This Day in History: 1962-12-08

The Adjutant of the 1st Battalion, Captain Willoughby, was woken at 5am by a phone call from the Brigade Major, telling him 2 companies and a Tactical HQ were to move to Brunei to suppress the revolt there in accordance with the operation order for Operation ALE, as the standby battalion, the Queen’s Own Highlanders, were deployed on anti-piracy duties and unavailable. “But as we aren’t on standby we don’t have the operation order” said Willoughby; “You can have my copy” said the Brigade Major.