22 SAS Belvedere helicopter crash - 4th May 1963

[galcock]

Eugene here. You're one of those people whom everyone says, "What happened to..."

Did you have a sister called Priscilla if so I have met you. Graham Alcock whose father was in 22SAS with yours.

 

[simoncday]

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.

My name is Simon Day, the youngest son of M H Day. I was at the memorial service in 1999, pictured, with my mother and my two brothers. I would like to take my three grown-up children to see their grandfather's memorial before I am no longer able to do so. How do I even start to do this? Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Regards,
Simon Day.

 

[daria01]

From what I know, the Belvedere helicopter crashes happened during exercises in Malaysia on 4th May 1963.Four people died, including the pilot.some say it was technical issues, but it not fully confirmed.There are still many speculations.Worth noting, operations in Malaysia at that time were very demanding due to the terrain and weather.Accidents were, common due to difficult conditions and equipment issues.

 

[Conington]

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.

 

[Conington]

I would like to thank Mr. Cave for honouring these men, one of whom was my father’s cousin. His name was Capt. John Frank Conington, Royal Fusiliers and SAS. One thing I noticed is that his name is spelled Cornington which is incorrect. Just wanted to put this on record.