Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (6287333 Pte. E. Brown. Glosters.) extremely fine £400-500

E. Brown attested for the East Kent Regiment in March 1939, and experienced pre-War service with them. He served in Korea with the Gloucestershire Regiment, attached to the Royal Ulster Rifles, and was wounded at Tokchon, during the battle of the Imjin River, on 25 April 1951 (The Times casualty list dated 2 May 1951 reports that L/Cpl E. Brown of the Glosters attached to the R.U.R. had been wounded; and the War Diary for the Imjin period held in the R.U.R. archives records that ‘6287333 Brown L/Cpl E’ was wounded on 25 April 1951 at Tokchon- the regimental number being the same on the medal as per war diary means that this is undoubtedly the same man).
The Tokchon crossroads was four miles down the road from the 29th Brigade HQ and beyond that lay the Imjin battle locations of the Royal Ulster Rifles, the Gloucestershire Regiment, and the Northumberland Fusiliers. On the afternoon of 25 April the remnants of the brigade were ordered to occupy a blocking position on the road south to Uijongbu. By the time the crossroads were reached the R.U.R. comprised only 14 Officers and 240 men and, as darkness fell, began to dig in with such tools that were available, and were fed for the first time that day. This position was held until 23:30 hours when the brigade were relieved by a reserve Regiment. The Battalion, utterly weary, marched a further six or seven miles until at last transport picked them up and carried them south through the night to Yongdongpo, on the south bank of the River Han.