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Introduction

This page deals with the campaign medals that UK service personnel were awarded during the Korean War. It is a great shame that this conflict, which followed so soon after the Second World War, seem to not have the attention paid to it that it deserves. It is sometimes called the Forgotten War, which just illustrates how quickly society forgets the sacrifice paid by its service personnel in a far away land.

Brief Conflict Summary

At the end of the Second World War the peninsula of Korea was divided into two countries: North and South Korea. North Korea was ruled by a Soviet-controlled communist regime, while South Korea was under USA supervision. The supervisory powers were supposed to withdraw from their respective countries between 1948 and 1949.

On 25 June 1950, the North Koreans invaded South Korea, who appealed to the United Nations for assistance. In the absence of the USSR, which was boycotting the UN Security Council at the time, the UN passed a resolution sending a military force to South Korea. The force was predominately American with General McArthur as the Supreme Commander. There were also substantial contributions from the UK, Canada and other Commonwealth countries.

The first British troops to arrive in Korea were the 1st Battalions of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and Middlesex Regiments who landed at Pusan on 29 August 1950.

One especially famous British action during the war was at Hill 235 where 750 soldiers of the 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment bravely fought off repeated enemy attacks until, on 25 April 1951, they were overwhelmed by weight of numbers.

After several conflicts and engagements involving considerable loss of life, an armistice was signed on 27 July 1953. The battle line at that time forms the boundary between North and South Korea. Even today, this line forms the frontier between the two Koreas. There has still been no peace treaty signed to officially end the state of conflict between the two opponents.

Roll of Honour

Click hereto view The Middlesex Regiment Roll of Honour for the Korean War.

Gallantry Awards

Four VCs were awarded for gallantry during the Korea War: Major K. Muir, Lieutenant Colonel J.P. Carne, Lieutenant P.K.E. Curtis and Private W. Speakman. The awards to Major Muir and Lieutenant Curtis were made posthumously.

Three GCs were awarded for gallantry whilst Korean POWs: Fusilier D.G. Kinne,  Private H.W. Madden and Lieutenant T.E. Waters. The awards to Private Madden and Lieutenant Waters were made posthumously.

One George Medal was awarded for bravery during the Korean War. It was awarded to Captain Acton Henry Gordon Gibbon, Royal Artillery (London Gazette 13 April 1954, Page 2206). Whilst a POW at a camp north of Pyongyang (North Korea), Captain Gibbon assisted the escape of Flight-Lieutenant Gordon Harvey (Royal Australian Air Force) and two American officers: Major Magee and Lieutenant Simpson.

On 2 May 1951, the three officers aided by Captain Gibbon escaped from the notorious Major Pak's Death House Camp, located north of Pyongyang. Captain Gibbon who remained behind was tortured by the North Korean guards in an attempt to find out the escape route taken by the three escaped officers. The North Korean guards took Captain Gibbon and suspended him by rope which ran over the branch of a tree, and was tied to his wrist that were behind him. The guards then pulled and twisted Gibbon's genitals, as well as beating him. When asked which direction the escapees took, Gibbon replied that he did not know, and would not tell them even if he knew. Captain Gibbon eventually passed out due to the numerous beatings.

After he had been revived, the North Koreans threatened to shoot Captain Gibbon if he continued to refuse to provide the requested information. When Captain Gibbon still refused to provide any information, the North Korean guards then forced sharpened bamboo shoots under Gibbon's fingernails. Again Captain Gibbon refused to provide any information about the escape. After Captain Gibbon fainted due to the pain, the North Koreans returned him to the POW enclosure.

The service personnel entitlement records for these medals are not currently available for public inspection at the Public Record Office in London. It is still highly recommended to visit their web site for more information about the location of the PRO, obtaining a Reader's Ticket and lots of other useful information.

The Korea Medals

British and Commonwealth service personnel were eligible for two medals for their service in Korea. One issued by the UK, called the Korea Medal (1950-53) and the UN-issued Korea Medal. The Korea Medal 1950-53 was issued named to the recipient by the UK, or other Commonwealth, Government. The UN Korea Medal was issued by the UN unnamed except those to Canadian recipients.

Korea Medal 1950-1953

The Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force each had different qualification rules for the Korea Medal:

• Royal Navy personnel had to complete 28 days afloat in the operational areas of the Yellow sea and the Sea of Japan, or one or more days of shore duty.
• Army personnel had to complete a service period of at least one day on the strength of a unit serving in Korea.
• Royal Air Force personnel had to complete one operational sortie over Korean land or water, service of one or more days on Korean land or service of 28 days afloat in the same areas as mentioned in the Royal Navy requirements.
• Personnel were also eligible for the medal if they completed a visit of an official nature lasting a minimum of 30 days.

Personnel of any service were eligible for the medal if they were unable to meet their service's requirements, due to sickness, wounds or being killed.

Those personnel award a MID wore a bronze oak leaf on this medal's ribbon.

Recipients of the Korea Medal 1950-53 were also awarded the UN Korea Medal, although the reverse situation did not apply.

UN Korea Medal 1950-53

This medal was sanctioned by the United Nations in 1951 and was awarded to all those who served with the UN forces during the Korean War. Various issues were awarded by the appropriate government, the British version being awarded to other Commonwealth service personnel. The basic qualification was one days service in Korea, with a longer period for those on official visits.

The medal was also awarded to those who served in Korea after the armistice was signed in 1953.

British Prisoners-of-War

The following table was extracted from the publication "Korean Atrocity! Forgotten War Crimes 1950-1953" and is in turn based upon material contained in "The British Part in the Korean War Volume II" by Anthony Farrar-Hockley.

1. Those known to have died as a POW were identified as such by returned UN POWs.
2. Those presumed to have died as a POW were identified as such by being alive when captured, but were neither declared as POWs by the Communist side nor known of by other UN POWs.
3. Does not include Marine Andrew Condron who elected to remain in North Korea at the war's end.
4. Includes members of the Royal Navy, such as sick berth attendants, who served with Royal Marine units.