Walter Irish was just 18 when a chance encounter with a Royal Marine in uniform inspired him to enlist. Having grown up on a farm near Newton Abbot, he took easily to the physical demands of commando training and proudly earned his green beret. Posted to 41 Independent Commando, he soon found himself in Japan, re-equipped with American weapons and training alongside the US Marines.
In his interview, Walter recalls daring raids on North Korean supply lines, gruelling night landings, and the bitter cold of the Chosin Reservoir campaign where temperatures plummeted to -34°C. He describes the chaos of ambush, the loss of friends, and the sheer will to survive. Wounded by shrapnel, he was evacuated to Japan but carried with him the enduring bond of comradeship.
Walter went on to serve in Borneo, Malta, Singapore, and Aden, but Korea remained a defining experience. His testimony sheds light not only on the hardships of war but also on the resilience of a young Royal Marine who never forgot the men he served alongside.