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1970. Photo of guests enjoying refreshments after the launching ceremony of the Mobile Library of the Language and Liter...
22/04/2026

1970. Photo of guests enjoying refreshments after the launching ceremony of the Mobile Library of the Language and Literature Bureau in Pekan Tutong.

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Before offices had emails and WhatsApp, there were men like these.In 1933, Brunei’s government ran on handwritten letter...
01/04/2026

Before offices had emails and WhatsApp, there were men like these.

In 1933, Brunei’s government ran on handwritten letters, sealed documents, and trusted messengers. These uniformed peons were the silent backbone of the system — moving information between the Post Office and the British Resident’s office, ensuring every order, report, and decision reached its destination.
Dressed in simple khaki, their role may seem small today, but they were essential to keeping the machinery of governance running in a changing Brunei — just as oil was beginning to reshape the nation’s future.

A quiet reminder that history isn’t only made by leaders… but also by those who carried the message.

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After Hari Raya Aidilfitri prayers at Pekan Seria Mosque in 1959
22/03/2026

After Hari Raya Aidilfitri prayers at Pekan Seria Mosque in 1959

HRH Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien, British High Commissioner Sir D. C White, Pengiran Yusuf, Raja Azam, and Chief Minister ...
22/03/2026

HRH Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien, British High Commissioner Sir D. C White, Pengiran Yusuf, Raja Azam, and Chief Minister Dato Haji Marsal, during a press conference with journalists at the State Secretariat building on 14 December 1962.

The Sultan had called the press conference, attended by 20 journalists, because on 12 December The Straits Times had published
rumours that he had given support to the rebel cause.

To debunk by hhthis, the Sultan confirmed that there was shooting at the Palace, and that he took command of the counter-fire. He had not shot back himself, but he directed the policemen and his three personal bodyguards to fire.

This photograph, taken by a member of the United States Signal Corps on 13 June 1945, captures Australian troops of the ...
13/06/2025

This photograph, taken by a member of the United States Signal Corps on 13 June 1945, captures Australian troops of the 2/17th Infantry Battalion advancing along a rural road into Brunei Town, shortly after the town’s liberation during Operation Oboe Six.

The 2/17th played a crucial role in the Brunei Town occupation, securing roads, administrative buildings, and strategic river crossings. Their approach marked the first entry of Allied ground forces into the capital after years of Japanese occupation.

The United States Signal Corps also documented this event, highlighting Allied cooperation in intelligence and documentation efforts.

Original photo source: www.awm.gov.au

13 June 1945, three days after the initial landings at Muara and Labuan, shows troops of C Company, 2/17th Infantry Batt...
13/06/2025

13 June 1945, three days after the initial landings at Muara and Labuan, shows troops of C Company, 2/17th Infantry Battalion of the Australian Army moving into Brunei Town (modern-day Bandar Seri Begawan) during the final stage of the Operation Oboe Six campaign.

These Australian soldiers were part of the 9th Division, which spearheaded the offensive to:
- Liberate Brunei Town from Japanese occupation.
- Secure civic infrastructure, oil depots, and administrative centers.
- Re-establish civil order ahead of the Sultan’s return.

This image marks the official entry into Brunei Town, symbolizing the end of Japanese military control over Brunei's capital. It was also a turning point where Allied forces began restoring Bruneian sovereignty and governance.

After this saw the transition from battle to stabilization, with Australian troops conducting patrols, clearing remaining pockets of resistance, and aiding in civilian protection.

Original photo source: www.awm.gov.au

10 June 1945. Troops of 2/17th Infantry Battalion, part of the 20th Brigade, 9th Australian Division disembarking from t...
13/06/2025

10 June 1945. Troops of 2/17th Infantry Battalion, part of the 20th Brigade, 9th Australian Division disembarking from their US Navy Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) on Green Beach. They are part of the second wave landing during the Oboe 6 Operation.

The Green Beach landing zone was one of several designated along Muara beachhead, the easternmost point of Brunei. The 2/17th Battalion was tasked with:

- Securing the Muara beachhead,
- Advancing inland to protect the flank of the push toward Brunei Town,
- Capturing Brunei airfields and other vital infrastructure.

Troops encountered minimal resistance on the beach, a result of effective pre-invasion air raids and naval shelling. Within three days, Brunei Town was liberated and the Muara airfield secured.

This event opened the way for further inland advances and helped restore control to local Bruneian leadership and BMA.

Original photo source: www.awm.gov.au

The event shown in the photo — Australian troops of the 2/43rd Infantry Battalion advancing with Matilda tanks of the 2/...
11/06/2025

The event shown in the photo — Australian troops of the 2/43rd Infantry Battalion advancing with Matilda tanks of the 2/9th Armoured Regiment on Labuan Island on 12 June 1945 — was a key component of Operation Oboe Six, which directly led to the liberation of Brunei during World War II.

Operation Oboe Six was part of the larger Borneo Campaign (1945), which aimed to recapture Japanese-occupied territories in Borneo.The Operation specifically targeted Labuan Island and Brunei Bay, with the goals of:

- Securing a deepwater port (Labuan) for Allied logistics,
- Liberating the Brunei oilfields and airfields,
- Establishing a staging base for future operations in North Borneo and Sarawak.

Labuan Island itself was successfully captured on 10–12 June 1945, shortly before this photo was taken. This image shows Australian troops consolidating and pushing forward, likely to eliminate remaining resistance and secure the eastern end of the island. The capture of Labuan allowed the Allies to use Victoria Harbour as a naval base, and launch follow-up attacks toward Brunei Town and Muara by establishing an airfield for operations across Borneo.

Following Labuan’s capture, Brunei Town was liberated on 13 June 1945 by the 20th Brigade (including the 2/17th and 2/15th Battalions). The swift and organized operations from Labuan gave the Allies a strategic edge by enabling rapid amphibious landings across Brunei Bay and eventually cutting off the Japanese Army supply and retreat lines.

Photo source from: www.awm.gov.au

80 years ago, on 11th June 1945, members of Battalion HQ, 2/17 Infantry Battalion, part of the 20th Brigade, 9th Austral...
11/06/2025

80 years ago, on 11th June 1945, members of Battalion HQ, 2/17 Infantry Battalion, part of the 20th Brigade, 9th Australian Division were photographed moving along the road from Brooketon (Muara) to Brunei Town during the early stage of Operation Oboe Six.

Operation Oboe Six, was a coordinated Allied assault to liberate North Borneo from Japanese occupation. The troops in the photo were marching inland following their amphibious landing at Muara on 10th June 1945.

They had advanced towards Brunei Town, which was successfully secured with minimal resistance due to the retreating Japanese forces and the bombing from Allied forces prior to the operation.

Sometimes referred to by soldiers simply as “2/17”, they were part of the famous "Rats of Tobruk"—Australian forces who withstood the German Afrika Korps under Rommel and played critical roles in the First and Second Battle of El Alamein.

Now tasked with securing Brunei Town, Labuan Island, Weston, and later advancing inland toward Beaufort. The 2/17th eventually encountered stiff resistance from remaining Japanese forces but helped secure key territories in British North Borneo (Sabah).

This photo captures a critical moment in Brunei’s WWII history—when liberation was underway and the tide of occupation was turning.

Photo source: www.awm.gov.au

This is an illustrated print titled “Sketches in North Borneo”, published in The Illustrated London News in 1881, during...
23/05/2025

This is an illustrated print titled “Sketches in North Borneo”, published in The Illustrated London News in 1881, during the height of colonial interest in Southeast Asia. The engraving is composed of three distinct panels that document scenes from Brunei and northern Borneo.

Description of Each Panel:

1. Top Panel: "The Town of Brunei"

Depicts Kampong Ayer with stilted wooden houses lining the Brunei River. Includes traditional Malay sailing vessels and a covered riverboat (possibly a penambang). In the background are stylized hills and forest—common features in colonial renderings. The engraving by Bernardo Rico and also appears in La Ilustración Española y Americana in 1881.

2. Middle Panel: "Fishing for Trepang, or Sea-Slug"

Shows local inhabitants harvesting trepang (sea cucumber) along a tidal flat. A vital trade commodity at the time, particularly for export to China. A small schooner is beached, and another Malay-style sailboat is visible offshore.

3. Bottom Panel: "A Village in North Borneo"

Depicts a coastal or inland Dusun, Murut, or Bajau village, with palm trees and raised bamboo huts. Shows daily life: women in long dresses, men in sarong-like attire, children playing, and people socializing—illustrating a typical rural settlement under British North Borneo Company influence.

Illustrations such as this were based on field sketches or second-hand reports by explorers, missionaries, or company officials. These engravings were often aimed at European audiences curious about the “exotic” East and the colonial frontier.

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