A Korea War pair awarded to Lance-Corporal J. J. Crisp, Gloucestershire Regiment, late Royal Fusiliers, who, having been taken P.O.W. in Italy in the 1939-45 War, befell a similar fate at the battle of Imjin river, where he also won a mention in despatches

Korea 1950-53, M.I.D. oak leaf (6460633 Pte. J. J. Crisp, Glosters); U.N. Korea 1950-54, together with U.S.A. Presidential Unit Citation blue riband with embroidered surround, on khaki, Gloucestershire cap badge and rear-cap badge, and metalled regimental shoulder title, extremely fine (6) £2500-3000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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James John Crisp was born in Ealing, London in November 1920 and enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers in September 1938. Advanced to Lance-Corporal in April 1941, he was embarked with the 9th Battalion for Iraq, as part of P.A.I. Force, in October 1942, and thence for North Africa in March 1943. Next embarked for Italy, he was taken P.O.W. in September of the latter year and ended the War at Stalag VIIA in Germany.

Having been discharged to the Reserve in May 1945, Crisp was recalled in August 1950 and posted to the Gloucestershire Regiment, with whom he sailed for Korea at the year’s end. And he was subsequently present in No. 4 Platoon of Major Denis Harding’s ‘B’ Company at the battle of Imjin river in April 1951, his good work with grenades on the opening night of the action receiving due recognition in published accounts of the battle. He was, however, once more taken P.O.W., and finally returned to the U.K. in August 1953, shortly before the announcement of the award of his mention in despatches (London Gazette 8 December 1953 refers); sold with an original letter from Colonel Denis Harding to Bill Strong re ‘Crisp’; together with photocopied M.I.D. certificate and hand written service details.