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Medals / Badges / Emblems
Medals
Claiming for campaign medals
Replacing campaign medals
How is a medal instituted?
Medal for Suez Canal Zone 1951 to 1954
The Arctic Emblem
National Service medals
The Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal
UK Armed Forces Veterans Lapel Badge
UK Merchant Seafarers Veterans
Badge
The Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal
Background
In 2005 the Malaysian Government approached the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office (FCO) to seek approval to present their new medal, known as the Pingat
Jasa Malaysia, to British veterans and others who served in operations in
Malaya/Malaysia between August 1957 and August 1966.
This was not a matter for the Ministry of Defence. On behalf of the Government,
the FCO is responsible for administering the policy relating to the acceptance
and wear of non-British awards by British citizens. They arranged for the
matter to be considered by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations
and Medals, (known as the HD Committee). This is a non-political, pan-Departmental
committee, Chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, which advises The Queen on such
matters. The Committee considered the matter of the PJM in the light of the
rules governing the accepting and wearing of non-British awards and made
recommendations to The Queen. As a result, on 31st January 2005 the Minister
for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Mr Ian Pearson made a Written
Ministerial Statement to the House of Commons as follows:
Written Ministerial
Statement
31 January 2006
Pingat Jasa Malaysia
"The Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) is a commemorative
medal which the Government of Malaysia would like to award to eligible
British citizens, for their service in Malaya or Malaysia between 31August
1957 and 12 August 1966.
The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (the official
committee which advises Her Majesty The Queen on matters of honours policy)
has recommended that an exception to two of the long-established Rules governing
the accepting and wearing of foreign (including Commonwealth) awards be made,
to enable the Malaysian Government to present the PJM. Her Majesty The Queen
has been graciously pleased to approve this recommendation.
This exception to the Rules means that all of the many thousands of eligible
former members of the Armed Forces/Veterans, and others, may receive the
PJM. This will be in addition to the British General Service Medal (with
appropriate Malaya/Borneo clasp) that many veterans will have been eligible
to receive for their service in Malaya/Borneo.
Permission to wear the PJM will not, however, formally be given. It is long
standing Government policy that non-British medals will not be approved for
events or service:
- that took place more than 5 years before initial consideration, or in connection
with events that took place in the distant past (e.g. commemorative medals);
- if the recipient has received a British award for the same service.
However, Her Majesty's Government welcomes, and believes it is important
to recognise, the generous gesture by the King and Government of Malaysia,
and their wish to acknowledge the service given by veterans and others in
the years immediately after Malaysian independence. The exception recommended
reflects this and our strong and important relationship with Malaysia.
The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals reviewed the
5-year and double medalling rules, and considered that, while there were
sound reasons why they should be retained, there will be occasions when specific
circumstances require exceptions to the rules to be recommended. When such
exceptions are contemplated, the Committee will consider each request on
a case by case basis, taking into account any special circumstances at the
time. The fact that a similar request has been approved in the past will
not mean that permission will be granted in future cases.
Applications for the PJM, and its subsequent distribution will essentially
be a matter for the Malaysian authorities, in collaboration with the relevant
British Government Departments. Large numbers may be involved. It will take
some time for the applications to be processed and for the medal to be distributed.
The Malaysian High Commission and the relevant British Government agencies
will work together to determine eligible applicants. Veterans' organisations
and Service and Regimental Associations will also be involved."
On 8 August 2007 Her Majesty granted permission for the medal to be worn during the main independence celebrations in Malaysia.
The relevant period is 15 August 2007 to 9 September 2007.
Applying for the Medal
The Ministry of Defence does not have lists of veterans who
served in Malaya/Borneo between August 1957 and August 1966, or indeed for
any other overseas deployments, so people who wish to receive this medal
will have to submit applications individually, through an appropriate veterans'
organisation. Individual applications should not be sent to either the Ministry
of Defence or the FCO.
In the first instance you should approach your own veterans' organisation
(if you are a member of one) and ask them to assess and coordinate applications
on your behalf. You should complete the application
form and supply as much information about your service in Malaya/Borneo
as possible. Assessment of entitlement to the medal should be possible if
you supply your Service Number, the Ship, Regiment, Corps or Squadron in
which you served, the years you were in Malaysia and whether you have already
received a British General Service Medal with an appropriate clasp for service
in Malaya or Borneo. Please note that the application process can take up
to one
year.
The National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association (NMBVA) has agreed
to coordinate and collate applications on behalf of its members and, in addition,
applications from Malaya/Borneo Campaign veterans who are not members of
any veterans' organisation, or association. The NMBVA will assess the entitlement
to the PJM from the information provided by the applicant, stamp the application
as approved and pass lists of successful applicants to the Ministry of Defence
for endorsement and despatch to the Malaysian High Commission in London.
Any individual applications that have not been cleared by an appropriate
veterans' organisation will be sent automatically to the NMBVA. No verification
checks will be carried out by the Ministry of Defence.
If you are member of the NMBVA, you can obtain more information by visiting
the Association's Internet website: www.nmbva.co.uk.
Completed application forms should be sent to the following address:
Mr Fred Burden
Membership Secretary
National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association
44, Meadgate Avenue
Great Baddow
Chelmsford
CM2 7LQ
Tel No. 01245 495238
If you have been given a copy of this information and do not have access to the internet may write to Mr Burden for a form. Please ensure that you enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. We are advised that the medal will be issued posthumously to next of kin.
Can you help?
The Ministry of Defence welcomes offers of assistance from ex-Servicemen’s associations and organisations, including Regimental Associations who have members who served in Malaya and Borneo between 1957 and 1966. If your organisation is prepared to coordinate applications from your members and assess the entitlement of those who served in Malaya and Borneo, in your Regiment, on board ship or in a squadron, please ask your Secretary, or other designated official, to contact the Ministry of Defence at the address below to arrange for their contact details to be added to this website. Please write to:
“Pingat Jasa Malaysia”
DS Sec – Honours 1
Ministry of Defence
Level 8/Zone J
Main Building
Whitehall
London SW1A 2HB
The veterans’ organisations that are assisting with the exercise will be given the qualifying criteria for the PJM published by the Malaysian Government to assist them in determining whether or not applicants have qualified for the medal. We must again stress that the Ministry of Defence and FCO will not deal with individual applications or queries about individual entitlement to the PJM, so please do not submit individual applications to the above branch. Any received which have not been stamped by an appropriate veterans’ organisation or Regimental Association will be sent automatically to the NM&BVA for verification.
Obtaining verification of your service
The following organisations have kindly agreed to verify applications from their members. When writing to them, please remember to enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you require a reply. All the following people have volunteered to help in this exercise and are prepared to donate their time, but it is unreasonable for them to have to fund your postage costs. Other organisations and Regimental Associations will be added to this list as required.
UNITED KINGDOM
HMS Alert 1961-63 Commission
Mr R Howard MBE
Reunion Organiser
35 Seymour Rd
Lee on the Solent
Hampshire
PO13 9EG
Tel: 02392 799141
National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association (Scotland)
Mr T Nisset
2 Bow Butts
Markinch, Fife
Scotland KY7 6DY
Scots Guards
Lance Sergeant K Gorman, BA (Hons)
HQ Scots Guards
Wellington Barracks
London, SW1E 6HQ
Tel: 0207 414 3419
Fax: 0207 414 3445
Email: archives@rhqscotsguards.co.uk
King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Colonel C J O Hogg
Regimental Headquarters
Kings Own Scottish Borderers
The Barracks
Berwick-upon-Tweed
TD15 1DG
Tel: 01289 307426
1st Battalion Malaysia Rangers
Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) D W F Twigg
21 Helens Park
Aghalee
Craigavon
BT67 0EN
Tel: 028 9265 1081
Royal Ulster Rifles
Major R J Walker MBE
Regimental Secretary
The Royal Ulster Rifles Association
5 Waring Street
Belfast
Northern Ireland
BT1 2EW
Tel: 028 9023 2086
Email: rurmuseum@yahoo.co.uk
Sherwood Foresters
Regimental Headquarters WFR
Foresters House
Chetwynd Barracks
Chilwell
Nottinghamshire
NG9 5HA
Tel: 0115 946 5416
1st Battalion The Royal Leicestershire Regiment
Captain R J Allen
Chairman
The Royal Tigers Association (The Royal Leicestershire Regiment)
TA Centre
Ulverscroft Road
Leicester
LE4 6BY
HMS Caprice
Mr Graham Latter
HMS Caprice (1968) Association
62 Mill Rise
Swanland
North Ferriby
East Yorkshire
HU14 3PW
Tel/Fax: 01482 632276
E-mail: gl@hmscaprice1968.org.uk
HMS Albion
Mr K Ridley
Reunion Organiser
HMS Albion
18 Littleworth End
Offord Darcy
St. Neots
Cambridgeshire
PE19 5RA
Tel: 01480 810848
Email: hmsalbion@hotmail.com
HMS Cassandra, HMS Caprice, HMS Barossa
Mr M C Longfoot
HMS Cassandra Association
50 Graylands Road
Walton
Liverpool
L4 9UQ
Tel: 0151 226 3675
Email: ongfoo@hotmal.com
The Ton Class Association – (HM Coastal Minesweepers)
Mr P J Down JP FBCS
Honorary Secretary
Ton Class Association
39 Anderson Close
Needham Market
Suffolk
IP6 8UB
Tel: 01449 721 235
Email: AVOCAQA@aol.com
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Personnel
Captain Rex Cooper OBE
Chairman RFA Association
P.O. Box 120
Hexham
NE48 1XA
Tel: 01434 240002/220000
Email: chairman@rfa-association.org
Royal Air Force Airfield Construction Branch
Mr C Sewell FFB MICW MIIExE
Membership Secretary
Royal Air Force Construction Branch Association
Wealdon House
Ox Lane
St Michaels
Tenterden
Kent TN30 6NG
Tel: 01580 763347
Email: raf.acba@btinternet.com
RAF Butterworth and Penang Association
Mr A L Parrini
Chairman
RAF Butterworth and Penang Association
Hamethwaite
Rockcliffe
Carlisle
CA6 4AA
Tel: 01228 674553
Email: tony@parrini.co.uk or rcro.penrith@stc.raf.mod.uk
Royal Air Force Aerial Erectors
Mr B Edwards
Ex-RAF Aerial Erectors Association
85 Church Lane
Meanwood
Leeds
LS6 4NP
Tel: 0113 2789378
Email: eddieedwards@supernet.com
RAF Helicopter Operations (Malaya Emergency) Association
(incorporating
RAF Cas-evac Flight, 194, 155 and 110 Squadrons)
Mr B W Lloyd
32 Redwood
Burnham
Buckinghamshire
SL1 8JN
Tel: 01628 661005
Email: brianlloyd@redwood32.freeserve.co.uk
Members of British Korean Veterans association who served in Malaya and Borneo
Mr F Ellison OBE BEM JP
Honorary General Secretary
British Korean Veterans Association
12 Fields Crescent
Hollingworth
Hyde
Cheshire SK14 8JR
Tel: 01457 763699
Fax: 01457 766748
AUSTRALIA
For UK veterans now living in Australia, we are advised that the National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association Australia has volunteered to coordinate and verify applications. Please write to:
National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association Australia
Mr Adrian Rogers
Cordinator for UK applicants for the PJM living in Australia
P.O. Box 3010
Currumbin DC
Queensland 4223
Australia
Tel: 07 5598 8851
Email: asrog44@bigpond.com
SOUTH AFRICA
Members of the Royal Naval Association now resident in South Africa may contact Mr P O Turton at the address below:
Mr P O Turton
Royal Naval Association
Cape Town Branch
84 Clovelly Road
Clovelly 7975
Cape Town
South Africa
SPAIN
Former Malayan and Borneo Campaign veterans now resident in Spain may contact Mr D E Mills at the address below:
Mr D E Mills
Partida de la Huerta 21
Piso 1
Altea 03590
Alicante
Spain
Do you qualify?
The following qualifying criteria were provided by the Malaysian High Commission in London:
TERMS GOVERNING THE AWARD OF PINGAT JASA MALAYSIA
(PJM)
1. For distinguished
service and sacrifices towards the involvement of the Armed Fortes and
security groups from the communion countries who had served in this country
during the 2nd Emergency and Confrontation time period, the Malaysian
Government has approved to ordain a recognition for this award to be
conferred to any entity. This decoration shall be named as Pingat Jasa
Malaysia (PJM).
2. This award is conferred
in considering the involvement of the Armed Forces or security group from
Australia, Britain, New Zealand, India, Nepal, Fiji and citizen of any other
country who served in any peace operations in Malaya or Malaysia, aimed to
upholding the peace and sovereignty of this country. For the purpose of conferring
this award, the period of service is from 31st August 1957 (after
the independent of Malaya) to 12th August 1966 (end of Confrontation).
3. Terms and Service Qualification
applies for this award are as follows:
a. Person Eligible. This medal can be awarded to
any entity from Peacekeeping Group
(Armed Forces, Semi Armed Forces, Police and Security Civilian
Staff) from the communion countries either man or women whoever
has served in Malaya or Malaysia (including Sabah and Sarawak) during the
determined period. (For service stationed in Singapore, please see paragraph
e below).
b. The Exact Dates of Operational Service. For the
purpose of conferment of this award, the Malaysian Government has declared
that the exact dates of Operational Service is from 31st August 1957 to 12th
August 1966 only. This medal cannot be offered for period
prior to 30th August 1957 (before the independence of Malaya) or
after 12th August 1966). (However, if their service does not cover
the above mentioned dates, consideration shall be given based on Additional
Qualification; please refer to paragraph f below).
c. Type of Services. In order to qualify for this
medal, any personnel from the Armed Forces, Semi Armed Forces, Police and
Security Civilian Staff service with or attached to
any Armed Forces units or security organizations from
the said countries or group either involved directly or indirectly and performed
their duties in upholding the peace and security of this country, in any
type of security operations with Malaya or Malaysia (including Sabah and
Sarawak), within the time period as determined above are eligible for the
award.
d. Number of Days of Service. Any security personnel
from the said organizations and countries fulfilling the qualification below,
are eligible for the award;
(1). Any security personnel who directly involved (in the
face of enemy) in any operation for the period of three (3) months
or more in any Armed Forces or Security Organizations from the said
countries or group, stationed in Malaya or Malaysia during the predetermined
time period;
(2). or any security personnel who had indirectly served
not less than six (6) months as supporting elements in any
operation served in any Armed Forces units or security organizations from
the said countries or group, stationed in Malaya or Malaysia during the predetermined
time period;
(3). or any security personnel attached or posted to
any Armed Forces units or security organizations from the said countries
or group, stationed in Malaya or Malaysia and performed their duties directly (in
the face or enemy) in any operations not less than three (3) months during
the predetermined time period;
(4). or any security personnel attached or posted to
any Armed Forces units or security organizations from the said countries
or group, stationed in Malaya or Malaysia and performed their duties indirectly as supporting
element in any operations not less than six (6) months during
the predetermined time period;
(5). or any security personnel from the said countries of Armed Forces or security
organizations or attached to it, stationed Malaya or Malaysia, who
had involved directly or as supporting element, throughout
the service despite yet to fulfil the determined period, killed,
wounded. or disable due to, performing tasks against the enemy,
can be considered for this award.
e. Service in Singapore. if the security personnel
from Armed Forces or security organization from
the said countries or group, stationed in Singapore and performing tasks
against the enemy in upholding the sovereignty of this country, their service
should be for the period of 31 August 1957 until 9
August 1965 (Independence of Singapore). Other than period stated
are not eligible.
f. Additional Qualifications. Despite the predetermined
period (the exact dates of operational service and the number of days of
service as mentioned earlier, other Additional Qualifications can be considered
based on the following circumstances:
1) the security personnel from any Armed Forces or security
organizations from the said countries or group who had served In
Malaysia, must be sent by their Government before 12th August 1966;
and
(2) after 12th August 1966, he or she must be in or attached to any remaining
Armed Forces unit or Security Organisation from the said countries, stationed
only in Malaysia and perform their duties during the so called “cooling
period"; and
(3) the above service are counted until 31st December 1966 only.
(4) therefore, any entity who fulfil these additional qualifications (paragraph
(1), (2) and (3) above eligible for this award.
h. Service At Sea. Area Service at sea area are defined as: “the naval ships must be located in the sea area of Malaya or Malaysia and involved throughout in supporting any operation for Malaya or Malaysia. If the ships are located in Singapore coastal area, the service period should be from 31st August 1957 until 9th August 1965 (independence of Singapore).
i. Flying into and Out. Flying into and out of Malaya or Malaysia on an air force flight as air crew or supernumerary aircrew does not count as qualifying service for the award. However, if the parent unit (the Air Force bases) is stationed in Peninsular of Malaya or Malaysia during the predetermined period, are declared as service for Malaya or Malaysia. However, if the parent units are stationed in Singapore, the service are declared from 31st August 1957 until 9th August 1965 only.
j. Posthumous Awards. This award can be conferred posthumously.
