Medals relating to the Malaya and Korea Campaigns from the Philip Burman Collection
There must have been a complaint from somewhere as I was arrested and put in prison. Wood sahib told me what to say when my case came up and that I had to stick to my story. I repeated my story in the High Court in Johore Bahru. An Englishman with false hair on his head sat in the middle with Malays sitting on either side of him. I stuck to my story and was acquitted so I did not have to go back to jail.
Another operation I went out on after that was when Lieutenant (KGO) Partap Gurung was platoon commander. This time it was in the Geylang Patah area, near a swamp and not far away was a river that had crocodiles in it. The company base was in a rubber estate factory that had been made empty for us. News came about daku coming in to pick up some rations and stores at a certain place. We had to ambush them and we stayed there for a week, 11 Platoon across the river and my 10 Platoon this side of it. I was No 1 on the LMG. The daku RV was in the middle. The rubber tappers were in that area milling around and seven daku came into our killing zone with them, talking loudly. One had an LMG and the others rifles and grenades, all weapons at the ready.
Partap was dozing by his LMG when the daku came into view so I nudged him awake and told him that some of the people to our front were tappers and some had weapons. He said that he would aim at one man and kill him and I was to open rapid fire on the rest of them. I was afraid that I might kill some of the rubber tappers when I killed the daku but that couldn’t be helped if they were mixed up. Partap killed one and I opened fire. The daku returned fire and wounded Partap who slumped down. They scattered and tried to escape. I killed some and then chased a couple of them as they ran away, firing as I did. Once in the jungle I killed one of them.
The other daku had an LMG and he turned and fired at me but his bullets went high. He then went into dead ground up a ravine. I swore at him, “Run away would you?’ and chased him. I went ahead, saw him, selected a lying position and fired at him. I killed him also. I found myself alone then. I made my way back and heard Partap shouting at me “Shabash, shabash.” We joined up and he said he would recommend me for a bahaduri.
I got an M.M.’ Sold with a copy of recipient’s service papers. 784
A good 1957 ‘Malaya operations’ M.M. pair awarded to Corporal J. C. Tucker, 2nd Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers, for his gallantry during an ambush on 5 Platoon Malayan Races Liberation Army, 9 March 1957, during which he ‘allowed the leading man to come to within 8 yards before shooting him dead with his shotgun.’ He was also wounded during this night-time engagement
MILITARYMEDAL, E.II.R., 1st issue (22823444 A/Cpl. J. C. Tucker. R.W.F.); GENERAL SERVICE 1918-62, 2 clasps, Malaya, E.II.R., Cyprus (22823444 Fus. J. C. Tucker. R.W.F.) minor edge bruising, otherwise good very fine (2)
£2400-2800 M.M. London Gazette 20 December 1957:
‘For gallantry, good discipline and cool judgement in an action against terrorists in the jungle. He made a major contribution to the defeat of an organised platoon of terrorists.’ The recommendation states:
‘On the right of 9 Mar 57 1 Platoon D Company 2nd Battalion The Royal Welch Fusiliers was ambushing a small track which crosses
the main Johore Bahru – Kota Tinggi road at the fifteenth milestone, and which was known to have been used in the past by Communist Terrorists. On this occasion it was believed that 5 Platoon MRLA was to the south of the main road and might try to regain the jungle to the north of the road under cover of darkness. The ambush was accordingly set primarily to engage enemy attempting to cross the road from the south. Cpl Tucker was in charge of two men whose duty it was to protect the rear of the platoon and were sited 30 yards behind the main ambush position and facing north. It was known that 5 platoon MRLA normally halted some distance from the road and sent out scouts to ensure that the crossing place was clear. Orders had therefore been issued that these scouts should if possible be allowed to complete their work in the hope that the whole platoon would later enter the ambush.
At about 8.30 pm, in darkness, Cpl Tucker saw one armed and uniformed Communist Terrorist approaching his position from the north. He permitted this scout to approach to about 10 yards where he halted and listened for some minutes before returning to the north. Shortly afterwards the leading section of 5 Platoon MRLA advanced south straight onto Cpl Tucker’s position. He allowed the leading man to come to within 8 yards before shooting him dead with his shotgun. The terrorists immediately returned the fire and Cpl Tucker was soon slightly wounded in the back. By this time the scene was illuminated by flares. Cpl Tucker realised that his post was masking the fire of the other sections’ bren guns and quickly withdrew to the main position. As soon as they were engaged by automatic fire the enemy withdrew, leaving three dead on the ground.
Cpl Tucker was then ordered to go with an escort to a telephone in a military camp about 700 yards away, to report the action to battalion headquarters and to seek medical attention for his wound. He carried out this order but refused medical attention and insisted on returning to his section.
As a result of this action, three terrorists were killed and others wounded. 5 Pl MRLA were temporarily dispersed, and nine days later the platoon commander and two other terrorists surrendered. The success of this action was undoubtedly largely due to the cool judgement, strict obedience of orders, good shooting and gallantry of Cpl Tucker.’
1 of 3 M.M.’s awarded to the Regiment for the Malaya operations.
www.dnw.co.uk
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