The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

A Korea Medal awarded to Private S. Adams, Gloucestershire Regiment, who was wounded and taken P.O.W. at Imjin River in April 1951: he had earlier been wounded in Sicily in August 1943 and in Normandy in June 1944

Korea 1950-53 (5501200 Pte. S. Adams, Glosters), together with U.S.A. Presidential Unit Citation blue riband with embroidered surround, on khaki, good very fine or better (2) £2500-3000

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

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Stanley Arthur Matthews was born near Norwich in April 1921 and enlisted in the Hampshire Regiment in August 1939. Posted to the 1st Battalion, he was embarked for the Middle East in June 1940, in which theatre of war he witnessed active service until being wounded in Sicily on 31 August 1943. Shortly thereafter re-embarked for the U.K., he went back into action on D-Day but was again wounded on 7 June 1944. Returning to his Battalion in the Field in September 1944, Matthews remained actively engaged in the North-West Europe operations until the War’s end, latterly having transferred to the Wiltshire Regiment, and was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, France & Germany Star, and the Defence & War Medals.

In March 1946, Matthews transferred to the Gloucestershire Regiment, but was placed on the Reserve until recalled in August 1950 on the outbreak of hostilities in Korea. Posted missing at Imjin River on 26 April 1951, he had in fact been severely wounded - ‘right hand, right side, chest and ribs’ - and taken P.O.W., and he remained incarcerated in Camp No. 1 at Chongsong until being released in August 1953, though his parents received an erroneous telegram in the interim to say he died in captivity. Described as having maintained a pleasant sense of humour, thrice wounded Adams took his discharge in December of the latter year; sold with hand written service details.

The footnote incorrectly refers to Stanley Arthur Matthews. His name is Stanley Arthur Adams.