I must respond to Ray Spence's comments on foreign medals (Letters, March 18). I have no idea where he got his information but he is way off the mark as regards facts.

He is completely wrong in his assertion that only medals for gallantry from foreign nations are allowed to be worn. There have been more than 40 cases in the past 100 years where campaign or commemorative medals have been allowed. Also, there has never been a distinction between the wearing of a full-sized medal and its miniature form - any ban on wearing of the one applies to the other.

Mr Spence misses one important point - all the recipients of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) medal are now retired from service. The youngest of them will be in their early 60s. The military rules do not apply.

Furthermore, in 1968 an announcement in the London Gazette read: "The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve that orders, decorations and medals conferred with Her Majesty's permission upon United Kingdom citizens...

by heads of governments of Commonwealth countries of which the Queen is not head of state, may in all cases be worn by the recipients without restriction."

The PJM has been so authorised by the Queen to be accepted and so it follows that unrestricted wearing of the medal is also authorised.

  • Gerald Law, Knole Close, Crawley

With regard to wearing decorations, Ray Spence is correct in that only British awards can be worn with uniform, while serving. When you retire, the MoD has no control over what a person does or does not wear.

I am still waiting for my Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal as the headquarters of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers does not work as fast as a speeding bullet but rather the opposite.

If I had claimed it through the National Malaya and Borneo Veterans' Association I would have been awarded my medal at a ceremony in the Malaysian Embassy last year, along with a former comrade.

When I am eventually awarded my medal I shall wear the miniature alongside my British awards when I wear evening dress and the MoD can take a running jump at itself.

As for other services being envious of our awards, I wonder. The US armed forces regard any British award to be well earned by the recipient. US forces get a medal just for leaving the US.

  • Rod Ackers, Lucerne Close Portslade