Malayan Emergency Special Forces Cap Badge - Senoi Praq Circa 1960s

Die cast two part consturction white metal cap badge with painted green background. In very good condition. Faults - slight paint chip to bottom left of sunburst and some slight damage to rays of sunburst on the rear section of the badge, not visible from the front (see photos). Circa 4.9cm tall with two original loops to the reverse. This is the second pattern badge with crossed blowpipes. Rare and of special forces interest as they were SAS trained.

The Senoi Praaq (spelt PRAQ on the badge) was the brainchild of Colonel Noone in Military Intelligence and also a member of the British Administration in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency. He pressed for the formation of the Senoi Praaq as a deterrent force to stop the communist influence over the remote Orang Asli settlements in the deepest jungles. In 1956 General Gerald Templer agreed to the formation of the Senoi Praaq as an arm of the Department of Aborigines (DOA).

The unit was established in May 1956, and Colonel Noone was made the commanding officer, serving from 1957 until 1961. The Malayan Emergency was officially declared over in 1960.

The Senoi Praaq started as a small unit and originally served as a Special Air Service (SAS) auxiliary, with an initial 20 recruits. This soon grew to 40 with recruits from Surrendered Enemy Personnel. The original 40 troopers were trained by British units including by the SAS, in particular by Major John Slim. Training lasted three months and covered firearms and small units tactics, in particular ambush tactics, with the SAS concept of speed and surprise ingrained right from the start.

Although the Senoi Praaq troopers were given a choice of weapons, they reportedly enjoyed scoring kills using their traditional weapons - the blowpipe being a favourite. They were absorbed into the Royal Malaysian Police in 1968 as a special operations unit.

G81.1

Code: 62361