It may have taken a few years, but when recognition for Norman Mason's efforts in Malaysia came through, it was completely out of the blue.
Mr Mason, 68, of Crewe Road North, was told this week he will be presented with the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Me
dal from the Malaysian High Commission.
The new medal is being awarded to British veterans and others who served in operations in Malaya/Malaysia between August 1957 and August 1966.
Mr Mason was an air dispatcher for the Royal Army Service Corp (RSC) from 1960 until 1964, as part of British Army efforts to back the Malaysian government in its battle with communists and later against insurgents.
Mr Mason said: "We were initially placed in the north of the country and it was my job to drive the troops around.
"It could be quite a hairy job sometimes, as you were a big target in the trucks, but I was young and didn't think about it too much.
"When we were carrying the infantry, there would be no roof on the trucks, so the troops could get out quickly if something happened."
For the duration of his time in Malaysia, Mr Mason's wife and three children – Andrew, Jackie and Kevin – lived with him.
He was based at Terendak Camp in the town of Malaka and was part of the 3rd Company of the RSC. The 3rd Company lost four men during the time Mr Mason was in Malaysia.
The recent notification of his award came as a complete surprise.
Mr Mason said: "Over a year ago, I was in the ex-serviceman's club and was speaking to someone about my time in Malaysia. He suggested that I fill in a form about my time there.
"I forgot all about it until I heard this week that I had been selected for a medal – it's a bit out of the blue."
After leaving the army, Mr Mason took two years to finish an apprenticeship in joinery that he started before joining up. He then spent 12 years working as a joiner, before taking a job as a delivery driver for Scottish and Newcastle for 25 years – retiring in 2003. He maintained his links with the armed forces after leaving Malaysia by serving for 19 years with the Territorial Army.
Mr Mason will be going to the Dewars Conference Centre in Perth with his wife Mary on Tuesday to pick up his award from the Malaysian High Commissioner at a ceremony with other veterans.
He said: "It should be a nice day out. There will be about 300 people being presented, so hopefully I'll see some of the guys I served with."
The UK Government and veterans' associations have welcomed the decision by the Malaysian government to recognise the veterans.
Mr Mason said: "It is good to be recognised after all this time. I would have preferred to receive it when I was a younger man right enough."
The full article contains 528 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
