Royal Army - 29th Independent Infantry Brigade Group Brigade H Q (Brigadier T Brodie)

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William Blissett wrote on August 7, 2023

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City and State: ORO VALLEY AZ

Unit: 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION, 1971-72

Service or Relationship: US Army

Comments: I am president of Renegade Outpost 15 of the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division, US Army. Our oldest outpost member (98 years old) is COL (Ret.) Edmund Krekorian. Ed was a lieutenant in the U.S. 3rd Inf Div during the Korean War. On 23 April 1951, as tasked by the Assistant Commanding General of the U.S. 3rd Inf Div, he led his platoon across the 38th Parallel to rescue 16 severely wounded British soldiers who were about to be captured by Chinese forces. After intense combat, he and his platoon brought the soldiers back to safety for medical care in an American mobile army surgical hospital. I believe these soldiers belonged to the 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment. I am trying to find any documentation pertaining to this action, or recollections of possible surviving British soldiers or their children/grandchildren -- anything that can provide details about this operation of 23 April 1951.

Keywords: Battle of Imjin River, wounded, 23 April 1951

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Melissa Balmforth wrote on June 28, 2023

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City and State:

Unit: BRITISH 29TH BRIGADE

Service or Relationship: Army Veteran

Comments: Hi all,

I’m posting behalf of my grandad, who served in the Korean War.
He was part of the royal signals, his name is John Joseph Balmforth, from Halifax, West Yorkshire. He was medically discharged after a few years of service due to an injury in his back, where if my memory serves me correctly, he was moved from Germany to Netherlands, and then returned back to England. I may not be factually correct there and I’m not really sure how relevant it may be.

There’s a photo of him & some others in a book about the Korean War too, again unsure if that’s also relevant.

He sadly passed away, on December 17th 2022, and us as a family were really hoping or more wondering, if there was anyone out there he served with, who maybe had some stories to tell/photos to show.

My grandad, has an abundance of pictures from his time there which we would happily go through as well.
He was very proud of his service, and frequently spoke about it.

Thankyou for reading and getting this far & I really hope that someone is able to help.

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Bernard Bowler wrote on April 9, 2018

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City and State: LEEDS

Unit: ROYAL SIGNALS

Service or Relationship: Army Veteran

Comments: I was a 2 year National Serviceman and on completion of trade training embarked on HMT Empire Fowey for the 3 week voyage to Pusan, arriving in early April 1952. After an overnight train journey to Tokchon I was taken to 1st Commonwealth Division HQ for an overnight and the next day to 29th Brigade HQ. I replaced `another Corporal who had been recalled from the Reserve and was ready to go home. The handover took maybe 10 minutes before he was off to celebrate and I did not see him again. I was the only person in my trade in the Brigade and had charge of a Bedford signals truck with a lean to in which I slept. On the first night there was a lot of gunfire and I could not distinguish between outgoing and incoming, so I got little sleep. In the daylight I realised we were surrounded by 25 pounders so could have relaxed! I spent about 3 months at 29th Brigade, followed by spells at Division HQ, briefly at 28th Brigade and for 3 months as one of the few Brits in 25th Canadian Brigade. I returned in late July 1953 again on the Fowey and we were about half way home when the ceasefire was announced.

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James Purdy wrote on June 6, 2017

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City and State: SWINDON

Unit: BRITISH 29 INF BDE KOREA

Service or Relationship: Army Veteran

Comments: Hi All,
I served as a young Sgt in the British Commonwealth Division Korea 1954-5.
I was stationed at the foot of Kamaksan, known by us Brits as Gloster Hill.
I was a signaller wireless operator where we had a rear link back to Divisional Headquarters.
I was lucky in a way as the war was over and we were getting used to a peacetime environment. We started to transfer our men from tented accommodation to quanset huts.
There was a lot to do except keeping fit and alert for any would be active problem. After service of four months, we were entitled to one week's R & R leave to Japan. We flew there in a C119 Boxcar manned by the US then stayed at a camp run by the Australians at a place called Ebisu.
The following Spring of 1955 I was transported by troop ship the Egypt to continue my military service. Good times in Korea especially meeting the US Army and Marine Corps.
I will never forget my time there and have never been back.
Best Regards
Jim

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Dick Glover wrote on October 20, 2011

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City and State: SEAHAM GB

Unit: ROYAL ARTILLERY

Service or Relationship: Other

Comments: OUR CO WAS MAJOR VAUGHN THOMAS.SIG SGT WAS DANNY
WINSTONE. FORT GEORGE NEAR RIVER IMJIN HQ.

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John Laird wrote on January 16, 2011

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City and State: LEIGH-ON-SEA EX

Unit: 29 BRIGADE HQ 1ST COMMONWEALTH DIVISION

Service or Relationship: Army Veteran

Comments: On Saturday 26th Sept 2009 I had the good fortune to visit the Korean War Memorial In Washington DC and was very impressed by the imposing figures portraying a foot patrol. There were many people there and most of them were veterans of this conflist.

I felt a bit self-conscious as I was wearing a baseball cap with my UK and UN medal ribbons sewn on to it but was taken aback when several people came up and shook my hand and said " Thank you for serving". Never before had anyone said that to me. It was very emotional.

The main reason for my visit to the US this time was to find where my father was born in Newport News in 1902. The area is now rather run down and sad looking.

My father enlisted into the British Army in 1939 and came out a Lt in 1945. I was very proud of him.

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Gary Measham wrote on May 30, 2007

Email Update Needed

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City and State: MELBOURNE

Unit: 29TH BRIGADE, ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORP

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments:

Keywords: Any information unit photos etc for my father. Jack Ramsey MEASHAM (30/05/1929) he was a truck driver with the 29th Brigade, Royal Army Service Corp. He was shipped out from Liverpool on the Empress of Austrailia. He was wounded and sent to Japan before returning to service.

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