
Lieutenant Colonel	Oliver Brooke	1953–1955	Welch Regiment	10th Battalion, Parachute Regiment	Oliver Brooke, a promising officer, suffered a severe back injury in early 1955 after parachuting into trees during an operation with the Malayan Scouts; the injury left him permanently crippled and led to his medical retirement.
Lieutenant Colonel	George Lea	1955–1957	11th Battalion, Parachute Regiment	4th Parachute Brigade	George Lea rose to the rank of Lieutenant General, ending his military service as Head of the British Defence Staff in Washington, D.C., before later being appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London.
Lieutenant Colonel	Tony Deane-Drummond	1957 onwards	Royal Military Academy Sandhurst	3rd Parachute Brigade	Tony Deane-Drummond also retired as a Major General, with his final role being the Colonel Commandant of the Royal Signals.

Technically, Lieutenant Colonel John Sloane was the first official Commanding Officer of 22 SAS, as the Malayan Scouts were only integrated into the British Army and officially designated as 22 SAS on 22 December 1951—about six months after Mike Calvert was replaced.

Fate of the Malayan Scouts

Although officially redesignated as the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (22 SAS) on 22 December 1951, the Malayan Scouts continued to be referred to by their original name until their headquarters was relocated from Kota Tinggi, Johor, to Worcestershire in 1958 and later to Herefordshire in 1960.

Following the relocation, only HQ Company and four of the five combat squadrons were officially absorbed into 22 SAS. The fifth squadron, the Independent Parachute Regiment Squadron, was returned to the Parachute Regiment, where it reverted to a conventional airborne unit. Meanwhile, the SAS Auxiliary Forces, the Senoi Praaq, remained in Malaya and was placed under the Malayan government’s department responsible for indigenous affairs.

There are no records detailing the fate of the Quartermaster Section, but the Intelligence Section was reintegrated into the Malayan police force. It played a key role in the development of the Special Branch, which later evolved into a domestic intelligence agency similar to MI5 and the FBI.

Legacy

Formation of successor special forces units

The Malayan Scouts left a profound legacy that reshaped global perceptions of modern special forces. One of their most direct contributions was the establishment of Special Air Service (SAS) regiments in Australia, New Zealand, and Rhodesia. These nations, whose military personnel initially served as squadrons within the Malayan Scouts, later formed their own elite units: the Australian Special Air Service Regiment, the New Zealand Special Air Service, and the Rhodesian Special Air Service—each bearing the SAS name and ethos.

The influence of the Malayan Scouts extended well beyond the Commonwealth. They played a pivotal, albeit indirect, role in inspiring the creation of other elite formations, such as the U.S. Army’s Delta Force, the French Army Light Aviation, and Malaysia’s Gerak Khas. Charles Beckwith, the founder of Delta Force, served with the Malayan Scouts/22 SAS as an exchange officer during the Malayan Emergency. His experiences convinced him of the need for a comparable American unit, which led to the establishment of Delta Force in 1977.

Similarly, in 1952, French Army Captain Déodat du Puy-Montbrun served for one year as an exchange officer with the Malayan Scouts/22 SAS. Drawing on his experiences in Malaya, he proposed the integration of helicopters into French commando operations—mirroring the tactics employed by the Scouts. His proposal was accepted, resulting in the creation of the Helicopter Commando Unit in 1954, where he was appointed second-in-command. This unit later evolved into the French Army Light Aviation and became a pioneer in French air assault tactics that would eventually serve as a model for U.S. helicopter operations during the Vietnam War.

In Southeast Asia, the Malaysian Special Service Unit—now known as Gerak Khas—was founded in 1965. Initially selected and trained by 40 Commando Royal Marines, the unit’s development was further shaped through training provided by veterans of the Malayan Scouts/22 SAS at the British Army Jungle Warfare Training School. Both Delta Force and Gerak Khas adopted operational frameworks and training doctrines rooted in the experience and innovations of the Malayan Scouts, underscoring their foundational role in shaping modern special operations forces worldwide.

Influence on special operations doctrine

The modern British SAS and the broader United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) owe much of their current structure and doctrine to John Woodhouse, an intelligence officer who was recruited into the Malayan Scouts. Woodhouse played a key role in reshaping how special forces operated, persuading British Army leadership that intelligence capabilities were as critical as combat skills.

Drawing from his operational experience in Malaya, Woodhouse restructured the SAS selection and training processes—many elements of which remain in use today. Among his most lasting contributions was the permanent integration of jungle warfare into the selection process, now known as the "Jungle Phase" of UKSF Selection. Chris Ryan, in The History of the SAS: As Told by the Men on the Ground, credits Woodhouse as the architect of the modern SAS.

Pioneering innovations in warfare tactics and equipment

Beyond training and doctrine, the Malayan Scouts also transformed military tactics and equipment, particularly in jungle warfare, tree-jumping insertions, helicopter operations, and combat uniforms. Their experiences in Malaya directly influenced the development of the Tropical Combat Uniform (commonly known as jungle fatigues), which was later adopted by the U.S. military in 1964.

The birth of helicopter warfare

The world’s first documented helicopter combat mission occurred on 25 April 1944, when a YR-4B helicopter from the U.S. Army Air Forces’ 1st Air Commando Group was deployed to rescue three Chindits commandos during the Burma Campaign in World War II. Although successful, this mission was considered an extraordinary achievement due to the primitive state of helicopter technology at the time.

The Malayan Emergency, however, marked the first sustained and effective use of helicopters as a strategic tool in military operations. Greek military historian and journalist Stavros Atlamazoglou noted in 2021 that the Malayan Scouts were the first combat unit to permanently employ helicopters in active operations, beginning on 29 October 1952—over a decade before similar tactics were widely implemented during the Vietnam War.

While historians such as Charles R. Shrader (The First Helicopter War: Logistics and Mobility in Algeria, 1954–1962, 1999) and Walter J. Boyne (How the Helicopter Changed Modern Warfare, 2011) have credited the French Army with pioneering helicopter warfare during the Algerian War, Atlamazoglou argues that it was the British who first operationalised these tactics during the Malayan Emergency. This perspective is further supported by Dr Stephen Rookes of the Centre de recherche de l'École de l'air in France. In his 2025 study, The Evolution of Heliborne Operations in the Cold War Conflicts of Algeria, Angola and Rhodesia, 1954–1979, Rookes notes that in 1952, the French military sent observers—including Captain Déodat du Puy-Montbrun—to Malaya specifically to study the helicopter warfare techniques employed by the Malayan Scouts. This view is echoed in other works, including RAF Helicopters: The First Twenty Years (1992) by John Dowling and Accomplishments of Airpower in the Malayan Emergency, 1948–1960 (2015) by Arthur D. Barontes, both of which align with Atlamazoglou’s assessment.

Responding to the challenges posed by Malaya’s dense rainforests, General Sir John Harding, Commander of the Far East Land Forces, formally requested helicopters from the British Ministry of Defence on 8 March 1948. In response, three experimental Westland Dragonfly helicopters were delivered to Malaya and assembled in Colony of Singapore by April 1950. Initially intended for medical evacuation, their first operational mission occurred on 14 June 1950. However, British forces quickly recognised the helicopters’ broader potential. In January 1951, the Dragonflies were deployed on reconnaissance missions along the Perak–Kelantan border, supporting early warning systems for infrastructure projects such as road construction.

The first use of helicopters in direct support of special operations took place during Operation Helsby in February 1952. This joint offensive, conducted in the remote Belum Valley near the Malaya–Thailand border, involved the Royal Marines, Malayan Scouts, and Malayan Police. Approximately 60 troopers from B Squadron of the Malayan Scouts were inserted by parachute from both aircraft and helicopters to secure key positions. They were later reinforced by A and C Squadrons, along with the remainder of B Squadron, who advanced overland with their Royal Marine and police counterparts. The operation, which concluded on 9 March 1952, saw extensive use of Westland Dragonflies for medical evacuation and close air support, marking a significant milestone in the integration of helicopters into special operations planning.

The Malayan Emergency also witnessed one of the earliest uses of helicopters in a combat assault role. In 1953, a Westland Dragonfly was modified to carry chemical agents for herbicidal warfare. The first such mission took place on 31 August 1953 in the Kluang and Labis areas of Johor, where toxic agents were deployed to destroy communist agricultural plots. Due to the success of these operations, the number of helicopters in theatre increased significantly, with eighteen Dragonflies deployed by year’s end, forming the core of No. 194 Squadron RAF.

The growing demand for helicopter support led to the introduction of larger aircraft, including the British-built Westland Whirlwind—a British adaptation of the Sikorsky S-55. Of the ten Westland Whirlwind helicopters assigned to the 848 Naval Air Squadron, several were permanently allocated to the Malayan Scouts. These helicopters played vital roles in resupply, troop insertion, close air support, and medical evacuation.

Operating in some of the world’s most challenging terrain, 848 Squadron pilots refined a range of helicopter warfare tactics still considered experimental at the time. Although the U.S. Marine Corps had conceptualised helicopter assault strategies as early as 1947 during the Korean War, such concepts were not fully implemented until the early 1960s—years after British forces had already demonstrated their effectiveness in Malaya.

Preservation of Legacy Within the Modern SAS

Today, the legacy of the Malayan Scouts lives on within the British SAS, particularly in D Squadron of 22 SAS. The squadron's badge features a keris, a traditional Malay weapon, symbolising its historical roots in the Malayan Emergency. This design is inspired by the formation insignia of the former British Malayan Command, which depicted a yellow keris on a green background. Malayan Scouts/22 SAS adapted the design, changing the background colour to maroon or purplish tones, and continues to use it as a symbol of its heritage and enduring connection to the Malayan Scouts.

Notable members

• Anthony Greville-Bell – Anthony Greville-Bell, DSO, was an Australian-born British Army engineering officer renowned not only for his military service but also as a scriptwriter and sculptor. He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers at the onset of the Second World War and later joined the 2nd Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) as a sapper officer under Bill Stirling, remaining with the SAS throughout the war. In 1950, he became one of the earliest members of the Malayan Scouts. The following year, he was appointed as the first Officer Commanding (OC) of B Squadron. As a scriptwriter, his notable works include Perfect Friday, The Strange Vengeance of Rosalie, and Theatre of Blood. He passed away on 4 March 2008 at the age of 87. Greville-Bell was portrayed by Stuart Thompson in the BBC series SAS: Rogue Heroes.
• Déodat of Puy-Montbrun – Déodat du Puy-Montbrun, LoH, GC, was a French World War II special forces commando, resistance fighter, helicopter pilot during the Algerian War, journalist, and writer. He was instrumental in founding several specialised French military units, including the 11th Shock Parachute Regiment, the Mixed Airborne Commando Group, and the Helicopter Commando Unit, which later evolved into the French Army Light Aviation. Born into a French noble family, he enlisted in the French Army in 1938 and trained as a cavalryman. With the outbreak of World War II, he was transferred to the 220th Infantry Regiment and promoted to sergeant. In June 1940, he was wounded in battle and captured as a prisoner of war but managed to escape and subsequently joined the French Resistance. He was later recruited by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and received commando training from the SAS in the United Kingdom. He took part in Operation Jedburgh and spent the remainder of the war behind enemy lines in Europe. After the war, he joined the French intelligence agency SDECE (equivalent to the CIA) and operated in French Indochina. In November 1952, he participated in an exchange officer programme with the Malayan Scouts, serving with them for a year. His experience there inspired him to advocate for the use of helicopters into French special operations which he formally proposed in December 1953, a concept later supported by the French Army's Aviation Légère d’Observation d’Artillerie. He went on to become a military helicopter pilot during the Algerian War and, after retiring, pursued a career as a journalist and novelist. In recognition of his remarkable life and achievements, the French Combined Arms School (EMIA) honoured him in 2009 by creating a military badge and chant in his name.
• Frank Rennie – Frank Rennie, CBE MC, was a distinguished New Zealand Army officer and is widely regarded as the founding father of the New Zealand Special Air Service. He enlisted prior to the Second World War, and by the outbreak of hostilities, he had attained the rank of temporary sergeant, serving as an instructor. Initially barred from combat duties due to his training responsibilities, he was later transferred in 1944 to the 3rd New Zealand Division and participated in the Pacific War. In 1945, he was posted to the 2nd New Zealand Division in Italy under the ANZAC command. In 1955, he was granted full autonomy by the Malayan Scouts to conduct SAS selection in New Zealand and was subsequently appointed as the first OC of C (New Zealand) Squadron, 22 SAS, in November 1955. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1958 for his contributions during the Malayan Emergency. He died on 17 November 1992, aged 74.
• George Lea – Sir George Harris Lea, KCB DSO MBE, was a senior British Army officer and the fourth Commanding Officer of the Malayan Scouts. He was commissioned before the Second World War and served as the commanding officer of the 11th Battalion, Parachute Regiment. During Operation Market Garden, he was captured and spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war. He led the Malayan Scouts from 1955 to 1957 and retired from active service in 1970. Following his retirement, he was appointed as Lieutenant of the Tower of London. He passed away on 27 December 1990 at the age of 77.
• John Slim – John Douglas Slim, 2nd Viscount Slim, OBE DL FRGS, was a British nobleman born in British India (now Pakistan) and recognised for his leadership roles in several military non-governmental organisations and his representation in the House of Lords. He was born while his father, Field Marshal William Slim, was stationed in British India as a captain. Although his family later returned to Scotland after his father's military service, Slim chose to return to India for his education. In 1944, during the final stages of World War II, he was commissioned as an infantry officer in the British Indian Army, serving with the 6th Gurkha Rifles during the Burma campaign. After the war, he transferred to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was later deployed to Korea during the Korean War in 1950. In 1952, he volunteered for service with the Malayan Scouts (SAS), where he remained until 1962 before being appointed a staff officer with the Highland Infantry Brigade. In 1967, Slim was named Commander of 22 SAS, a post he held until 1970, when he was appointed Chief of Staff (Special Forces) for UK Land Forces—a role equivalent to the modern-day Director Special Forces. He passed away on 12 January 2019 at the age of 91.
• John Woodhouse – John Michael Woodhouse, MBE MC, was a British Army intelligence officer and one of the most pivotal figures in the evolution of the modern SAS. Commissioned into the Dorset Regiment, he later commanded the 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment during the Second World War, serving in Tunisia and Italy. Captured in Sicily in 1944, he became a prisoner of war. Retrained as an intelligence officer in 1947, he served in Germany as a Russian interpreter and later in Hong Kong as G3 Intelligence Officer with the 40th Division, where he met Mike Calvert. Recruited by Calvert in 1950 into the newly formed Malayan Scouts, he later returned to the UK to command the SAS training wing, where he redesigned the training and selection process. Woodhouse returned to the Malayan Scouts in 1955 and held various leadership roles in special forces, including second-in-command of both 21 SAS (1958) and 22 SAS (1960), eventually becoming CO of 22 SAS in 1962. The Times credited him as the second most influential figure in SAS history after founder David Stirling. He passed away on 15 February 2008, aged 85.
• Mike Calvert – James Michael Calvert, DSO & Bar, was a British Army and British Indian Army officer instrumental in safeguarding the future of the Special Air Service (SAS) during a time when it faced disbandment. Commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1933, he received commando training in 1939 and participated in the Norwegian campaign before assisting in the formation of commando units in Hong Kong and Australia, including the 1st Independent Company. During the Burma campaign, he commanded a jungle warfare school and later joined the Chindits, sustaining injuries that led to his return to the UK. Promoted to Brigadier in 1945, he became the final commander of the SAS Troops before their dissolution. Following the war, he was demoted to Major during postwar restructuring and posted to Hong Kong in 1949 as G1 Air Training Officer. Invited by General Sir John Harding to support British efforts during the Malayan Emergency, Calvert founded the Malayan Scouts and served as its first commander, shaping the unit that would evolve into today’s 22 SAS. In 1952, he was dismissed from the army after a conviction for sexual misconduct, a charge he denied until his death. He later relocated to Australia before returning to England, where he shared his knowledge of unconventional warfare through writing and was appointed a research fellow at the University of Manchester in 1971. However, his later years were marred by alcoholism and personal difficulties, and he died on 26 November 1998 at the age of 85.
• Peter Walls – George Peter Walls, GLM DCD MBE, was a Rhodesian military officer who rose to become the Commander of the Rhodesian Armed Forces during the Bush War. He left Southern Rhodesia for the United Kingdom in 1945 to attend the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and was commissioned into the Black Watch in 1946. After resigning from the British Army, he re-enlisted in the Rhodesian Army as a non-commissioned officer before receiving a commission in the Northern Rhodesia Regiment. In 1951, as a second-in-command of a reconnaissance unit, he passed Malayan Scouts selection and was promoted to Captain. After completing special forces training in Malaya, he was promoted again to Major and took command of C Squadron, Malayan Scouts (SAS), later renamed C (Rhodesia) Squadron, 22 SAS. He was exiled to South Africa in 1980 following Zimbabwe's independence. Walls died in South Africa on 10 July 2010, aged 83.
• Ronald Reid-Daly – Ronald Francis Reid-Daly, CLM DMM MBE, was a Rhodesian military officer renowned as the founder of the Selous Scouts and credited with perfecting bush warfare tactics, a form of guerrilla warfare instrumental during the Bush War. In 1951, he was among over 1,000 applicants who volunteered for the Malayan Scouts selection held in Southern Rhodesia. Despite having no prior military experience, he was selected and deployed to Malaya, where he served with the Malayan Scouts (SAS) for three years, staying an additional year even after C Squadron was disbanded in March 1953. Upon returning to Southern Rhodesia, Reid-Daly briefly lived as a civilian but soon enlisted in the Rhodesian Army, becoming an instructor at the School of Infantry. In 1961, he was appointed the first Regimental Sergeant Major of the newly established Rhodesian Light Infantry and was later commissioned as an officer in 1964. While on pre-retirement leave in 1975, he proposed the formation of a specialised anti-guerrilla unit to General Peter Walls, a fellow Malayan Scouts veteran—an idea that led to the creation of the Selous Scouts. Reid-Daly went on to command the unit until 1979, earning a reputation as one of the most effective unconventional warfare leaders of his time.
• Tony Deane-Drummond – Anthony John Deane-Drummond, CB DSO MC & Bar, was a British Army communications officer and an early pioneer of airborne operations that eventually led to the formation of the Parachute Regiment. Commissioned into the Royal Corps of Signals before the Second World War, he was deployed to North Africa following the outbreak of hostilities. In 1940, he joined No. 2 Commando after volunteering for commando training. The unit later transformed into the 11th Special Air Service Battalion, and Deane-Drummond took part in Operation Colossus, the first British airborne operation of the war. He spent most of the conflict with airborne units and became an instructor in 1949. In 1957, he became the fifth and final commander of the Malayan Scouts. Deane-Drummond is credited with preserving the SAS's independent status by preventing its absorption into the Parachute Regiment. His leadership of 22 SAS during the Jebel Akhdar War in Oman was instrumental in reaffirming the unit’s special forces role. His remarkable life and military career were highlighted in an episode of the BBC programme This Is Your Life, which aired on 12 December 1960 (Season 6, Episode 13).