Britains Bloodiest Post-WWII Battle: Imjin River

On the night of April 22nd, 1951, the greatest offensive of the Korean War was unleashed.

Across the key axis of the Communist advance, on the Imjin River, was deployed Britains 29th Infantry Brigade: the Belgian Battalion, 1st Btn, the Glosters, 1st Btn the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, 1st Btn, Royal Ulster Rifles, with C Squadron, 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars, 45 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery and 55 Field Squadron, Royal Engineers. Ranged against them was Chinas entire 63rd Army: 187th Division, 188th Division and 189th Division. For three desperate nights, the brigade defied 7-1 odds to hold the line. And on Hill 235, in one of the wars greatest tragedies, the Glorious Glosters, were cut off, surrounded, and wiped out.

Nearly 60 years later, Imjin River remains Britains bloodiest post-war action. Here - in the words and images of the men who fought - is the story of a battle that has passed into legend.

Tags: war, battle, British Army, Chinese Army, Korean War, Imjin River, Belgian, Gloster, Fusilier, Ulster, Hussar, Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, last stand, offensive, tragedy, veteran, VC, GC

Music:
Main Theme, Elk Hunt and Promontery from the Last of the Mohicans by Trevor Jones and Dougie Maclean.

Text:
Quotes are from To the Last Round: The Epic British Stand on the Imjin River, Korea, 1951, unless otherwise specified.




Photos and Artwork:

Slide 3: Royal Ulster Rifles Museum

Slide 5: By Mervyn McCord, Royal Ulster Rifles

Slide 7: Royal Ulster Rifles Museum

Slide 9: Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum

Slide 13: Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum

Slide 15: By Padre Vander Goten. Courtesy Jan Dillen

Slide 17: National War Memorial of Korea

Slide 19: Royal Engineers Museum

Slide 21: Mervyn McCord, Royal Ulster Rifles

Slide 23: Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum

Slide 25: National War Memorial of Korea

Slide 27: By Terence Cuneo. Courtesy Royal Artillery Institute

Slide 29: John Preston-Bell, 8th Hussars

Slide 31: By Padre Vander Goten. Courtesy Jan Dillen

Slide 33: Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum

Slide 36: By John Preston-Bell, 8th Hussars

Slide 38: By Padre Vander Goten. Courtesy Jan Dillen

Slide 40: By Mervyn McCord, Royal Ulster Rifles

Slide 42: Royal Northumberland Fusiliers Museum

Slide 44: By Padre Vander Goten. Courtesy Jan Dillen

Slide 46: By David Rowlands

Slide 48: By John Preston-Bell, 8th Hussars

Slide 50: By John Preston-Bell, 8th Hussars

Slide 52: By Vander Goten, Courtesy Jan Dillen

Slide 54: Courtesy 8th Hussars

Slide 56: By Padre Vander Goten. Courtesy Jan Dillen.

Slide 58: Cheshire Military Museum

Slide 60: Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum

Slide 62: Royal Ulster Rifles Musuem

Slide 64: Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum

Slide 66: By Ken Howard. Courtesy Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum

Slide 68: By AR Thompson. Courtesy Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum

Slide 70: Royal Ulster Rifles Museum

Slide 72: By Andrew Salmon

Slide 74: By Andrew Salmon

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• war
• battle
• British Army
• Chinese Army
• Korean War
• Imjin River
• Belgian
• Gloster
• Fusilier
• Ulster
• Hussar
• Royal Engineers
• Royal Artillery
• last stand
• offensive
• tragedy
• veteran
• VC
• GC

[craneboy12345]

Put a massive lump in my throat that....... The British Army always makes up for what it lacks in numbers for sheer outstanding bravery and professionalism and the reason why the American's wanted us there because they knew 29th Brigade could do the job !

[natlew123]

im just glad my father was one of the survivors of the glorious glosters,otherwise i wouldnt be writing this...he died last year and never spoke about the war!!

[singa754]

Thanks for this, my Father was was a commander in C squadron 8th KRIH and was taken prisoner in the Battle of Imjin River. He spoke very little of events in Korea but the scars were visible for the rest of his life. posts like this help to fill in the pieces of exactly what all the men who fought there went through! Lest we forget.

[revolutionary17]

This is why I am not worried about war with China in the comming conflicts of 2012. Those glosters are true warriors that will NEVER be forgotten. may they rest in eternal peace. 

[ColonelRHS]

Liverpool Scottish.....all I can say is that it's a damned shame. I would certainly rate their sacrifice among the top of history's notable battles where a few, knowing death was at their side, did so much, against so many. Their story deserves to live on. The probelm with Hollywood would be that they would screw it up, twist the facts, and in short dishonor what really happened.

[LIVERPOOLSCOTTISH]

@ColonelRHS I will tell you WHY they will never make a film about 29th Brigade. Because they were BRITISH, not American. Hollywood would never consider putting money into a film which highlights how a steadfast British Brigade saved an entire US Corps from being cut off and annihilated. I have discussed the matter with author Andrew Salmon, and he agrees entirely. This story should be told in film, but sadly it never will be.

[fkafly]

im 44 years old and have only just found out my grandad was there... william roper wwould have been 100 this year R.IP

[Banshee135]

@Bencook9139 Check your Regimental history Ben. The famous Back Badge was won at Alexandria in 1801.

[ColonelRHS]

I was on the DMZ in Korea in 70-71 and heard about the story of this gallant stand. I saw the hills and mountain they defended. There was a big tomb sealed in the mountain where many were buried. The Koreans spoke of this battle always in hushed tones and with reverence. It's a damned shame someone does not make a movie about this..it deserves being told to todays generations, most of whom are cluelss about sacrifice and bravery.

[Azog150]

@jonnyb1900

They risk life and limb chasing cheese down big fuck off hills in Gloucestershire, so when they come across something actually worth risking your life for tey do it to the upmost of their ability!