More than 200 Lincolnshire veterans, including 42 from Grantham, received the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal at a special ceremony at the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks.

The Malaysian deputy defence advisor, Lt Col Mudsamir Abdullah, attended the event to honour the sacrifice made by servicemen in protecting the sovereignty of his country between 1957 and 1966.

Mr Abdullah said: "This medal is awarded to former security personnel and also civilian staff from the commonwealth countries who served in Malaya and Malaysia for the gallantry and also the sacrifices and loyalty in up-holding the sovereignty of our country.

"It is a small token of our appreciation from the government and also the people of Malaysia, for your outstanding contribution."

It was an emotional day for many veterans, with some medals being received from widows of deceased soldiers.

George Reeve is secretary of the Grantham branch of the National Malay and Borneo Veterans Association and helped to organise the event.

He said: "It is tremendous to be recognised by a foreign government. Particularly so because those that fought since 1945 get very little recognition.

"Occassionally, we get mentions of Korea but the most successful campaigns fought by the Britsh is the Malaya and Borneo campaigns.

"It was a hard task and you never knew who the enemy was, as with most of the campaigns since 1945, the military do not know who they are up against."

Grantham Mayor, Graham Wheat, is himself a veteran of the campaign and received his medal in Stamford last year.

He said: "I think it is a tribute from the Malaysian governement to the men that servedin their country on behalf of all the free living people.

"It has been an excellent day, both for the people getting their medals and, of course, the people putting it on for them."

The national association had to lobby the British Government to allow the veterans to accept the award. However, the veterans are not allowed to wear their medal as the British Government still frowns on medals from foreign governements.