MB wrote:

OK, Jock. You seem to have brought this up. I Can't get a decent answer to my enquiries from the regulars so.... did you have a passport to go to Malaya, and....do you have a Teddy?

Mike.

I had a passport to go to Malaya because I went on my own about a month after my Regiment and judging by the 'fresh faced youth' look on my PP photograph I could well have had a 'Teddy' in my kit bag. The hairy kind by the way, not the kind you bought your Mrs for Christmas about 40 years ago, before you say anything.


Owen

MIKE MAYBE,YOU DIDN'T NEED A PASSPORT,OR A OFFICIAL NUMBER ON THE BASIS OF ALL KNOWING EACH OTHER! BUT IN R.N. WE HAD TO HAVE ONE,MAYBE TO HELP OUT IF WE BECAME M.P.P. FOR OCCUPATION,WE WERE TOLD TO WRITE' GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL' ,I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED 'MARINE ARTIST' ON ACCOUNT OF MY VAST EXPERIENCE PAINTING AIRCRAFT CARRIERS,SORRY THE COLOUR IS AN OFFICIAL SECRET,BUT THE FLIGHT DECK WAS PAINTED BY UNENDING 10 GALLON DRUMS OF CRABFAT,AND CUTTING IN WITH A SQUEEJI! THIS MEANS I'M SCREWED FOR LIFE,FOR DOING GEORGIAN WINDOWS,UNLESS OF COURSE YOU WANT IT ALL DONE,GLASS, KNOBS ,FLOWER POTS ETC.OKAY THEN SOD THE CONSQUENCES IT WAS GREY,BUT DON'T TELL ANYONE

""



Last edited by StanW on Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:13 am; edited 1 time in total

Mike.....having travelled a bit prior to my service I was the proud possessor of a UK Passport at that time....but it was not provided by, nor deemed necessary/by the military.......hundreds like me were unceremoniously bundled aboard the Devonshire and I guess it was assumed that we all belonged there as no one said us 'Nay' when we disembarked in Aden, Colombo and Singapore.

I also had a Teddy.....2 actually if you include the one with the velvet collar and the drainpipe pants...?


_________________
...................'Jock'
Paroi...Rasah...Batu Signals Troop.

Today, as most members of this forum will be aware, marks the 60th anniversary of the events that led to the declaration of a State of Emergency in what was then known as Malaya. This link, from todays New Straits Times, looks at the historical aspects:

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/2268774/Article/index_html

Also, last Saturday, a memorial service was held at Batu Gajah Cemetery, also known as 'God's Little Acre', in Ipoh. This link reports on that service:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/15/nation/21558770&sec=nation

Lest we forget.

LaurieB wrote:

Lest we forget.

Thanks, Laurie.


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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia

Chin Peng continues to try and return to Malaysia. Here's the latest in this long running saga:

http://news.my.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1506010

LaurieB wrote:

Chin Peng continues to try and return to Malaysia. Here's the latest in this long running saga:

http://news.my.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1506010

Quote from MSN

Born Ong Boon Hua in Sitiawan in Malaysia's northern Perak state in 1923, Chin Peng won the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and two medals for helping the British fight the Japanese in Malaya during World War II.

Did the UK Government ever remove the OBE from Chin Peng to ensure the 'integrity of the system was maintained' as is oft quoted by the FCO/CO


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HD Committee: Amateurs in a Professional World
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I understand that Chin Peng's OBE was indeed withdrawn John... although I have been unable to find any reference to the date of that withdrawal.


_________________
...................'Jock'
Paroi...Rasah...Batu Signals Troop.

Jock

That prompted me to look up in Wikipedia and I quote from that source

In the course of the war, Chin was awarded an OBE(subsequently withdrawn by the British government), a mention in despatches, and two campaign medals by Britain. He was elected the Secretary General of the Communist Party of Malaya after the betrayal of previous leader Lai Tek who turned out to be an agent for both the British and the Japanese and had denounced the leadership of the Party to the Japanese secret police. Chin Peng was the most senior surviving member.


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HD Committee: Amateurs in a Professional World
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Well now, here we have a bit of a quandry. Should the Malaysian Government allow him back, in a spirit of reconciliation, or, pass a death sentence on him (in absentia of course), and give him permission to return. Would he be so keen to return, or would he maintain the exile till his demise.

Answers on a post card to.... Chief numptie at the Foreign Office... well, they do like to interfere in other countrys affairs...don't they.

Yours Aye

Arthur

In 1956 we were told that a reward of $100,000 Straits Dollars (or was that Singapore dollars?) would be paid for Chin Peng dead or alive.

I wonder, does this reward still apply to-day?

I too recall that offer Andy.....but given my experience with the PJM I now imagine that even if one of us had managed somehow to apprehend Chin Peng the $100,000 would probably have been awarded with the accompanying admonition that it must not be spent by the recipient....


_________________
...................'Jock'
Paroi...Rasah...Batu Signals Troop.

John Cooper wrote:

LaurieB wrote:

Chin Peng continues to try and return to Malaysia. Here's the latest in this long running saga:

http://news.my.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1506010

Quote from MSN

Born Ong Boon Hua in Sitiawan in Malaysia's northern Perak state in 1923, Chin Peng won the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and two medals for helping the British fight the Japanese in Malaya during World War II.

Did the UK Government ever remove the OBE from Chin Peng to ensure the 'integrity of the system was maintained' as is oft quoted by the FCO/CO

John, the OBE was never actually presented to Chin Peng. The Emergency had started before that could be done and as Jock mentions, it was subsequently withdrawn. The other two medals were the 1939/45 Star and the Burma Star. The latter two medals were awarded to all members of the MPAJA who had assisted the Allied war effort against the Japanese in occupied Malaya.

Malaysia in 2003 denied his request to return on grounds he was still linked to a banned organisation with a "history of perpetrating terrorism" in the country.


Congratulations Malaysia,.....it is nice to see them apply some common sense.......unfortunately they wouldn't have learnt that from Britain.


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KenN