Civil servants concocted a confused and mean-spirited decision to deny British PJMers the right to wear their medal - a ban that also withholds that honour from next of kin.
They based that decision on their 'view' that it was all too long ago to matter to anybody. Anyway, they would say, who can remember anything about what happened so far away?
Well, we can. And, more importantly, so can the widows and families of those who did not return.
Those soulless civil servants would do well to spend just a few moments remembering that many gave their lives for Malaysia’s Independence. The Malaysians remember - that’s why they are presenting the PJM.
A few days ago the Durham Light Infantry remembered. And at their Regimental reunion they raised some money from the sale of the Fight4thePJM Lapel Badge which will be used to pay for an inscription - an inscription on a Memorial to Private Thomas Griffiths.
Thomas Griffiths was killed in early 1966 on one of the secret cross-border Claret operations. His comrades carried his body ten miles back into Sarawak.
And so, HD Committee members, and Messrs Keith, Coney, Edge and Brennan, when you consider what we are saying about why the honourable PJM should be worn, when you are desperately trying to defend the indefensible, remember this story. Read about Thomas Griffiths and the Forgotten War here:
http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2004/3/10/59263.html
PS Thomas Griffiths was three days away from his 21st birthday when he was shot through the heart.
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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia