Veterans relive Malaysian mission

A number of Malayan veterans are heading back to the country

Veteran soldiers from the south of Scotland have set off for south east Asia - to relive their memories of the Malaysian campaign of 50 years ago.

One highlight for 36 of the former KOSB national servicemen will be the presentation of a disputed medal.

They are allowed to accept the Pingat Jasa Malaysia - but are not supposed to wear it on formal occasions.

The medal was offered to soldiers who fought in the Malayan Emergency of the 1950s, which claimed 519 British lives.

The Malaysian visit follows a 50th anniversary reunion dinner held in Peebles a year ago.

Ogilvie Dickson, originally from Dumfries and now living in Melrose, decided to organise the trip to former bases between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

'Historical occasion'

He said the presentation of the Malaysian Service Medal would be one of the most important moments of the visit.

"The Malaysian government very kindly gave us this medal," he said.

"The British government were a little reluctant to allow it to be worn."

However, he said he believed that after the presentation they would be allowed to wear the foreign medal.

"There is no doubt as war veterans and not serving soldiers that we will indeed be wearing it after this very historical occasion," he said.

"This is the first time that this medal will, in fact, have been presented on Malaysian soil."