A Collection of Medals to Casualties from the Battle of Imjin River, 22-25 April 1951

Eight: Gunner R. Cruickshanks, Royal Artillery, who served as a Forward Observer with 70 Battery, 45 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, in Korea, and was mortally wounded on 23 April 1951 during the Battle of Imjin River, during which the 25-pounder guns of 45 Field Regiment fired an incredible 22,000 rounds, at times firing over open sights at ranges of less than two hundred yards.

1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (920988 Gnr. R. Cruickshanks. R.A.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, nearly extremely fine (8) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Casualties from the Battle of Imjin River, 22-25 April 1951.

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Robert Cruickshanks was born on 17 August 1921 and attested for the Royal Artillery pre-War, serving during the Second World War in North Africa, Italy and North West Europe. Discharged to the Reserve on 11 August 1946, Cruickshanks was recalled for service in Korea on 18 August 1950.

On 23 April 1951, Cruickshanks (listed as “Forward Observer, 70 Battery” on the Imjin Roll) was serving as a supporting Bren Gunner with 70 Battery, 45 Field Regiment at the Battle of Imjin River when he was mortally wounded by a Chinese mortar bomb which killed outright Gunners J. W. Camp and W. Hewitt. Cruickshanks was evacuated to the 8055 American Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH 8055) where he soon after died of his wounds.

Sergeant Owen ‘Reg’ Kitchener, of “B” Troop, 70 Battery, 45 Field Regiment, gave the following account:
‘Shortly after 0200 hours on 23 April 1951, “X” Company of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was ordered to withdraw after one of its platoons was overrun by the Chinese and, thereby, the holding of a mile long ridge was rendered impossible. They fell back through our gun position and, at 0230 hours, our Battery was ordered to 100% “Stand-To” because we were most of what remained as the front line in our area.
As the Chinese worked their way between the “X” Company and “Z” Company positions, they ran across the exposed gun area which was manned by our “B” Troop 70 Battery ... By 0300 hours, all our guns were furiously directing open sight fire (direct fire at point blank range) against an enemy which had advanced to within a hundred yards of our guns.
Our withering fire forced the Chinese to withdraw into the hills. From there, they maintained a persistent sniping at us and continually directed 2" mortar fire at our position. We kept on engaging them with direct fire. Finally, we were able to drive them off.
As we limbered up to pull out of our position rather than to be surrounded by the rapidly advancing Chinese, a 2" mortar bomb hit amongst our troop's supporting Bren gunners. Gunners Cruickshanks, Camp, and Hewitt were killed.’

45 Field Regiment suffered 1 officer and 5 other ranks killed or died of wounds, and 6 officers and 24 other ranks wounded during the Battle of Imjin River, 22-25 April 1951.