A rare post-war B.E.M. for Gallantry awarded to Native Officer Class II Jarit Meluda, Sarawak Police

British Empire Medal (Civil) E.II.R., with silver oak leaves for gallantry (Jarit Meluda) good very fine £500-700

One of approximately 70 such awards made to overseas police forces.

B.E.M. London Gazette 13 October 1959:

‘Information was received by Jarit Meluda that a man who was wanted for murder and had been a fugitive from justice for many months had been located. It was known that he was armed and aggressive and had threatened he would shoot if attempts were made to arrest him. Meluda, unarmed and without any police escort, went to the farming hut where the murderer was reported to be living. After many hours of patient and nerve-wracking talk Meluda eventually persuaded the man to return with him to the Government Station and he was taken by canoe to the police in Sibu. The criminal never parted with his loaded shot-gun and at any time Meluda, who displayed initiative and courage of a very high order, might have been the victim of a murderous assualt.’

Jarit Meluda was serving at the Government Station on the Julau River at the time of the above incident. A good friend of District Officer Anthony Richards, Meluda co-authored a book with him about fishing in Sarawak, an English edition entitled Hunting Lore being published in 1965. A vast archive of photographs taken by Richards during his time as a District Officer in the period 1939-64 is held by the University of Malaysia, Sarawak, and the Tun Jugah Foundation at Kuching, and most probably include numerous images of Meluda. Sold with some further details.