A VETERAN of a “forgotten war” is calling for his and other soldiers’ sacrifice to be officially recognised.

More than 2,200 British and Commonwealth troops were killed and another 2,300 wounded in the Malayan Emergency which started in 1948.

The conflict between allied troops and communist forces of the Malayan National Liberation Army took hold after Japan surrendered in the Second World War.

But despite the death and devastation, John Ambrose, 72, said the conflict was never officially regarded as a war.

He and other veterans want the right to wear a special rosette on their military medal.

Mr Ambrose, of Village Close, Kirby Cross, was a private with the Queen’s Royal Regiment in Malaya while doing his National Service from 1955-57. He said recognition was long overdue.

He said: “It was hardly ever publicised in this country. There wasn’t much about it in the papers – that’s why it’s always been called the Forgotten War.

“You talk to people about the Malaya war and how many people remember it? There’s not many.”

Almost 2,500 civilians and 6,700 communist forces were also killed in the conflict.

Mr Ambrose went out on training patrols into the steaming hot jungle where temperatures soared to 130F. The conflict has been referred to as Britain’s Vietnam.

He said: “You could walk past a communist terrorist laying a foot way from you and you wouldn’t even know they were there.

“While I was there, the battalion lost a couple of men while they were out on patrol, but it was starting to die down by then.”

Mr Ambrose, who is disabled after suffering a serious chest infection 14 years ago, is calling on the Government to recognise the conflict and honour those that served in it.

Troops received a General Service Medal for being in Malaya, but nothing to show they fought for their country against the Malayan anti-British army.

Campaigners claim it has been a “thorn in the side” ever since.

Three years ago, thousands of veterans of the conflict were allowed to receive a commemorative medal from a grateful Malaysian government but banned from wearing them apart from to mark the country’s independence celebrations.

They also want the right to wear that at official ceremonies.