Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (22583499 Pte. J. S. Beckett. D.W.R-) extremely fine £140-180

John Stamper Beckett was born on 13 July 1933 and attested for the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment on 6 September 1951. He served with the Regiment in Korea, and was wounded in action at the Battle of the Hook on 13 June 1953.

‘The Battle of the Hook was probably the last full-scale infantry battle, fought on traditional lines, that the world will ever see. It was also a classic set-piece example of a battalion in defence and was, in terms of steel, the biggest battle of the Korean War, and the most concentrated confrontation of artillery support and engineering effort since the First World War. In it the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, supported by the Black Watch, defeated and completely routed a fanatical Chinese army who attacked them over a period of some fifteen days with incredible ferocity. The Chinese losses were so great that they never attempted such assaults again. It was a turning point of the Korean War and a triumph of British Arms.’ (Fortune Favours the Brave, by A. J. Barker refers).

Beckett was discharged on 21 December 1953, after 2 years and 107 days’ service; his testimonial on discharged stated: ‘When wounded in the “Hook” Battle he showed great fortitude and pluck.’

Sold with photocopied record of service, and two small photographs of the recipient.