More unseen photos released to us by Andy Sherriff, which were taken by his father who was a keen photographer and recorded his and the Regiments service during the Korean War.
Sgt Sherriff initially deployed to Korea as a Centurion tank commander, but after the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars RECCE Troop was decimated at the battle of Happy Valley on the 3rd-4th of January he was transferred to the newly formed RECCE Troop equipped with Daimler and Dingo Armoured Cars.
On the 17th of March 1951 there was a lull in the war, the North Korean and China’s push south had been halted, and the 38th parallel along the River Imjin proved to be a great defensive line for now.
As an Irish Regiment the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day as a Regimental holiday, no matter what nationality by birth, every member of the Regiment was an honorary Irishman on the 17th March.
The black beer flowed, and the Regiment took rest-bite from the horrors of war. This tradition is still carried on by today’s Regiment The Queen’s Royal Hussars (Queen’s Own and Royal Irish).
April 1951 would see the communist push south again in the Spring Offensive on the Imjin.
The men of the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars would find themselves in a life and death struggle supporting the Infantry of 29 Brigade.
