Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private H. J. Banton, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, killed in action in Korea during the attack on Hill 432, 21 May 1951

Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (22395994 Pte. H. J. Banton. K.O.S.B.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, nearly extremely fine (2) £200-240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties.

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Hayward James Banton was born in Moffat, Dumfriesshire, on 12 October 1930, and attested for the King’s Own Scottish Borderers at Edinburgh on 10 August 1950. He served with the 1st Battalion in Korea from 9 January 1951, and was killed in action in the attack on Hill 432, part of the Han Defensive Line, on 21 May 1951. The Regimental Diary gives the following account: ‘On the night of 21 May, we joined “B” Company on Hill 432 in a torrential downpour. No. 11 platoon successfully cleared an intermediate ridge and the following morning Nos. 10 and 12 Platoons went into the attack, reaching the top after a four hour battle, only to be driven off by a strong counter attack when their ammunition was well nigh exhausted. An air strike was called for and this caused the enemy to withdraw so that we took Hill 432 at first light the following morning without opposition. We deeply regret the loss of Privates Purdie, Banton, and Clark, who were killed in this action.’

Banton is buried in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Pusan, Korea.

Sold together with various copied research, including a copy of the local newspaper announcing his death.