John Richards, who lives in Rhos, served alongside soldiers from other countries in the Commonwealth in operations in Malaysia in the early 1960s.

Forty years later, in 2006, the Malaysian government awarded a medal known as the Pingat Jasa Malaysia to all eligible Commonwealth soldiers for their service in operations in the country between August, 1957 and August, 1966.

Mr Richards, like his counterparts from other countries, is very proud of his medal but, unlike them, he and his British comrades are not formally allowed to wear it.

He said: "I served in the Commonwealth brigade with soldiers from Australia, New Zealand and the Ghurkas and we were all awarded this medal. They are allowed to wear it but British soldiers are not, which in my opinion doesn't make sense.

"This was the last straw for me – to be presented with a medal and then to be told I can't wear it.

"It is an insult to the Malaysian government, to the people of Malaysia and to my colleagues and comrades. Most of all it is an insult to those comrades who didn't come back from Malaysia and to their families – that is a terrible insult and one which we won't forgive."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on behalf of the government, is responsible for administering the policy relating to the acceptance and wearing of non-British awards by British citizens.

When the office was approached by the Malaysian government about the medal in 2005, they arranged for the matter to be considered by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals.

Following this consideration, a written ministerial statement, issued on January 31, 2006, stated that an exception would be made to two long-established rules governing the accepting and wearing of foreign, including Commonwealth, awards to allow the Malaysian government to present the medal.

However it also stated: "Permission to wear the PJM will not, however, formally be given. It is long standing Government policy that non-British medals will not be approved for events or service that took place more than five years before initial consideration, or in connection with events that took place in the distant past (e.g. commemorative medals); if the recipient has received a British award for the same service."

Subsequently, on August 8, 2007, the Queen granted permission for the medal to be worn during last year's main independence celebrations in Malaysia from August 15 to September 9, 2007.

Mr Richards, like many of his comrades and high profile figures, is calling for the rules to be changed to allow the Pingat Jasa Malaysia to be worn by British soldiers on any occasion and he is thinking of writing to the Queen about the issue.

He said: "What is the point of allowing the medal to be presented but not allowing us to wear it? I know that the Queen cares a lot about her armed forces and I'm sure that she would agree on this issue.

"I wear my other campaign medals on Armistice Day, why am I not allowed to wear this one?

"It is not like we are asking for a handout from the Government. All we want is to be allowed to wear the medal that we have been awarded.

"It's no big deal to them but it is to the men and women who were out there."