Caption: RAF veteran Morag Goulden shaking hands with Group Captain David Keighley, Station Commander RAF Boulmer. Credit: UK MoD Crown Copyright
An RAF veteran from South Queensferry, in Edinburgh, has been awarded the Pingat Jasa Malaysian Service Medal for her hard work and dedication during the Malaysian Emergency between May 1965 and December 1966.
Senior Aircraftswoman Morag Goulden, 76, served in the RAF as an Air Traffic Assistant from March 1963 to January 1967 and was based at Shawbury, Sopley, Boulmer, Binbrook, Changi and Leuchars.
The prestigious medal is awarded for ‘distinguished chivalry, gallantry, sacrifice or loyalty in contributing to the freedom of independence of Malaysia’, and was presented by Group Captain David Keighley, Station Commander RAF Boulmer, at the RAF Boulmer Honours and Awards Ceremony on 21 July.
Serving at RAF Changi, Morag assisted with the control of aircraft including Shackletons, Hastings, Beverley and Argos, conducting operational maritime recce and air resupply missions, along with receiving fighters and bombers as they disembarked from aircraft carriers from nearby RAF Tengah.
Morag said:
“I am so proud to have received the Pingat Jasa Malaysian Medal for my time at RAF Changi during the period of emergency and confrontation. All in all, my time in the RAF was different on a daily basis and I enjoyed all that I could take part in. I would definitely do it all again!”
Gavin Davey, Area Director for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and NE England at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said:
“It has taken considerable determination over many years by Morag and the RAF Benevolent Fund to have this medal awarded but it has been worth the significant effort. It is a great pleasure to present Morag with the medal that she so richly deserves.”
The RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity, has supported Morag for years, not only with scooping the respected award but by providing financial assistance on numerous occasions. Morag added:
“The Fund have been there for me during difficult moments in my life, including when I was ill with cancer a few years back and required financial support. And they still are today – my cancer has since returned and although I am being well looked after and do not need treatment, the RAF Benevolent Fund have generously allocated me with a sum of money to help with fuel costs as Autumn nears, which is a big relief.”
