Last updated 19:47, Thursday, 28 August 2008

A FORMER Royal Marine commando from High Harrington has been awarded a medal from the Malaysian Government for his service to the country.

MARINE’S MEDALS: Vic Armstrong with his Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal, along with his Navy General Service Medal, and General Service Medal

Vic Armstrong, 68, of Seadown Drive, was presented with the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal by Colonel Tajri Alavi during a ceremony in Motherwell, Scotland.

The medal was given to 150 members of the British armed forces who helped keep the peace in Malaya from 1957 to 1966.

Vic, of No 3 Commando Brigade, spent 18 months from 1961 until 1963 in Singapore and said it was hard work.

He said: “I am truly honoured to receive my medal and I will treasure it.

“In Malaysia we did a lot of exercises based in the jungles and that was very tough. The land was so dense and it would take seven hours to travel just 100 yards.

“When we were crossing rivers we would have snakes swimming round us which was not pleasant.”

Vic was in the Marines for nine years and also served in Malta, Cyprus, Borneo and the West Indies.

On his return from Malaysia, he married his childhood sweetheart, Sandra, now 64, two days after he got back. The couple married in St Mary’s Church in Harrington.

Vic said: “Marrying Sandra was the perfect welcome home present and we are still married 45 years on.”

The veteran still meets up with his old comrades every three years.

He said: “It is nice to see the lads that I served with and we enjoy a holiday together every three years. Next May we are going to Dundee and will spend time just catching up and having fun.”