Korea 1950 – 1953
History records the meritorious Korean War service of many Light Infantry soldiers, and soldiers of other Regiments also, but sadly leaves a tremendous gap in the availability of individual stories of hardship, deprivation, heroism and mateship. Can we, who have a greater inkling of military mateship, do something about this by developing a platform for ‘conversation’ via this Blog Page? Particularly we seek any Old Mates of Bill Griffiths, ex KSLI and Korean Vet, pictured above. Bill’s personal military story is hotlinked under his bolded name below.
We are receiving many requests now to assist in the search for “Old Mates” – many from the families of soldiers KIA in the Korean War. We are also publishing stories from surviving Korean Veterans who are able to recall with magnificent clarity, those events of over 56 years ago. See our reference to WO2 Bill Griffiths and the crosslinked websites under his name. Others will follow, hopefully well before it’s too late. Scan the photo entitled “Cornishmen in Korea” sent in by Geoffrey Tremain on the Most Wanted List web page.
We can restore old photographs to near originality and invite your participation. Just send an email to the Editor for details. It’s simple to post a Comment here – just type away in the box below and ‘click’. The Editor will correct any typo’s and errors and conceal your email address – so your privacy is protected. If you in turn, would like to record a “Mention” on our Most Wanted List then just click this hotlink to travel and follow the prompts. The ‘Poppies’ photo above is kindly donated by Bill Griffiths from his recent contribution to Clive Yapp’s website Welcome to Korea
Tempus Fugit!!
7 responses so far ↓
Editor // January 20, 2007 at 1:32 am |
Gidday from Brisbane
Derek Lovemore, ex-1DCLI – Editor, in sunny Queensland, driving all this ’stuff’, ain’t technology marvellous? YOU – like me – can be anywhere – even on your boat fishing, if you’re so lucky! – but that doesn’t stop you from responding.
I’ve just today, posted references to other websites that are interested in developing cross linked information about Korea 1950 -1953. Go to my “Most Wanted List” that is hotlinked in the Preface to this page or CLICK HERE - and travel – it’s that simple. Alternatively, post a comment here and see what happens.
As Denis Waitley said “Winners make it happen” – so GOYA cheps and Blog.
Carpe Diem!!
Derek Lovemore #22935157 // May 7, 2007 at 10:55 pm |
Where are you now? – in May 2007. Below are captions from a newspaper reprint dated April 23rd 1953, depicting “Cornishmen in Korea” published on http://hmtships.googlepages.com/britisharmy%27smostwantedlist
We hear a great deal about “The Forgotten War” and the bugle call to remember those awful times. This Blog page offers an opportunity to build the missing parts of British Army history.
(Quote) Major JA Tresawna, DSO., (KIA June 1953) of 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry, part of the Commonwealth Division has formed a “One and All” Club for Cornishmen in Korea. He writes “They are making a name for themselves there, as they have done all over the world, everyone is happy, cheerful and in great heart”. The forty members of the One and All Club include Pte Dunstan of 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Penryn.
Back Row: Cpl Bryan Whittaker, Falmouth: Pte Barry Bailey, Penzance: Pte George Sandy, St. Germains: Pte Richard Pascoe, Mullion: Pte Vernon Day, Luxulyan: Pte Peter Penna, Goonhavern: Pte Frank Tregilas, St. Austell:
Third Row: Pte Donald Semmens, St. Just: Pte Walter Kent, St. Merryn: L/Cpl Gordon Avery, Truro: Pte C Hodges, Mylor: Pte Claude Denford, Bude: Pte Kenneth Johns, Illogan Highway: Cpl Philip Bray, Newquay:
Second Row: Pte John Robbins, Grampound Road: Pte Henry Solomon, St. Agnes: Pte Donald McBurnie, Padstow: Major J.A. Tresawna, DSO, Probus: Pte Tamblyn Lane, Newquay: Pte Bernard Matthews, St. Mawgon: Pte Puddle Chapman, Lanlivery:
Front Row (L to R): Pte Geoffrey Tremain, Truro: Pte I Crabb, West Looe: Pte John Gardner, Saltash: Cpl Fred Whitford, Truro: Pte Derry Rawlings, Banwell Somerset:(Endquote)
Carpe Diem!!
Dianne Chadwick // August 19, 2007 at 10:11 pm |
Hello
My father, Thomas Chadwick MM served under Major JA Tresawna DSO. My dad is no longer with us and sadly Major Tresawna died in Korea. I have been left some photographs and wonder if any family members would like them?
Kind regards, Dianne Chadwick
PS from Editor on 20th August 2007
Hello Dianne
Thank you for your recent post to “Korea”
There is in fact a group photo entitled “Cornishmen in Korea” on my site http://hmtships.googlepages.com/britisharmy%27smostwantedlist that features Major Tresawna with other squad members. Scroll to almost endpage. Thus far there have been no responses to that group photo which was published some months ago at the behest of Private Geoffrey Tremain.
I shall be most pleased to receive any photos of that era from you – hopefully with any captioning that might be available. I shall then publish them appropriately to endeavour to attract attention from interested families.
My condolences on the loss of your father Thomas Chadwick and further invite your contribution of his service details for a “Mention” in the alphabetical section of the above referred site. I require full name, any nicknames, photo in uniform, rank on discharge, service number, regiment and regimental postings history, DOB, DOD and last place of UK residence.
I trust that this reply will be of interest to you.
April Reed // December 4, 2007 at 5:13 pm |
Hello
My father Jon Reed was in Korea 1950-52 (he thinks), he has not been well and I am trying to find ways to keep him cheerful, so if anyone remembers him could they drop me a line.
Thanks
April
ED: Our thanks to April for this posting. However it should be noted that very little regimental description is offered, which in turn makes it a virtual impossibility to identify Jon Reed. Also the email address for reply to April is not published, which again denies further contact – except by the Editor. However April has been contacted with an invitation to forward more details and to also refer to Jon those existing websites that publish memoirs of Korean times.
Bill Griffiths // December 9, 2007 at 5:56 pm |
I am now in touch with April Reed, and she has sent me some photos of her Dad, now published on my site..(above )
Her father sadly is bedridden, so she is trying to help him by showing photos etc.
Look forward to hearing from more old soldiers
Bill
Fred Perks // February 1, 2008 at 10:11 pm |
I wonder if anyone can remember my brother Cyril Perks who was in the KSLI.
ED: Might need a bit more information Fred! Like when and where, rank, service numbers etc!
Jack Rumfitt // March 5, 2009 at 1:11 pm |
Hi to all who served in the KSLI. I think by now there might not be a lot of the lads who were at London Chelsea Barracks in 1948 when we were doing Royal Duties. At the begining I was in C. Company, then later went into the Bugle sec. I met some good mates there, plus had some good times as well. There was one lad I remember called Jeff Burleigh I think thats how his name was spelt, who at the time was in for two years service. When we left Chelsea Barracks and we were going to Hong-Kong, he enlisted as a regular, just so he could go to Hong-kong. All the lads at the time took the mickey out of him for that, but he did not care what others thought, we struck up a great friendship all the way in Hong – Kong, and in Korea, until we left Korea, and I got my demob Sadly we never got in touch when I left, as the Regiment went to Germany. I am now 78yrs old, so he must be about the same. All I know he was from Cornwall, I think in Falmouth, some one might have heard of him, My number then was 22201082 L/cpl J Rumfitt, Well thats all for now, cheers.