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A veteran interview with

John Lincoln

John Lincoln was working in his father’s funeral parlour when he was called to do his National Service. His day job proved the perfect training for the important role of stretcher bearer.

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About John Lincoln

In 1951, Norfolk-born John Lincoln volunteered for National Service. He was trained in Norfolk and Hong Kong before being shipped to Korea. John was recruited to the Royal Fusiliers after spending two weeks with the Black Watch. In the Fusiliers, he served as a stretcher bearer and jeep driver.

John recalls life on the hills of Korea; he experienced frostbite, regular shelling’s, and – as a stretcher bearer – treacherous journeys into no man’s land to recover wounded soldiers. He recounts being hit by shrapnel whilst on duty and details how this still affects him today.

John talks about the battle of the Hook and how he was stationed in a nearby wireless post. He speaks of the horror of hearing the battle, and the awful scenes the following morning.

John goes on to briefly recall life on Hill 355 (Kowang San), specifically his use of the “Flying Fox” a Royal Engineer-made cable car which could transport soldiers up and down Gibraltar Hill – making his life much easier!

Today, he laments the idea of a “forgotten war” as any soldiers lucky enough to survive still bear the physical and psychological scars from Korea.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Ed Thorns

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

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Home | Veterans | John Lincoln

A veteran interview with

John Lincoln

John-LincolnB

John Lincoln was working in his father’s funeral parlour when he was called to do his National Service. His day job proved the perfect training for the important role of stretcher bearer.

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Lincoln, John. A Veteran Interview with John Lincoln. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-lincoln/. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
APA Style:
Lincoln, J. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with John Lincoln [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved March 8, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-lincoln/
Chicago Style:
Lincoln, John. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with John Lincoln. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee. Accessed March 8, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-lincoln/
Harvard Style:
Lincoln, J. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with John Lincoln. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-lincoln/ (Accessed: 8 March 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Lincoln, J. A Veteran Interview with John Lincoln [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2026 Mar 8]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-lincoln/
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