Medal honour for Malaysia heroes

Emmy Elphick collects the medal for her late husband Neville

HUNDREDS of veterans who helped Malaysia win its battle for freedom against communist rebels 50 years ago have been presented with a special medal.
More than 3,000 British and commonwealth soldiers, sailors and airmen lost their lives in the conflict against communist guerillas, which took place in Malaysia's steamy jungles and rubber plantations between 1957 and 1966.
400 veterans from Hampshire and Dorset were awarded the prestigious Pingat Jasa Malaysia, which the king of Malaysia and his government created in 2005 to thank those who fought for its freedom.
Military advisor at the Malaysian High Commission in London Colonel Tajri Alwi presented the veterans with their medals in a special ceremony at the Royal Maritime Club, in Queen Street.
Royal Navy veteran David Watts, who is the club's general manager, was just 22 when he served on his first tour to Malaysia as a weapons specialist onboard the frigate HMS Plymouth in 1963.
When the warship was on patrol it was the 66-year-old's job to man the 40mm Bofors gun when the ship boarded any kumpits, which were small wooden junks or dhows between 15ft and 75ft long, suspected of carrying arms or communist infiltrators.
On one occasion the frigate was sent up a narrow river at night to pick up a raiding party of more than 20 Royal Marines from the jungle.
As the ship extracted the troops she came under attack from insurgents hidden on the riverbanks and, with bullets flying, the brave young seaman returned fire.
'You had to exercise extreme caution,' the grandfather-of-three, who already has a service medal for his role in the campaign, said. 'They knew what they were doing. There were people killed and boats sunk.
'Looking back on it know there were times when bullets where flying around when it was scary, but when you're young you don't call it that, it's excitement.
'We were well trained and well armed. When you come under fire your training just kicks in and you get on with it.
'It's fantastic to get recognition for what you did and it's particularly nice when that country recognises that what you did helped establish the freedom it enjoys now.'