25/06/1950: Russian trained & well-equipped North Korean Army supported by tanks and aircraft invaded South Korea.

S. Korea appealed for support and The UN Assembly approved action, requesting its Members to supply military forces. Seventeen countries in total (both large & small) responded. Amongst them were, USA, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, who all committed armed forces (Navy, Army and Airforce). A further 49 countries sent much needed supplies.

August 1950: Britain responded quickly, with troops based in Hong Kong, embarking on RN ships to quickly arrive in Korea. Ironically, these troops were sent to Hong Kong in 1949 to defend it against possible attack by the Chinese Communist Army. Shortly, more troops arrived from Britain, the US and countries mentioned previously.

25/11/50: The UN had quickly mounted their offensive, making good progress towards the North and on this date, was looking at the North Korean/Chinese border. Significantly, it was also on this day that the Chinese entered the War - all 180,000 of them.

27/07/53: The War lasted three years with an Armistice being signed on this day, 37 months after its commencement. It was fought under horrendous climatic conditions,which could only be compared to the Crimean War. Very high humid temperatures in the summer and down to around - 40° in the winter.

An estimated 70,000 Chinese/North Korean forces were killed and an unknown number of civilians, from both North & South perished.

Total UN Forces killed in Action: 72,500.

No victory for either side but freedom of South Korea was achieved and the South Korean people, make no mistake, interpret this as VICTORY.

Although 50 years have since passed, the South Koreans, both young and old, have never forgotten us and certainly have never ceased thanking us for helping them in their War. Their gratitude is endless and far-reaching. Some four years ago, South Korean residents of the UK organised a function in London for British Korean Veterans. Samsung, a well-known South Korean Electronics company based in Seoul, donated a large amount of prizes to be used at this event, comprising TVs, Videos and Binoculars etc. Not content with that, they additionally donated no less than £600,000. 00 to our Welfare Fund.

Contrast this with the ‘gratitude’ shown to us by our very near neighbours just across the Channel since the end of WW2!!