The Second World War and Korean War campaign group of seven awarded to Lance-Corporal J. J. Crisp, Gloucestershire Regiment, late Royal Fusiliers, who, having been taken P.O.W. in Italy in the 1939-45 War, befell a similar fate at the battle of Imjin River, where he also won a mention in despatches

1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Korea 1950-53, with M.I.D. oak leaf (6460633 Pte. J. J. Crisp, Glosters.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, together with U.S.A. Presidential Unit Citation blue riband with embroidered surround, on khaki, Gloucestershire cap badge and rear-cap badge, and metalled regimental shoulder title,  the unnamed 1939-45 awards to which he was entitled were added later, early extremely fine (Lot) £3000-3600

M.I.D. London Gazette 8 December 1953.

James John Crisp was born in Ealing, London in November 1920 and enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers in September 1938. Advanced to Lance-Corporal in April 1941, he was embarked with the 9th Battalion for Iraq, as part of P.A.I. Force, in October 1942, and thence for North Africa in March 1943. Next embarked for Italy, he was taken P.O.W. in September of the latter year and ended the War at Stalag VIIA in Germany.

Having been repatriated and discharged to the Reserve in May 1945, Crisp was recalled in August 1950 and posted to the Gloucestershire Regiment, with whom he sailed for Korea at the year’s end. And he was subsequently present in No. 4 Platoon of Major Denis Harding’s ‘B’ Company at the battle of Imjin in April 1951, his good work with grenades on the opening night of the action receiving due recognition in published accounts of the battle.

During the night of 22-23 April 1951, ‘B’ Company inflicted crushing casualties on Chinese patrols which attempted to take their position, Crisp’s section wiping out one such patrol with ‘a veritable hail of grenades’. By 10.30 on the morning of the 23rd, the Company had established itself on the summit of Hill 314. During the day the Chinese 188th and 189th Divisions prepared for a fresh attack, the main weight of which fell on ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies. The attack began at 8.30 that evening and for hours wave after wave of Chinese troops advanced against the gallant defenders. Each enemy assault was beaten off with increasing difficulty and it eventually became apparent that the communist forces were relying on sheer weight of numbers to achieve their objective. Despite enormous casualties the Chinese finally overran the two top platoons of ‘C’ Company. The attack was then intensified against ‘B’ Company and in particular Crisp’s No. 4 Platoon, under Lieutenant Geoffrey Costello. Throughout the night this small party occupied an exposed position and inflicted enormous casualties on the enemy. Gradually, however, the strength of the Platoon was reduced to fragmented pockets of resistance, and only a handful of survivors evaded capture on finally evacuating their positions.

Crisp was repatriated from Japan returning in August 1953, shortly before the announcement of the award of his mention in despatches, and was placed back on the Reserve at the year’s end; sold with an original letter from Colonel Denis Harding, together with photocopied M.I.D. certificate and hand written service details.