A FORMER Royal Navy serviceman from Sticklepath had a pleasant surprise in the post this week — an official medal marking his services to Malaya — in the 1950s!

Michael Allen received the medal from the Malaysian government on Monday — and said its appearance so long after his time in the East was quite a surprise.

Michael, who is now 72, said: It's one of those crazy things — it's more than 50 years since I was there, so to receive it now is quite remarkable.

'It certainly brought back some memories!'

Michael served on HMS Belfast and at HMS Terror, which was the Royal Navy's shore base in Singapore, from 1959 until 1961.

During this time, Communist forces were attacking Malaya and the states of Sabah, Sarawak and the island of Singapore, as well as infiltrating the Malaysian sea area.

He said: 'We were giving operational and logistical support to the Royal Marines we'd taken out there, who were in the jungle — the communists were infiltrating the country and trying to take over the legitimate government.

'I was only 18 at the time — to be let loose with a 303 rifle was quite exciting, although we probably terrified our own people more than the foe!'

It is only within the last year or so that servicemen have been permitted by the UK government to wear medals awarded by other countries — Michael applied for his medal some time ago but never really thought much more about it, until a surprise phone call recently.

Michael, who is now retired and chairman of Sticklepath Parish Council, said he thought there may well be many ex-servicemen and women who would be interested to hear that they can now wear their foreign awards with pride.

The medal that Michael was awarded is the Pingat Jasa Malaysia.

The citation reads: 'For distinguished chivalry, gallantry, sacrifice and loyalty in upholding the peninsula of Malaya or Malaysia sovereignty during a period of emergency and confrontation.'

'I'm actually very pleased to have it now — and quite proud actually. It's quite something to get something from a foreign government after all this time,' said Michael.

l Michael is pictured right, with his medal.

Picture by James Bird