Heartfelt homage to British war heroes
MELAKA: It was a proud, yet deeply touching moment at the Commonwealth War Graves (CWG), Terendak Camp, here, yesterday when 39 British war veterans who served in Malaya and Borneo paid their heartfelt respects to the British soldiers, civil servants and their family members laid to rest here.
In their 70’s and 80’s, these veterans from the National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association spent about 45 minutes paying their respects and tribute to those who fell during the Malayan Emergency, Malaysia-Indonesia Confrontation, and insurgencies from 1964 to 1968.
They placed a bouquet of flowers and observed a moment of silence at the CWG, which has 113 graves.
The British veterans arrived in Malaysia yesterday, some with their wives and children, and they are scheduled to participate in the National Day parade at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur today.
David Drummond, 72, who was once a guardsman stationed in Terendak Camp here between 1964 and 1967 was deeply moved when he remembered those who perished during the war.
“It’s such an emotional occasion because the pain is back (when I remember) those who died during the Malayan Emergency period from 1948 to 1960 and then the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation or Borneo Confrontation from 1962 till 1966.
“I served here in the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade, stationed in Terendak Camp for two and a half years and then I returned to Scotland on Jan 23, 1967.
"The first time I was back here was in 2007, where I took part in the National Day celebration. This is my second time here,” he said.
John Fitt, 72, who served here between 1962 and 1967 as a rifleman under the Green Jacket, also expressed the same feelings, saying the ceremony was important to remember those who had fallen in fighting for the sovereignty of the country, Malaysia.
Fitt said Malaysia is special to him because he had met his Malaysian-born wife Ruth, 72, in Penang and married her in 1967 after about five years of courtship.
“It was a difficult time chasing my wife. I walked into her restaurant and 10 seconds later, I decided that I wanted to make her my wife.
"I went after her for six months and it took five years before she agreed,” said Fitt, who is blessed with two children and two grandchildren.
He said although his wife had given up her Malaysian citizenship, they never failed to return to Malaysia each year since over 52 years ago, and this time for the country’s National Day celebration.
Morris John, 80, a former serviceman, was stationed in Johor Bahru from 1957 when Malaya got its independence until late 1958.
“There is no one I’m related to here (CWG), but I have memories of them,” he said. — Bernama