Latest news with #GloriousGlosters
BBC News
20-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Woman 'stunned' to discover father's Korean War role
A woman said she was "stunned" to discover her father's extensive military background while conducting research for a war Davies, born in Redbrook, was a Regular soldier who served with The Gloucestershire Regiment - known as the Glorious Glosters - during World War daughter, Pam Walker, was aware he served in the Korean War but described him as a "quiet and reclusive man" who rarely shared stories from the name will now appear on a war memorial alongside 15 other fallen soldiers from the Forest of Dean who all fought in the Battle of the Imjin River in April 1951. About 400 members of the 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 fierce stand-off is credited with saving South Korea's capital Seoul from capture by communist Imjin Veterans' Memorial Group, based in Coleford, has so far raised more than £14,000 to build a memorial in the Cyril Hart Arboretum to honour the soldiers. After spotting the fundraising appeal online, Ms Walker contacted the campaign group to inform them her father had fought on that hill."He never talked about it," she said. "The only reason I knew it was Korea was because of the medals he left behind." Roger Deeks, vice Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire and member of the memorial project, said the team were "initially sceptical" of his involvement."Alan Davies was completely below our radar," he said."He'd been shot through the shoulder only hours before the encirclement by the Chinese, and was evacuated. "He didn't become a prisoner of war, he was shipped back as a casualty of war, to be nursed back to health. "Perhaps that's why not many people knew about him. In fact, even his family didn't know his history. When we looked into it, it was remarkable."Mr Davies had been wounded during the retreat to Dunkirk in France during World War Two before going on to serve in Burma. At the Battle of the Imjin River, he was wounded again and evacuated before the Chinese encirclement. "Getting shot saved his life," Ms Walker said. "He was a lucky chap. It's a miracle he made it home."I'm just over the moon with the pleasure of knowing he's done so much for his country."I can't even put it into words really, I'm overwhelmed by it all. It's taken me to another place with him, I'm just stunned." Ms Walker said her father had always seemed "reserved" and distant, but his newly-revealed past offered an explanation."After three campaigns I think that changed him in some way," she said."He was a dad, but in his own way - one that we couldn't understand then but can understand now."I'm always proud of dad, but to put this name on this memorial will mean the world to me. I suppose if dad's watching me from above, he might be proud of me as well."
BBC News
04-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Gloucestershire school library named after Korean War veteran
A school library is being dedicated to a British veteran of the Battle of Imjin Mills, from Cinderford, was the last surviving member of the Glorious Glosters - a name given to the Gloucestershire Regiment who fought at Hill 235, now known as Gloster Hill, in South View Primary School in Mr Mills' hometown will name its library after him, after his death in October 6.25 Foundation, an American charity that honours the legacies of Korean War veterans, is donating £4,000 to the school's library. Staff at the school were initially surprised at being offered a donation to the library."We received an email back in December from 6.25 Foundation and we initially thought it wasn't real," said head teacher Ben Lyons."But we did some research and ran our checks, and Mr and Mrs Koo from the foundation are joining us at the ceremony and making that kind and very generous donation."Roy Mills was from Cinderford, his daughter Sally was a teaching assistant here for many years, so it's great."He added: "We've also been teaching particularly the older children more about Roy's story and the Korean War." The Battle of the Imjin River, fought between 22 - 25 April 1951, was a pivotal moment in the Korean the battle, about 4,000 troops of the British 29th Brigade, including about 700 from 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment, faced thousands of men from the Chinese 63rd Army and many were captured, like Mr Mills, or a result of Roy Mills' contribution, the library dedication ceremony will be attended by delegates from the South Korean Embassy, the Royal British Legion and members of the Koo family, who run the 6.25 from Forest View Primary School will also be in attendance.
