Imjin River: Battlefield Tour

Imjin River was one of the critical battles of the Korean War, and perhaps the most tragic. It was also one where two Irish units – the Royal Ulster Rifles and the Irish Hussars – proved their worth in the sternest test of war – a battle against overwhelming odds.

Andrew Salmon, who recently presented to the IAK and guided re-visiting veterans around the “Happy Valley” battlefield during the summer, will lead this IAK organised tour, which will take in the full valley where the RUR fought, stop at their final “backstop” position, and recount the stories of the men who survived. If you have seen him talk or read his books, you’ll know that this will be an unmissable chance to learn more about the war and these battles.

Irish veterans of the Korean War interviewed on RTE Radio 1

Great radio interview by Brian O’Connell with Michael Kelly, Aubrey Bunyan and Canon Robert Jennings for RTE Radio 1. Click on the listen link here.

Michael, Aubrey and Robert were part of the recent veteran revisit which included the unveiling of the Irish war memorial. Remember you can see lots of photos of that visit at http://www.flickr.com/photos/koreanwarveteransfromireland/

 

Asia Society video clip of the revisit of the Irish veterans of the Korean War

The Asia Society Korea Center interviewed some of the veterans when they visited in April. The short clip recounting their experiences and their impressions of modern Korea is well worth watching.

http://asiasociety.org/blog/asia/video-looking-back-irish-korean-war-veterans-revisit-battleground-60-years-later

 

 

Imjin River: Battlefield Tour of the “Korean War Thermoplyae” Sat, June 1st

Imjin River was one of the critical battles of the Korean War, and perhaps the most tragic. It was also one where two Irish units – the Royal Ulster Rifles and the Irish Hussars – proved their worth in the sternest test of war: Battle against overwhelming odds.

Andrew Salmon, who has recently presented to the IAK and guided re-visiting veterans around the “Happy Valley” battlefield, will lead this Royal Asiatic Society tour, which will take in the full valley where the RUR fought, stop at their final “backstop” position, and recount the stories of the men who survived. If you have seen him talk or read his books, you’ll know that this will be an unmissable chance to learn more about the war and these battles.

Read more about the tour and book a place on it here

Korean Lament

Mark McConnell – one of the veterans who visited last week – recited his very moving poem ‘Korean Lament’ last Thursday at the unveiling of the memorial for all the Irish who died during the war. Pictures courtesy of Tom Coyner, see more of his pictures from last week here

Korean Lament

There’s blood on the hills of Korea, it’s the blood of the brave and the true,
where the nations they battled together, ‘neath banners of white and pale blue,
as they marched over the fields of Korea to the hills where the enemy lay,
they remembered the Brigadier’s orders, those hills must be taken today.
And forward they went into battle, with faces unsmiling, and stern,
for they knew as they charged up that hillside there were many would never return.
Some thought of their wives and their mothers and some of their sweethearts so fair
and some as they plodded and stumbled were softly saying this prayer,
‘There’s blood on the hills in Korea, it’s the blood of the freedom we love,
may our names live in glory forever, and our souls rest in heaven above.’
And boys, when you go back to Belfast, when this War is over and done,
just think of the ones left behind you out in the Korean sun.

Coverage of the memorial for Irish people who died in the Korean war

Good to see some coverage of the war memorial popping up in Ireland

Korea Times

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2013/04/351_134798.html

The Journal

http://www.thejournal.ie/memorial-for-irish-war-heroes-erected-in-south-korea-885180-Apr2013/

The Irish Times

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/recalling-role-of-irish-soldiers-in-tragic-korean-war-battle-of-happy-valley-1.1372892

JoongAng Daily

http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2970619

Article by Andrew Salmon in the Wall Street Journal

http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2013/04/25/aging-warriors-return-to-armageddon-north-of-seoul/

Korea Times

http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2013/04/113_134892.html

Slugger O’Toole

http://sluggerotoole.com/2013/05/02/british-irish-flags-at-new-korean-war-memorial-for-ulster-troops/

(we’ll add more links as find them)

Thanks to the Dublin Terrace for hosting the veterans fundraiser

We had a great Sun afternoon/evening at the veterans fundraiser and we just want to say thanks to everyone involved – in particular Andrew Salmon, Dara Sheahan (who was not dissuaded by the lack of an amp), Olivia Houck and all the other great musicians who played. Special thanks to Mr Lee of the Dublin Terrace who donated 2,000,000 w to the fund for the veterans visit (as well is donating many of the raffle prices, his premises etc). This money will be used by the Somme Association to alleviate the costs associated with the trip here. Here is a picture of Mr Lee presenting the donation to Carol Walker of the Somme Association and Trevor Ross, colour sergeant of the Royal Irish Regiment (successor to the Royal Ulster Rifles).

Person of the night was Ben Delahunty, 88 years old and a veteran of both D-Day and the Korean War.

You can see more photos from the night on Facebook

The 11 veterans from Ireland arrived safely on Monday and their week long visit has been going well. To find out more about their visit follow the Irish Embassy in Korea on Twitter.

Andrew Salmon’s books

If you enjoyed the talk by Andrew Salmon yesterday at the fundraiser for the visiting Irish veterans that was held at the Dublin Terrace then you should check out the two books he has written about the Korean War.

 

To the Last Round: The Epic British Stand on the Imjin River, Korea 1951 – this book is about the 3 day battle on the Imjin river during which the Gloster Regiment was reduced from 750 to 50 men.

 

 

 

 

Scorched Earth, Black Snow: Britain and Australia in the Korean War, 1950 – an account of British and Austrailian involvement in the earlier part of the war, covering everything from the Pusan breakout to the introduction of the Chinese to the war.

 

You  can leep up to date with Andrew on his own website 

Additional info about the Irish veterans fundraiser next Sunday

We just want to give you some additional info about the fundraiser for the visiting Irish veterans of Korean war that we are running in the Dublin Terrace in Gangnam next Sun April 21 from 16:00 – 20:00.

• we are really happy to announce that Andrew Salmon will be giving a talk titled “The fighting Irish of the Korean War”. This 40 minute talk will be an account of the experience of the 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles (RUR) and 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars in the Korean War. Andrew has written 2 books about the Korean War; “To the Last Round, The Epic British Stand on the Imjin River, Korea 1951” and “Scorched Earth, Black Snow, Britain and Australia in the Korean War, 1950”. The talk will be accompanied by a slideshow of images from the war.
• we are also very lucky to have representatives of the Royal Ulster Rifle veterans in the form of the Somme Association of Ireland attending. The veterans themselves don’t arrive in Korea until Monday morning.
• as was mentioned before it is family friendly event that is smoke free, with food available to purchase. Kids will have free entry and we will have some colouring materials and books to help keep them occupied
• there will be a raffle during the evening, everyone will get a free raffle ticket on entry.

Schedule

16:30 – opening words by Irish ambassador Eamonn McKee
16:45 – “The fighting Irish of the Korean War”presentation by Andrew Salmon (40 min)
17:45 – Dara Sheahan
18:30 – traditional music session

For full info see here

Fundraiser for visiting Irish veterans of the Korean War

As you may know next week will see the unveiling of a memorial to commemorate all those Irish people who died in the Korean war.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) has invited a dozen Irish veterans as part of their April Revisit Korea programme, during which the memorial will be unveiled. These veterans are mainly from the Royal Ulster Rifles and other British regiments. There is also a veteran from the US 8th Cavalry attending as well. About half of the veterans will be accompanied by family members and there will also be family representatives from 2 soldiers who were killed in action.

While the MPVA generously contributes to the costs of the trip there are many additional expenses for the visiting veterans

• the veterans have to get to London for their flight to Korea
• they have to pay for one night’s accommodation in Korea
• they have to pay for their travel insurance and 1/3 of their airfare
• accompanying family members have to pay the majority of the costs of their trip

The IAK is holding a fundraiser in the Dublin Terrace in Gangnam (Gangnam Subway station, Exit 11. Walk straught until you see Paris Baguette. Turn right. Walk to the top of the hill and Dublin Terrace is to the left) to help cover these additional costs for the veterans. The fundraiser will take place on Sunday April 21st from 4 pm – 8pm and will feature:

• a talk by Andrew Salmon titled “The fighting Irish of the Korean War”. This 40 minute talk will be  an account of the experience of the 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles (RUR) and 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars in the Korean War. Andrew has written 2 books about the Korean War; “To the Last Round, The Epic British Stand on the Imjin River, Korea 1951” and “Scorched Earth, Black Snow, Britain and Australia in the Korean War, 1950”. The talk will be accompanied by a slideshow of images from the war.
• a performance by IAK regular Dara Sheahan.
• a traditional music session with some dancing as well.
• Entry will cost 10,000 won, there will be drinks promotions (Guinness, Kilkenny and Smithwick’s at 8000 w) and food promotions (30% 0ff selected dishes) during the fundraiser.
• It will be both an informative and fun afternoon and evening for all in a smoke free and family friendly environment (kids are free in).
• we are also very lucky to have representatives of the Royal Ulster Rifle veterans in the form of the Somme Association of Ireland attending. The veterans themselves don’t arrive in Korea until Monday morning.
• there will run a raffle during the evening, everyone will get a free raffle ticket on entry (raffle prizes are various bottles of spirits, some chocolate all the way from Ireland, 2 * 50,000 w vouchers for Dublin Terrace, and a two bottle wine set in a leather case with accessories courtesy of Pieroth Korea.

The schedule is as follows

16:30 – opening words by Irish ambassador Eamonn McKee
16:45 – “The fighting Irish of the Korean War”presentation by Andrew Salmon (40 min)
17:45 – Dara Sheahan
18:30 – traditional music session