The Jungle Squad was established based on the Malay States Guides () which formed in 1826. The Malay States Guides was a paramilitary force initially formed with a strength of 900 members and lead by R. S. F. Walker as the first commandant. The regiment was involved in World War I and together with Field Force Aden, they fought Ottoman forces in the Southwest of South Arabia (now Saudi Arabia) for five years. The regiment was disbanded for reasons of economy in 1919.