Dear Sir

I recently wrote a letter  to Mr George Fleming concerning representations to the Prime Minister and the HD Committee on consideration of the award of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia to British Veterans of the  Malaya/Malaysia and Borneo campaigns.

He suggested that I email you as I understand that a recommendation to Her Majesty is to be made on 7 December.   I reproduce that letter in part.   He asked me to emphasise the paragraph concerning 28 Commonwealth Brigade (consisting of British, Australian and New Zealand units).   My own unit, 11 Independent Field Squadron RE, had, as a sub unit, 2 Field Troop Royal Australian Engineers.   All units of the Commonwealth Brigade were involved in the 'Confrontation' with Indonesia in Borneo and the Malay Peninsula at that time.   It is also worthy of note that a Ghurkha soldier was awarded the Victoria Cross in Sarawak in 1965.

"Dear Mr Fleming

Thank you for writing to the Prime Minister and others on behalf of  British ex-Servicemen who are eligible for the PJM generously offered by the Agong and Malaysian Government.

I am a member of the National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association (Queensland Branch) .   I served with the Brunei Works Section Royal Engineers from November 1963 to November 1964 and subsequently with 11 Independent Field Squadron RE, 28 Commonwealth Brigade, Malacca, Malaysia  from November 1964 to December 1965 with a detachment to Bau, Sarawak for a  month in February/March 1965.  I was awarded the General Service Medal 19 62 with clasps 'Borneo' and 'Malay Peninsula'.
I subsequently emigrated to Australia and served in the Australian Army for 20 years and have the privilege of dual British and Australian  citizenship.

I applied to the Australian Department of Defence for the PJM but, understandably, was rejected and I was referred to the British government as my Borneo/Malaysia service had been with the British Army.

A point which has been made by the British Government is that the assent for the wearing of the PJM was given by Her Majesty as Queen of Australia and Queen of New Zealand.   However, many of us served in 28 Commonwealth Brigade during the 'Confrontation' and Her Majesty is Head of the Commonwealth which also includes, of course, Malaysia.   I believe that this is a strong basis for Her Majesty to assent to the wearing of the PJM by all British Commonwealth servicemen.

 I have lived in Australia for 33 years (I used to live near Stroud, Gloucestershire).   My address is:  192 Marine Parade, Coolangatta, Queensland 4225, Australia.   My telephone number is +61 7 5536 1261.


Yours faithfully

Adrian P. Rogers
formerly 23859204 Sergeant,  Royal Engineers
formerly 311691 Major,  Royal Australian Engineers"