I have always felt that those of in Malaya 1960/62 have missed out on a lot. Maybe Stan will correct my memories of things, because he definitely remembers events better than me. I was attached to the Royal Dragoons as a National Service REME armourer in Ipoh during this period, I understood on active service. There was a change of CO during 1961 and I am sure that I remember the new Colonel on a numerous occasions stating that we were on active service. I once returned a batch of rifles to the arm stores because they had not been cleaned properly. The next thing I was on CO’s orders as evidence. The sergeant in charge of the platoon was on charge for not ensuring that the rifles had been cleaned properly. I am sure again, that it was stated as being a serious charge because we were on active service.
There was also the time in late 1961 when the regiment was mobilised with other units of the Commonwealth Brigade, we were told, to move north into Laos. Most of the regiment was on a manoeuvre at the time and all came pouring back into camp, all wound up. I spent all night packing up my workshop only to find that we were later stood down. We were told it was because Thailand would not allow the army to pass through its territory. The New Zealand and I am sure the Australian troops who served with us in the four northern states of the Malaya Peninsular were in 2002 presented with the GSM for that period from the same Sovereign.
The people who served in Germany, Suez Canal Zone, Arabian Peninsular and Hong Kong have all since been awarded a commemorative medal for those areas. We have nothing, except for a medal from an appreciative foreign country, which we cannot wear.

Walter Crookes

wcrookes wrote:

The people who served in Germany, Suez Canal Zone, Arabian Peninsular and Hong Kong have all since been awarded a commemorative medal for those areas.

Germany?


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Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka,
from the HD Committee and its decision.

Germany?[/quote]

I think he means the 'Mickey Mouse' medal you can buy if you served in BAOR.

Owen

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Last edited by MB on Thu Feb 14, 2008 6:56 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Mike Barton

I believe that any medal without official recognition IS a 'mickey mouse' medal....Which is why it is so important we fight until the PJM IS recognised !

Mike, I take your point.

Therein lies the crux of the matter gentlemen. Had HMG awarded the medals at the appropriate time, ie, when we were first informed that a GSM was to to be awarded, and the dedicated clasp to be worn with it.

There is little wonder, that those who never received any recognition, purchased a memorial of their service by way of 'mickey mouse' medals. It is understandable. and those who have secumbed, should not be criticised. After all, we are in the run up to rememberence Sunday, and rememberence is what it is all about.

Before I knew that I had been one the lucky recipients of the PJM, I had purchased The Far Eastern Service Medal, purely as a keepsake and it is mounted among with a few other 'gongs', in a display cabinet on the wall.

What HMG are griping about, is the individuals who have a desire to add said 'gongs' to their medal bar as if they were a genuine award. In that, I do heartily concur with HMG (take a stiff drink on that , it won't happen again) , but what would be a viable alternative is to wear the 'offending' medal on the right side of the chest.

My case in point, is, many years ago, when I did a short stint at Wattisham, there were two airmen who wore the Nijmegan medal on their right side, and that was on an official parade. That is presented by the Monarch of the Netherlands, for completing the Nijmegan march.

So, bearing that in mind, does that constitute a mickey mouse medal, even though it was awarded by a crowned head of Europe? No disrespect to the Netherlands in that remark.

We all remember things in different ways. Some of us had a cushy confrontation, others did not and believe me, I know what they went through. I on the other hand would be ashamed to write my 'war memoires'. Mind you, it would put the average person to sleep in about thirty seconds, those with a greater constitution, about forty five seconds.

Having said that, anyone who has trouble getting off to sleep at night, I will gladly sell you a copy of my latest soporific... guaranteed to numb the senses and anything else for that matter... cheaper and safer than sleeping pills.

With that

Goodnight

Arthur

Redcapfred wrote:

I believe that any medal without official recognition IS a 'mickey mouse' medal....Which is why it is so important we fight until the PJM IS recognised !

Fred is right and I would go further and say that ANY BOUGHT medal is a "mickey mouse" medal and should NEVER be worn or displayed with any OFFICIALLY AWARDED GENUINE medals like those awarded to British servicemen in recognition of their service in any theatre of war..........and YES,.......this is why the PJM has to be officially accepted for wear.



Last edited by KenN0898 on Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:28 pm; edited 1 time in total
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KenN

Sorry point taken, offical medals are what count.
It just, that it would be nice, to have some similar offical recognation as those who servered along side you did, from the same sovereign.
Roll on recognation of the PJM
Walter Crookes

Comrades.

Note that I said in respect of the National Service Medal...."I have not worn it and probably never shall." Thing is I don't need to, I have the old style GSM and the PJM, both of which I have worn, the latter in defiance of regulations at a well publicised event in Edinburgh where a number of us were feted by the Malaysians. At the same time I have also been invited two years running to attend "National Service Day" at the Arbouretum in Staffordshire.....the place where there is now a magnificent tribute to those who have fallen in battle since WW2, many NS bods. In my opinion the NS medal, approved by the RBL, and a great source of income for their cause, should be exempt from the Mickey Mouse status. Not every conscript in the two world wars went beyond our shores, but they did get at least one gong in recognition of their service, possibly two?....I aint sure. This is one case where you can all give approval to a gong well earned by young men who gave two years of their life in uniform........like it or not.

MB.


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Mike Barton

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Last edited by StanW on Sun Feb 10, 2008 4:46 am; edited 2 times in total

MB wrote:

Comrades.

In my opinion the NS medal, approved by the RBL, and a great source of income for their cause, should be exempt from the Mickey Mouse status. Not every conscript in the two world wars went beyond our shores, but they did get at least one gong in recognition of their service, possibly two?....I aint sure. This is one case where you can all give approval to a gong well earned by young men who gave two years of their life in uniform........like it or not.

MB.

I hear what you are saying MB but in my opinion to raise a bought medal to the same status as medals that was awarded for services while in combat reduces the status of the combat medal.
Regarding the lack of medals awarded to NS men, it should be remembered that many NS men fought in the Korean war and were awarded 2 medals for that service. Other theatres that come to mind where NS men gave great service are Cyprus, Suez, Kenya, and of course Malaya so there were opportunities for many NS men to earn medals. On the other hand there were many career servicemen who did 22 years service and ended up without any medals at all so if you say NS men deserve a medal for serving then so do they.
And there is another group of people who didn't have an opportunity to serve............they were those who were exempt from NS because of their job, i.e. Miners and Farm Workers......perhaps a "bought medal" should be struck for this group.
Where does it end????????



Last edited by KenN0898 on Thu Nov 01, 2007 5:39 am; edited 1 time in total
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KenN

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Last edited by StanW on Sun Feb 10, 2008 4:47 am; edited 2 times in total

Thanks Stan,
A timely intervention, we were all getting a bit heavy. With the ones that have versus the ones who wish they had.
Put that squirrel in khaki and boy we are back to our regimental training days.
Walter Crookes

Redcapfred wrote:

I believe that any medal without official recognition IS a 'mickey mouse' medal....Which is why it is so important we fight until the PJM IS recognised !

The PJM received official recognition from Her Majesty the Queen who gave permission for it to be accepted.
Her Majesty the Queen gave permission for the PJM to be worn in Malaysia between 15th. August, 2007, and 9th. September, 2007.
Eight unelected civil servants state that permission to wear has not been granted.

The Pingat Jasa Malaysia is an honourable medal awarded by the Supreme Head of the Federation of Malaysia to Commonwealth forces.

To say that the PJM is not recognised is wrong, and to use the words 'mickey mouse' in the same context as the PJM is an insult, particularly to those in other Commonwealth countries who have been given official permission to accept AND wear the PJM.

The PJM is an official medal which has been recognised and Redcapfred you are wrong in saying otherwise.

Perhaps, Redcapfred, I misread what you were actually saying and if so I apologise.

All points read and taked aboard, my friends. Always preferred Popeye anyway. Now back to the matter in hand....the priceless PJM.

MB


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Mike Barton