The association described Tomlow as one whose legacy helped shape the identity, spirit and fighting tradition of the Royal Ranger Regiment, the descendant of the Sarawak Rangers.
“Tomlow, who was to be known as ‘Apai Renjer’ or ‘father of the Rangers’ in Iban, became the bridge between the legendary Sarawak Rangers under British administration and the emergence of the Malaysian Rangers following the formation of Malaysia,” the association said.
“Without James Tomlow Isa, the history of the Sarawak Rangers and the Royal Ranger Regiment would remain incomplete,” Dayak Daily reported the association as saying today.
Tomlow was born on Jan 28, 1938, in Sungai Gran, Sri Aman. He enlisted in the Sarawak Rangers on Aug 7, 1959, and rose through the ranks before being selected in 1960 for officer training in the United Kingdom.
He went on to become one of the earliest Iban and Sarawakian officers commissioned into the force on Sept 16, 1963.
During the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation, Tomlow played an active role in recruiting early pioneers of the 1st Ranger Battalion, serving during a period of intense conflict and national uncertainty.
“Like many warriors of his generation, much of his sacrifice was carried out quietly, without seeking recognition, but always with unwavering loyalty to duty and country,” said the association.
Tomlow held various operational, command and staff positions over his 25 years in the armed forces. In 1977, during the height of the communist insurgency, he took command of the 2nd Ranger Battalion.
After his retirement in 1984 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, he served as head of security at Malaysia LNG in Bintulu until 1996, and was mayor of Sri Aman from 2000 to 2004.
The association called for Tomlow to be posthumously granted the title of “Datuk” by the Sarawak government in recognition of his service and “the sacrifices of an entire generation of Sarawakian soldiers who defended the nation during its formative years”.
Tomlow died on April 26 after being bedridden for the past six years following a stroke. He is survived by his wife Bidi Sindam Tomlow, three children, eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.