The Battle of the Imjin River. Korea April 1951

 

imjin
From 22 to 25 of April 1951 around 750 men of the Gloucestershire Regiment and Troop C. 170th Independent Mortar Battery, Royal Artillery, fought a force of over 10,000 Chinese regular troops. Towards the end of the Battle the Glosters were completely surrounded and running out of ammunition. Some men were reduced to fighting with bayonets and fists. Against overwhelming odds the Glosters held the line against the Chinese for four days.
When they were finally given the order to break out only forty men managed to reach safety. The Chinese captured or killed the rest. The Glosters’ actions in delaying the Chinese allowed the rest of the United Nations forces time to regroup and block the advance of the enemy towards the South Korean capital Seoul.
 
For their heroic stand during the Battle of the Imjin River, Korea April 1951 the Glosters were awarded by the President of the United States of America, the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest American award for collective gallantry in battle. [see below]
                                                                                          
Following the amalgamation of the Gloucestershire Regiment with the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment in 1994 the Citation was carried forward to the newly formed, Royal Gloucestershire Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment. A further amalgamation in February 2007 saw the Regiment merged again, this time with the Devon & Dorset Light Infantry to become 1st. Battalion, The Rifles. The decision was made that the Presidential Unit Citation would not be worn by the soldiers of the rifles.
 
 

No longer will the small Blue Flash be worn on the arm of the Soldiers to tell the story of the Bravery of the Glosters in a war fought 50 years ago. Some may call it a forgotten war, not us.

On the 30th March 2008, in a small ceremony held in Gloucester Cathedral, when a copy of the Citation was presented by Lt. Col. Guy Temple MC, Mr. Tony Eagles MBE and Mr. Sam Mercer MBE, three veterans of the battle to the Dean of Gloucester Cathedral. It is placed next to the small stone cross carved by Col. JP Carne VC (CO 1 Glosters) whilst held prisoner in solitary isolation by the Chinese Communist forces.

 
CITATION READS
The 1st. Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, British Army and Troop C. 170th Independent Mortar Battery, Royal Artillery, attached, are cited for exceptionally outstanding performance of duty and extraordinary heroism in action against the armed enemy near Solma-ri, Korea on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th of April 1951. 
 
The 1st. Battalion and Troop C were defending a very critical sector of the battle front during a determined attack by the enemy. The defending units were overwhelmingly outnumbered. 
The 63rd Chinese Communist Army drove the full force of its savage assault at the positions held by the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment and attached unit. The route of supply ran southeast from the Battalion between two hills. 
The hills dominated the surrounding terrain northwest to Imjin River. 
Enemy pressure built up on the battalion front during the day, 23 April. On 24 April, the weight of the attack had driven the right flank of the battalion back. The pressure grew heavier and heavier and the battalion and attached unit were forced into a perimeter defense on Hill 235. During the night, heavy enemy forces had by-passed the staunch defenders and closed all avenues of escape. The courageous soldiers of the battalion and attached unit were holding the critical route selected by the enemy for one column of the general offensive designed to encircle and destroy I Corps. These gallant soldiers would not retreat. As they were compressed tighter and tighter in their perimeter defense, they called for close-in air strikes to assist in holding firm. Completely surrounded by tremendous numbers, these indomitable, resolute, and tenacious soldiers fought back with unsurpassed fortitude and courage. As ammunition ran low and the advancing hordes moved closer and closer, these splendid soldiers fought back viciously to prevent the enemy from overrunning the position and moving rapidly on the south. 
 
Their heroic stand provided the critically needed time to regroup other I Corps units and block the southern advance of the enemy. Time and again efforts were made to reach the battalion, but the enemy strength blocked each effort. Without thought of defeat or surrender, this heroic force demonstrated superb battlefield courage and discipline. Every yard of ground they surrendered was covered with enemy dead until the last gallant soldier of the fighting battalion was overpowered by the final surge of the enemy masses. 
The 1st. Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment and Troop C. 170th. Independent Mortar Battery displayed such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing their mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as to set them apart and above other units participating in the same battle. 
Their sustained brilliance in battle, their resoluteness, and extraordinary heroism are in keeping with the finest traditions of the renowned military forces of the British Commonwealth, and reflect unsurpassed credit on these courageous soldiers and their homeland. 
The Gloster Hill Memorial, Korea
 
BY COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL VAN FLEET 
 
GLOSTERS ROLL OF HONOUR KOREA
 Pte. S A W Allum 22370578
Died 23.04.51 No Known Grave 
 
Major P A Angier 
Died 23.04.51 No Known Grave
 
22346555 Pte A L Bailey
 Died 25.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
 Plot 23, Row 11, Grave No. 1672
 
6400228 Pte C E Bailey
Died 6.02.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 4, Row 2, Grave No.123
 
22530093 L/Cpl K W Baldwin
Died 26.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan 
Plot 24, Row 7 Grave No.1765
 
22341326 Pte R T Ballard
Died 23.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan 
Plot 23, Row 11, Grave No. 1673
 
22530139 L/Cpl D A Balls 
Died 23.04.51 No Known Grave
 
14405268 Pte D N Barber 
Died 25.04.51 No Known Grave
 
13021614 Pte F T Barclay 
Died 24.04.51 No Known Grave
 
21015246 Cpl L J Bishop 
Died 23/24.4.51 No Known Grave
 
14453219 Pte V T Bowl 
Died 03.07.51 No Known Grave
 
22204567 Pte F S Brailsford 
Died 19.03.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 4, Row 3, Grave No. 136
 
19030887 Cpl G B Burchill
Died 24/25.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 9, Grave No. 1790
 
22266031Pte M R E Burton 
Died 16.02.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 4, Row 2, Grave No. 132
 
22373549 Pte R J Burton 
Died 23.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 8, Grave No. 1777
 
5182258 CQMS [C.Sgt] H E Buxcey
Died 26.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 7, Grave No. 1769
 
397831 Lt H C Cabral
Died 27.11.51 No Known Grave
 
5049612 Pte J Cain 
Died 24.04.51 No Known Grave
 
22530192 Pte A Campbell. Att. R. Norfolk Rgt
Died 26/27.11.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 22, Row 1, Grave No. 1409
 
926712 Pte D Cason
Died 15.02.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 4, Row 2, Grave No. 128
 
1470486 Pte R H Cham 
Died 22.09.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 70, Row 8, Grave No. 7829
 
22348452 Pte G Chapman 
Died 26.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 7, Grave No. 1773
 
71440 Pte N F Chitty
Died 25.04.51 No Known Grave
 
4041595 Pte G Clarke
Died 26.04.51 No Known Grave
 
22332701 Pte F M Clutterbuck
Died 26.04.51 No Known Grave
 
22530176 Pte R B Cook 
Died 23.04.51 No Known Grave
 
22348454 Pte D A Cornish
Died 24.04.51 No Known Grave
 
14218391 Pte J J Cragg 
Died 22.06.52 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 70, Row 7, Grave No. 7815
 
22530041 Pte R E Crews 
Died 26.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 70, Row 3, Grave No. 7776
 
5570115Pte E Crowson 
Died 13.02.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 4, Row 1, Grave No. 115
 
365680 Lt. P K E Curtis VC. DCLI att 1 Glosters
Died 23.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 10, Grave No. 1809
 
22530138 Pte G Davies
Died 16.02.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 4, Row 2, Grave No. 127
 
6290154 Pte W E Dix
Died 24.04.51 No Known Grave
 
4468299 Pte W J Donaldson 
Died 09.06.51 No Known Grave
 
106657 Pte R Dwyer 
Died 25.11.50 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 70, Row 8, Grave No. 7835
 
14076869 Sgt K D Eames MM
Died 26.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 7, Grave No. 1770
 
6460551 Pte G Ellson [M'sex Regt att Glosters]
Died 15.02.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 4, Row 1, Grave No. 118
 
5049608 Pte P J Etherington 
Died 25.04.51 No Known Grave
 
14448578 Cpl R F Firth [DWR att 1 Glosters]
Died 10.07.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 4, Grave No. 1735
 
22346580 Pte D G Fluck 
Died 13.06.51 No Known Grave
 
413584 2nd. Lt B S Gael  
Died 17.06.51 No Known Grave
 
22289532 Pte B G Gallup 
Died 01.08.51 No Known Grave
 
22096764 Pte R A Gilding 
Died 25.04.51 No Known Grave
 
19035231 Pte C G W Gray 
Died 23.06.51 No Known Grave
 
22348472 L/Cpl R J Gray
Died 29.06.51 No Known Grave
 
22530290 Pte H Green
Died 26.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 9, Grave No. 1800
22401954 Pte G H Groom 
Died 29.10.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 23, Row 3, Grave No. 1574
 
22287002 Pte K G Gudge 
Died 24.04.51 No Known Grave
 
22332720 Pte D R K Hamson 
Died 23.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 7, Grave No. 1776
 
22522209 Pte G R Harris
Died 05.06.51 No Known Grave
 
22273326 Pte E E Harrison
Died 01.05.51 No Known Grave
 
19034201 Pte W J Hawkes
Died 26.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 7, Grave No. 1774
 
869731 Cpl A Herrall 
Died 16.02.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 4, Row 2, Grave No 130
 
22341857 Pte J D Heward [Glos att RUR]
Died 19.02.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 4, Row 3, Grave No 138
 
5989281 Pte V H Hill 
Died 25.04.51 No Known Grave
 
22530111 Pte F B Hilton 
Died 26.04.51 No Known Grave
 
22244114 Pte D L Hobden 
Died 18.05.52 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 22, Row 3, Grave No. 1437
 
22341335 Pte P D Hone 
Died 24.04.51 No Known Grave
 
5570070 Pte R W Hughes 
Died 25.04.51 No Known Grave
 
5110484 Pte G N Hunter
Died 05.11.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 70, Row 6, Grave No 7811
 
22288886 Cpl R L V Hurst MD
Died 16.11.51Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 70, Row 6, Grave No. 7804
 
6345458 L/Cpl G Inns [M'sex Regt att Glosters]
Died 24.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 17, Row 2, Grave No. 703
 
14054860 Pte B L Jackson 
Died 04.07.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 70, Row 11, Grave No. 7862
 
22304253 Pte D G E Jones [Glos att RUR]
Died 28.04.51 No Known Grave
 
6400278 Pte H Jones 
Died 23.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 7, Grave No. 1775
 
19048173 Cpl R E Jones
Died 16.02.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 4, Row 2, Grave No. 129
 
6202999 Pte A G Judge [M'sex Regt att Glosters]
Died 23.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 7, Grave No. 1766
 
5569911 Pte T J Kelly
Died 13.02.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 4, Row 1, Grave No. 114
 
14456265 Pte D W King [att RUR]
Died 25.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 17, Row 10, Grave No. 804
 
6299820 Pte S H Law 
Died 11.12.50 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 17, Row 5, Grave No. 739
 
5336089 L/Cpl G H Lawrence 
Died 25.11.50 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 70, Row 6, Grave No. 7809
 
22189576 L/Cpl G L S Lee 
Died 25.09.51 No Known Grave
 
22249497 Pte E C Madgwick 
Died 01.05.51 No Known Grave
 
407962 2nd Lt J M Maycock
Died 23.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 23, Row 11, Grave No. 1678
 
206612 Cpl P J Maycock 
Died 25.04.51 No Known Grave
 
22550279 Pte T Meads
Died 24.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 39, Row 5, Grave No. 3372
 
14467055 L/Cpl D D Mew 
Died 21.09.51 No Known Grave
 
1609997 Pte J Morley 
Died 24/25.04.51 No Known Grave
 
22315901 Pte D G Morris [att RUR]
Died 25.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 2, Grave No. 1713
 
22184326 Pte E C Morriss 
Died 25.04.51 No Known Grave
 
3654440 Pte J Moyes 
Died 17.10.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 70, Row 9, Grave No. 7842
 
14462575 Sgt D Northey MD
Died 24.04.51 No Known Grave
 
22373545 Pte R T Othen 
Died 11.08.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 70, Row 9, Grave No. 7843
 
3959923 Pte K J Partis 
Died 24.12.50 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 17, Row 9, Grave No. 788
 
5619449 Pte E W Partridge 
Died 04.01.52 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 70, Row 6, Grave No. 7812
 
22192181 Pte L C Payne
Died 05.09.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 70, Row 11, Grave No. 7865
 
22530239 Pte A K Pearce
Died 25.04.51 No Known Grave
 
14459082 Pte M C W J Penrose 
Died 01.06.51 No Known Grave
 
5110764 Cpl W D Possee 
Died 26.04.51 No Known Grave
 
19034202 Cpl A J Powell 
Died 25.10.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 70, Row 6, Grave No. 7807
 
380896 Cptn R A St M Reeve-Tucker
Died 25.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 9, Grave No. 1789
 
370845 Lt L H St C Reilly [att M'sex Regt]
Died 11.01.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 4, Row 1, Grave No. 109
 
22548939 Pte J P Richards [Welch Regt att Glosters]
Died 25.12.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 23, Row 10, Grave No. 1658
 
5186750 Pte W Roberts 
Died 25.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 9, Grave No. 1793
 
22341296 Pte B N Robins
Died 24.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 17, Row 3, Grave No. 715
 
5885232 Pte F W Shelton
Died 01.08.51 No Known Grave
 
22198632 Pte A J Sheppard
Died 26.04.51 No Known Grave
 
14421345 Cpl J E Short 
Died 24.05.51 No Known Grave
 
397307 Lt. D A Simcox [Beds & Herts att Glosters]
Died 16.02.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 4, Row 2, Grave No. 126
 
22341319 Pte J B Skoines
Died 24.04.51 No Known Grave
 
2066993 L/Cpl G Spuffard 
Died 16.02.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 4, Row 2, Grave No. 124
 
1469820 Pte W F Synnott 
Died 24.04.51 No Known Grave
 
22244986 L/Cpl D M Taylor 
Died 25.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 7, Grave No. 1768
 
5569912 L/Cpl I J Taylor
Died 24.04.51 No Known Grave
 
22530194 Pte H F E Tucker 
Died 23.04.51 No Known Grave
 
6015121 Pte W G Tyler
Died 16.02.51Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan 
Plot 4, Row 2, Grave no. 125
 
3662604 Pte H Uttley
Died 23.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 17, Row 3, Grave No. 711
 
14189010 Pte R Vosper 
Died 24/25.04.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 24, Row 7, Grave No. 1771
 
403718 2nd Lt. T E Waters GC. [W Yorks att Glosters]
Died 01.06.51 No Known Grave
 
14456816 Cpl R W Wellington 
Died 24.10.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 70, Row 6, Grave No. 7810
 
6142972 Pte K F Williams
Died 16.02.51 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 4, Row 2, Grave No. 131
 
22329595 Pte D W Winter 
Died 24.04.51 No Known Grave
 
6286946 Pte J R Wylie
Died 12.12.50 Buried UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan
Plot 17, Row 5, Grave No. 738
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