Seven: Sergeant J. Field, Middlesex Regiment, who won “mentions” for gallant deeds during the Fall of Hong Kong in 1941 and in the Korea War

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf; Korea 1950-53, M.I.D. oakleaf (6202181 Cpl. J. Field, Mx.); U.N. Korea 1950-54; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., Regular Army(6202181 Cpl. J. Field, Mx.), mounted as worn, minor official correction to number on the fifth, very fine and better (7) £600-800

Mention in despatches London Gazette 29 August 1946:

‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the defence of Hong Kong in 1941.’

Mention in despatches London Gazette 6 March 1951:

‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Korea during the period 1 July to 31 December 1950.’

James Field, who was born in June 1914, enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment in April 1935 and, as a member of the 1st Battalion, was present at the fall of Hong Kong in 1941, when the “Die Hards” carried out a number of determined stands and grenade attacks - he was mentioned in despatches but taken P.O.W. (T.N.A. WO344/17). And his battalion sustained further losses when some of its members were transported from Hong Kong aboard the Lisbon Maru, which ship - armed and bearing no signs of her human cargo - was torpedoed and sunk by an American submarine with a total loss of some 840 P.O.Ws. And of those that survived, a further 240 died while being used as slave labour in Japan.

Returning to life as a regular soldier on being repatriated at the War’s end, Field went on to win his second “mention” for services in Korea, a glimpse of his part in that conflict being found in The Middlesex Regiment 1919-1952, by Kemp and Horrocks:

‘In ‘D’ Company’s area and under the command of Major Willoughby were two parties of South Korean police of 140 and 60 respectively. On the first night the commander of the larger unit, which was nearest Company Headquarters, presented Willoughby wit an ultimatum to the effect that he would not stay unless provided with machine-guns and given the direct support of British troops amongst them. The police were spread along about two and a half miles of river bank at intervals of about ten yards. Most of them were armed with old Japanese rifles with, at best, two or three rounds each. Major Willoughby compromised by sending them one Bren, taken down and explained to them by C.S.M. MacMillan, for that night.

The Commanding Officer the next day lent Corporal Fields, the sanitary corporal, and two others from the pioneer platoon to ‘D’ Company. Fields, who had been captured in Hong Kong by the Japanese in 1941, spoke a little of their language. All three rose to the occasion to a remarkable degree, and both police commanders (a Captain and a Sergeant) were only too glad to take orders from Fields. Major Willoughby therefore put Fields in command and in a frivolous moment named the two units Army Groups ‘A’ and ‘B’. The titles stuck.’

Field was discharged in the rank of Sergeant with an “Exemplary” conduct rating in July 1957.