• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Chandler's Ford Today

  • Home
  • About
    • About Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research
  • Blog
    • Blogging Tips
  • Event
    • Upcoming Events
  • Community
    • Groups
    • Churches
    • Schools
    • GP Surgeries
    • Leisure
    • Library
    • Charities
      • Eastleigh Basics Bank
      • Cat & Kitten Rescue in Chandler’s Ford
    • Fair Trade
      • Traidcraft stalls in Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford Parish Council
  • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Site Policies
  • Site Archive
    • Site Archive 2018
    • Site Archive 2017
    • Site Archive 2016
    • Site Archive 2015
You are here: Home / Community / My Pingat Jasa Malaysia (Malaysian Service Medal)

My Pingat Jasa Malaysia (Malaysian Service Medal)

August 7, 2014 By Jeff Parsonson 3 Comments

One day a few years ago, I received a phone call, asking me if I would like to come to Portsmouth to receive the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal (Malaysian Service Medal). I was very surprised.

I told them I would be delighted. The presentation took place in 2010. On the day there were some 400 veterans to be presented by Brigadier General Othman bin Jamal, on behalf of the Malaysian Embassy.  I had a short chat with him and his lovely wife after.

It felt good to know that we veterans from so long ago were not forgotten by Malaysia.

Jeff: Receiving my Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) medal from Brigadier General Othman bin Jamal, in 2010.
Jeff Parsonson: Receiving my Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) medal from Brigadier General Othman bin Jamal, in 2010.

My first posting abroad: Malaysia

I joined the army in 1964 – The Green Jackets (KRRC), and was demobbed in 1986.

My first posting abroad was to Malaysia, stationed on Penang Island, an absolute paradise, not knowing the hard graft that was to come.

For starters, we patrolled up and down the Malay peninsular, then on to Borneo for six months patrolling the borders daily, living in the jungle bases allotted to us.

Monkeys in Sarawak. Image by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/djtbay/14001076832">Duncan Taralrud-Bay</a> via Flickr.
Monkeys in Sarawak. Image by Duncan Taralrud-Bay via Flickr.

Patrolling mountain regions in Sarawak

Back to Penang for six months, lots of training for the next tour, Sarawak, where the duties were the same but the terrain was harder to get around, so it was by river or helicopter.

Experiencing the monsoon season in those jungle bases was not what we called fun but we got on with it.

Kuching was another base we stayed at, patrolling the mountain regions.

Kuching of Sarawak, Malaysia. Image by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/peredin/9667827386">Per Edin</a> via Flickr.
Kuching of Sarawak, Malaysia. Image by Per Edin via Flickr.
Jeff Parsonson: I served two and a half years in Malaysia.
Jeff: two and a half years in Malaysia.

Royal Green Jackets for 22 years

On our time off we visited Singapore and Hong Kong and went to Kuala Lumpur for the annual Motorcycle racing. A good time was had by all.

Then all too soon, it was 1967, we left Penang for England in May, having had a change of regiments name to The Royal Green Jackets, with whom I stayed until February 1986, and back to civilian life after 22 years.

An afterthought – I was in Johore Baharu for jungle training when we first arrived in 1965.

My medals

This picture below shows you my Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM), mounted with General Service Medal (GSM) and Accumulated Campaign Service Medal (ACSM).

Jeff Parsonson: Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) mounted with General Service Medal (GSM) and Accumulated Campaign Service Medal (ACSM).
Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) mounted with GSM and ACSM.

I served in Malaysia for two and a half years. It was a wonderful place to be.

I hope my Pingat Jasa Malaysia would inspire more people to tell their own story.

Read my other post: My Passion For Woodwork

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email

Related posts:

The bride Rowan Esther Catherine was given away by her father, Hugh Cameron of Chandler’s Ford.Wedding of Chandler’s Ford Girl Celebrating Chinese New Year in Singapore with Prosperity Toss.From The Fall Of Singapore To Prosperity Pirbright Scarecrow Festival 2014The Pirbright Historians Model of Fairey Delta 2 at Tangmere. Image by John via Flickr.Meeting a Hero Syrian childrenWith Syria Fundraiser: August 10 Fryen Fun Day
Tags: celebrations, community, culture, education, event, history, storytelling

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Janet Williams says

    August 7, 2014 at 10:14 pm

    Jeff,

    Your story is always so fascinating! You served in my country and I’m so pleased to read about the details. I was born in Johore Baharu, where you arrived for your jungle training. The 60s was a difficult time, with racial tensions, and problems with neighbouring countries and the jungles. I’m so proud to see your Pingat Jasa Malaysia and I know it means a lot to you, and many many veterans.

    I’ve also learnt that the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal can now be worn on all occasions with HM the Queen’s permission, as it was for the first time during the 2011 Remembrance Day Services and Parades.

    Reply
    • Derek sellers says

      June 27, 2020 at 5:58 pm

      Hello I wondered if you could
      inform me if I would be entitled to this medal I served in Malaysia in 1966 1967 thank you

      Reply
  2. Trevor parsonson( Jeff ) says

    June 28, 2020 at 4:17 pm

    Hello Derek, fellow veteran, in witch regiment did you serve, as they are the ones most certain to know where you were at any given time in your service.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to Chandler's Ford Today blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Archives

Top Posts & Pages

999, 111, 101, 112? Emergency Numbers You Must Know
Short Form Writing
101 Things to Put into Room 101
Home
Peculiar British House Numbering System
Eastleigh 2 Lincoln City 1: Take Off For The Spitfires
Charles Baynham in Chandler's Ford
101 Things to Put into Room 101 - Part 7 - The Final Leg
David Beckham's Chinese Tattoo
50 Things I Like about the Chandler’s Ford Area (Part 2)

Categories

Tags

arts and crafts books Chandler's Ford Chandler's Ford Today Chandler’s Ford community charity Christianity Christmas church community creative writing culture Eastleigh Eastleigh Borough Council education entertainment event family fundraising gardening gardening tips good neighbours Hiltingbury Hiltingbury Road history hobby how-to interview Joan Adamson Joan Adelaide Goater local businesses local interest memory Methodist Church music nature news reading review social storytelling theatre travel Winchester Road writing

Recent Comments

  • Allison Symes on Short Form Writing
  • Mike Sedgwick on Short Form Writing
  • John Roberts on Gladly, the Cross-eyed Bear and Other Mondegreens
  • Allison Symes on Zest In Fiction
  • Mike Sedgwick on Zest In Fiction
  • Allison Symes on Zest In Fiction

Regular Writers and Contributors

Janet Williams Allison Symes Mike Sedgwick Rick Goater Doug Clews chippy minton Martin Napier Roger White Andy Vining Gopi Chandroth Nicola Slade Wellie Roger Clark Ray Fishman Hazel Bateman SO53 News

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

Reviews of local performances and places

Reviews of local performances and places

Copyright © 2022 Chandler's Ford Today. WordPress. Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.