Sergeant Thomas Want was awarded the Military Medal for gallant and distinguished service with 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines in Malaya during the period 1st January to 30th June, 1952.

"Sergeant Want has been engaged on anti-bandit operations since June 1950. Throughout this period he has commanded his sub-section with tireless energy, outstanding devotion to duty and with no other thoughts than to get to grips with the bandits.
On 1st June, 1951, his sub-section had an unexpected encounter with a party of bandits. He immediately led his section into action, killing one bandit and wounding several others with no casualties to his side.
On Christmas Eve 1951, he led his sub-section to an enemy camp in very thick country, in the Kampar Hills, two bandits were contacted and both killed.
On 8th February 1952, when his sub-section came rather unexpectedly on a bandit camp, he quickly took charge of the situation, so that three out of four bandits were killed.
In nearly two years of bandit fighting Sergeant Want’s high sense of duty, his cheerfulness at all times and his complete disregard of his own personal safety have been a magnificent example and inspiration, not only to his sub-section, but also to the remainder of the Troop."