Special ceremony for lost comrade

Drew Penman had fond memories of his national service days

A ceremony has been planned to honour a veteran soldier who died days after booking a trip to relive his memories of national service in Malaya.

Drew Penman, from Dumfries, served with the King's Own Scottish Borderers in south east Asia in the 1950s.

In January he booked for the trip which is now taking place to former camps.

Mr Penman died shortly after booking his place but his fellow veterans will now scatter his ashes at a ceremony in either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.

His family decided it was what he would have wanted, having always spoken fondly about the area.

He had lots of fond memories about his time there and he was really looking forward to going across with the boys Kirstine Burns Drew Penman's daughter

Mr Penman's daughter Kirstine Burns, from Dumfries, said the family had no doubts about asking the 70 south of Scotland veterans to take his ashes.

"There was no hesitation in deciding where his ashes should go," she said.

"He constantly spoke about his time in Malaysia.

"Sadly he is not there in person to go with them but we thought that he would really, really have approved."

Negotiations are still continuing as to the exact location of the ceremony.

Hundreds of Scottish soldiers fought in the Malayan conflict of the 1950s, which claimed more than 500 British lives.

A 50th anniversary dinner took place last year in Peebles and the return visit to south east Asia started this week.