Elizabeth Cross for Malayan Emergency widow Phyllis Wylie, 63 years on
A war widow has been presented with the Elizabeth Cross in memory of her husband, who was killed in action more than 60 years ago.
- By Craig McManamon
- Published in the Courier : 12.08.11
- Published online : 13.08.11 @ 05.49pm
Phyllis Wylie (88) travelled from Moneydie to Dundee on Thursday to receive the honour from the Lord Lieutenant John Letford at a ceremony in the Queens Hotel.
In 1948 Mrs Wylie's husband, Captain Frederick Hambrook, of the Seaforth Highlanders, was killed during the Malayan Emergency conflict. He was 27.
Dr Shiona Mackie (63) from Edinburgh accompanied her mother to the service on Thursday.
She said, "It's been a long time coming.
"The Chinese insurgency is a conflict that is not often talked about, but it did bring a lot of unhappiness to families."
The Malayan Emergency that raged from 1948 to 1960 was fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA), the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party.
Despite the defeat of the communists in 1960, a renewed insurgency led by communist leader Chin Peng came to the fore just seven years later.
Emblem of recognition
Lasting until 1989, it became known as the Communist Insurgency War.
The Elizabeth Cross is granted to the next of kin of UK armed forces personnel who have died on operations or as a result of an act of terrorism.
It is not a posthumous medal, but an emblem of national recognition for service families for their loss.
Not all deaths of service personnel are eligible, as it was specifically instituted to recognise the unique challenges service personnel face on operations and from terrorism, and the particular burden this places on service families.
Often war widows are unaware of the medal and therefore do not apply.
However one of the aims of the War Widows Association of Great Britain is to ensure families do not miss out on the honour.
The charity was instrumental in the ceremony, with Fife woman Marguerite Doyle on hand to represent it.
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