British soldier sets fire to hut formerly occupied by members of Malaysian Communist party

Silver gelatin print by by Central Press Photos Ltd., titled 'Hunting down Red bandits in Malayan jungle.' Dated 2 September 1948. Caption on verso reads: 'On Saturday next, Sept 4th, the 2nd Guards Brigade leave for Malaya where they will reinforce the British Troops and police now engaged in jungle warfare against Communist bandits. These pictures, just received, form a dramatic eye-witness story of present-day conditions in the country.

'Besides the murders of British planters and natives, unsuccessful ambushes on the roads are are an everyday occurrance, and one of the worst aspects of the Communist insurrection is, according to the eye-witness story accompanying the photographs, the intimidation of the villagers. In the big towns life goes on much the same as usual, but the villagers go in fear of their lives if they speak against the Reds. Often when a British planter has been murdered on his plantation in sight of his men, they have told the police they have seen nothing. Every plantation now has guards standing by, and the planters have been issued with grenades and Sten Guns. The native police, officered by many British ex-servicemen, are doing great work.

'The picture shows: - A hut in which a party of bandits have been caught, is fired by the raiding forces.'