Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Rifleman V. Dean, Royal Ulster Rifles, who was wounded in action at the Battle of Imjin River, 22-25 April 1951

Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (3772090 Rfn. V. Dean, R.U.R.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, good very fine (2) £500-£700

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, December 2013.

V. Dean (who has a pre-1942 King's Regiment service number and was therefore likely recalled to the colours in August 1950) served in Korea with the 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles, as part of the 29th Independent Infantry Brigade, which bore the brunt of the attack by three divisions of the Chinese 63rd Army as they sought to break through the U.N. lines at the Imjin River and on towards the South Korean capital of Seoul.

During the Battle of Imjin River, 22-25 April 1951, 29th Infantry Brigade for three days defended a series of hills and ridges south of the Imjin against repeated massed Chinese attacks until being finally overrun by overwhelming numbers of enemy troops on 25 April.

The defence was costly, 29th Brigade suffered 1,100 casualties, killed, wounded and taken prisoner during the battle. On the left flank of the Brigade position, 1st Glosters were surrounded and overrun and alone lost 620 men, the majority taken prisoner. The other two battalions of 29th Brigade, 1st Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (which suffered 163 casualties killed, wounded and prisoner) and 1st Royal Ulster Rifles (which suffered 165 casualties) were lucky to escape the encircling Chinese troops.

Dean was amongst those wounded in action during the Battle of Imjin River.