One other occasion that Maja might recall was when we were doing a search of the Kwak Valley, again very adjacent to the Siamese border and Maja picked up a very strong and very recent track, we immediately went into Red Alert mode and Maja was off with my leading scouts right behind him. The track led us through some former cultivation areas then onto higher ground, round a large outcrop into really rugged terrain. Maja gave us the halt and listen sign and we could hear chopping sounds within possibly a hundred yards or so so again I moved alongside Maja to give him protection if necesary with my M2 and we moved along - Maja giving me the high sign that we are very close when sudenly my left leading scout stumbled and discharged his Owen Gun, just one round but we heard the clatter as the terrorists grabbed their weapons and gear and took off up the re-entrant in which they had constructed their intended overnight accomodation. We chased up the climb as best we could but I called it off, dusk was closing in, maybe half an hour's light left if that and withdrew back to where the remainder of the patrol had been casting around to see what if anything they could find, the basha was great as also was the cooking pot and its contents left behind by the three possibly four terrorists we had disturbed. Maja was fuming but eventually calmed down and stopped berating the leading scout who had accidently fired his weapon. We were only supposed to be out for the day, had emergency rations of a 24 hour pack between two in the event of something along this line happening and although we did a thorough search and follow the following morning we had to call it off and return to base camp in Kroh where following the de-briefing during which I lost my temper and finished up pulling a 'severe rep.' from the Coy Comdr for '...rubbishing the system and powers that be in K.L. which prevented us from following up across the border into Siam.' That was the major problem in that corner of Negri Perak and why we had so little success in kills there.
Apologies for any lamp swinginmg that may be implied.
Cheers.
George.