Offered is an original General Service Medal 1918-62, with clasp Malaya, to Private Chase, of the Middlesex Regiment, one of very few members of the regiment to be awarded the clasp.
36mm wide circular silver medal with ornate scrolled ribbon suspension bar; the face with the crowned head of King George VI facing left, circumscribed ‘GEORGIVS VI DEI GRA: BRITT: OMN: REX FID: DEF; + ’ (George VI by the Grace of God King of Great Britain Defender of the Faith); the reverse with a standing winged Victory with Greek helmet, an upright trident in her left hand, a laurel wreath in her right hand crowning an upright winged sword, signed ‘E.C.R.P.’; attributed on the edge to 6215741 PTE. P. F. W. CHASE. MX.; on correct ribbon with original ‘MALAYA’ clasp.
Private Chase served in the 2nd Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment in Palestine, being awarded the G.S.M. and clasp Palestine 1945-48, the only member of the unit on the medal award roll (medal/clasp not included) W.O.100/528 - 17/11/1950. While a roll confirmation cannot be found for him for the Malaya clasp, the Middlesex Regiment does not even appear in Haywards or Gordons editions of British Battles & Medals for the Malaya clasp. In terms of both clasps, Private Chase seems to have been a very lucky individual to be in country to receive them both.
The medal was instituted on 19 January 1923 to be awarded to Army and Air Force personnel involved in small conflicts outside Africa and India where a separate campaign medal was not issued. This example dates from the period after the independence of India and before the death of King George VI in 1952; the Malaya clasp was awarded for active service in Malaya after 16 June 1948 against Communist insurgents.
