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

Pair: Gunner M. O’Neill, Royal Artillery, who served as a Forward Observer with 70 Field Battery, 45 Field Regiment Royal Artillery, was wounded during the Battle of Imjin River on 23 April 1951, and was taken Prisoner of War with the surviving Glosters on Hill 235 ‘Gloster Hill’ on the final day of the battle, 25 April 1951

Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (22518303 Gnr. M. O’Neill. R.A.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, good very fine (2) £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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Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, March 2015.

Michael O’Neill served in Korea with 70 Field Battery, 45 Field Regiment Royal Artillery, and was a member of a Forward Observer party under Captain Michael Newcombe attached the the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment at the Battle of Imjin River.

In his book Guns and the Morning Calm, Captain Newcombe describes the actions of ‘A’ Troop during the Imjin Battle:
‘45 Field Regiment sailed to Korea on the Empress of Australia on 2 October 1950 as part of the 29th Independent Infantry Brigade. 70 Field Battery, commanded by Major Guy Ward was put in direct support of 1st Battalion Glosters and fought with them North to Pyong Yang and then back to the Kansas Line. On 21 April 1951 Captain A. M. L. Newcombe Royal Artillery was attached to ‘B’ Company 1 Glosters as Observation Post Officer for ‘A’ Troop of 70 Battery. His Observation Post Party consisted of Gunner T. F. Gibson, Gunner D. R. Shaw, and Gunner M. O’Neill. For two days Captain Newcombe fought continuously against the attacking Chinese and only stopped when, at one stage, the gun barrels of the Battery became so hot there was a risk of premature explosions. On 23 April the Observation Post Party came under heavy mortar attack and one mortar landed on the forward edge of Captain Newcombe’s slit trench leaving him stunned and temporarily unconscious. In the adjoining trench a splinter in his face killed Gunner Gibson and Gunner O’Neill was wounded in the arm. Gunner Shaw was also wounded. Captain Newcombe continue to fight his guns ordering a ‘Mike Target’ i.e. a full Regimental Target. Many Chinese were killed but they pressed forward until, when they were surrounded, Major Denis Harding ‘B’ Company Commander ordered ‘Fix Bayonets’ and led the twenty remaining members of ‘B’ Company and the Observation Post Party back to Battalion HQ on Gloster Hill.
They carried their wounded on ground-sheets with them. When all the ammunition had been expended and no Relief Force was possible, Colonel Carne now ordered his soldiers to “Make your own way back to the Allied Lines”. While attempting to do this Major Harding, Major Ward, Captain Newcombe and Gunner Michael O’Neill were captured.’

In a report made after his release O'Neill wrote of Gibson, ‘In same slit trench as me. Mortar bomb landed between us and blast struck Gibson full in the face. He was not actually dead when I left him, but I would not give him more than 2 minutes life left.’

O’Neill himself had been wounded in the arm by shrapnel from this mortar bomb while serving on ‘Gloster Hill’ with 70 Battery Observation Post Party, and was captured at the Battle of Imjin River. He suffered two years and four months imprisonment and had to endure hardship, hunger and long sessions of Political Indoctrination, known in the West as ‘Brain Washing’. He was eventually released at Panmunjom on 19 August 1953.

The Observation Post Party from 70 Field Battery deployed in support of 1st Battalion Gloster Regiment for the Imjin Battle comprised six officers and twenty-two Gunners. One officer was killed in the Battle, one was wounded and four were made prisoners, one of whom died in captivity. Of the Gunners, five were killed, five were wounded and thirteen were made prisoners. After the Battle 70 Field Battery were warmly praised by the men of 1st Glosters for the speed, accuracy end effectiveness of their fire. The Observation Post Gunners of ‘A’ Troop had suffered severely, but had matched the highest traditions of the Royal Artillery.