Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Shalid Bin Ma’aruff (bin Said Macroft) (WX41467) was born into a Muslim family in 1923 in Ulu Klang, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He was a pearl diver and lugger crew member on lugger fishing boats around Perth as well as a fisherman for the Fremantle fish markets.

In June 1942, bin Shalid enrolled for service in a labour company in Perth. From mid-1943, he began his service in the 8th Brigade as an instructor in the Malay language. His work was so valued that in 1944 he was allowed to enlist in the AIF in Mount Martha, Victoria. After completing a parachute course, Bin Shalid continued to excel in his role with the army and in August 1944 was seconded to ‘Z’ Special Unit, to operate behind enemy lines in the Pacific and South-east Asia. He was employed in a secret operation in Borneo, holding the rank of Lance Sergeant. He was a member of a small party that was to land in the Mount Mentawir area, north of Balikpapan and soon to fought the Japanese enemy. While on duty, he lost his life in 1945, weeks short of his 22nd birthday. A military report confirmed that Lance Sergeant Ma’aruff was ‘killed in action VII South Borneo’, and the body of Ma’aruff was recovered near Balikpapan. He was buried at the Labuan War Cemetery, an Indian Section, in Labuan, Borneo. He was issued the 1939/45 Star, the Pacific Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal and the Australian Service Medal. His name is also listed on the Roll of Honour.


From the book:

Dzavid Haveric, 'A History of Muslims in the Australian Military from 1885 to 1945: Loyalty, Patriotism, Contribution’, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, London, 2024