MORE than 500 officers and men of the 1st Battalion, the Worcestershire Regiment received a rapturous welcome on the dockside at Southampton when they arrived home from active service in Malaya at this time 50 years ago.

Berrow's Journal for this week of 1953 carried lengthy reports on the homecoming which, alas, was also tinged with great sadness as 11 men of the battalion did not return, having been killed by terrorists in Malaya.

The Journal reported: "Resounding cheers from relatives and friends greeted the 1st Battalion when they arrived at Southampton on board the 14,000-ton troopship 'Empire Windrush' on Monday after three years' service in Malaya.

"More than 350 parents, wives, brothers and sisters, fiancees and friends made the long journey by car or coach from Worcestershire to greet their menfolk. The Customs sheds on the quayside were the scene of many happy, excited reunions as the troops came ashore after their 19-day voyage.

"The Worcesters were welcomed at Southampton by the Colonel of the Regiment, General Sir Richard Gale, who is C-in-C of the Rhine Army. He told them: 'You have acquitted yourselves as very fine soldiers of a very fine regiment'.

"As the troopship, shepherded by a noisy complement of tugs, nosed slowly into dock, the Band of the Worcestershire Regiment struck up the lively air Royal Windsor, the Regimental march, and the sun broke through the clouds to bring added warmth to the greeting.

"To most of the regular soldiers, there was little of novelty about a homecoming, but two-thirds of the battalion are National Servicemen to whom the Malayan posting had meant prolonged separation from their families for the first time.

"In recent months, events in Korea and the activities of the Mau Mau have perhaps overshadowed the battle in Malaya, but methodically and efficiently British troops have been forwarding their task of restoring peace to a potentially rich colony.

"No regiment has played a greater part than the Worcestershire. Going to Malaya from Germany in June 1950 and receiving only two months' special training in jungle warfare at Singapore, they steadfastly met tropical heat and deluges and the enemy, and mastered each in turn.

"They carried out regular patrols and brought freedom from the constant fear of terrorist attack to many hundreds of natives and Europeans.

"They killed 50 bandits in the process, wounded many more, and captured several. As souvenirs, the Worcesters brought home two rifles and a revolver taken from the terrorists as items to be placed in the Regimental Museum at Norton Barracks, Worcester.

"Tragically, one officer and 10 men of the 1st Battalion were not on board the 'Empire Windrush' - they died in action in Malaya.

"The morning after arriving at Southampton, the battalion left by train for Bulford Camp on Salisbury Plain.

"Next week, however, 300 of the officers and men will come to Worcester to receive a very warm welcome home to their county town.

"They will parade to the Cathedral for a special service and then take part in a march past along High Street where the salute will be taken outside the Guildhall by the Mayor of Worcester, Alderman Dr F.L. Spalding, accompanied by mayors from other boroughs in the county. The battalion will then be entertained to refreshments at a civic reception in the Guildhall."