22 SAS Belvedere helicopter crash - 4th May 1963

Beverly Stacey

New Member
Tomorrow is the 60th anniversary of the helicopter crash that killed nine men in the Belvedere helicopter crash in Indonesia.

A British soldier named Hugh Cave exhumed all nine of the dead from the mass grave in which they'd been buried and reburied every single one of the men. He held a full funeral service for them. He then carried the stones to build the memorial and he and his late wife, Colleen, constructed the memorial gardens. Hugh went back a year later to hold a memorial service on the first anniversary of the crash.

Hugh is now 90 and still going strong. He recounted this whole story this morning when I took him out for coffee. I think he's an unsung hero who deserves a mention.

Hugh and his beloved late wife Colleen are pictured in the centre of this photograph. Trusan Valley Memorial (link)

"This memorial is for the SAS and RAF personnel who died in the Belvedere Helicopter crash of May 1963. Their remains were exhumed from the original crash site and reburied at the site in the Trusan Valley in 1996. A visit of the widows and relatives of those who died took place in early 1999. The site is lovingly maintained by the local Murats and in particular three men known as the ‘A’ Team, John Segar, Tanil Baru and Munap Tagil."

Trusan Memorial (link)

The Indonesian Confrontation

2 Belvedere helicopters from 66 Squadron, RAF were based in Brunei.
HMS Albion was deployed in 1962. HMS Bulwark in 1964.
845 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons were deployed in 1963.
848 Naval Air Squadron deployed in 1965.

4th May 1963, a Belvedere Helicopter XG473 crashed near Long Merarap in the
Trusan Valley, Sarawak, killing all nine passengers and crew.

The Memorial wall, Terendak camp near Malacca:

Flight-Lieutenant A.P.J. Dobson RAF
Flight-Lieutenant D.R.E. Viner RAF
Corporal (Tech) J.L. Williams RAF
Major H.A.I. Thompson MC (RF & 22 SAS)
Major R.H.D. Norman MBE (Para & 22 SAS)
Corporal M.P. Murphy (Para and 22 SAS)
Captain J. Cornington (RF and 22 SAS)
M.H. Day (Foreign Office)
D. Reddish (The Borneo Company)
If anyone, including family members of the above named wish to leave a message for Hugh, please do so below and I'll happily present him with the messages. I know it really would make his day, he speaks of the whole event as if it happened just yesterday.
 
Tomorrow is the 60th anniversary of the helicopter crash that killed nine men in the Belvedere helicopter crash in Indonesia.

A British soldier named Hugh Cave exhumed all nine of the dead from the mass grave in which they'd been buried and reburied every single one of the men. He held a full funeral service for them. He then carried the stones to build the memorial and he and his late wife, Colleen, constructed the memorial gardens. Hugh went back a year later to hold a memorial service on the first anniversary of the crash.

Hugh is now 90 and still going strong. He recounted this whole story this morning when I took him out for coffee. I think he's an unsung hero who deserves a mention.

Hugh and his beloved late wife Colleen are pictured in the centre of this photograph. Trusan Valley Memorial (link)

"This memorial is for the SAS and RAF personnel who died in the Belvedere Helicopter crash of May 1963. Their remains were exhumed from the original crash site and reburied at the site in the Trusan Valley in 1996. A visit of the widows and relatives of those who died took place in early 1999. The site is lovingly maintained by the local Murats and in particular three men known as the ‘A’ Team, John Segar, Tanil Baru and Munap Tagil."

Trusan Memorial (link)

The Indonesian Confrontation

2 Belvedere helicopters from 66 Squadron, RAF were based in Brunei.
HMS Albion was deployed in 1962. HMS Bulwark in 1964.
845 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons were deployed in 1963.
848 Naval Air Squadron deployed in 1965.
16 at the time
4th May 1963, a Belvedere Helicopter XG473 crashed near Long Merarap in the
Trusan Valley, Sarawak, killing all nine passengers and crew.

The Memorial wall, Terendak camp near Malacca:

Flight-Lieutenant A.P.J. Dobson RAF
Flight-Lieutenant D.R.E. Viner RAF
Corporal (Tech) J.L. Williams RAF
Major H.A.I. Thompson MC (RF & 22 SAS)
Major R.H.D. Norman MBE (Para & 22 SAS)
Corporal M.P. Murphy (Para and 22 SAS)
Captain J. Cornington (RF and 22 SAS)
M.H. Day (Foreign Office)
D. Reddish (The Borneo Company)
If anyone, including family members of the above named wish to leave a message for Hugh, please do so below and I'll happily present him with the messages. I know it really would make his day, he speaks of the whole event as if it happened just yesterday.
I would like to leave a respectful message. In 1963 I lived on the 22 SAS base at Hereford on Bullingham Lane. I was an SAS soldier's son and I was attending Lucton School near Leominster and Kingsland at the time. I was about sixteen years old at the time. I knew one of these mens daughters who was called Priscilla Norman. My father was out in Borneo too. Her's did not come back. I went over to her civilian house, off the base, after her family had moved to pay my respects and offer some comfort. I went on my Lambretta scooter. Of course I was very young and did not know what to say to her or her brother and mother. I did not know the brother at all as he was never on the base as he had been away at school too. I would like to think that Priscilla got on well with her life. My father and Major Norman were both from the Parachute Regiment and my father had been 2SAS from WW2. All the best to the Norman family from one of your neighbours from 1963 on the 22 SAS base off the Ross on Wye road. If you read this Priscilla then I say hello. Graham John Alcock retired art teacher.
 
Hello Graham

Thank you for your reply. How interesting you should mention Ross on Wye, Hugh used to live that way. I don't know if Hugh knew the men who perished in the accident, I shall have to ask him. I will show him your messages, I know he will love to read them. Thank you!
 
This is the Hugh Cave this article mentions. Yes I am the one who wrote an article - "Army Rule No 1 - never volunteer". This covers the full period from September 1963 when I built the Memorial at Long Merarap to 1996 when we had the full Memorial Service I will send this article to anyone who contacts me at hugh.cave.mulu@gmail.com. I have an article with a message referring to XG473. "This was the aircraft in which my step dad's father was flying (Flt Lt A. P. J. Dodson). I've just informed him what I found (the wreckage being at the National Army Museum) is there any more information surrounding this. I'd love to know. It carries a great deal of sentiment to the family. Contact me! Hugh Cave
 
This is the Hugh Cave this article mentions. Yes I am the one who wrote an article - "Army Rule No 1 - never volunteer". This covers the full period from September 1963 when I built the Memorial at Long Merarap to 1996 when we had the full Memorial Service I will send this article to anyone who contacts me at hugh.cave.mulu@gmail.com. I have an article with a message referring to XG473. "This was the aircraft in which my step dad's father was flying (Flt Lt A. P. J. Dodson). I've just informed him what I found (the wreckage being at the National Army Museum) is there any more information surrounding this. I'd love to know. It carries a great deal of sentiment to the family. Contact me! Hugh Cave
Hello Hugh - how can I help you? Graham Alcock whose father was in 22 SAS in 1963.
 
Hello Graham, Do you have any connection with Flt Lt Dodson? Where was your father in relation to Sarawak and XG473?
 

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Tomorrow is the 60th anniversary of the helicopter crash that killed nine men in the Belvedere helicopter crash in Indonesia.

A British soldier named Hugh Cave exhumed all nine of the dead from the mass grave in which they'd been buried and reburied every single one of the men. He held a full funeral service for them. He then carried the stones to build the memorial and he and his late wife, Colleen, constructed the memorial gardens. Hugh went back a year later to hold a memorial service on the first anniversary of the crash.

Hugh is now 90 and still going strong. He recounted this whole story this morning when I took him out for coffee. I think he's an unsung hero who deserves a mention.

Hugh and his beloved late wife Colleen are pictured in the centre of this photograph. Trusan Valley Memorial (link)

"This memorial is for the SAS and RAF personnel who died in the Belvedere Helicopter crash of May 1963. Their remains were exhumed from the original crash site and reburied at the site in the Trusan Valley in 1996. A visit of the widows and relatives of those who died took place in early 1999. The site is lovingly maintained by the local Murats and in particular three men known as the ‘A’ Team, John Segar, Tanil Baru and Munap Tagil."

Trusan Memorial (link)

The Indonesian Confrontation

2 Belvedere helicopters from 66 Squadron, RAF were based in Brunei.
HMS Albion was deployed in 1962. HMS Bulwark in 1964.
845 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons were deployed in 1963.
848 Naval Air Squadron deployed in 1965.

4th May 1963, a Belvedere Helicopter XG473 crashed near Long Merarap in the
Trusan Valley, Sarawak, killing all nine passengers and crew.

The Memorial wall, Terendak camp near Malacca:

Flight-Lieutenant A.P.J. Dobson RAF
Flight-Lieutenant D.R.E. Viner RAF
Corporal (Tech) J.L. Williams RAF
Major H.A.I. Thompson MC (RF & 22 SAS)
Major R.H.D. Norman MBE (Para & 22 SAS)
Corporal M.P. Murphy (Para and 22 SAS)
Captain J. Cornington (RF and 22 SAS)
M.H. Day (Foreign Office)
D. Reddish (The Borneo Company)
If anyone, including family members of the above named wish to leave a message for Hugh, please do so below and I'll happily present him with the messages. I know it really would make his day, he speaks of the whole event as if it happened just yesterday.
Hugh:

Thank you to you and your late wife for honoring these brave men.

Ellen Marchese
 
Hello Graham, Do you have any connection with Flt Lt Dodson? Where was your father in relation to Sarawak and XG473?
My father was in 22SAS. I went to school in Herefordshire and indeed I will be in Herefordshire at the end of June this year for a visit. I knew Priscilla Norman a daughter of one of the men killed in the helicopter crash. They were our neighbors on Bullingham Lane. I think father was out there in 63. he was ex-2SAS from WW2.
 
I am Hugh Cave and living in 34 Hanover Court, Bilson Close, Cinderford, GL14 2LQ. If you have the time, I would love to see you. One matter I have forgotten. One of the "locals" picked up Major Thompson's Signet Ring in 1963. I told him that I would take it back to Mrs Thompson. He was reluctant but I got the ring and visited Mrs Thompson in London and gave her the ring. It was a bit emotional but a pleasure for my wife and I.
 
Well done Hugh Cave from Graham Alcock. I stayed two nights in Kingsland but as my wife was not well we did not get about. The ring story was interesting and no doubt a pleasure for the family to be re-united with it.
Graham
 
I am Hugh Cave and living in 34 Hanover Court, Bilson Close, Cinderford, GL14 2LQ. If you have the time, I would love to see you. One matter I have forgotten. One of the "locals" picked up Major Thompson's Signet Ring in 1963. I told him that I would take it back to Mrs Thompson. He was reluctant but I got the ring and visited Mrs Thompson in London and gave her the ring. It was a bit emotional but a pleasure for my wife and I.
Hello Hugh, I am the son who is wearing the ring as I send this message. You brought the ring back to us in about 1996, so some 35 years after it was lost. There was no other possession of my father’s that would have meant more for me to have, and I am incredibly grateful to you for returning it to me. It is something I will pass on to my own son one day. I hope you and your family are well.
 
Hello Strathroy (?), I remember the point in time when you, your mother and sister were at Long Merarap Memorial. You were having your photo taken in front of the cross. Your sister came across to my wife and I and thanked me for bringing her family back together. I do not know if you have seen an article I have written - "Army Rule No 1 - Never Volunteer". This covers the period from September 1963 to December 1997. We cannot communicate by email but I am sure that The Curator of the Regiments Museum will give you a copy. I am quite well thank you but Colleen, my wife, died in in November 2020. Please give my regards to your family.
 
Hello Beverly
Amazingly I stumbled across this issue as I was investigating my time in RAF at Seletar in the middle 60's when I was detached to RAF Labuan.
The issue is ingrained in my memory because one evening a F/Sgt from 66 Sqn came into the Sgt's mess and announced that a Belvedere of his Sqn had crashed. That sort of thing didn't happen very often. But lots of covert aircraft movements were going on then as the norm from Labuan.
Moving on to the Gulf war, my son and his Sqn was involved in similar activities, so I can relate this to Cpl/Tech Williams very closely as he would have been doing the same sort of task in a desert environment.
Terry B [Aged 89]
 
Hello Beverly
Amazingly I stumbled across this issue as I was investigating my time in RAF at Seletar in the middle 60's when I was detached to RAF Labuan.
The issue is ingrained in my memory because one evening a F/Sgt from 66 Sqn came into the Sgt's mess and announced that a Belvedere of his Sqn had crashed. That sort of thing didn't happen very often. But lots of covert aircraft movements were going on then as the norm from Labuan.
Moving on to the Gulf war, my son and his Sqn was involved in similar activities, so I can relate this to Cpl/Tech Williams very closely as he would have been doing the same sort of task in a desert environment.
Terry B [Aged 89]
 
Hello Hugh, I am the son who is wearing the ring as I send this message. You brought the ring back to us in about 1996, so some 35 years after it was lost. There was no other possession of my father’s that would have meant more for me to have, and I am incredibly grateful to you for returning it to me. It is something I will pass on to my own son one day. I hope you and your family are well.
Eugene here. You're one of those people whom everyone says, "What happened to..."
 
Tomorrow is the 60th anniversary of the helicopter crash that killed nine men in the Belvedere helicopter crash in Indonesia.

A British soldier named Hugh Cave exhumed all nine of the dead from the mass grave in which they'd been buried and reburied every single one of the men. He held a full funeral service for them. He then carried the stones to build the memorial and he and his late wife, Colleen, constructed the memorial gardens. Hugh went back a year later to hold a memorial service on the first anniversary of the crash.

Hugh is now 90 and still going strong. He recounted this whole story this morning when I took him out for coffee. I think he's an unsung hero who deserves a mention.

Hugh and his beloved late wife Colleen are pictured in the centre of this photograph. Trusan Valley Memorial (link)

"This memorial is for the SAS and RAF personnel who died in the Belvedere Helicopter crash of May 1963. Their remains were exhumed from the original crash site and reburied at the site in the Trusan Valley in 1996. A visit of the widows and relatives of those who died took place in early 1999. The site is lovingly maintained by the local Murats and in particular three men known as the ‘A’ Team, John Segar, Tanil Baru and Munap Tagil."

Trusan Memorial (link)

The Indonesian Confrontation

2 Belvedere helicopters from 66 Squadron, RAF were based in Brunei.
HMS Albion was deployed in 1962. HMS Bulwark in 1964.
845 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons were deployed in 1963.
848 Naval Air Squadron deployed in 1965.

4th May 1963, a Belvedere Helicopter XG473 crashed near Long Merarap in the
Trusan Valley, Sarawak, killing all nine passengers and crew.

The Memorial wall, Terendak camp near Malacca:

Flight-Lieutenant A.P.J. Dobson RAF
Flight-Lieutenant D.R.E. Viner RAF
Corporal (Tech) J.L. Williams RAF
Major H.A.I. Thompson MC (RF & 22 SAS)
Major R.H.D. Norman MBE (Para & 22 SAS)
Corporal M.P. Murphy (Para and 22 SAS)
Captain J. Cornington (RF and 22 SAS)
M.H. Day (Foreign Office)
D. Reddish (The Borneo Company)
If anyone, including family members of the above named wish to leave a message for Hugh, please do so below and I'll happily present him with the messages. I know it really would make his day, he speaks of the whole event as if it happened just yesterday.
Hi Beverly,

I visited the crash site around 7 years ago and have photos from my visit. I have friends that are local indigenous people, one who served as a tracker during this confrontation. Unfortunately we couldn't locate the graves which I understood. were visited yearly by some family members from Australia.
A piece of the aircraft was removed at some point and was supposed to be heading back to the UK to museum but I am not sure where this is.
 
Hi Beverly,

I visited the crash site around 7 years ago and have photos from my visit. I have friends that are local indigenous people, one who served as a tracker during this confrontation. Unfortunately we couldn't locate the graves which I understood. were visited yearly by some family members from Australia.
A piece of the aircraft was removed at some point and was supposed to be heading back to the UK to museum but I am not sure where this is.
It would be interesting to see not only your photos, but also any photos that Hugh Cave took. The trouble with having a "home made" (I don't mean to cause offense here) memorial and cemetery for these men, is that it takes constant upkeep; the jungle is merciless and will swallow up anything and everything left unattended for more than a year or so. Could a map reference be included, especially a Google map reference? Thanks.
 
It would be interesting to see not only your photos, but also any photos that Hugh Cave took. The trouble with having a "home made" (I don't mean to cause offense here) memorial and cemetery for these men, is that it takes constant upkeep; the jungle is merciless and will swallow up anything and everything left unattended for more than a year or so. Could a map reference be included, especially a Google map reference? Thanks.
Give me some time to get the photos to you as I am away for some time and will have to troll through my files. If there is anyone interested in ever going there I can put them in contact with my friends in Sarawak.
 
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