Consequently this ‘Irish’ Battalion contained men from the Lancastrian Brigade, Welsh Brigade, Mercian Brigade, the Light Infantry and other Battalions of the Irish Brigade.The Irish Brigade also reinforced other regiments, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers sending two officers and fifty ‘other ranks’ to the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. Despite their varied backgrounds all ranks soon coalesced into a professional unit that took the campaign in its stride. From winter temperatures that dropped well below 40° F to a summer heat that arose to 105°F with a humidity to match, these men survived all and dealt with a brave and tenacious enemy.
The Battalion sailed for Korea in October 1950 and fought its first major action in January 1951 at Chaegunghyon, or as it was known to the Rifles, ‘Happy Valley’. Here, for the first time, they faced an enemy who often literally fought to the death, despite overwhelming firepower, bombing and widespread use of napalm. Three months after, on the banks of the Imjin River, the Rifles, in conjunction with the remainder of 29 Brigade, faced an army which came in such numbers that running out of ammunition before the enemy ran out of men became a reality. While the Battle of the Imjin is today largely remembered for the last stand fought by the ‘Glorious Glosters’, research reveals that it was the Royal Ulster Rifles who held open the door and allowed the survivors of 29 Brigade to escape annihilation.
The media reacts rightly at the loss of life in Afghanistan, yet during the fighting at ‘Happy Valley’ the Battalion lost 157 men in one twenty-four hour period. In the 1950’s, with limited television and press coverage, Korea was quite literally on the far side of the world and generated little interest with the population; it remains so to this day. With the current situation in that country its past deserves to be re-examined and reassessed.
The introduction to the book is by my old friend Colonel W.R.H.(Robin) Charley OBE JP DL, founding treasurer and now patron of our Somme Association. Robin writes: ” In the ranks of the “Rifles” were many veterans of the Second World War, Reservists, “K” Volunteers and National Servicemen. It says much for the organisational power of the Regiment that these men were quickly absorbed into the ranks and were soon functioning as a cohesive unit. On the battlefield, in defence or attack, the Battalion operated in a thoroughly professional manner and despite extreme weather conditions, from freezing winter to the high humidity of summer, humour was rarely absent.
I had had been acting in the role of ADC on the outbreak of the War and as there were no vacancies for a Captain with the Battalion, I dropped a rank and was fortunate to serve with B Company in Korea. For too long Korea has been a forgotten war and this timely history will hopefully bring home to the reader the valiant part played by a unique body of men in a unique regiment Quis Separabit.” Colonel Charley is presently President of the Korean Association in Northern Ireland and the former Librarian to the Ards Commandery of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, of which I am a Serving Brother.
To be continued