Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 138

A 'Glorious Gloucesters' campaign pair awarded to Private L. R. Allen, Gloucestershire Regiment

The Bren Gunner of Guy Temple's patrol, they fired the first shots of the Battle of the Imjin River; when the action was over ten dead were counted before his position - like most of his Battalion he was taken a Prisoner-of-War on 25 April 1951

Korea 1950-53 (21127572 Pte. L. R. Allen. Glosters); U.N. Medal for Korea 1950-54, extremely fine (2)

Len R. Allen was a Regular Soldier serving with 'C' Company, during the Korean War, his eccentricities before the war as well his role in the opening blows of that historic engagement are noted in the book Korea "The Commonwealth at War", p.184-185., which states:

'The honour of striking the first Gloucester blow - the first of many - fell to No.7 Platoon of 'C' Company, commanded by Lieutenant Guy Temple.

Just after darkness fell, Temple positioned his sixteen men on the river bank and waited. There was not a man in the ambush party who had not killed at least three Chinese. Private Len Allen, a bren-gunner who had performed with indifferent success on the range at Colchester and had severely shaken a General on the dockside before sailing by announcing that he had no quarrel with the Chinese, counted ten corpses in front of his position. Allen was captured on the 25 April 1951 at Imjin River.

The Glorious Gloucesters and the Imjin River 22-25 April 1951

As part of the United Nations Forces, the 1st Battalion was despatched to Korea in 1950 when the Communist North Koreans invaded South Korea without warning. Later, a Chinese Communist Army came to the assistance of the North Koreans. ln April 1951 the British 29th Infantry Brigade was holding a wide defensive position behind the lmjin River. The Glosters occupied a vital part of this front, astride the main track to Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, which was the traditional invasion route from the north.

For days a Chinese attack had been expected and on the evening of 22 April, small parties of the enemy were observed approaching and then crossing the wide river bed. A patrol of A Company at "Gloucester Crossing" did great execution to these parties, but soon the trickle of Chinese became a flood, and by 11.30 pm the patrol had used up all its ammunition and was recalled.

By 3 o’clock on the morning of the 23rd, St George’s Day, A Company’s position on a commanding feature named Castle Hill was under extremely heavy attack, as was D Company on their right, and an hour later B on the right of D was equally engaged. After six hours fighting, much of it hand to hand, A Company was driven back from Castle Hill and a desperate but unsuccessful counter-attack was launched to retake it, during which Lieutenant Curtis lost his life but gained a posthumous V.C.. D Company’s position was now untenable, so it was later withdrawn after further fighting, together with the remnants of A. B Company was later pulled back, and the whole Battalion now took up position on the hills around the village of Solma-Ri.

The Chinese did not closely follow up this withdrawal, but meanwhile very large numbers of them had crossed the river and infiltrated past the Glousters. Their attacks on other parts of the front had been equally severe, and now the other United Nations units on their flanks had been forced back so that by mid-day the Glousters were completely separated from the rest of the Division, and indeed almost surrounded.

That night B and C companies were heavily attacked, the former being reduced to one officer and 20 other ranks. Early the following morning, Colonel Carne decided to concentrate the remnants of his battalion on the top of a steep and rugged feature known as Hill 235 on the map, but now as Glouster Hill. On the 24th no major attack developed against the battalion, but two relieving columns of armour and infantry, sent forward by Division, failed to fight their way through. The Glousters were now completely cut off, but although short of ammunition and water they were in good heart and determined to hold out for as long as possible.

ln the very early hours of the 25th, the Chinese launched an all-out attack on the hill wave after wave of shooting, screaming men surged forward, regardless of the defenders fire. Chinese trumpets directed them and encouraged them. ln order to confuse them it was decided that one of the British bugles should be blown. The adjutant then ordered Drum Major Buss to sound his bugle and on being asked what calls, replied everything except Retreat. Of all the calls the Long Reveille was the one which made the deepest impression. The battle continued with every weapon involved, and then at 9 o'clock a highly successful air strike was delivered by the US Air Force which for the time being halted the Chinese decisively. lt was during this pause that the Colonel received instructions over the wireless to fight his way out, his job done, and Brigadier Brodie wrote in the Operations log book at Brigade HQ 'Nobody but the Glosters could have done this.'

The battalion split up into groups which tried to work their way back independently, but the United Nations forces were now consolidating after their withdrawal fully seven miles to the rear, and only one party succeeded in reaching them, the rest being killed or captured. Out of 750 men of the battalion only 150, including the rear echelon, remained on which to rebuild the unit. Lieutenant Colonel Carne, who survived his harsh imprisonment, later received the V.C., and the battalion was awarded the US Presidential Unit Citation to commemorate its magnificent stand. Her Majesty the Queen graciously granted permission for the emblem of the Citation to be worn by all members of the Regiment.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£2,200

Starting price
£800