In 1950 the Cold War turned hot with the Communist invasion of
South Korea. But by November, when Britain's 29th Infantry Brigade
landed in Korea, it seemed that the war was all but over. United
Nations forces - principally South Koreans and Americans - had
decimated the invading North Koreans and were thrusting north
towards the Chinese border. Then - catastrophe. China entered the
war and panicked UN forces began a 250-mile retreat in sub-zero
temperatures.By April 1951, the war hung in the balance. The
Chinese had been halted by the UN forces which held a shaky front
north of Seoul. On the Imjin River, the critical hinge in the line
was manned by the British brigade - consisting of one battalion
each of the Gloster Regiment, the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
and the Royal Ulster Rifles - supported by a regiment of
artillery, the tanks of the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars and a
crack battalion of Belgian volunteers.Then, on the night of 22
April, the largest communist offensive of the Korean War was
unleashed. An entire Chinese army assaulted 29th Brigade's
scattered strong-points.One by one, the British units were swamped
in the 'human waves' of attacking Chinese.
.
The Belgian battalion was detached to the British Brigade
during the battle of the Imjin
To the Last Round: The Epic British Stand on the Imjin River, Korea 1951
by Andrew Salmon (Author)
|
In 1950 werd de koude oorlog ten top gedreven door de invasie van Noord-Koreaanse communisten in Zuid-Korea |
|
For three days hand-to-hand combat raged. At one stage the artillery was firing point-blank, over open sights. Against all odds, 29th Brigade held, but by the third morning it was cut off. The order was given to break out. In a death ride down a valley swarming with enemy, the infantry and tanks battled south. But for one battalion, it was too late. Surrounded on a smoking hilltop, the Glosters fought until their ammunition was exhausted. Of 700 men, less than 50 escaped the t rap.The author has interviewed veterans of every unit engaged, to produce an hour-by-hour account of the action as they experienced it in their foxholes. The story of the battle itself is preceded by a description of the actions of 29th Brigade in the horrific winter of 1950/51 and followed by first-hand accounts of the two-and-a half years British PoWs spent in grim prison camps in North Korea.Dramatic, traumatic, moving and inspirational, this is the true story of the band of men who remained at their posts, held an army and astonished the world.It is the story of the most desperate battle fought by British soldiers since World War II. In April 1951, outnumbered eight to one, a British brigade faced an entire Chinese army. In three whirlwind nights of battle, one regiment of artillery fired as many shells as were fired at EI Alamein. The 'Glorious Glosters' fought to the last round, but when the smoke cleared the battalion had been wiped out. In the first book devoted exclusively to this now-legendary action, the reader experiences the action through the eyes of the men who fought. This is their story. About the Author
|
|
