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Neville's effort is rewarded

Frank Wood
3/ 4/2008

A FORMER Heywood man was among the latest batch of ex-service people from the North West to receive medals for the part they played in "the forgotten war".

Neville Wareham, 63, is one of hundreds of people to be recognised by the Malaysian government for service during the long and bitter struggle to overcome the Indonesian-backed Communist insurgency between 1955 and 1966. It became known as the forgotten war because those who served were not awarded medals or any other official recognition.

Neville was then a regular soldier, serving for nearly seven years — first with the Royal Engineers and then with REME as a vehicle mechanic attached to 36 Regiment, Royal Engineers.

In 2005, the government of the present-day country of Malaysia decided all those who played such a vital role in the turning point in its history should receive the specially-struck Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal. Many have been awarded posthumously.

Neville said: "It was quite a strange feeling receiving a medal for something so long ago, but it brought a lot of memories back."

A senior figure in the Malaysian Army, Colonel Alwi, travelled to Stockport TA Centre to present the medals.

Neville, who grew up at Back o’ th’ Moss and went to Bamford Road School, was a well-known football player in his younger days, starting with Hooley Bridge Celtic and progressing to the youth teams at Bury FC and Bolton Wanderers.

He is still heavily involved in amateur football as a referee on the English Schools Panel and is chairman of Bury and Radcliffe Junior League.

He now lives in Bury.