Auction Catalogue

25 March 2015

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria to include a Fine Collection of Napoleonic Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 643

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25 March 2015

Hammer Price:
£300

Pair: Sapper N. Pashley, 55 Independent Field Squadron Royal Engineers, wounded in action at the battle of the River Imjin

Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (14465766 Spr., R.E.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed, extremely fine (2) £240-280

Ex D.N.W. 25 September 2008.

Sapper Pashley was wounded in action at the battle of the Imjin River. (listed as ‘W. Pashley’ in the published casualty roll).

The only Royal Engineer unit to land in Korea in 1950 as part of 29 Independent Infantry Brigade was 55 Independent Field Squadron R.E. which comprised HQ Troop, three Field Troops and a Park Troop. For almost a year this small force was the only Royal Engineer combat unit in the Theatre. They advanced north to Pyongyang in appalling weather conditions not only carried out the traditional sapper tasks of demolition, mine laying, rafting, bridging and road building but on several occasions, including the Battle of the River Imjin, had to fight as infantry. On 21 April they initially began laying mines but then, as the Chinese advanced, they dug trenches, borrowed Bren guns and were seen by members of the R.U.R. firing their small arms at close quarters. The Official History of the Korean War states that ‘The last troops fighting as infantry to withdraw from this battle were the Royal Engineers’.Sapper casualties were three killed, four missing and fourteen wounded.