The Manchester Regiment Forum
1946 to 1958 => Malaya => Topic started by: simonk on November 12, 2009, 01:20:05 PM
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Hi
My grandad served in the Manchester Regiment and was in Malaya from 1952. I don't have his service number but could probably get hold of it.
Sadly he passed away yesterday morning.
I was just searching the internet for any information on him and his years in service and came across this site.
Please could anybody tell me where I may be able to find his service number and records or any other information.
Thanks
Simon
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Welcome Simon, please accept my heartfelt condolences on the loss of your Grandfather.
I am sure that others will come along with some more information including Captain Robbert Bonner and George Swetman who were both there but in the meantime you can get all the information on obtaining his service record from this web site including downloadable application forms. His next of kins permission is required, if his wife is still alive she can get them free otherwise it will cost about £30.00.
See: http://www.veterans-uk.info/
May I also suggest a visit to the Regimental Museum and the Archive in Ashton Under Lyne.
Robbert Bonner has written a book covering the period that the 1st Battalion were in Malaya, it is well worth getting hold of a copy which should be available from the museum. The title is "Jungle Bashers" "A British Infantry Battalion in the Malayan Emergency 1951 - 1954". There are lots of photos in the book.
I was there with my father living in Penang and going to an Army Boarding School in the Cameron highlands.
Have a look at the Forum section "Photos and Postcards By Battalion" them "Far East Photos" as well.
Cliff
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Welcome to the site Simon,
My condolences on your loss.
Your Grandfather's Army number should be engraved on the rim of his GSM. Malaya.
He is not listed in the Book Jungle Bashers by Capt Bonner and I do not have him on my original MVA membership listings so am unable to help you from those quarters and it is highly unlikely that you would get any further information from Ashton Museum or the book apart from a general idea of what went on during our tour there.
Once you have his number and possibly some details of which company he served with we may be able to advise further.
Regards.
George
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Many thanks for the replies and condolences.
The informatrion supplied is great. Thank you.
I do have some photographs of my Grandad whilst in Malaya. I will get them scanned and posted. Quite a few with him with other people over there. Perhaps somebody may recognise the others, they may still be alive?
Many thanks
Simon
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Hi again Simon,
Looking forward to seeing some of your contributions, who knows it might help us identify your Grandfather as well as others,
George.
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Hi Simon
and welcome to the forum
i'm very sorry to hear about the loss of your father, i do hope we can help
chris
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Thanks for the kind words and help.
harribobs he was actually my grandfather ;D
I will get the images I have scanned over the weekend and post them.
I am also looking into trying to trace my step fathers records, although I have absolutely no idea where he was stationed or even what regiment he was in. Would there be any way for me to find out?
Take Care
Simon
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sorry Simon
have a look at this link
veterans agency (http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html)
chris
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Thanks for the link Chris, I will have a good look around that site.
It is my grandads funeral tomorrow but after that I will get the pictures I have scanned.
Thanks Again
Simon
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Morning Simon,
Our thoughts and prayers will be with you tomorrow, may he rest in peace.
George.
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As promised here a few images of my Grandad in Malaya.
Hope somebody may recognise him or some of the other soldiers and have some info. I will try and get some more images from my Grandma.
Grandad is Far Right on the first image. What rank is that? is it corporal?
Front centre on the second image.
Best
Simon
(http://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv270/sbkenny_2009/Grandad/th_JR_HQ_Malaya_Kuala_Lumpur.jpg) (http://s690.photobucket.com/albums/vv270/sbkenny_2009/Grandad/?action=view¤t=JR_HQ_Malaya_Kuala_Lumpur.jpg)(http://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv270/sbkenny_2009/Grandad/th_JR_Malaya1.jpg) (http://s690.photobucket.com/albums/vv270/sbkenny_2009/Grandad/?action=view¤t=JR_Malaya1.jpg)(http://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv270/sbkenny_2009/Grandad/th_JR_Malaya2.jpg) (http://s690.photobucket.com/albums/vv270/sbkenny_2009/Grandad/?action=view¤t=JR_Malaya2.jpg)
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Welcome back Simon,
Yes the face is very familiar, his rank was Corporal, the first photograph appears to have been taken at Saighton Camp , Chester from whence the Battalion moved out to Malaya, which means that it would appear that your Grandfather was a Regular soldier and had served with the Bn in Germany, I would have a good look at the photograph of the Cpls Mess in the section on Germany! did you find his number on the rim of his General Service Malaya, Clasp Malaya? That would give us a bigger picture to look at.
The other two photographs could have been at anyone of the bases we had in Malaya but my guess is that the third one is at Tapah, something about the style of the 'basha' in rear of him reminds me of the hill-side layout there, possibly the guide-rails/fenceline to help people get back in to their quarters once the sun had gone down ( the camp lighting was atrocious, I have seen brighter Toc H lamps) . I have not recognised any of the other people as yet, although some of the faces are familiar to me somehow - but one thing for certain - he was not in my company -B company. one down four to go; I have an idea that we could also eliminate HQ unless he was in the MT out on detachment with a company. Working on it that's for sure. Do you have any operational pictures of him with other groups with buildings or camp area type backgrounds to help us.
Meanwhile stay in contact and let us see what we can work out between us.
Take care,
George.
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Back again with another possible ,
The chap in 'civvies' second from the left first photgraph might very well be Cpl 'Ginger' Fahey who I believe could have been in Support Company at that time.
Still thinking.
George.
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Thanks for the great info George
On the back of the first picture is my Grandad has written 'Take in HQ Malaya Kuala Lumpur'
I have not seen his General Service Malaya. What is this? is it a cap badge?
I will find out if anybody has it.
Looking forward to learning more. It is sad to think I had the opprtunity to hear all the stories from the horse's mouth but wasn't really interested as a young boy.
Kind regards
Simon
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Hi again Simon,
I am not doubting your Grandfather's writings BUT we did not wear '37 pattern webbing in Malaya only 44 type; I do not recall seeing any of those WWII type 'sangars' anywhere in Malaya (they were a feature of most UK barracks); the Manchester Regiment were never based in Kuala Lumpur, our H.Q. was i) Selerang Barracks, Singapore for a month or so Mar/April 1951 then for the remainder of the tour ii) Minden Barracks, Georgetown, Penang, until the Bn returned to Selerang Barracks,Singapore around about March/April 1954 prior to returning to the UK and May/June 1954 Harrington Barracks, Formby, Lancashire.
The General Service Malaya is a silver medal - ribbon has two purple stripes with a green one between and the clasp is inscribed Malaya. Around the rim is inscribed his number, rank, name and regiment.
We all regret at some time or another 'not listening or asking' so just join the club and we will see what we can sort out for you.
As rafboy, Cliff, mentioned earlier one there is a book called 'Jungle Bashers' available from the Museum of the Manchesters in Ashton which gives clear information on how and what we did during our stay out there if you wanted to learn more about that period. As a Regular his full service Records would be available to his NOK ( see the Veterans Agency website for details)his widow or your father.
Otherwise we will have to see if anyone else comes on the site who might have known him, moreso now that there is a photograph to go off,
Regards, George.
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Hi George,
Than ks again for the great info. I am sure you are not doubting my grandfathers writings. I am merely stating what is written on the back of the photgraph. Perhaps he wanted my grandma to think he was somewhere exotic when in fact he was in Lancashire ;D
I will be seeing my grandma quite soon so I will get hold of some more photographs to share.
Thanks again for the great insight.
Simon
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No problems Simon,
That is what this site is all about, helping or at least trying to help those searching for information on their relatives of the past.
By the way, please don't think me morbid, but the photographs of the graves of the six Manchester Regiment lads buried in Taiping Cemetery have been put on the Borneo Headhunters site today by my Malaysian Rangers friend which again gives some insight into the fact that it wasn't a 'game' we were playing.
Take care,
George.