Soldiers who served in Far East conflict honoured

The 50th anniversary of Malaysian independence was celebrated by a special group of ex-servicemen and women in Blackpool.
Members of the National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association (NMBVA) were presented with the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal on behalf of the Malaysian government.
Many of those who served in the Far East – Malaya, Borneo and Singapore – between 1957 and 1966 gathered at the Norbreck Castle Hotel for the presentation, made by Col Tajri Alwi, the defence adviser at the Malaysian High Commission in London.
Mike Warren, 62, of Hawes Side Lane, is a national executive committee member of NMBVA and received his medal at the very first investiture at the Malaysian High Commission in London last summer.
Since then he has collected applications for the medal and organised several presentations throughout the country, including the one in Blackpool which saw 185 veterans receive the honour.
He said: "I'm delighted the Queen has graciously given her consent for veterans to accept this medal.
"It has been awarded by the Malaysian Government to all Commonwealth servicemen and women who served in Malaya, Singapore and Borneo between August 1957 and August 1966.
"As this is the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence, it's a very timely award on behalf of a grateful government who recognise the support and, in many instances, the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of Malaysian freedom and independence.
"Many veterans will also be attending celebrations in Malaysia and the occasion is also being marked at several events in Britain during August."
The NMBVA was formed in 1994 to form ties with the Malaysian people who they fought for in a series of Far East conflicts, part of the aftermath of the Second World War and the newly-emerging cold war.
John Turner, 76, of St Annes Road, South Shore, was among those receiving their medal, 50 years after he served as a royal artillery man in Malaya and Borneo.
He said: "This medal is important to me.
"It's recognition of our efforts all those years ago.
"We were asked to do a job and we did it.
"We were rewarded with the general service medal at the time, but this is from the Malaysian people.
"We got on so well with them, they were the friendliest people. We wanted to help them and now they want to say thank you.
"The reunion was great and everyone really enjoyed meeting up with old friends and sharing their stories."