A war veteran has received recognition for his service in the Malaysia jungle - 41 years after the event.

At the age of 17, Pat Byrne was deployed to Malaysia and took part in what is known as the Forgotten War.

He said: "I am very honoured to receive this award. It came out of the blue."

Mr Byrne, of Middlefield, Halstead, was presented with a Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal by the Malaysian government on August 15, at Chelmsford County Hall.

When Malaysia's independence was granted in August 1957, a ferocious and extensive guerilla campaign was mounted by the Malayan Communist Party.

British troops fought to safeguard Malaysia's sovereignty in a war that lasted until August 1966.

Mr Byrne, 59, who spent two years on duty in Malaysia, said: "It was a nasty, bloody war."

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