A rare and outstanding Korean War ‘Commando (Amphibious Raiding Force)’ M.M. group of four awarded to Marine A. A. H. Harper, 41 Independent Commando, Royal Marines, attached 1st U.S. Marine Division

One of ‘The Chosin Few’ who served in ‘Hellfire Valley’ at the battle of Chosin River – in which his unit won the rare distinction of earning both the United States and South Korean Presidential Unit Citations – he took a bullet in the chest in the act of storming an enemy machine-gun post in December 1950

Military Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (P.O.X.6207 Marine A. A. H. Harper. R.M.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (PO/X .6207 A. A. H. Harper. Mne. R.M.); Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (PO/X.6207 A. A. H. Harper Mne. R.M.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, mounted court-style for display, nearly extremely fine (4) £20,000-£30,000

One of nine M.M.s awarded to the Royal Marines for the Korea War, all for the Chosin Reservoir campaign, and four of which reside in the collection of the Royal Marines Museum. Marine Harper’s award is unique, being the only one for a direct combat action on 7 December 1950, the remainder having been awarded for the ‘hell fire valley’ ambush that occurred on 29 November 1950.

M.M. London Gazette 18 May 1951:
‘For gallant and distinguished service with 41 Independent Commando, Royal Marines, in operations in Korea.’

The original recommendation states: ‘On 7 December 1950, Marine Harper was a member of a Troop which was ordered to capture a hill on the road between Hagaru-Ri and Koto-Ri. On the way up the Troop were held up by an enemy M.G. position. Marine Harper worked his way forward alone until he was in a position to throw grenades into the position. This he succeeded in doing, but, while doing so, he was himself wounded. This Marine’s outstanding example and complete disregard for his personal safety was instrumental in enabling the Troop to complete its task successfully.’

Arthur Alexander Henry Harper was born in Kent on 7 May 1929 and, as a recent entrant into the Royal Marines, first witnessed active service in post-war Palestine. But it was for his subsequent services as a member of 41 Independent Commando, R.M., in Korea, that he was awarded the M.M.

‘Task Force Drysdale’ and the Chosin Reservoir Campaign
In August 1950, following the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, Admiral C. T. Joy, Commander United Nations Naval Forces, suggested the British provide a small, specialist and highly skilled force capable of raiding the coasts. A few days later - on 18 August - No. 41 Commando was reformed under Lieutenant-Colonel D. B. Drysdale, but it would total just 300 men – ‘half a commando’. Harper was among the new intake and joined the Commando at Camp McGill, Yokosuka, where the men were issued with American arms and underwent intense familiarisation and training before entering the fray.

The unit went operational on 12-13 September when it assisted in the Inchon landings, offering beach reconnaissance from H.M.S. Whitesand Bay. Under the command of Lieutenant D. G. Pound, the men of ‘Pound Force’ were attached to the United States Army Special Operations Company.

They were subsequently employed for three daring raids to cut railways along the north-eastern coast, 67 men being landed at Chongjin on 2 October from the American submarine Perch. With her torpedo tubes removed, Perch took her raiding party close into the coast before they boarded 10 inflatable boats to lay anti-tank mines to blow sections of vital coastal railway. In so doing, they suffered their first casualty of the war - Marine P. E. Jones - but the operation was a success overall.

Subsequent - similarly daring - raids in the following days saw the Commandos being landed from the U.S.S. Wantuck, again to blow tunnels, bridges and lines. Returning to Japan at the end of the month, the men gained valuable time to re-group and undertook training on the slopes of Mount Fuiyama.

‘Hellfire Valley’
Having re-joined the United States X Corps, comprising 1 Marine Corps and 7th Cavalry, the Commandos next landed on the north-east coast. They pushed toward the Chosin Reservoir in late November 1950, crossing the 38th Parallel which in turn resulted in the Chinese Army entering the war. By 25 November, two American Regiments had reached the east side of the reservoir and intended to push north to the Chinese border. 1 Marine Corps were posted on the main supply route, from Hagaru and Koto-ri. Little did they know that a full-scale Chinese offensive was about to break. That very night Chinese attacks came along the entire 30 mile stretch they held and a further 70 miles to the coast. By the morning, they held three isolated perimeters, at Yudam-ni, Hagaru and Koto-ri. The 235 men of 41 Commando, Royal Marines arrived on the scene at Koto-ri, the furthest south, on 28 November, initially in a reconnaissance role. This was soon out of the question, since mere survival was the only option.

On the morning of 29 November, ‘Task Force Drysdale’ was mustered. It numbered 922 men and 141 vehicles, having been bolstered by U.S. Marines and Infantry. Their mission was simple: reach Hagaru and reinforce. There was no time to feed the men before they marched off and they soon met resistance, just 4 miles north of Koto-ri. What was to follow was remarkable, the Task Force coming under constant and destructive attack for the following 17 hours. They were ambushed as soon as they reached ‘Hellfire Valley’ above the Changjin River. A phosphorous bomb obliterated the ammunition vehicle, splitting the rear of the convoy and dropping a number of American Infantrymen who thought better than to continue. In bitter temperatures, the casualty rate was over a third that night. Commandos and U.S. Marines fought side by side along the road, with the commander being wounded on the way. A number were forced to surrender but 556 made it through. Harper was one of the lucky ones.

‘The Chosin Few’
Having reached the surrounded Hagaru, the plan was for the reinforcements to rest up and then assist in the withdrawal through enemy country. It was not to be, for 32 of ‘B’ Company were sent to take a hill on the entrance to Hagaru that very same day. They did eventually set out on 6 December, with some 15,000 men on the road back to Koto-ri, once again in dreadful weather. It was summed up well by the Divisional Commander:
“Gentlemen, we are not retreating. We are merely advancing in another direction.”

Having marched for 38 hours to reach Koto-ri, 41 Commando were sent into a snowstorm to patrol around the surrounding high ground on 7-8 December, only to be called back with the 5th U.S. Marine Column to the Hungnam Bridgehead. Here, then, the action for which Harper was awarded his M.M. The survivors finally reached the port on 10 December and were embarked with 22,000 U.S. Marines to Pusan, Harper clearly as a stretcher case.

He was discharged from the Royal Marines in 1952, likely on account of his chest wound, and died in Newport in the Isle of Wight in August 2004.

During those few short weeks, the men of 41 Commando had played a vital role in the retreat. They had suffered losses of 13 killed and 39 wounded, with another 27 posted as missing - almost a third of the force. Harper and his fellow Marines are to this day are referred to as ‘The Chosin Few.’

Resultant Honours & Awards amounted to a D.S.O., three M.C.s and nine M.M.’s, whilst a total of 17 Medals of Honour were awarded for the Chosin operations, more than in any other single battle in the history of the United States.

41 Commando also received the United States Presidential and South Korean Presidential Unit Citations, the former a particularly pertinent accolade, for it was the first time since the Defence of Legations that British and American Marines had fought side by side.