Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Trooper L. E. Hitchman, 7th Royal Tank Regiment

Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (22146764 Tpr. L. E. Hitchman. 7th. R.Tks.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, good very fine, scarce to unit (2) £140-£180

Approximately 107 Medals awarded to 7th Royal Tank Regiment, all to “C” Squadron.

In August 1950 a scratch 29 Commonwealth Brigade was “put together” and dispatched as part of a U.N. Force in support of the South Korean Army which was opposing a Chinese-backed invasion by North Korea. “C” Squadron, 7th Royal Tank Regiment, hastily equipped with Churchill flame thrower tanks, was included in the force. The Squadron’s Mk VII Churchill tanks were loaded and shipped to Pusan. Sailing in the Empire Fowey they arrived at Pusan in November 1950. By this stage the North Korean forces had been thrown back beyond their Capital, Pyongyang, but one troop of “C “Squadron was transported there just in time to be caught up in a precipitate U.N. withdrawal to the Imjin River.

Given the now massive Chinese involvement the situation became critical. The Centurions of the 8th Hussars were considered too much at risk from capture and were withdrawn to Japan. “C” Squadron, 7th R.T.R. represented half of the brigade’s tanks and the Churchills were henceforth employed as gun tanks. The fighting was intense and the brigade was forced to withdraw further to Osan-ni. Thereafter the Brigade fell back South of Yongdong-Po which fell to the Chinese.