Exercise sheer hell DPR/TV/790

Soldiers of the 8th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, recently had their first real taste of the Malaysian jungle. They were taking part in exercise "Sheer Hell" in Malaysia's Negri Sembilan State. In scorching temperatures and stifling steam-bath humidity, the soldiers slogged over steep jungle-clad hills on a counter-insurgency warfare exercise. "Sheer Hell" involved elements of the British Army and the Royal Air Force (RAF). Members of the Malaysian Police Field Force also took part. Aircraft used during the exercise ranged from huge, twin-rotor Belvedere helicopters to the tiny Bell Sioux helicopters. 8RAR practised techniques in search and destroy, cordoning, patroling, ambushing and fieldcraft. During the exercise they fought several fierce bushfires which raced through parts of the State, fanned by high winds. The battalion was commanded throughout the exercise by Lieutenant-Colonel J. O. Langtry, the CO of 8RAR. Within the battalion are nearly 200 soldiers who have seen service in South Vietnam and 68 who have previously served in Malaya. The "enemy" force for the exercise was a company of the 1st Battalion, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, many of whom were recently on exercise in Queensland. 8th Battalion is based at Terendak Garrison in Malaysia's Malacca State.(also identified: Pte Alan Dyson of Newcstle, NSW (with MG and bandolier of ammo); Pte Dennis Carson of Yeppoon, Qld; Pte Peter Webb of Briadwood, NSW; Pte Dermat Power of Bardon, Brisbane, Qld; WO2 Eric Miller of Stafford, Qld; Sgt William "Jock" McDonald of Everton Park, Qld; Sgt Dennis "Snow" Hawkins of Randwick, NSW; Flight Sergeant Robert Strang of Edinburgh, Scotland)