The SAS was set up during World War II to make daring lightning raids behind enemy lines with small groups of men, working alone, unencumbered by the weight of hierarchy and numbers.
In 1950, with the Malaya crisis, the SAS was back in action. Malaya was then part of the British Empire, but a large band of communist terrorists, under the leadership of Chin Peng, were determined to bring about a revolution and oust the government.
These gangs of ruthless killers lived in the jungle and were experts at fighting in that environment. The SAS's mission was to pursue and kill them. This meant living deep in the jungle, winning the hearts and minds of the locals and learning every survival and tracking trick in the book.
The skills learned in Malaya were put to use in Borneo and have since continued to constitute a key part of the SAS's strength.
SAS veterans return to Malaysia to recount their memories of that time.
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First Shown
| Date | Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 22 September 2003 | Channel 4 |
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