A Small Collection of Medals Relating to the Battle of the River Imjin

Pair: Trooper F. A. Hawkins, ‘C’ Squadron, 7th Royal Tank Regiment

Korea 1950-53, 2nd issue (321468 Tpr. F. A. Hawkins, R.A.C.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed, nearly extremely fine (2) £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Small Collection of Medals Relating to the Battle of the River Imjin.

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Trooper F. A. Hawkins was an experienced reservist who had served with ‘The Lancers’ in W.W. 2 and would have additional medals. He was recalled to duty with ‘C’ Squadron 7th Royal Tank Regiment and was amongst the first batch of men of unit to arrive in Korea. His Korean medals were sent to 24, George Street, Warsop, Nottinghamshire.

On 29 July 1950 ‘C’ Squadron 7th Royal Tank Regiment, commanded by Major A. J .D. Pettingell, R.T.R., were guarding an airbase in Norfolk when it was decided the Squadron would deploy to Korea as part of 29 Independent Infantry Brigade. On 8 August the first batch of Crocodiles arrived and four day’s later the first party of Reservists arrived followed by a steady stream of men and vehicles. On 12 October 1950, together with the Centurions of the 8th Hussars, ‘C’ Squadron equipped with Churchill tanks sailed on the Empire Fowey and arrived in Pusan on 15 September. The Squadron supported the three infantry battalions of 29 Brigade, 1 Glosters, 1 Royal Northumberland Fusiliers and 1 Royal Ulster Rifles for a year, initially in atrocious winter conditions. Because of their ability to climb steep slopes and their versatility to move over paddy fields the Churchill tanks proved extremely useful in providing close fire protection. The Squadron sailed back to Southampton on the Empire Orwell on 8 October.