Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

‘I was at times guilty of some bravado in an effort to draw the cunning enemy, such as sometimes standing in the section truck when passing through a regular ambush point and shouting a challenge in Malay - like a dog baying at the moon! It never worked.

And there was a time when I was in charge of a newly-established, section-strength detachment, housed in a wooden Chinese social club hut, fortified at the front only with a rampart of sandbags. The place was called Kangkar Jemuluang, where a week before bandits had carried out a punitive execution of a Chinese storekeeper. The place was known to support the M.R.L.A. and there were many bandit sightings in the locality. So there we were, at section strength in a flimsy defence, on the edge of a fair-sized village whose community was at least in part hostile. We were there for a week or 10 days before relief from Mersing, some miles to the north.

It was unsound militarily, but sound politically. On my first day I decided the only strength our vulnerable position had was to show that we were there and not afraid of them. With myself unarmed, and just one Malay airman and his rifle, I slowly perambulated the whole length of the street and back three times in the course of our first stint. All we drew were dirty looks and women rushing their children inside. But our tour was quiet.’

Leslie Harris on his time in Malaya, as quoted by In Adversity - Exploits of Gallantry and Awards to the R.A.F. Regiment and its Associated Forces 1921-1995, by Squadron Leader N. G. Tucker.

An extremely rare Malaya operations M.M. group of five awarded to Flight Sergeant L. C. E. Harris, Royal Air Force Regiment

Military Medal, G.VI., 2nd issue (4031688 A. Flt. Sgt. L. C. E. Harris, R.A.F. Regt.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (4031688 Act. F. Sgt. L. C. E. Harris, R.A.F.); Coronation 1937, privately engraved, ‘2614432 L./Cpl. L. Harris, 1st Bn. G. Gds.’, good very fine and better (5) £5000-6000

M.M. London Gazette 21 March 1952. The original recommendation states:

‘During the period 20 July - 22 October 1951, Flight Sergeant Harris was the N.C.O. in charge of ‘A’ Flight, No. 95 Squadron, R.A.F. Regiment (Malaya), engaged in Anti-Insurgent Operations in the Sungei Besi district of Selangor. He undertook a great number of patrols and ambushes in a most cheerful manner, and very often under most trying conditions. Throughout, his example has been an inspiration to all who have served under him and the Squadron as a whole.

Flight Sergeant Harris displayed courage, endurance and initiative in the line of duty and through his untiring efforts he discovered numerous food and equipment dumps, insurgent camps and resting places. His information and observance were responsible for further unit successes.

Throughout this period of anti-insurgent duty, Flight Sergeant Harris displayed tremendous keenness, fortitude and fearless leadership far beyond the call of duty.’

Leslie Charles Ewart Harris was born in Cranbrook, Kent, in December 1916, and enlisted in the Grenadier Guards in January 1935. Dissatisfied with ‘the interminable bull-shit’, however, he bought himself out of the 1st Battalion in August 1937 and returned to civilian life. With the advent of hostilities in September 1939, he volunteered his services and was drafted to the East Surrey regiment in March 1940, and on achieving a high score on a course at the Small Arms School, Hythe, he was appointed a Sergeant on the Training Centre Weapons’ Staff and remained similarly employed until being demobilised in March 1946.

In June 1948, he enlisted as a Gunner Instructor in the R.A.F. Regiment, and was immediately appointed to acting rank of Sergeant. Then in November 1949, he was embarked for the Far East, where he joined ‘A’ Flight of No. 95 (Rifle) Squadron in Malaya and was advanced to the acting rank of Flight Sergeant. Of subsequent operations undertaken by ‘A’ Flight, In Adversity - Exploits of Gallantry and Awards to the R.A.F. Regiment and its Associated Forces 1921-1995, by Squadron Leader N. G. Tucker, states:

‘During the middle and latter parts of 1951 No. 95 Rifle Squadron, R.A.F. Regiment (Malaya), was particularly active, conducting anti-terrorist operations in the Sungei Besi district of Selangor. Patrols, up to flight strength, were mounted almost daily amongst the estates and jungle areas. The laying of ambushes to engage the terrorists, or searches to locate their jungle camps, were frequent tasks which brought the Squadron a good deal of success. All flights were engaged with equal vigour, and Flight Sergeant Harris was the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in charge of ‘A’ Flight. He was awarded the Military Medal for his conduct throughout the three-month period of operation, between 20 July and 22 October 1951.

‘A’ Flight was engaged in patrols and ambushes almost immediately, operating in difficult, jungle covered country. Flight Sergeant Harris led a flight-strength patrol within a week of assuming the tasks, and by the end of July ‘A’ Flight had found one bandit camp and engaged insurgents, retrieving clothing, ammunition and documents. During August, the Squadron as a whole operated with the 1st Suffolk Regiment and the Police Jungle Squad on a number of occasions. By the end of the month the intensity of the engagements with the insurgents, the Min Yuen, increased greatly. ‘A’ Flight conducted follow up patrols on two occasions after ‘D’ Flight had carried out 3" mortar strikes, against terrorist bases in the Punchong area. ‘A’ Flight also discovered a further “resting place” for up to 10 men, following an engagement with the Min Yuen on 19 August.

September was by far the most active month during this period of operation. ‘A’ Flight was particularly successful, discovering a total of 10 camps, dumps or resting places, and recovering large quantities of terrorist material. In most of these food and Communist documents were recovered, and one included a printing press and equipment. The camps were usually large enough to hold between 8 and 15 personnel, and there was evidence on a number of occasions, by documents and clothing, that female insurgents were active within these groups. There were a number of engagements, and the Flight was credited with the Squadron's first confirmed kill of a terrorist, following a night ambush.

‘A’ Flight continued its record of success during October, with the Squadron's second kill at the beginning of the month, during a battle with Min Yuen bandits. The dead terrorist had been implicated in at least four murders. The patrol report for this action stated:

“At about 1130, 3 bandits, dressed as tappers were contacted and fire was opened on them at a range of 40 yards. Two were seen to be wounded, one in the arm and the other in the right side. Two blood trails were followed and one disappeared in some baluker. On reaching this point, he stood up to throw a grenade and was killed instantly. The other blood trail disappeared about 20 yards further on down the hill. The other bandit was seen sky lined against the top of the hill momentarily. At this point a further blood trail was later found. A follow up was made but to no avail.

On the bandit killed, one grenade, about 50 elastic bands, and a number of documents were found. He had no identity card or weapon apart from the grenade. The body was handed over to Sungei Besi Police Station at 1145 hours. Ammunition expenditure included 51 x .303, 68 x 9mm, 3 grenades.” ’

Harris received his M.M. at a Buckingham Palace investiture held in February 1953, in which month he was transferred to the Reserve; sold with several photocopied congratulatory letters and messages.