RETURN TO LIMBANG

I watched this documentary in History Channel and I realized this is the first time I ever heard about it! How can that be? Like Natrah, this incident never made it to school textbooks when I was in school.

Return to Limbang is a largely forgotten tense drama of a hostage rescue in the small river town of Limbang in North Borneo (now Sarawak) in December 1962.

The film follows Royal Marine veterans as they return to Limbang. Forty years ago they had travelled up a dark river, to land just after dawn and free the hostages who were to be hanged that morning. Emotions run high as they recount the events of that day. Men on both sides were killed in the fierce fire fight. Now they are remembered by some of the survivors, who met in an act of reconciliation in Limbang, over 40 years later.

Filmed on location in England and North Borneo, the documentary combines breath taking imageries and interviews with the rebel leader who took the hostages, some of the hostages, and members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.