Merdeka - A Novel by Lachlan Gunn

It's a fantastic read, thoroughly absorbing and very well written indeed

2022-02-22T18:12:00.007+00:00

Many thanks to John Leo for a great review kindly shared on Twitter

…. A gripping combination of excitement, colour, feeling and sensitivity. Lachlan’s great uncle was Neil Gunn so literary talent obviously runs in the family! Reading the ‘About the Author’ page, it’s apparent that Lachlan is uniquely placed to tell this story.

….. The evocative sense of place and the attention to detail could only come from someone who knows the authentic Malaya/Malaysia and who has served his country in various different spheres….

…. I’m clearly no literary-critic but the reviews I’ve read of ‘Merdeka’ have been consistently excellent.

I certainly agree and personally highly recommend it.

(Incidentally, I’m not Lachlan’s agent 😂)

Another 5 Star review for Merdeka

2017-06-11T15:30:00.000+01:00

Many thanks to Steve B for a kind review posted on Amazon's UK site. All reviews are really appreciated and extracts can be seen on the Review Page of this blog.

ATMOSPHERIC
Story of a young Scots officer pondering what he wants out of life, set against the sometimes brutal background of the Malayan communist insurgency. This novel fully reflects the rich variety of themes provided by the subject matter- even a hint of the supernatural without which no story set in Malaysia would be complete. Lachlan Gunn is not a broad brush writer. Everything is presented in meticulous detail, which is how he creates an intensely realistic atmosphere (although the dialogue is modern). Even my old school gets a mention! In his new career path with the Gurkhas, Alick can look forward to plenty of action in the jungles of Borneo and I look forward to reading about them...

Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC)

2016-04-03T19:46:00.002+01:00

On a recent trip to Kuala Lumpur I visited the Malaysian Tourism Centre building on Jalan Ampang as part of the research for the book-in-progress which is set in Malaya during WW2.

The MaTiC building is endowed with a rich and colourful past. It was built in the British Colonial styel in the 1930s to serve as the residence of a wealthy Chinese tycoon named Eu Tong Sen. He was an influential businessman in Malaya who served as a vice-president of the Anti-Opium Society and a member of the Kinta Sanitary Board (Perak State).

After his death in 1941, the building housed the War Office of the British Army (Malaya Command). When the British retreated from Kuala Lumpur it then became the headquarters for the Japanese Imperial Army for the rest of the Second World War. As the building is now surrounded by tower blocks it is hard for the imagination to conjure up images of what the atmosphere must have been like in 1941.

Going inside I was delighted to find a happy and colourful atmosphere in the small auditorium. MaTiC hosts a traditional dance show most afternoons there (at 3PM when I visited), for which entrance is free. The dancers performed many of the traditional dances (some of which take place during the 'Merdeka' story) before finishing with a truly wonderful rendition of the song 'Malaysia Truly Asia'.

If you visit Kuala Lumpur don't miss this show. For more information on MaTiC visit http://www.matic.gov.my/en/

Remember Gurkha pensioners and widows at their time of need

2015-11-05T10:16:00.002+00:00

As Remembrance Sunday approaches, you may wish to consider donating to the Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT). A donation to the Trust will help to support retired Gurkha soldiers and their families.

The Nepal Earthquake may have disappeared from the news headlines, but the realities of the aftermath are still very much a part of the lives of many people there. The two earthquakes that devastated Nepal during April and May were of a scale not seen seen since the 1930s. 8,800 lives were lost, including 13 Gurkha pensioners. Infrastructure was shattered and communities and homes left in rubble.

To date the GWT has received 2,121 applications for help in rebuilding and repairing homes. Of these the homes of 1,200 veterans and widows have been completely destroyed and will require a total rebuild.

Can you help with a small donation? If so click here.

KOSB Malaya Veterans

2015-09-18T19:23:00.002+01:00

The First Battalion The Kings Own Scottish Borderers (1 KOSB) served in Malaya from 1955 to 1958, a tour of duty that spanned independence (Merdeka) day on 31st August 1957.

On Thursday 17th September 2015 the KOSB Malaya Veterans' Annual All Ranks Reunion Dinner was held in Peebles in the Scottish Borders, with a special focus on the 60th Anniversary of the Regiments' arrival in Malaya in September 1955. Over 130 people attended and it was a truly memorable occasion.

In addition to the speeches and live entertainment, there was a slideshow highlighting images from the tour. The images, which had been supplied by several of the veterans, really helped to stimulate the memories of those who served there and, for those of us who did not, provided fascinating glimpses of what took place.

1 KOSB operated over a wide area in North Johor. First they came under command of 63rd Gurkha Infantry Brigade in the 17th Gurkha Division, then for a period in 1957 they were part of the 1st Federation Infantry Brigade and they finished their tour under the command of 26th Gurkha Infantry Brigade.

Their main Battalion Headquarters was located at Batu Pahat, along with Support Company; the battalion's tactical Headquarters (TAC HQ) was at Yong Peng, along with C Company; A Company was at Ayer Hitam, B Company at Niyor and D Company at Paloh.

Sadly 1 KOSB is now no more. In March 2006, the Regiment became The King’s Own Scottish Borderers’ Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland. On 1st August of that year, the Royal Scots and KOSB Battalions merged to form The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland. But the fine spirit of the Regiment lives on through its Veterans - and it shone brightly at the Malaya Veterans Reunion Dinner.

For more information on 1 KOSB visit http://www.kosb.co.uk

Summer promotion - 'Merdeka' free on Kindle for 5 days

2015-07-28T18:15:00.000+01:00

'Merdeka' will be free for download on Kindle from 31st July to 4th August 2015 inclusive (there may be variations due to time zones). Keep checking your local Amazon store.

Check out the book's reviews. The eBook was first published in November 2011 and the print book in January 2012. Since then thousands of copies have been sold or downloaded (many thanks to all readers!)

How to get the book

Work on the next book, is progressing, although it is not yet possible to give a publication date - it is set in Malaya during the Second World War.

Two more 5 Star reviews for 'Merdeka'

2015-07-28T18:05:00.002+01:00

Many thanks to another two readers for their kind reviews posted on Amazon's UK site. All reviews are really appreciated and extracts can be seen on the Review Page of this blog.

This is an excellent book I served in Malaya during the emergency and reading this book made me relive it all again ,including the wonderful love affair. I recommend this book to all who are interested in the emergency years.(the so called forgotten war)
H. Whitehead

It was a captivating read, I had no idea what the book was going to be like but found the plot gripping.
D. McBride

How to get the book.

Support the Gurkha Welfare Trust to help the people of Nepal

2015-05-08T19:08:00.000+01:00

Soldiers from Nepal have fought for Britain since 1815, and several of the characters in 'Merdeka' are Gurkha soldiers. The 200th Anniversary of British Army Gurkhas (G200) has sadly been over-shadowed by the Nepal earthquake. While it may fade from global headlines, the people of Nepal will be suffering its after-effects for years to come.

The Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT) is the leading Gurkha charity, providing financial, medical and development aid to Gurkha veterans, their families and communities.

The GWT's field arm – The Gurkha Welfare Scheme – operates through a network of 21 Area Welfare Centres across traditional Gurkha recruiting areas in Nepal, as well as one centre in Darjeeling, India. This extensive network is supported by 12 patrol bases reaching far into the Himalayan foothills.

Help the GWT to respond to the Nepal eathquake. They need your help to help Gurkha veterans and their families cope with the aftermath of the disaster. The Trust's projects also benefit the wider community.

DONATE TO THE GWT EARTHQUAKE FUND TODAY

2015-01-29T20:17:00.000+00:00

Another five star customer review for 'Merdeka' on Amazon's UK site. All reviews are really appreciated and extracts can be seen on the Review Page of this blog. Many thanks to "Al" for the following:

A book of three parts: first, preparation for action by both sides (with just a bit too much detail in places for my taste, eg: every item of kit detailed, what order people get into and out of the helicopters, etc); second, the action itself and the immediate aftermath; third, a love story.
Put like that, it does not sound like my cup of tea but they all hang together well and I really enjoyed it.
Well written; good pace; good character development; good background on the communist insurgency and how it was dealt with; good descriptions of the country and weather.
Looking forward to more from this author.

How to get the book.

Special offer for Xmas - 'Merdeka' eBook price cut

2014-12-24T11:13:00.000+00:00

'Merdeka' is on a reduced price Kindle countdown deal until 30th December on Amazon's UK and US sites. Visit the Malaysian jungle for just £0.99 or $1.55 - for more details see:

Amazon UK Amazon US

The eBook was first published in November 2011 and the print book in January 2012. Since then thousands of copies have been sold or downloaded (many thanks to all readers!).

Work on the next book is progressing, although it is not yet possible to give a publication date - I am hoping to get it finished and ready before next Christmas.

Best wishes to all readers for a merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!

A great story, evocative of a forgotten era

2014-12-04T09:17:00.002+00:00

Another great customer review for 'Merdeka' on Amazon.com. All reviews are really appreciated and extracts can be seen on the Review Page of this blog. Many thanks to Leslie Jones for the following:

A great story, and very well written with good pace and a believable narrative. I particularly liked the balance of descriptive narrative, which brought the story alive with its evocation of a forgotten era, and the face-paced action and story development. Great stuff Lachlan - when's the next novel coming out?

How to get the book.

Read the latest review of 'Merdeka'

2014-12-04T07:45:00.000+00:00

Another great customer review for 'Merdeka' on Amazon's UK site. All reviews are really appreciated and extracts can be seen on the Review Page of this blog. Many thanks to "action man" for the following:

As someone who was in Malaya at the time about which this book was written it is a very good story and describes the situation well. I liked the way each side's actions were described as the plot unfolded. A good read.

How to get the book.

Remembrance Poems from FEPOWs and their families

2014-11-06T19:31:00.002+00:00

As Remembrance Sunday draws close, the suffering of those who went through the Second World War in the Far East is being increasingly recognised. The Far East Prisoners of War (FEPOWs) must not be be forgotten.

Keeping up the memory of their suffering alive has been helped by Eric Lomax through his poignant book 'The Railway Man', and the subsequent film of the same name released last year.

The FEPOW Day website has a collection of poems written by former FEPOWs and their families. Take a few minutes to read them.......

The most thought provoking book I have read this year!

2014-07-27T11:40:00.000+01:00

Another great customer review for 'Merdeka' on Amazon's UK site. All reviews are really appreciated and extracts can be seen on the Review Page of this blog. Many thanks to "Hisboss" for the following:

I chose this book because I had spent two years living in Brunei and had had the opportunity of travelling around Malaysia and loved the experience.

Lachlan Gunn has written this story beautifully. I was a bit slow in getting into the plot but once I did I was totally captivated. I imagined myself in the jungle getting nowhere fast. Again, something I have done. The way the author describes the noise , the heat and the leeches, and the cat and mouse situations of the hunters and hunted.

This is such a moving story which plays with your emotions, and highlights the sadness in the loss of life for a belief.

My heart bled for Alick and what he went through, his PTSD, his struggle with his emotions, and his personal life.

This is a beautifully written book, done with great thought and empathy. The most thought provoking book I have read this year!

How to get the book.

Looking for a summer read?

2014-06-19T07:51:00.002+01:00

Why not try 'Merdeka'? When 'Merdeka' (the Kindle eBook) was put on free promotion for just 5 days last week, over 600 copies were downloaded and the book hit the number one spot on several of the Amazon categories on both the .com and .co.uk websites:

#1 in Best Sellers in Historical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction

#1 in Best Sellers in Historical Literary Fiction

Copies of the book have now been downloaded in the UK, the USA, Australia, Canada, India, France, Germany, Italy, Brazil and Japan.

Want to find out more? Check out the reviews. How to get the book.

Should women fight in combat?

2014-05-09T11:06:00.000+01:00

In 'Merdeka', one of the main protagonists is a woman who does just that. The British Army is now about to (again) review female close combat roles. Details of this can be found on the BBC website.

UK Defence Secretary Philip Hammond says "I think that at a time when the Americans, the Australians, the Canadians, even the French - the Israelis of course for years - have women in their combat arms, this is something we have to look at again...."

Lord Dannatt, former head of the Army, told the BBC that women should not be in the combat arms as "a matter of principle". He may have a point. While there is no question at all that women can act as effectively as men in combat roles (provided they meet the required standards) the reality of battle means that the inclusion of women in close quarter battle units may have two unintended consequences:

1. The enemy could target the women, knowing that taking out a female combatant could have a disproportionate effect on her male colleagues.

2. Despite briefing and training to the contrary, male soldiers could be overly protective to their female comrades.

Both would reduce the combat effectiveness of the unit. Perhaps this is one reason why, prior to the formation of the predominantly female Carcal Battalion in 2000, the Israeli Army barred women from serving in direct combat!

'Merdeka' gets another 5 Star review

2014-04-09T20:31:00.001+01:00

Many thanks to J S V B Harrison for a 5 Star review on the Amazon.co.uk site. To read all Merdeka's customer and professional reviews visit the Reviews Page on this blog.

Work on the next novel is progressing with over 25,000 words penned to date.

'Merdeka' Kindle edition discounted on Amazon UK from 27 Feb to 6 Mar 2014

2014-02-25T19:16:00.001+00:00

Not got 'Merdeka' for your Kindle or Kindle App yet? Then get it a discounted price (UK readers).

Following the success of the Kindle Countdown Deal promotion on Amazon.com at the beginning of February, a similar promotion is running on Amazon.co.uk from 27th February to 6th March 2014.

UK readers get Merdeka for £0.99 until 6th March.

Not got a Kindle? Click here for information on Kindle Apps.

Special price for 'Merdeka' eBook on Amazon.com (US and rest of world readers)

2014-01-31T07:43:00.001+00:00

'Merdeka' (for Kindle) is discounted on Amazon.com from now until 5th February 2014. It has been enrolled in what Amazon call a 'Kindle Countdown Deal' with a starting price of US$0.99

I can't see the discount, but that could be because I am in the UK and the discount doe not apply to Amazon.co.uk Why not check the link http://www.amazon.com/Merdeka-Lachlan-Gunn-ebook/dp/B006FMFCHI to see if you can get the discount?

Bribery used to weaken the Communist Terrorists

2014-01-23T19:10:00.000+00:00

During the Malayan Emergency Government Forces air-dropped propaganda leaflets into the jungle to encourage the Communist Terrorists (CTs) to leave the jungle and give up their weapons and/or their comrades. This one was dropped in 1953 and the Chinese text reads:

"If any member of the Malayan Communist Party is able to leave the jungle and bring out a Bren gun, or able to lead the Peace Keeping Forces to unearth a hidden Bren gun that he or she knows about, he will be eligible for a $1,000 reward. Receive a $1,000 reward to start a new life!"

In an earlier post on this blog I covered Psychological Warfare of the Malayan Emergency. It worked and played a significant part in weakening the CTs. As the Emergency dragged on, every weapon lost to them was hard to replace as their was no way for the CTs to engage with sympathetic governments (such as the People's Republic of China) outside Malaya - a major difference to the situations in Vietnam and Korea at the time. Government forces had a stranglehold on the CT supply lines and used leaflets such as this to attack them from within.

Seasons greetings - 'Merdeka' FREE on Kindle

2013-12-26T17:17:00.003+00:00

The 'Merdeka' eBook is FREE for Kindle download from 26th to 29th December 2013.

UK readers can download it from Amazon.co.uk and for links to other Amazon sites see the How To Get The Book page on this blog.

A Merry Xmas and a very happy New Year to all!

The beginning of the end for British Malaya

2013-12-10T08:59:00.001+00:00

On this day in 1941 Force Z of the Royal Navy (commanded by Admiral Tom Phillips) was attacked by 88 Japanese aircraft from the First Air Force. Force Z consisted of the battleship HMS Prince of Wales, the battlecruiser HMS Repulse, and four destroyers. Force Z arrived at Singapore on 2nd December 1941 and was sent to intercept Japanese landings in Malaya. Prince of Wales and Repulse were sunk on 10th December 1941 about 50 miles from the coast of Kuantan in Malaya.

The Prince of Wales was crippled after the first torpedo attack. She was hit in the stern, twisting a propeller shaft. Then the main strength of the Japanese air attacks were directed against the Repulse. The Repulse was hit by one or two bombs and about 12 torpedoes. The Prince of Wales was hit by one bomb and ten torpedoes. Only four Japanese aircraft were lost. The escorting destroyers picked up survivors and returned them to Singapore.

The second photograph, taken from a Japanese aircraft during the initial high-level bombing attack, shows Repulse, near the bottom of the view, has just been hit by one bomb and near-missed by several more. Prince of Wales, near the top of the image, is generating a considerable amount of smoke. Japanese writing in the lower right states that the photograph was reproduced by authorization of the Navy Ministry.

This was a tremendous victory for the Japanese and a calamity for the British and Imperial forces defending Malaya. The loss of life was the greatest ever experienced by the Royal Navy in one incident; over 840 officers and men died. Force Z was steaming to intercept the Japanese invasion fleet, poised to launch the assault on Malaya, an invasion that resulted in a humiliating retreat by down the Malaya peninsular by the British and Imperial forces, and the eventual fall of Singapore less than 80 days later. Force Z should not have proceeded with air support, the first mistake of the many that plagued the British and Imperial forces, and which were deftly exploited by the attacking Japanese.

For more, including a survivor's account, see the relevant BBC WW2 People's War Fact File

Above images from Wikimedia commons

Read 'Merdeka' on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch

2013-12-03T17:08:00.001+00:00

The 'Merdeka' eBook is exclusive to Kindle. It can be read on iPads, iPhones and the iPod touch through the Kindle App . Information on the Kindle App can also be found on Amazon.

Somebody told me today that they looked for the book in the iTunes Store but could not find it. I explained that, after looking at various options, it was decided to keep the book exclusive to Kindle, as the Kinde App is free and widely available for most smartphones, tablets, laptops etc. For more see 'How to get the Book'. The Amazon store links have just been updated.

Thinking about getting the book? Why not check out some reviews ?

Read 'Merdeka' on Android

2013-11-19T13:38:00.000+00:00

The 'Merdeka' eBook is exclusive to Kindle. It can be read through the Kindle App on all android devices. If you also have a Kindle device, your place in the book can be synced so that whichever device you open, you can start reading where you left off. Isn't technology wonderful!

The Kindle App is also available for other devices. For more see 'How to get the Book'. The Amazon store links have just been updated.

Thinking about getting the book? Why not check out some reviews ?

The story of the Malayan Emergency in a few clicks

2013-10-28T19:30:00.001+00:00

Picture courtesy of the National Army Museum

Did you know that the campaign in Malaya was one of the few successful counter-insurgency operations undertaken by the Western powers in the 20th Century?

Still studied today, the Malayan Emergency provides many important lessons on how such campaigns should be conducted.

The National Army Museum has a great online exhibition on the Malayan Emergency and in a few clicks you can get through an outline of what happened there from 1948 to 1960.

Units from the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas played a key role in the campaign, and a Gurkha fighting patrol features in the plot of 'Merdeka' the novel. The picture shows a Gurkha patrol having a briefing and a 'brew up' in the Malayan Jungle in 1959.