General Service Medal 1918-62 with clasp 'Malaya'
We know very little about this man. We believe he was born between July and September 1934 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire.
Brian reached the age of 18 in 1952, and he will have been conscripted into the Army for his National Service soon afterwards, although we don't know exactly when. National Service lasted for 2 years, and after training Brian was assigned to the 1st Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. He was given the service number 22739471.
The 1st Battalion arrived in Malaya to fight Communist Insurgents in July 1951. Brian will have taken part in patrols of the jungle to try and restrict the movements of the Insurgents and disrupt their activities, although we don't know exactly what he did. The battalion returned to the UK in August 1954. We don't know exactly when he served there or for how long.
After 2 years National Servicemen were released from the Regular Army. They were able to find a civilian job and home, but were required to serve in a Territorial Army unit for the next 3 1/2 years. Brian joined the 9th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment, based in Ashton-under-Lyne.
We don't know anything about the rest of Brian's life.
