Page 66 - History of War - Issue 05-14

GREAT BATTLES: THE IMJIN RIVER

James Carne, commander
of the Glorious Glosters, was
renowned for his bravery

into the enemy as they tried to cross the river.
Temple was a hell-raiser, always in trouble for
unauthorised nightclub visits during peacetime,
but he was ideally suited for this kind of work.
Getty Images Four attempts at crossing were repelled.
He recalls seeing the Chinese “thick in the
An observation post looking water… Somewhere around 2,000 men.… It
out over the Imjin River
was an astonishing target, and we did use all
was an astonishing target, and we did use all
our ammunition.” When it ran out, Temple was
our ammunition.” When it ran out, Temple was
forced to take his men back to the C Company
forced to take his men back to the C Company
and easy to cross. Since arriving on its banks, to the west of the 29th Brigade were hit hard and perimeter on a hill a mile or two to the rear.
perimeter on a hill a mile or two to the rear.
the 29th Brigade had been carrying out patrols began to fall back, opening a hole to Brodie’s The Chinese had discovered another ford
The Chinese had discovered another ford
and reconnaissance across the river. Centurion left. The 29th were in a vital portion of the line: about a mile below the crossing held by the
about a mile below the crossing held by the
tanks, possibly the best in the world at the not only was it known to be the easiest and Glosters, and through the night they streamed
Glosters, and through the night they streamed
time, would usually cross the river and sweep most likely invasion route to Seoul, but to the south across the river and began to probe the
south across the river and began to probe the
through no man’s land. Occasionally, they met north-east were the rest of the US 3rd Division Glosters’ defences. The Communist forces
Glosters’ defences. The Communist forces
small Chinese groups with whom they would and other UN forces. If Brodie retired, the centre realised that the companies were widely spaced,
realised that the companies were widely spaced,
exchange fire before the Chinese fell back. of the UN line across the peninsula would have and focused on one at a time. Men in other
and focused on one at a time. Men in other
But they never came across anything other than been outflanked, possibly with catastrophic companies listened to ferocious, isolated fights
companies listened to ferocious, isolated fights
that, and aerial reconnaissance confirmed that consequences. The Belgians on the far side of
HE HAD BEEN WOUNDED
there were no major Chinese forces in the area. the river were the first to report enemy contact. HE HAD BEEN W OUNDED
They were fairly isolated and Brodie decided to
BUT KEPT GOING AND
Inspirational leadership get them out. He sent a patrol of Ulsters down to BUT KEPT GOING AND
On 22 April, that all changed. That morning, the river to evacuate them but, as they crossed
patrols from the Northumberlands and the the river, they were caught in a hail of fire. The USED GRENADES TO
Glosters reported large numbers of the enemy survivors retreated to the south bank. The battle
advancing towards the river. The Glosters’ of the Imjin River had begun in earnest. KILL THE CHINESE
CO, Fred Carne, headed down to the crossing On the left of the 29th Brigade, the Glosters
MA
point and prepared to direct mortar fire at the held up the advancing Chinese: Guy Temple MACHINE-GUN CREWCHINE-GUN CREW
advancing Communist troops on the far bank. and his platoon lay on a small rise, pouring fire
Carne had been in the Gloucestershire regiment
for 25 years. When serving in East Africa, on nearby hills and wondered when it would be
on nearby hills and wondered when it would be
their turn, some of them frustrated that they
he had eschewed the pleasures of Nairobi, their turn, some of them frustrated that they
preferring to spend time in the bush. In the couldn’t do much to help their comrades. The
couldn’t do much to help their comrades. The
coming days, he was always to be found where British fought the enemy off as best they could
British fought the enemy off as best they could
the action was fiercest, and every veteran with their Vickers machine guns and three-inch
with their Vickers machine guns and three-inch
mortars. Two Gloucestershire companies were
recalls the inspirational quality of his leadership. mortars. Two Gloucestershire companies were
As night fell and the Fifth Phase Offensive savaged by countless Chinese attacks: with
savaged by countless Chinese attacks: with
shrieks and bugles blasting, they came forward
crashed into the UN lines, the ROK 1st Division shrieks and bugles blasting, they came forward
with a suicidal lack of concern for casualties.
with a suicidal lack of concern for casualties.
Nineteen-year-old National Serviceman David
Nineteen-year-old National Serviceman David
Green wrote in his memoirs, “The bastards were
Green wrote in his memoirs, “The bastards were
coming and there was little we could do to stop
THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT that flood, except take as many with us as we
Their heroics at the Battle of the Imjin River may could.” He fought all night, trying to conserve
have brought them international recognition – not ammunition by firing only at very good targets.
to mention the nickname the “Glorious Glosters”
– but the Gloucestershire Regiment had already He had to be careful, however: “There’s always
been in existence, in one guise or another, for more a danger in close combat of hitting one’s own
than 250 years by the time the Korean War erupted. mates. With the Chinks crawling all over the
They had already served at Gallipoli, Macedonia spur, stuff was flying everywhere.” Lieutenant
and Burma, among other campaigns, and taken part Whatmore from D Company of the Glosters
in the D-Day landings of June 1944. Their full story Members of the told his company Sergeant Major on the field
can be discovered at The Soldiers of Gloucestershire “Glorious Glosters” – telephone, “They are right among us, but we are
Museum, located in the historic Gloucester Docks 19 of them survivors of coping.” At dawn, he realised that he and his
the Battle of the Imjin
(visit its website at www.glosters.org.uk). River – arrive back in men had been firing their weapons so much that
Topfoto Southampton aboard “they were hot and uncomfortable to handle”.
the Empire Fowey
66 HISTORY WAR
of