The Pingat Jaza
Like many of us in their dotting years life’s bestowed on us many memorable moments, moments of joy, some of tears, one that easily springs to mind occurred in 2010 but as for the why I must begin back in another era, the nineteen sixties.
Back to a time when I was a young man a radio mechanic in the Royal Air Force posted to the Borneo Island of Labuan, conflict was still raging with Indonesia and several times during my tour of duty I was sent to a small airstrip in the jungle.
It was just a clearing about a mile away from the border a grass strip big enough to land a Twin Pioneer when a clear day, my purpose was to keep in contact with the Gurkha patrols report enemy activity stay in radio coms with other drop zones.
Quite an adventure for a 20 year old lad controlling air drops coded messages and the like, one of the best times I ever had, after that tour of duty I was awarded the General Service Medal with Borneo clasp which later on I proudly gave to my son.
Sadly however, when I was in Oman in the late seventies my son swapped it for two carriages and a Hornby train engine, I’ve often looked back on that first tour of the Far East, so many stories I could tell so many memorable moments to share.
At last I can return to 2010 and the why, I missed my medal, decided to contact the MOD for another, thought it worth a try, they were unable to give me a replacement but put me in touch with a veterans group who managed to help me to obtain another.
Later on the veterans group contacted me, said a Malay General was in Horsham and asked me to attend a presentation ceremony, along with other ex-servicemen I was given The Pingat Jaza a Malaysian Service Medal for active service in the Malaysian conflict.
Yesterday was Remembrance Sunday, I wore those medals to church, sat in the pews next to other old codgers like myself who wore their medals, sat with pride beside fellow brothers in arms as we shared our silence, paid our respects to all the fallen and the courage and sacrifice made by so many others.
In resonse to Denis's request
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