Having lived through WWII as a child, Michael was conscripted at age 18. He trained as an anti-tank gunner in Norfolk and then sailed for Korea on the Emperor Orwell in late August 1950. He and his compatriots were among the first British regiments to go to Korea. He tells of the journey to Korea, stopping in Egypt, Ceylon, Singapore and Hong Kong. Life on board ship involved training on what to expect, as well as practice on the 17 pounder anti-tank gun. Michael describes a 24-hour train journey to Britannia camp after arriving in Pusan. From there he tells of day-to-day life, fighting trench warfare, primarily on 355 hill (Kowang Sang). Conditions were very challenging; they lived in a constant state of alertness, remaining in their clothes and boots as they had to be prepared to fight at a moment’s notice. Suffering frequent mortar bombardment and attacks by the PVA, Michael describes in detail the measures they had to take to counteract these attacks and the importance of keeping going despite the fear. He returned home after two years and tells of his frustration that the Korean war appears to have been forgotten.

John Ingle grew up in rural Cambridgeshire during the Second World War, he witnessed aerial combat above his home, saw the effects of bombing at close hand and developed a lifelong love of farming and the countryside. Like many young men of his generation, he expected his future to lie elsewhere. National Service changed everything. Originally hoping for a career in agriculture, John instead found himself in uniform, first training in England before travelling across the world to Hong Kong and eventually Korea. Serving with the Royal Fusiliers, he became a transport driver – a role that demanded skill, courage and nerves of steel. Driving alone at night on narrow mountain roads without lights, often under enemy fire, John experienced a very different side of the Korean War. His story reveals the hidden dangers faced by the men who kept the front line supplied: carrying ammunition, transporting troops, recovering casualties and navigating some of the most difficult terrain imaginable. Along the way, John encountered extraordinary characters. He recalls Cockney Fusiliers who became lifelong comrades, soldiers struggling with the psychological strain of war, acts of remarkable bravery and moments of humanity that have remained with him for more than seventy years. His memories also extend beyond the battlefield. He describes the poverty he witnessed among Korean civilians, the kindness of local people, the friendships formed within the regiment and the experiences that shaped him long after National Service ended. Thoughtful, candid and often humorous, John’s interview provides a vivid account of a war that many people know little about, told by a man who remains deeply proud of his service and of the Royal Fusiliers.