The Glorious Glosters and the Battle of the Imjin River

The Battle of the Imjin River 1951

United Nations Forces, comprised of United Kingdom, Belgium, Luxembourg, Philippines and South Korea troops in the vicinity of the Imjin River fell under direct attack when the Chinese Spring Offensive commenced on 22 April 1951.
The 29th British Independent Infantry Brigade Group, commanded by Brigadier Tom Brody, was under the most severe attack and was eventually surrounded by the enemy. An attempt to reinforce them failed due to harsh terrain and overwhelming enemy power.
The 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Carne, bravely held out for more than three days against more than 30,000 Chinese troops. Of the 700 Gloucesters, only 40 men reached safety, the rest were captured or killed by the Chinese. Lt. Col. Carne was held at a Chinese POW Camp in North Korea till after the armistice agreement was signed. He spent 19 months in solitary confinement, and many of his men died due to harsh treatment at the camp.
The British 29th Brigade's brave stand provided UN Forces enough time to re-group and block the Chinese advance onto Seoul, but not without sacrifice, they suffered 1,091 casualties, including 622 of Glosters. The US lost 1,500 men either killed or missing in action, the South Koreans 8,000 and the other UN forces approximately 1,000 men. Chinese casualties were estimated at 70,000.
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