azyeoman

Excellent research on a man who deserves to never be forgotten; capture, death marches, a hell ship and possibly dying alone all horrible experiences for a fine young soldier fighting for the free world. This emotive group is a good addition to your collection. Thank you for posting it

Thank you. It’s so nice having a photo to go along with the medals and biographical details.

G.S.M EIIR 1918-62, bar Arabian Peninsula to 766 Cpl. Ahmad Salim. T.O.S., Sultan’s Distinguished Service Medal 1967, bronze; As-Samood Medal 1976, bronze; Peace Medal, bronze; 10th Anniversary Medal, silvered; Accession Medal 1970, silvered, a rare attributed group mounted as worn

Hi Tony, Thank you for responding; I really appreciate it. You may very well be correct and as of now, it appears to be the best option. Initially, I thought it might have been something from a shipping company like P&O, but there RC makes sense. Perhaps these ribbons were worn somewhere on a MN uniform; although I’ve yet to ever see that. I wonder if the RC has its own uniforms; it certainly liked medals and date bars as you’ve noted. Thanks again. John

Nursing Sister Elizabeth (Lilly) White Gray RRC was born on 30 June 1868, her father, Henry, was 44, and her mother, Sarah Jane (nee McClinton), was 38. She had four brothers and four sisters. She died on 19 October 1938, in Gravesend, Kent at the age of 70. When she was born, the family lived in Broughton, Lancashire (1871 census). Her eldest sister Sarah Ann who was born in 1856 died in 1889 in in Chorlton, Lancs. Her elder sister, Mary Jane who was born in 1857 died on 22 March 1902 in Kingston Upon Thames, Middlesex. Her brother John who was born in 1861, died on 22 October 1925, in West Kirby, Cheshire (3 Townfield Rd., West Kirby, Wirral, Cheshire). Her sister Henrietta (Ettie) who was born in 1864 died on 5 May 5 1928, in Surrey. Her brother, Henry Stuart (09/1872 – 1948) who later lived in Greater Manchester, Lancs. Her Father died in Bangor, Down, Northern Ireland at 59 years old in 1883 and her mother Sarah Jane passed away in 1922 in Manchester, Lancashire at the age of 92. Lilly was a nurse and qualified at the Royal Hospital, Salford. On 7 May 1897, she joined the Princess Christian’s Nursing Service Reserve, and her personnel number was 555. (AO 365). In July 1901 she was at No. 5 General Hospital Wynberg, S. Africa and in September 1901 she was at No. 12 General Hospital in Springfontein, S. Africa (A1598). She later served at No. 13 General Hospital, Wynberg, S Africa (AO 365). She is listed on the QSA Medal roll dated September 1901 in Springfontein (TNA WO100/229 pp.45, 79 and 163) and on the KSA Medal Roll (TNA WO100/353 p.28). There were on 587 KSAs awarded to nurses. QSA and KSA are both officially named to Nursing Sister E Gray (not officially re-impressed as often found). Sister Gray is also on the War Office Nominal Roll of Princess Christian’s Army Nursing Service (Reserve) for 30th September. The 1911 census shows that Lilly, as a single 42-year old head of the house, was living in Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey with her 80-year old mother Sarah Jane Gray and a single 42-year old servant, Mary Ann Shaw, who is the domestic general servant. Lilly’s occupation is “Hospital Nurse & Masseuse, QANR”. Her address was Broomlace, Latchmere Rd. Kingston Upon Thames, a house with seven (7) rooms. In WWI, Matron Elizabeth Gray was in the Territorial Force Nursing Service / Queen Alexandra's Imperial Nursing Service. Her start date was 1 January 1914 and her end date was 31 December 1920. (WO 399/23277) She was entitled to a BWM, Victory and TFWM. She arrived in France & Flanders on 29/05/1917 (WO372/23) She was also decorated by the King at Buckingham Palace with the Royal Red Cross (1st Class) on 27 June 1916. It was gazetted on 3 June 1916. (5602). If anyone knows where her BWM, Vic and TFWM along with her RRC are located, please contact me as I would like to reunite her medals. Elizabeth (Lilly) White Gray died on October 19, 1938, in the Gravesend and North Kent Hospital in Gravesend when she was 70 years old. She was living at 1 the Drive, Hill Side Old Road, East Gravesend, Kent. There is a probate record dated 20 December 1938.in which she left L1,360. 6s 2p to her spinster sister Margret Gray. She was interned in consecrated ground C 4735 on 22 October 1938 at the Kingston cemetery. For more information on the QAIMNSR see: https://boerwarnurses.com/boer-war-nurses-database/ Sister & Matron Elizabeth (Lilly) White Gray WO-372-23-16731.pdf Matron E Gray RRC .pdf

I recently acquired these as a lot. It's obvious that the three ribbon bar (pin back) consists of the BWM, MMWM and Victory Medal for World War I service. But, what I'm not familiar with are the two red and white ribbons bars (sewn on) with 1940-41 and 1941-42 respectively embroidered on them. Any help in identifying these and who would wear them and wear on the uniform would be greatly appreciated. They came together and I assume that someone from the Merchant Navy also served in WWII. Thanks very much in advance, John

A nice little group. I’ve not seen the Harrow medal before; it’s quite elaborate. It’s always great to put a face to a name! It’s too bad here wasn’t able to escape.

A lovely medal; what does the locomotive on the ribbon signify? Thanks, JL

Hi Rob, Great research on another escaper group. I look forward to your next post. john

As mentioned above, here are close ups of the '39 Star enamel ribbon bar. Has anyone see similar enamel ribbon bars for other WWII medals?

A very welcome addition of a rare QSA with two clasps to a corporal in the Farmer's Guards. QSA with OFS and SA01 officially named to: 33 Cpl. J. T. Smidt, Farmer's Guards. Confirmed as having served in A Troop (W)100/247) The Farmer’s Guard (formerly known as the Burgher Police) was formed in November 1901 from surrendered burghers who had to enlist for a 3-month period for of 5/- per day. They were responsible defending the property and cattle as well as for the safety of surrendered burghers who were farming in the so-called “protected area” of more than 30 km radius surrounding Bloemfontein. Their reported strength was 600 and they commanding officer was Major E M Morris. The majority of the men came from the vicinity of Bloemfontein as well as the Southern and Eastern Free State. By Feb 1902 the radius of the area had been increased to some 65 km. The outposts were spaced at 9 km intervals on the perimeter and were manned by groups of 5-10 guards.

Q.S.A. single clasp Talana. One of only 18 to the regiment and of 533 total single Talana-clasp QSAs. 5106 Pte. S.J. Jackson, 1 Leics. Regt. Taken prisoner at Talana Samuel Charles Jackson,a laborer, born in Sheffield in1879 and resided there too. He was the son of James of 26 Orton St. in Derby and had two brothers. He enlisted on 12/10/1897 in Leicester when 18 years and two months old. He was transferred to the 1st Bn. On 13/05/1899 when the regiment left for S. Africa. He was in S. Africa until 06/06/1900 (one year and twenty-five days) It is noted that he was missing after the Battle of Dundee (Talana) from the 20th to the 26th of October 1899. The roll confirms the single clasp, Talana. His service papers note that he was missing at the action and later released. He was returned home 7/6/1900, and was discharged on 27/02/1914. Jackson S C 5106 Private 1st Btn. Missing - released at Dundee. 26 Oct 1899. Source: Natal Field Force Casualty Roll, page 73 line 9 Jackson S C 1st Battalion, Volunteer Service Company Source: QSA and KSA medal rolls Jackson S E 5106 Private 1st Btn. Missing - released at Dundee. 26 Oct 1899. Source: Natal Field Force Casualty Roll, page 71 line 10 Jackson Samuel C 5106 Private QSA (1) QSA known to exist Source: List of QSAs with the clasp Talana from the Talana book The 1st Battalion was stationed at Glencoe, in the north of Natal, when the war broke out. It thus formed part of the brigade of General Penn Symons, the other battalions being the 1st King's Royal Rifles, 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers, and 2nd Dublin Fusiliers. There were also at Glencoe the 18th Hussars and the 13th, 67th, and 69th Batteries RFA. Actual fighting commenced at 3.20 am on the morning of 20th October, when a Mounted Infantry picquet of the Dublin Fusiliers was fired on and driven in. At 5.50 am the enemy occupied Talana Hill with artillery, and commenced shelling the camp. The troops were soon set in motion. To the Leicesters and 67th Battery was assigned the duty of guarding the camp with its great quantities of stores. The general decided to attack with his other infantry and artillery. These moved away and were soon in extended order advancing to a wood, which the commander had decided to use as a breathing place. The wood was gained between 7 and 8 am, the 13th and 69th Batteries meanwhile keeping up a heavy and accurate fire on the enemy's positions. About 8.50 the infantry again advanced, and as they left the wood had to face a terrible rifle-fire both from their front and flank. Sir W Penn-Symons, who had been exposing himself with rash bravery, fell mortally wounded about 9.30; Brigadier General Yule, now in command, directed the infantry to move to a wall stretching some distance along the hillside, from which wall a very heavy fire was being kept up by the Boers. The two batteries redoubled their efforts. The 1st King's Royal Rifles on the right first reached the wall, followed by some companies of the Irish Fusiliers; the Dublin Fusiliers also made their way up a little later. After another breathing space under cover of the wall the troops jumped the wall and scrambled up the steep face. At 1 pm the crest was gained and the enemy fled. Then followed the first blackguardly use of the white flag. Within easy range of our artillery were to be seen "clumps of 50 and 100 men on which guns could have inflicted great loss. The enemy, however, displayed a white flag, although they do not appear to have had any intention of surrendering, and in consequence the officer commanding Royal Artillery refrained from firing". One can scarcely acquit this officer from being very easily taken in, as the enemy's continued movement contradicted any idea of surrender. The infantry had done magnificently; the same cannot be said of the Hussars, or at least those under Colonel Moller, who managed to get lost among the enemy, and was taken prisoner with 200 men. The artillery did well, but it seems beyond doubt that they fired at the hill-top after it was occupied by our people, causing some loss, particularly to the King's Royal Rifles. The range was short, and artillery officers with proper glasses should have seen when the British troops were up. The Leicesters lost 1 officer killed, 1 wounded, and 1 man wounded. On the 21st General Yule moved his camp to a better position. On the 22nd he resolved to retreat on Ladysmith. At nine at night in silence, without bands or pipers, the force set out by the east or Helpmakaar road, the dying general, the other wounded, and the doctors being left. A great mass of stores had also to be left to the enemy, as its destruction would have made him suspect the intended retreat; while, on the other hand, a twelve hours' start was absolutely necessary. To have fought their way to Ladysmith would have been an impossible task for Yule's column in that hilly country. As it was, the Boers showed that inexplicable want of energy which seemed at times in the campaign to paralyse them. Probably the good things left in Dundee had something to do with the lack of activity. Fortunate it was that General Yule was not interfered with by the enemy, but the elements were not favourable. The rain at times fell in torrents; roads knee-deep in mud and swollen spruits made marching very heavy work, while but little sleep was obtainable between the 21st and 26th. For more information on the battle: https://www.britishbattles.com/great-boer-war/battle-of-talana-hill/

This is a very nice group! It's just the sort I would enjoy in my Boer War PoW collection. Congrats and thanks for posting photo and research.

Wow Mike, That's a spectacular group and I can see why it's your best and favorite. I look forward to your posting on the Colonel who was staff for Allenby and Lawrence; I suspect that might end up being your favorite. ; ) Cheers, John

Hi Mike, Great collection. How's your roll of existing Canadian Scout QSAs for the Boer War going? I hope well. Are you going to do the same with the any other units?

Hi Christophe, Although it resembles a RN LSGC, the white stripes are too narrow and that ribbon is not watered. I don’t think it’s British. All the best, J

The pair to Sivil is exceptionally nice. Thanks for sharing!

This is a very interesting group to a 1919 recipient of the OBE for war services regarding his repatriation of British PoWs from Rotterdam and Belgian refugees from Hull. The group consists of an OBE (type I, civil) with the reverse hallmarked 1919, a BWM and Mercantile Marine Medal officially named to Leonard D Pinckney. Pinckney's OBE was noted in the London Gazette of 26 of March 1920 under the King has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services in connection with the War, to be dated 1st January, 1920:— Captain Leonard Durnford Pinckney. Master, SS Khyber. Captain Leonard Pinckney received his early training in Conway and in due course entered the P & O Service. In August 1914 he commanded the Somali, and was engaged in the trooping service to and from India and Gallipoli. The P&O steamship SS Somali was built in 1901 by Caird & Co of Greenock, Scotland. She acted as a Hospital ship conveying wounded Australians at Gallipoli during WW1. Later the Somali was equipped as a hospital ship and then he conveyed wounded from Gallipoli to Malta and Alexandria. She was broken up in Denmark in 1923 SS Somali Later, while in command of SS Khyber after the armistice, Capt. Pinckney did eminent service in connection with the repatriation of prisoners of war from Rotterdam and Belgian refugees from Hull. SS Khyber was owned by the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O Line) and used on the India/Far East service where she conveyed Australian troops home after WW1. She was sold to Japan as scrap in 1931. Captain Pinckney died suddenly at Port said on 23 October 1925 while commanding the P & O liner SS Mantau on an outward journey to China and Japan. Capt. Pinckney who was 55 years old had gone ashore and was at a luncheon table when he had a seizure and expired almost immediately. He was very popular with the traveling public and his officers. SS Mantua HMS Mantua was a 20th-century ocean liner and armed merchant cruiser. She was launched in 1909 as a passenger ship. Mantua was outfitted as an armed merchant cruiser in 1914 and served with the Royal Navy during World War I. On a voyage to Freetown in 1918, the passengers and crew of Mantua inadvertently spread the 1918 flu pandemic to Africa. HMS Mantua

Thanks for the info. I appreciate you looking him up.

This is a great thread. I look forward to your next one! Thank you!!!

That’s a beautiful miniature. I’ve never seen anything like it. Thanks for sharing.

I just came across another British enamel ribbon bar of the 1939 star. Unfortunately, there are no maker's marks on the reverse. I'll post better photos, once I have them in hand.

This is a great help Michael! Thank you very much. I found the three editions of “The Castle”online that list that he served as you’ve mentioned. I will write the regimental museum and see if it’s possible to get some more info and perhaps even a photo. I suspect the MID may not be available, but hope springs eternal! Thanks very much again! John

This interesting group of three is officially named to 25035166 Pte. B. J. Copson, R Anglian. I would like to know more about the recipient and in particular why he was mentioned in dispatches. Does anyone know anything? Sincerely, John

This is an edited article from one that I wrote for the JOMSA. Although this would go very well under in another part of this forum, I thought it would be appropriate to put it here as the group has a named GSM 1918. Africa is the second largest continent and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the third largest country in it, and it has the eighth longest river, the Congo from which its name is derived. It has seen, and continues to see, some of the worst atrocities that man can do to man. When most people think of the Congo in the 60s, they think of mercenaries like Mad Mike Hoare and Patrice Lumumba or perhaps they remember Dag Hammarskjold, the Swedish diplomat who served as Secretary General of the United Nations from April 1953 until his ill-fated plane crash on his fourth trip to the Congo in September 1961. Hammarskjöld had learned about fighting between "non-combatant" UN forces and the Katangese troops of Moise Tshombe. He was flying to negotiate a cease-fire on the night of 17–18 September when his Douglas DC-6 airliner mysteriously crashed in Northern Rhodesia or Zambia as it is known today. Hammarskjöld and fifteen others died in the crash. This medal group was offered by a Canadian dealer and I found it very intriguing due to having lived and worked in Zaire or now what is known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). (Figure 1) Only the General Service Medal (GSM) 1918-62 with Malaya clasp is named to 3623 Pte. Subran Bin Haji Abdul Malay but in the initial position on the bar is the Malayan Federation Dedicated Service Medal 1960; essentially a long service and good conduct medal and the last medal on the right is the United Nations Medal with the original first style ribbon and “Congo” clasp. The Malaysian Dedicated Service Medal Pingat khidmat Berbakti (PKB) is a single class 35cm medal minted in silver. It was instituted by King Kisam ud-din Alam Shah on July 29th 1960 as a reward for members of the uniformed service and those attached to the Malaysian forces in recognition of active service, particularly during the emergency. The obverse has the arms of Malaysia consisting of a shield guarded by rampant tigers. The shield is topped by a crest consisting of a crescent with a 14-pointed "federal star", and includes the country’s motto, “Unity is Strength” in English and Arabic within the below banner. Below that khidmat Berbakti (Service Dedicated) is written in curved Arabic Script. The escutcheon or shield, serves as a representation of the unified states under the Malaysian federation. The upper portion or chief of the shield contains five krises (asymmetrical daggers used in SW Asia) representing the five former unfederated Malay States of Johore, Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah and Perlis. The remainder of the shield, is divided longitudinally between the former Federated Malay States, Penang and Malacca, is now divided into four sections: In left from the observer's point of view (dexter) section is the Pinang palm along with the Penang Bridge representing Penang. To the right from the observer's point of view (sinister) section is the "Malacca" tree representing Malacca. The reverse depicts the Malayan Peninsula and is centered between two fern leaves to the right and left. The right fern leaf is top to bottom and the left is the reverse. The suspension is two crossed fern fronds with a stylized bar with a curlicue scroll on a pebbled background. It is 4mm x 37mm wide. The 35mm ribbon is unwatered and is jungle green with a central yellow strip (4mm) and flanked by light blue (5mm) side stripes. The GSM 1918-62 is the fifth of six types with the Elizabeth II D: G: BR: OMN: REGINA F:D: and the left profile of Elizabeth II wearing a small crown. This obverse was only used from 1952 to 1954. The reverse consists of a standing figure of Victory in a Greek Helmet and carrying a trident, bestowing palms on a winged sword. The suspension is stylized and the medal rotates within it. The clasp has “Malaya” centered on a pebbled background and the entire medal is suspended from a royal purple ribbon with a dark green central stripe of 5cm. The “Malaya” clasp was issued from June 16th 1948 to July 31st 1960 to a myriad of regiments and exotic colonial units of which the local regiment, the Malay Regiment was one. For an excellent but incomplete listing, look at British Battles and Medals by Hayward, Birch and Bishop and published by Spink in 2006. The last medal is the bronze United Nations (UN) Service Medal with the UN wreathed globe emblem surmounted by the letters UN on the obverse. The reverse has “IN THE SERVICE/OF PEACE” centrally inscribed. It is suspended from a loop and hangs from a darker than the usual UN light blue ribbon with two white 2mm stripes set 5mm from the edges. A 15mm x 5mm bronzed bar with “CONGO” is attached to the ribbon by two prongs pushed through the ribbon and splayed outwardly to hold the bar securely. Figure 1 Figure 2 The medals are mounted as worn loosely on a British style broach. The UN medal was issued for deployment to the Republic of the Congo from July 1960 to June 1964. The following thirty-one countries participated: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Ceylon, Denmark, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Liberia, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Sweden, Tunisia, United Arab Republic and Yugoslavia. The DRC supplied troops in the last year of the mission too. In 1961 the maximum strength of the ONUC was 19,828 military observers. By the time the mission left in June 1964 there had been 245 ONUC military fatalities and five international civilians. The cost of the total mission was $401 million. A new UN Service Medal with a different ribbon (figure 3) replaced the medal shown in figures 1 and 2 and the Congo bar was discontinued. Figure 3 The Malay Regiment in the Emergency On 5 September 1945, a month after the British reoccupation of Malaya, the Malay Regiment was revived, with its members consisting of veterans from World War II. The British Military Administration (BMA) recommended a quick reconstruction of the Malay Regiment, and decided against opening recruitment to all races, which would have created a racially integrated regiment, along political lines fusing the states of Malaya. A multi-racial Malay regiment was seen as a potential unifying force in post war Malaya and the BMA was either ambivalent or thought the idea might be counter to its interest. This proposal met bitter opposition from Malay Rulers and the population at large, as it was seen as a British effort to erode Malay supremacy, which was a key feature of the Malayan Union. So, by mid-1946, the idea of a non-multi-racial Malay regiment had been dropped. In the end, the Malay Regiment, made up of all Malayans, became part of a division in the Federation Army, which freed British regiments for other strategic duties and by mid-1948, there were only three British battalions left in Malaya. More local regiments needed to be raised to accomplish this and the Overseas Defense Committee endorsed a gradual expansion of the Malay Regiment to six battalions for national security by 1950. This national security would be truly tested in the Malayan Emergency. The Malayan Emergency The Malay Regiment also played a major role against the Communists during the Malayan Emergency when eventually seven battalions served during the Emergency. In 1960, the regiment gained the 'royal' prefix becoming the Royal Malay Regiment and by 1961 had 11 battalions, of which some would go to the former Belgian Congo, which later became Zaire and is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Malayans joined 30 other countries in this large mission to the Congo; only 19 countries had participated in the Korean Conflict. In order to understand why the UN and Royal Malayan Regiment became involved in the Congo, it is necessary to understand the history that made it such a volatile country ripe for a civil war. The Malayan Special Forces in the Congo The Belgian Congo had been the personal domain of King Leopold II for many years in the 19th century. Under his reign, The Belgian Free State was free in name only and blood ran freely and human rights were non-existent, so much so that by 1900 the world was clamoring for changes due to the harsh and inhuman treatment of the indigenous people. Under international pressure, Belgium annexed it in 1908, which started the 52-year history of colonization. Eventually In the early 1950s the Belgian government came under increasing pressure to grant independence to the Belgian Congo. Belgium had ratified article 73 of the United Nations Charter, which advocated self-determination, and both The United States and The Soviet Union put pressure on Belgium to reform its Congo policies. The Belgian government's response was dismissive and there was even a Thirty-Year Plan for the Political Emancipation of Belgian Africa published by a professor that showed the attitude of the Belgians. The Belgians assumed it would take at least thirty years to create an educated elite who could replace them in positions of power. The Belgian government did not like the plan because it meant eventually giving up the colony, whereas the liberals (évolués) were suspicious of the plan because it meant that Belgium would still be ruling Congo for another three decades! This plan was never made official and all political efforts were hampered because Belgium had never actually made any plans for Congolese independence. The Belgian concerns were understandable; but do to their own making, as at the time, there were only nine university degree holders, and no Congolese in the entire military who held a rank higher than a sergeant; the lowest of any colony in existence. By early 1959, much of the lower Congo was out of Belgian control. The Belgian authorities prohibited an independence party from meeting and arrested a prominent dissident and this caused widespread rioting in the capital Léopoldville in January 1960. Shortly there after, the Belgian government announced constitutional reforms intended to bring Congolese advisors into the government, and indicated that the process would eventually end with independence; the Belgians hoped to satisfy the demands of the more moderate Congolese and marginalize as well as neutralize the extreme nationalists by promising eventual independence. The end result was not what was intended. There was a huge surge of political activity, over fifty political parties were registered, nearly all of them based on tribal groups. Nationalist demands grew more extreme as parties competed with each other. There was further rioting in Stanleyville in October after a more arrests. The Belgians then promised full independence by June 30th 1960. A treaty was signed and two bases were ceded to the Belgians for maintaining security, and the 25,000-member Congolese Security Force was trained and led by Belgian officers. Despite this, the force mutinied to get higher pay and benefits. Fighting accompanied by looting and violent attacks against Belgians started and spread to other areas of the country. The President refused the request of the Belgians to use their own troops to quell the riots and violence and by July things had really got out of hand and the Belgians ordered their troops without Congolese agreement to restore law and order and protect Belgians. On the very same day, Katanga Province, which was the richest province due to its minerals. The next day, July 12th 1960, the Congolese government requested UN assistance. On July 14th the Security Council adopted Resolution 143. Initially the United Nations Operations in the Congo (ONUC) ensured the withdrawal of Belgian forces and assistance in maintaining law and order and providing technical assistance, but later maintaining territorial integrity and political independence was added. This was important as there were all sorts of foreign military, paramilitary, mercenaries and advisory personnel who were not under UN command. The country was declared secured four years later in June 1964 and the UN had succeeded in reuniting the country under an established and stable government and restoring law and order. The first contingent of 4,000 UN forces in seven battalions arrived, but it was not large enough to provide enough protection and stop the widespread violence so the force was increased. The 4th Bn Royal Malay Regiment arrived in the Congo in 1960 and was commanded by Lt. Colonel Ungku Nasarudin. Eventually the 6th and 7th Battalions served with the 2nd Bn being the last to be deployed and leaving UN command on April 28th 1963. There was much fighting and the West was appalled and the atrocities that happened. The Royal Malayan Regiment was directly involved in one of them, which still stands as a horrific example of inhumanity and inexcusably bad leadership. One man stained the regiment’s good record for hard soldiering in WWII and the Malayan Emergency. This is the story of that incident and the medal in figure 1 that was issued to those who were there. The incident that could Have Been Avoided The following events took place when the 6th Bn Royal Malay Regiment (6 RMR) was deployed to the Congo. They were tasked as peacekeepers from April 1961 until January 1962. A Squadron, 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment were stationed in Goma, Kivu Province, Congo. The Squadron was initially deployed at Bukavu for a while, after which it was flown to Leopoldville and then on to Stanleyville. Lieutenant Colonel Roger Nixon commanded the Regiment. The Regiment was part of the Malayan Special Force (MSF), under the United Nations banner. 2Lt N.H Siebel was a Troop Leader in A Squadron, 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment. Major Lakhbir Sing Gill commanded the Sqd and the 2IC was Captain Maurice C.S. Lam. After serving for some time in Bukavu, 2Lt N.H. Siebel was detached from A Sqd and placed under command of B Co of the 6 RMR which was located at Kindu. Kindu is roughly 300 KM WSW of Bukavu and today the airport is still functioning. It’s possible to find a nice Google map of the site where this incident took place. His task was to reinforce the defenses of B Co of the 6 RMR, which had been stationed there since July 1961. Port Kindu Empain was a major town in the main district of Maniema. Kindu was an important to rebels as it was located strategically. It was also a place that was unsafe for UN Forces. A Nigerian convoy had been ambushed, and one Nigerian officer, a Lt. Ben was killed on February 3rd 1961. The Congolese Rebels ripped out his liver and ate it raw before throwing his body into the Lualaba River. The rest of his remains were never found. When the Nigerian forces left, Kindu was taken over by the Malayan Special Force (MSF). Its duties were to save the lives of the non-Congolese victims of the rebels. Law and order and peace were installed when the MSF arrived. The Troop was equipped with four Ferret Scout cars, manned by seven men, who had been flown in from Bukavu. A Major Daud commanded B Co 6 RMR. He was assisted by Capt Idrus bin Maaris, Lt Zubir bin Idris and 2Lt Aboo Samah bin Aboo Bakar who later became a four star general and was appointed Force Commander of UNOSOM 2 in Somalia. B Company 6 RMR was tasked to guard the Kindu airport from being taken by rebels. This was important as the UN needed and used the airport for its mission. The company had been at Kindu without support for several months. The Commander of the MSF, Brigadier Abdul Hamid bin Bidin, decided to reinforce the company with a troop equivalent to an infantry platoon from the 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment. It turned out to be a very good and important decision. The Officers of 6 RMR and 2Lt Siebel along with his men stayed at the airport. The OC of B Co 6 RMR managed to acquire an isolated bungalow approximately one kilometer away from the airport. This bungalow had been converted to the Officers Mess. 2Lt Siebel, four Officers and section of soldiers from 6 RMR billeted there. 2Lt Siebel did not feel easy staying isolated and with only a small force. So he had one Ferret Scout car stationed there, in the event he needed it or if hostilities broke out. The Commander of MSF, Brigadier Abdul Hamid bin Bidin, decided to further reinforce Kindu Airport with A Sqd of the 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment that had been deployed in Leopoldville. it was commanded by the 2IC, Captain Maurice Lam. The other Troop Leaders were 2Lt Mike Chong Boon Tuck who arrived by riverboat from Leopoldville and 2Lt Low Tung Yeow who flew in with a two UN aircraft mission. The aircraft were crewed by 13 Italians of the Italian Air Force. The aircraft landed at Kindu Airport in the afternoon on 12 November 1961. After all the personnel and equipment had been off loaded from the aircraft, the Italian aircrew took a break. Lt Zubir, the President of the Mess Committee, had lunch prepared for delivery to them at the airport. However, the CO of B Co 6 RMR ordered that the Italian airmen be brought to the mess for lunch. Lt Zubir realizing the danger the Italian airmen would be in, recommended otherwise to the CO. The Congolese hated all white men and Lt. Zubir was not at all easy allowing the white Italian airmen to leave the safety of the Airport. The CO of B Co nevertheless insisted that they be brought by vehicles to the mess and for Lt Zubir to have lunch prepared for them. Thus, while the rest of the troop was still unloading equipment and materiel, 13 Malayans led by Capt. Maurice Lam and the 13 Italian Airmen left the Airport, to have lunch at B Co, 6 RMR’s Officers Mess. Lt. Zubir had to return to the airport for additional supplies as there was not enough food or drink at the Officer’s Mess. While the Italians and Malayans were chatting, sipping their drinks waiting for Lt Zubir to return, a group of rebels from the Congolese Army suddenly surrounded the Officers Mess. The situation turned bad and chaos and confusion reigned for the rest of the day. The Congolese Army Rebels ordered everyone to lay down their arms and hand over the 13 Italian airmen to them. The Congolese probably thought the Italians were Belgians, and the Congolese hated Belgians, their former Colonial masters. When Capt Maurice Lam saw the events, he ran to the rear of the Officers Mess to get 2Lt Low and 2Lt Siebel. Rounding the corner, Captain Maurice bumped into 2Lt Low, who was in the midst of setting up his tent and 2Lt Siebel. 2Lt Low who had just arrived minutes before, was also very uneasy, as he too realized that the Mess was quite far from the Airport. Furthermore, earlier in the day, he had berated 2Lt Siebel on the condition of the Ferret Scout car that was stationed at the mess, as it was very dirty. Capt Maurice immediately ordered the lieutenants to mount their vehicles. 2Lt Low asked why, to which Capt Maurice responded by telling him to shut up and just obey his orders. 2Lt Siebel quickly slipped into the driver’s seat while 2Lt Low took up the turret position as the vehicle commander. When 2Lt Low looked to his right, he was shocked to see about 40 to 50 rebels who were equipped with assorted automatic and semi-automatic weapons. Some rebels even had spears and others had bows and arrows. Some were wearing animal skins. All of them were in front of the Mess, and they were surprised when they saw 2 Lieutenants Low and Siebel roaring towards them in their Ferret Scout Car. Nearing the front of the Mess, 2Lt Low saw that the rebels were attacking and beating the Italian Airmen with rifle butts and they were being stomped upon. He quickly cocked his machine gun in the turret and aimed it at the rebels. At that moment, the Co, Major Daud of B Co 6th RMR yelled at him not to fire at the Congolese. He also ordered 2Lt Low to come down from the vehicle, to which Low replied to the Major, that in a situation like the current one he could not abandon his vehicle. The Major responded by saying, "You get down this instant, this is an order from me. I am your Commander here". 2Lt Low had no choice but to obey him. Captain Maurice, who was on foot, seeing the commotion between the CO of B Co, 6 RMR and his Troop Leader 2Lt Low, countermanded the Major’s orders, ordering 2Lt Low to get back into his vehicle and to go back to the camp at the Airport. He further ordered Low to go back and bring the whole troop of Ferret Scout cars and to inform the men to be ready for combat. As they were about to leave the Mess, 2Lt Siebel who had difficulty driving the scout car asked 2Lt Low to switch places. By now, there were quite a number of the rebels around the Scout car. When they saw 2Lt Siebel, they got excited, for 2Lt Siebel (who was Eurasian) looked like a white man. They clambered up the Scout car and started striking him. He got into hand-to-hand combat and was struggling with them. 2Lt Low managed to speed off and 2Lt Siebel managed to restrain and hold on to one of the rebels. He was handed over for confinement in the guardhouse at the Airport. Then 2Lt Low put his Troop on standby while 2Lt Siebel took his whole Troop to the Mess, along with the some members of B Co 6 RMR under Lt Zubir. While the events were happening, Lt Zubir had left the Officer’s Mess for about an hour in order to get more food and drink. As he headed back towards the mess in his Land Rover carrying food, he saw the large number of Congolese Rebels surrounding the mess. There were too many, and he was not allowed to enter the compound so he went back to the camp at the airport. Upon reaching the camp, he organized and placed his men on standby. Then he made plans with 2Lt Siebel who had two Scout cars to retake the Officer’s Mess, which was now in the hands of the Congolese Army Rebels. Seeing the approaching force of Lt Zubir, some of the rebels abandoned their positions, but some remained in their positions. As he approached the mess, Major Daud ran towards him, and ordered Lt Zubir and his men to return to the camp. He explained that he did not want a battle to breakout between the MSF and the Congolese Rebels who had overrun the Mess. He said he would solve the problem, with a very heavy heart Lt Zubir returned to the airport camp. During all of this, the CO did see 2Lt Siebel. Undaunted, 2 Lt Siebel continued advancing towards the Mess with his two Armored Ferret Scout cars. He had already given instructions to the rear scout car to provide covering fire if the Congolese brought fire to bear upon him. This arrangement was reciprocal. He approached the Congolese with his hatch locked down, as the Congolese were behaving very wildly and raged uncontrollably. He placed his Ferret scout car in front of the Congolese Truck carrying the 13 Italian airmen who the Congolese had abducted to block them. The other Ferret Scout car went behind the truck to make escape impossible for the truck carrying the Italians airmen. The Congolese were taken aback and were afraid of the Ferret Scout cars and the men manning them. The situation was exacerbated when Major Daud came up to 2Lt Siebel's vehicle. He was followed by a group of rebels. The rebels who had followed him started climbing up 2Lt Siebel's car. Very loudly the Major started berating 2Lt Siebel, saying that they were not sent to the Congo to start a war and If the rebels wanted to take the Italians, then let them do so. Major Daud had abandoned his duty of protecting the airmen and had placed them in danger by ordering them to be brought to the mess in the first place and now had allowed them to be captured by the rebels. Major Daud then further disgraced himself by ordering all the Officers and men at the mess to surrender their weapons to the rebels who had surrounded them, which they did sheepishly. Capt. Maurice Lam arrived in the nick of time, accompanied by another troop leader and countermanded Major Daud’s orders and said that the Major’s orders were not be obeyed by the officers and men of A Sqd, 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment, in reference to surrendering their weapons. 2 Lt. Mike Chong who was nearby clearly reported this statement. Major Daud started banging his hand on the outside of 2Lt N.H. Siebel’s Armored car, shouting for Siebel to come out. The continuous thumping of the Major made him come out, and immediately the Congolese went for him thinking he was a European too. They started beating him up. He was quite a distance away from Capt Maurice. At the same time Major Daud allowed the truck with the 13 Italian Airmen to leave the area. 2Lt Siebel managed to escape and returned to the airport camp and eventually the rest of the officers joined him. After a few hours groups of Congolese drifted in and surrounded the Kindu Airport. Angry by the entire situation, Capt Maurice went to the B Co ^ RMR signal center at the airport to send a message to MSF headquarters in Bukavu. As the signaler was sending a Morse code message that the rebels had captured the 13 Italian Airmen and that the Kindu airport was being surrounded, Major Daud entered and ordered the signaler to stop transmitting. As a result, HQ received only half of the message. Next Major Daud also ordered that the Congolese captured by 2Lt Siebel be released. They had no choice but to release the prisoner. The Congolese further demanded that all four Ferret Scout cars belonging to A Sqd and the two Italian aircraft be handed over to them. The Major ordered Capt Maurice to do so. Capt Maurice defied the Major’s orders, saying that it was an illegitimate order. Further he told the Major and the Congolese, that they would fight to their last drop of blood if the Congolese attempted to capture the Armored vehicles or the two aircraft and in less than eight hours all the men (MSF) were dug into defensive positions around the airport, with the Congolese surrounding them. In order to persuade the Congolese to release the 13 Italian Airmen, Capt Maurice Lam demanded them to release the Italian Airmen, or face a full-scale attack by A Sqd, 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment that would be led by him. Unfortunately, due to Major Daud, there were still no radio communications between the MSF HQ in Bukavu and Kindu as Major Daud was preventing communications between Capt Maurice's group and MSF HQ. MSF HQ sent an aircraft to conduct aerial reconnaissance. The pilot of the recon aircraft saw the UN flags flying, and the armored vehicles in good condition, so the situation on the ground looked normal, and he did not report that anything unusual was happening in Kindu. Strangely, there is no record of attempts to contact the 13 missing Italian Airmen by the Italians themselves. Eventually, three days later, a Lt Col from the UN Air Force came to Kindu, to get detailed information on the events there. After grasping the true situation on the ground in Kindu, UN HQ was informed. It was decided that an air and land attack was to be conducted on the Congolese Army Rebels who were located at three different locations. The attack by a land route was to be conducted by the MSF and the air attack by member nations of the UN who were there. The MSF were ready to conduct the attack under the command of Capt Maurice Lam. For the aerial attack the jets of the Indian Air Force were to be used, they were Canberra bombers. They were to conduct three sorties on the three different locations. At the last minute the plans to conduct these large-scale attacks on the Congolese Rebel Army were cancelled. Communications between MSF HQ and Kindu were reestablished. The MSF Brigade decided to reinforce Kindu with two additional rifle companies from the 6 RMR. The two Companies were flown to Kindu under the command of Lt Col Syed Mohammed bin Syed Ahmad Alsagoff. Lt Col Syed relieved Major Daud of B Co, 6 RMR of command. The Congolese who had surrounded the Airport for ten days withdrew after the reinforcements had arrived. When the Congolese Rebels had Kindu airport surrounded many of the local Belgians fled for their lives into the Air Port for protection. They informed the Malayans that the 13 Italian Airmen had been shot dead. Later it was learned that their bodies had been butchered and sold as meat at the Kindu market. This information was corroborated by two UN liaison Officers, who were ordered by Major Daud to find out the situation of the unfortunate 13 Italian Airmen the day after their capture. On the day the Congolese took the 13 Italian Airmen, there was a massive celebration in Kindu by the Congolese. They were overjoyed on capturing the Italians, who they had mistaken for Belgians. They continuously fired their weapons in the air in celebration. The firing went well on into the early hours of the morning. When compared to the epic 1942 last stand of the regiment at Bukit Chandu (Opium Hill) during the Japanese invasion of Singapore, the incident of November 12th 1961 was one of the most disgraceful incidents in the annals of Malaysian Military History. At the center of the controversy was the action of Major Daud, the CO of B Co, 6 RMR. Things would have turned out different if the officers of B Co had seized the initiative from their CO. It has been reported that a few days later, when the Italians heard about it, the Malayan Embassy in Rome was stoned. As a result, all Malayan troops were relieved of frontline duties and placed on rear echelon duties, such as guarding ammo dumps and key installations. In one stroke disgrace had descended on the whole Malayan Special Force. The rest of the UN Forces, lost their respect for Malayan Troops and no longer trusted them. What happened then might have been forgotten or swept under the carpet but is etched in the memories of the survivors and kept alive in the annals of history. Capt Maurice Lam and 2Lt N.H. Siebel disobeyed the orders of their senior officer, and disobeyed him to preserve the honor of their unit. They saved the lives of their men and equipment and the four armored Ferret Scout cars and two aircraft. Had they followed the orders of Major Daud, all would have been taken by the Congolese, and what might have resulted would have been even more tragic. Both Captain Maurice Lam and 2Lt N.H. Siebel were bestowed the “Pingat Gagah Berani” (PGB) for valor by the King, His Majesty Tuanku Syed Putra ibni Al-Marhum Syed Hassan Jamalullai at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Hall in Ampang, Kulau Lumpur on the June 5th 1963. Works Cited Borts, Lawrrence H. United Nations Medals and Missions: The Medals and Ribbons of the United Nations. MOA Press: Fountain Inn, 1996. Buyers, Christopher. “The Royal Ark: Royal and Ruling Houses of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas.” Web. Sept. 2010. Gaszewski, Lukasz. “Decorations and Medals of the Federation of Malaysia.” Web. 26 Apr. 2010. Hayward, John, Diana Birch and Richard Bishop. British Battles and Medals. Spink: London, 2006. Mussell, John W. ed. The Medal Yearbook 2011. Token Pub. Ltd.: Sparkford, 2011. Noronha, R. S. Personal letter. Web. 3 Oct. 2006. Pitta, Robert. UN Forces 1948-94. Osprey Military: London, 1994.