Leicestershire veterans of “the forgotten war” talk candidly about their experiences in Korea, in a film produced by the county council.
Members of the Leicester branch of the British Korean Veterans' Association describe their experiences of living in trenches, facing enemy attacks and coping with fierce winds and bleak hills.
As we approach Armistice Day, we should remember all the servicemen and women who served our country, across the world. The powerful testimony of our Korean veterans shows that this war should never be forgotten. Troops from across Leicestershire endured great hardship, while playing their part for the United Nations.”
Councillor Bill Liquorish, county council chairman
British troops were part of the UN forces sent to Korea from 1950-1953, to fight North Korean troops backed by China and Russia. There were three million casualties, including 1,000 British troops.
The county council’s war memorials project and the East Midlands Oral History Archive interviewed veterans in 2013, to mark the 60 anniversary of the end of the Korean War. The footage has now been edited and released as a one hour, six minutes long film, including photographs taken by the veterans.
The film is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KMmuTVeLEI&feature=youtu.be
For further details, please contact Colin Hyde of the East Midlands Oral History Archive on 0116 2525065 or email ch38@leicester.ac.uk
Background:
Media outlets are free to use any of the footage from the video, provided that they credit Leicestershire County Council.
A full list of the participants, their dates of birth and where they come from is at the end of the film, from 1.04.50 onwards.