Six: Fusilier J. McDonald, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, who was killed in action at the Battle of Imjin River, 23 April 1951, when the Regiment bore the brunt of repeated massed Chinese wave attacks

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (3189424 Fus. J. McDonald. R.N.F.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, good very fine (6) £800-£1,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Casualties from the Battle of Imjin River, 22-25 April 1951.

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Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, March 2015.

John McDonald was born on 1 January 1922 and served in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers during the Second World War where the Regiment earned the Battle Honours of Sword Beach, Caen, Flushing, and Arnhem, where the Regiment was part of the 1st Air Landing Brigade. Transferring to the Army Reserve, following the outbreak of the Korean War McDonald was recalled to the Colours and posted to the ‘Fighting Fifth’, the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. He sailed on the Empire Halladale on 11 October 1950 as part of the 29 Brigade and landed at Pusan on 19 November 1950.

In Korea the Regiment was first in action at Sibyon-ni on 2 December 1950, where five men were killed and three wounded. The Regiment then moved north but encountered the rest of the 8th Army in retreat and so withdrew south. After many brushes with the Chinese, including the Battle for Kan-Dong where the Regiment lost twenty dead and forty one wounded it was deployed along the Imjin River together with the 1st Battalion Gloster Regiment, the 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles, and a Belgian Battalion, all supported by the 8th Hussars and 45 Field Regiment Royal Artillery. On 22 April 1951 the Chinese launched a major and determined attack to break through the Brigade and advance to the capital Seoul. The following day, St George’s Day, was the Regimental Day of the ‘Fighting Fifth’, and early in the morning the soldiers were issued with red roses flown especially from Japan. It was to be the bloodiest day for the Regiment in the Korean War. The Chinese stormed the forward company position and forced the Fusiliers back. A determined counter attack was launched but by this time large number of Chinese had occupied the hill, and the counter attack failed. The flanks of the regiment now became exposed as the Belgian battalion and Ulster Rifles were forced back and the Glosters were surrounded. The order was then given to fall back to new reserve positions, which involved a hazardous march under intense Chinese fire. The ‘Fighting Fifth’ had suffered severe causalities, but their determination and courage had stopped the Chinese advance; 34 had been killed, 91 wounded and 39 were taken prisoner.

John McDonald was amongst those killed, aged 29 years, and he is buried in the U.N. Cemetery at Pusan, Korea.