National Service - Malaya

National service for British males started on the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 and call-up officially ended on 31st December, 1960.   Most of the remaining National Servicemen were demobbed in 1962, with the last one finishing on 16th May 1963.

For a significant number of young national servicemen called up after the end of the Second World War, the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960) became their war - and many spent the bulk of their service time there.

Summer promotion: For 5 days only 'Merdeka' free on Kindle

Following the success of the Easter promotion, there will now be a Summer one.

If you want to download 'Merdeka' for FREE from the Kindle Store [from 12:00 AM (PST) on Friday 5th July 2013 until 11:59 PM (PST) on Tuesday 9th July 2013], click on one of the links below:

UK Readers,
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Please share this information with anyone you think may have an interest in reading 'Merdeka'.

The Situation In Malaya - Secret Cabinet Briefing Paper

Two weeks after the murders of the first three European's in Malaya a secret briefing paper was produced by the Colonial Office of the British Government for the British Cabinet.  Dated 1st July 1948, the paper covers the following:

• Background to Recent Events
• Present Situation
• Measures to Meet the Situation
• Plan of Future Operations

It is now in the public domain on the National Archives website of the UK Government. To read it click here. 

Has the World forgotten the Malayan Emergency?

Source: Wikipedia

Malaya was the 'domino that didn't fall' to Communism, and most people who were not there (or who do not know of someone who was there), do not seem to know about it.  Yet most people have heard of what happened in Vietnam in the following decades.  During the Malayan Emergency the casualty statistics (according to Wikipedia) were:

16 June 1948 - 3 murders start the Malayan Emergency

Image copyright Roll-of-Honour.com

Just after 8'o'clock in the morning on Saturday 16th June 1948, Arthur Walker, Edinburgh-born manager of the isolated Elphil rubber estate near Sungei Siput, arrived back at his office.   He had just finished his morning inspection of the estate. 

Twenty minutes later three young Chinese rode up to the office on bicycles.  One was heard to say 'Tabek Tuan' (Greetings Sir) and Walker cheerfully replied.  A few seconds later two shots rang out and he was dead, shot through the heart and chest.  The Chinese calmly left.

Malayan Volunteers Group

Work on the second novel is now well underway.  It is set in Malaya during the Second World War.  Detailed research is essential when writing historical fiction and one really great resource is the website of the Malayan Volunteers Group (MVG). 

The MVG developed from an informal gathering of a few British Malayans who were Volunteer Veterans. They used to meet for an annual lunch-time get-together, to talk about times past and to enjoy each other's company. As their numbers gradually decreased over the years, the tradition was carried on by their children and families. The MVG was formed in 2005.  Its aims are:

Read the latest customer review for 'Merdeka' on Amazon

Many thanks to "ted9658" for a 4 star review recently posted on Amazon.co.uk.  Extracts from this review, other customer reviews and professional reviews can be seen on the Review page of this blog, or you can visit 'Merdeka's' customer review page on Amazon.co.uk.