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JOHN-PARSLER

A veteran interview with

John Parsler

John Parsler’s interview is one of a number we have recorded with surviving 41 Commandos. At the outbreak of the Korean war he was one of a group of Marines that formed the 41 [Independent] unit. In the early part of the war he was involved in the blowing up of North Korean supply lines. Then he’s sent to the Chosin Reservoir…

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About John Parsler

John Parsler joined the Royal Navy at 15 and served on various ships until he was 18 when he joined the Naval Police, training in close protection and obtaining the Commando Green Beret. John was sent to Hong Kong soon afterwards but within a few months after the start of the Korean War, 41 (Independent) Commando was formed and he was drafted in and flown to a US base in Japan. From their base, John was in a troop of about 50 men assigned to a submarine that took part in raids on the Korean coastline to disrupt the enemy’s transportation supply lines.

In November 1950 41 Commando joined a Untied Nations advance into North Korea working with the US Marine Corps and took part in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir under the British Command of Lt Colonel Drysdale. John was in a convoy of trucks as part of an operation to help relieve thousands of US troops encircled by the Chinese and as a result about half of 41 Commando were either killed or captured. 41 Commando continued operations until 1952 when it was disbanded and John returned to Hong Kong.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Gary Washbrook

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

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Home | Veterans | John Parsler

A veteran interview with

John Parsler

JOHN-PARSLER

John Parsler’s interview is one of a number we have recorded with surviving 41 Commandos. At the outbreak of the Korean war he was one of a group of Marines that formed the 41 [Independent] unit. In the early part of the war he was involved in the blowing up of North Korean supply lines. Then he’s sent to the Chosin Reservoir…

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Parsler, John. A Veteran Interview with John Parsler. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-parsler/. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
APA Style:
Parsler, J. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with John Parsler [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved January 23, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-parsler/
Chicago Style:
Parsler, John. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with John Parsler. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee. Accessed January 23, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-parsler/
Harvard Style:
Parsler, J. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with John Parsler. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-parsler/ (Accessed: 23 January 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Parsler, J. A Veteran Interview with John Parsler [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2026 Jan 23]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/john-parsler/
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