1950 - 1953 • A ‘Forgotten’ Conflict That Shaped the Modern World

The Glorious Glosters

g

Their indomitable last stand, fought over 3 days (22-25 April 1951), remains one of the bloodiest, most desperate and costly battles ever fought by the British Army since WW2. Against insurmountable odds, the 'Glorious Glosters' defended their hilltop position and halted the advancement of 10,000 Chinese toward Seoul. Giving South Korean, United Nations and Allied troops the chance to regroup to a stronger defensive position, stopping North Korean and Chinese forces advancing south.

c

Between 600 and 700 British soldiers had fallen back to Hill 235. The Chinese had them surrounded on all sides. All attempts to reinforce their position had failed, including support from tanks that couldn’t surpass the steep terrain. Only 39 men escaped from being captured or killed. The hill has been renamed 'Gloster Hill' in honour of the 'Glorious Glosters'.

c

Lt. Col. James Carne never quit on his men. He inspired his troops to repel repeated attacks, sometimes engaging with Chinese soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. Carne was captured and held for two years in a prisoner-of-war camp in atrocious conditions.

g

"At the Imjin when the battalion folded and the order came...every man for himself...that was frightening..." Thomas Ashley Cunningham-Boothe.

c

Source: coffeeordie.com/Wikipedia

g

These two disabled British Centurion tanks after the heroic battle.

Colonel James Power Carne VC DSO