Memorial planned for Imjin River veterans

The Battle of Imjin was one of the fiercest battles of the Korean War

An appeal has been launched to raise £18,000 to build a memorial to Forest of Dean veterans of one of the fiercest battles of the Korean War.

Fifteen men from the forest fought in the Battle of the Imjin River in April 1951, which is credited with saving South Korea’s capital Seoul from capture by communist forces.

They were among the 4,000 troops of the British 29th Brigade that faced more than 27,000 soldiers of the Chinese 63rd Army.

The project is being overseen by the Imjin Veterans’ Memorial Steering Group, which was formed following the 70th Anniversary of the battle.

The Forest of Dean veterans fought with the 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment - known as the Glorious Glosters.

They came from Coalway, Coleford, Dymock, Littledean, Mitcheldean, Newnham, Ruardean and Ruspidge.

About 400 Glorious Glosters held out against 10,000 Chinese troops for three nights during the battle on hill 235, which was later renamed Gloster Hill.

The stand-off gave UN forces time to regroup and block the Chinese advance on Seoul.

The famous hill where about 400 soldiers fought a last stand was renamed Gloster Hill in their honour.

Many were taken captive, and endured two and a half years in prison of war camps in North Korea.

The memorial will be built in the Cyril Hart Arboretum, near Speech House in Coleford, and is inspired by the “freedom archway” veterans passed through upon their release in 1953.

Last month, the oldest surviving veteran from the Glorious Glosters, Roy Mills, passed away at the age of 92.

Mr Mills was among those who survived starvation, torture and disease as a prisoner of war.

The proposed design features the “freedom archway” veterans passed though upon their release from prisoner of war camps

Roger Deeks, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of the Gloucestershire Lieutenancy and member of the steering group, said the death of Mr Mills added “an extra degree of poignancy” to the appeal.

“Following the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Imjin River, it became clear that we need a place where the actions and bravery of our veterans, who were just young national servicemen in April 1951, can be remembered for future generations,” he said.

Those wishing to donate can do so via the Imjin Veterans’ Memorial page on the Forest of Dean District Council website.