Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia, awards medals to members of the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) and other members of the Malayan resistance at the Municipal Building, Singapore.

Shot from the steps of the Municipal Building showing a line of waiting Malayan guerillas of various factions. An MPAJA guerilla steps forward to receive his medals. The fifth (?) MPAJA guerilla steps forward. Cars arriving. Mountbatten arriving. Mountbatten saluting the parade. Mountbatten inspects the guard of honour from 1st Battalion Cameronians. Mountbatten ascends the steps of the Municipal Building; guerillas wait at the base.

Notes

Still photographs by Sergeant Hardy, held by the Imperial War Museum's Photograph Archive, suggest that the first guerilla to receive his medal was Chin Peng. A Chinese Malayan from Perak, he acted as the MPAJA's liaison with the Allies during the war, and (illustrating the turbulent political changes of this region and period) within a few years would be the leader of the Malayan Communist Party during the Malayan Emergency.

Captions also name a Lieu Yau (Liew Yao), Chan Yeung Pan, Fuk Lung, Lin Chang, Chen Tien, Lao Wong, Ho Siew Lit, Chong Ching, Woo (Wu?) Chye Sin, Tan Sian Yay, Yeop Mahidin, Abdul Abdullah Bin Ta'ani and Feh Teh Chung (all spellings questionable).

Besides the MPAJA, other guerilla groups represented include the Pahang Wataniah (by Yeop Mahidin) and Dalforce (Feh Teh Chung).

Given that the Allies had entered into a 'marriage of convenience' with the Malayan Communist Party, and with whom the end of hostilities had brought a rapid souring of relations, there is an obvious political component to these presentations.

Film marred by severely fluctuating contrast and badly marked. For additional coverage see related items.