From 22 April 1951 , some 700 Glosters were surrounded , but held their ground for three days , against over 10,000 Chinese troops until their ammunition was exhausted . This remains one of the bloodiest battles fought by British Forces since World War II , with over a third of troops killed or wounded and hundreds imprisoned for more than two years in POW camps .
For their heroic stand , the Glosters and Mortar Battery were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation , America ’ s highest award for extraordinary heroism and collective gallantry in battle , and earned the nickname ‘ The Glorious Glosters ’.
Later a ceasefire was agreed , although North and South Korea never signed a peace treaty , meaning they are officially still at war . Large numbers of US troops remain stationed in South Korea , some of whom are now based in the ARRC ’ s Gloucester headquarters .
IMJIN ALLIES
Imjin Barracks still proudly maintains its ties with The Glorious Glosters . On the anniversary of the battle , the Sergeant and Warrant Officers ’ Mess normally host Gloucestershire veterans at an Imjin dinner night . Throughout this military Mess many reminders of Imjin can still be found . Amongst these are the original sign from the Glosters ’ barracks , the main bar named after the infamous Korean veteran , ambassador and lifelong teetotaller Sam Mercer , and small yellow symbols in various location around the building denoting the presidential citation .
Barracks sign from 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment , now held in Imjin Barracks Sergeant and Warrant Officers ’ Mess
Bar in the Sergeant and Warrant Officers ’ Mess , named after Glosters veteran Private Sam Mercer MBE
Across the road , outside Imjin Officers ’ Mess , sits a 25-pounder ‘ gate guardian ’. Believed to have seen service with the ARRC ’ s forebear formation , the British Army of the Rhine , it is unlikely to have been used during this campaign , although 25pdr artillery pieces were widely used during the Korea campaign .
The three-year Korean conflict involved a number of nations who are still based at the ARRC ’ s Imjin headquarters today . Troop contributing nations include the US , who led the United Nations mission , Belgium , Britain , Canada , France , Greece , the Netherlands and Turkey . In addition , Denmark , Italy and Norway provided medical support to the campaign . It is hoped representatives from these nations will be able to form a multinational marching contingent later this year and parade through the City of Gloucester , as part of delayed Imjin 70 commemorations .
GLORIOUS GLOUCESTER
70 years on and the City has not forgotten the Gloucestershire Regiment . Their illustrious history , from 1881-1994 ( although it could trace its ancestry back to 1694 ), earned them the most battle honours of any British line regiment of the time and their moto , ‘ by our deeds we are known ’. They were succeeded by the Royal Gloucester Berkshire and Wiltshire ( RGBW ) Regiment and then ‘ The Rifles ’. More information and an exhibition about the Glosters can be found at the Soldiers of Gloucestershire museum at Gloucester Docks .
Gloucester Docks is the location of a quayside called ‘ Paju Walk ’, a symbol of Gloucester ’ s friendship with the South Korean city of Paju . Paju is now the location of an incredible war memorial , built by its citizens to honour the actions of the Glosters in protecting the city . Although the main Imjin 70 commemorations in Paju were cancelled due to Covid , ARRC soldiers are still planning to visit the memorial during a battlefield study later in 2021 .
Paju Walk , Gloucester Docks
25-pounder gun outside Imjin Barracks Officers ’ Mess
More recently , during the Covid pandemic , Paju gifted PPE to Gloucester City as a token of friendship . This was distributed to care homes housing veterans throughout Gloucestershire . The city of Paju hopes to further extend their ties to areas such as schools and sports and Korean delegations regularly visit Gloucester . A further visit to commemorate Imjin 70 is planned later this year .
Gloucester Cathedral is home of the Carne Cross , named after the Glosters ’ commanding officer . Held hostage along with hundreds of troops in appalling conditions in communist Korea , he was singled out for special treatment as the senior British officer . While being tortured , drugged and held in solitary confinement , he used a nail to carve a small stone cross , which was then used for church services by the prisoners . His Victoria Cross , Britain ’ s highest award for gallantry , is now held at the Soldiers of Gloucestershire museum .
The Korea Friendship Trail ( see page 15 for details ), one of the Cotswolds Way circular walks , can also be found in Gloucestershire .
NATIONAL TREASURES
Further afield in the U . K ., there are some fascinating exhibits and archives at the Imperial War Museum and the National Army Museum . Some of these can be explored online , including the NAM ’ s mystery of a Gurkha bugle . This was thought to have been taken from the 2nd Gurkha Rifles Battalion by the Japanese during the Malaya campaign in 1941 and was found 10 years later on Chinese positions in Gloster Valley , Korea .
Gurkha bugle found on Chinese positions in Gloster Valley . Photo courtesy of the National Army Museum
Throughout 2021 a series of events were planned to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Imjin . While many of these have been cancelled due to Covid , services in Gloucester Cathedral , a parade through Gloucester city and a South Korean ‘ Imjin village ’ at Gloucester Docks are being planned later this year .
Watch out for further ‘ Imjin 70 ’ details , digital products and videos on the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps ’ Website , Social Media and YouTube channels
With thanks to the National Army Museum , Gloucester Cathedral and Hannah Kim for photos .
The Carne Cross at Gloucester Cathedral . Photo courtesy of Gloucester Cathedral
the imjin SPRING 2021
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