Templer had hoped to form a purely Chinese regiment, but his idea was met with hostility by the Malay rulers.

[2] The British found it hard to attract non-Malays to join the Federation Regiment, though this problem was also faced by the Malayan Police force.

In the July 27, 1952, Sunday Times, Major General Sir Hugh Stockwell was quoted describing the men as “completely satisfactory in every way”.

In 1954 and 1955, 1 Bn Federation Regiment under the command of Lt. Col. Trevor, OBE, had one confirmed kill in Sungai Bong, Butterworth by 8 Platoon, C Company.

On 26 August 1956, the 1 Bn Federation Regiment killed the senior personal assistant to Chin Peng, Secretary General of the Malayan Communist Party.