A PETITION with more than 4,000 signatures has been presented to the Government calling on it to recognise the sacrifices of Malayan war veterans.

Hampshire MP Sandra Gidley presented the Daily Echo-backed petition to the House of Commons and has now tabled a motion to bring forward immediate legislation to award the additional rosette to those who fought in the Malayan war before independence was granted.

The petition, backed by hundreds of Daily Echo readers, was spearheaded locally by the Royal Hampshire Regiment’s Malaya and Borneo Veterans’ Association.

Chairman Tony Hamilton said: “We’re just looking for the recognition that we served out there and so far the support from the public has been great.

“The Daily Echo readers who backed the petition are fantastic. We hope the Government listens.”

Around 1,500 Royal Hampshire soldiers helped to defeat Communist terrorists who wanted to seize control of the then British colony during the 1950s.

The petition asks the Government to award an additional rosette to attach to the Naval General Service Medal and General Service Medal ribbon with clasp Malaya, in order to recognise the service of those who served in Malaya – now Malaysia – before independence was granted. The new rosette would also differentiate between the veterans who served in the Malayan Emergency conflict, which lasted from 1948 to 1960, after independence was granted in 1957.