Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Eight: Acting Lance-Corporal N. Hunt, Royal Ulster Rifles, who was mentioned in despatches for Korea - although wounded, he brought a carrier machine-gun into action with good effect

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; Korea 1950-53, M.I.D. oak leaf (4127146 Rfn., R.U.R.); U.N. Korea, minor contact wear, generally good very fine (8) £600-800

Mention in despatches London Gazette 17 April 1951 - rank given as Acting Corporal. The original recommendation states:

‘Lance-Corporal Hunt was with his company when it was acting as rearguard to the withdrawal of the Battalion through a defile at night. As his company was about to move off at the rear of the Battalion, heavy fire was brought down by the enemy from cliffs above the track on which the force was moving. The company’s machine-gun carriers were caught in the open under automatic fire and one gun was not brought into action. Although already wounded Lance-Corporal Hunt dismounted from his gun carrier and went forward to the carrier on which the M.G. was mounted; under heavy fire he got the gun into action and brought down effective fire on the enemy leaving the defile, thus allowing the company to move forward. His personal courage and devotion to duty contributed to the successful extrication of the Battalion.’

An award for the 1st Battalion’s part in the “Happy Valley” engagements of 3-4 January 1951, when the regiment suffered, after certain wounded and stragglers had been accounted for, a final tally of 157 casualties. Having been compelled to vacate their positions at night, the Rifles’ were subjected to further attacks in the village of Pulmiji, hundreds of Chinese troops making use of flares to establish close-quarters’ firing positions.