Medals for Military service in South-East Asia 1950 to 2011

The Government has directed a Joint Working Group to review medallic recognition for military service in South-East Asia from 1950 to the current day. The public consultation phase of this review started today.
Many military personnel who served in South-East Asia from 1950 onwards did not receive operational service medals, especially for service in Malaysia and Singapore after 1965. This was due to decisions at the time that the level of military threat to the deployed personnel was too low to justify the award of a medal.
“A Government project is now underway to establish whether any grounds exist for overturning previous decisions on this matter. Former and current military personnel will now have the opportunity to comment on the appropriate medallic recognition for their service in South-East Asia,” said the Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Rhys Jones.
“This review is part of the Government’s commitment to ensure military personnel receive suitable recognition for their service,” he said.
The Joint Working Group is chaired by former Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Neil Walter. It includes representatives from the Defence Force, the RNZRSA, Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand and an observer from the Honours Unit, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Public consultation closes on Tuesday 23 August 2011, and the working group expects to report back to the Government by 31 October 2011. The consultation documents will be distributed via the RNZRSA Affiliates network, and can also be viewed and downloaded from the South-East Asia review page of the New Zealand Defence Force Medals website.
Note: Hard copies of the South-East Asia consultation documents can be obtained by phoning 04 498 6827, contacting us through our website contact form (select ‘Medals Policy’ as the topic) or writing to:
The Deputy Director Medals Policy,
Defence Personnel Executive,
Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force,
Private Bag 39997,
Wellington 5045.
How do I make a submission?
1. Please carefully read the three documents which can be downloaded from the South-East Asia review page of our website.
2. Then submissions (with supporting evidence and a completed Checklist for Submissions) can be e-mailed to medals.admp@nzdf.mil.nz ; or posted to:
Medallic Recognition Joint Working Group
c/- Deputy Director Medals Policy
Defence Personnel Executive
Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force
Private Bag 39997
WELLINGTON 5045
Checklist for Submission
Consulation Documentation
Cooke Report to be read in Conjunction with Consulation Documentation
Just so you are all aware of Peter Cooke’s background I have included his biographical details below.

About Me

I live in Wellington, where the archives are. This is my parentage: Geoff Cooke and Patricia Cooke (nee Lett). Of stout Worcestershire farming stock, Geoff Cooke’s people moved to Kenya in the 1920s. He served in WWII with the Northamptonshire Regt on the Rhine and Military Police in Dusseldorf. Back in Kenya Geoff organised the Embu Guard during the Mau Mau before becoming District Officer, Kikuyu. Patricia Lett was born to William Lett OBE (for his WWII role in Customs & Excise in Northern Ireland). After 6 years in theatre in London Patricia joined the British Army and, commissioned a lieutenant in the WRAC, served in GHQ Nairobi during the Mau Mau. She subsequently had a career in NZ education, theatre and Shakespeare. I was born in Cambridge, UK, 1958 and nurtured in Kenya, then after seven years, Tauranga, NZ. I read history at Massey University, completing a BA and BA Hons with a dissertation on ‘NZ Defence Policy 1919-41’. My current role is as a self-employed historian. Carol Comber and I have two children. For profiles see Phanzine, March 2002; With a Passion (Fitzsimons & Beckford, 2001); Shell Oceania, July 2002, Dec 2004 Contact 0274 512 312 Box 9724, Wellington 6141, NZ

Publications and Research

The Gunners, Official History of Royal NZ Artillery, Raupo, 2008 –All Formed Up, History of Wellington RSA 1916-2007, WRSA, 2008 –Corps history of the Royal NZ Electrical & Mechanical Engineers 1942-96, draft 2007 –Regimental history of the 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly’s) & Northland Battalion, RNZIR, 1918-todate, draft 2008 –Defending New Zealand – Ramparts on the Sea 1840-1950s. Defence of NZ Study Group, Wellington, 2000-02. 3 volumes –Military Heritage in Wellington Region, Wellington Branch Ctee NZ HPT guide, 2004 –No Better Death. The Great War Diaries of William G Malone. Edited by John Crawford with Peter Cooke. Reed 2005, launched by the PM 8 August 2005 –Forts & Works, Defence of NZ Study Group, editor 1996-todate –Fighting Vehicles & Weapons of Rhodesia, 1965-80, with Peter Locke. P&P Publishing, 1995. –National War Memorial, historical background for Boffa Misekll’s Conservation Plan, Ministry for Culture & Heritage, 2003, published 2004 –Chaff, Journal of the Massey University Students Assn, edited 1983 –Our Water History – on Tap, Water Supply in the Wellington Region 1867-2006, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Oct 2007 –Shell in New Zealand, Shell Heritage Society. Published 1 September 2004 –Heritage reports on diverse subjects: bus barn, dam, lighthouse, scout hall, coast defence battery, railway bridges, mining managers house and the suburb of Mt Cook, Wellington.