Reproduced, with kind permission, from the personal accounts of George Painter, Royal Signals att 8th Hussars.
Part Four. The Withdrawal from North Korea.
And so the withdrawal from North Korea began, it was early December 1950 and in view of overwhelming odds the decision was taken to evacuate the positions held in North Korea.
The then Supreme Commander of the United Nations Forces was the WW2 Commander of U.S. Forces in the Far East was General Douglas MacArthur! It was reported that he wanted to use Nuclear Weapons to stem the Chinese advance but he was recalled to Washington and confronted by the American President Harry Truman, this resulted in General MacArthur being replaced in the Korean theatre of war by General Ridgway!
And so the 8th.Hussars that had reached the North withdrew South, this included other tank troops that reached the North which I think was ‘A’ Squadron.
They withdrew to a point south of the Hann river opposite Seoul. There was now some deliberation on whether to continue to use the Centurion tanks in the war as unsuitable to the terrain so there were moves afoot to move men and equipment to Japan, with some actually leaving Korea!
However, this decision was soon reversed and Major Guy Lowther was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and became the new C.O., he was to become an inspirational leader!
While these changes were going on there was an element of 8H that were actively engaged in the war. This was to be 29th. Brigade first major action in the war!
It was the Recce Troop made up Cromwell light tanks. It was known as Cooper Force and commanded by Capt Astley-Cooper, with his 2 i/c Lt Alexander. They were in support of the Royal Ulster Rifles and the Northumberland Fusilliers! Other units in the Area were the Royal Artillery also with Cromwell’s plus a Mortar Platoon!
Back at RHQ Alf, yes we are still together, and me were now operating the rear link to Brigade with about four other wireless operators. However, it was no longer operated from a Centurion but in a converted 3 tonner to act a Regimental Command vehicle! As I have said we were now on the south side of the Hann river opposite Seoul. This was the line we were to hold without falling back!
However, there seemed to be a problem with communications at Cooper Force and me and Alf, the Corporal Royal Signals were sent to sort it out. Don’t know the exact distance we had to travel but at a guess about 20 or so miles crossing the Hann River, we were taken by jeep, we were left there and told to return to RHQ when we had completed our job!
Well Cooper Force had a good reputation as being group, had and a good commander, but above all a great cook who could do wonders with the standard British Compo rations, well a miracle really.
Well! it was now the beginning of January, really bitterly cold, a bit of snow and heavy frosts, certainly not the weather to be outdoors, especially with an enemy up the road, not a good time to start fighting each other!
So Alf and I sorted out the communication problem, although most of it was static and poor equipment, I never had a high regard for a 19 wireless set unless it had a high power attachment which we had at RHQ.
Cooper Force at that time were positioned at an old chicken farm, now minus the chickens of course., Yes! We bedded down in the chicken runs were the fermenting chicken droppings had made a firm crust giving some considerable warmth, we also had the luxury of a pot belly stove, so not too bad. Children were about looking for food, quite incredible no more than toddlers some of them!
One little boy tried to attach himself to us, early morning this little kid was trying to light the stove, they felt they had to work for their food! None of it from us lads he was quickly put back under his blanket. I have always said that it was the children of the Korean War that rebuilt their country into the success it is today, they really new what suffering was about and as adults worked their socks off to help rebuild their country. The suffering of the Korean people was to the extreme!
It must have been about the 2nd January 1951, Cooper Force got the order to take up front line positions to join other units of 29 Brigade. Alf and I had no means of getting back to RHQ other than walk back! It was now dark so we had to go with Cooper Force to their new position!
We arrived at our new position in the dark, I suppose that was the order move under darkness! God knows where we were. The echelon was with the group so those of us that were tank crews erected a bell tent. We crammed in like sardines with only the proverbial ‘fag paper’ between us! Next morning, with their guns pointing in a northerly direction and the sound of sporadic machine gun fire and the infantry lads lining up to get ammunition belts it could be said it was rather quiet.
We had not been given any briefing and really did not know where we were. Amongst all of this the 8H. Cooks Wagon was preparing breakfast! Capt Astley-Cooper insisted on having his echelon with him, mainly of course because he had an exceptional cook who was on top of his job plus! His specialty was Pom Fritters. Alf and I knew of the cook’s reputation and it was an attraction in joining the group. The echelon was commanded by Lt Downing who I remember as a very efficient Officer!
I got to know a number of rank and file of Cooper Force when we were at Leicester. They were great days and the walk across the fields to the main road and Leicester City centre seem a long way off! One of the lads aI got to know was a young genial Irishman who I will only refer to as Paddy. During our time at Leicester he used to work in the Orderly Room, he was now a driver of one of the Cromwell’s.
So this is what was to become ‘Happy Valley’! The action got off to a slow start if that is the right description. I think the achinese were happy to hold the hills in front of us, however, our attack was certainly an offensive! Standing next to Lieut.Alexander’s tank, without warning, opened up with his main armament, with me jumping out of my skin, with this other Cromwells opened up! This was real war now,! The infantry companies appeared to be moving forward, Alf and me were just spectators.
My stomach made a further sharp move when U.S. Shooting Star jets, swooping low over us and attacking the hills in front with what appeared to be napalm by the amount of smoke. Our position during the day did not alter. It was during the early part of the afternoon that I saw coming up the track the regimental water cart, a Morris truck with a water tank! Int was driven by another mate of mine Taffy Walker. Without water you cannot fight wars and Taffy had the job of watering the regiment!
Shortly after his arrival Alf approached me and said we have got the job of escorting the water cart back to RHQ. I would be lying if I said it came as a bit of a relief, we were spare bods and I suppose as things were hotting up Taffy would need a bit of support in the 20 miles or whatever to get back to RHQ. The vehicle only had two seats so Cpl Alf Hathaway rightfully took his place next to Taffy the Driver and I sat on the water tank clutching a cocked sten gun.
We then set off with me you might say riding shot gun. Fortunately other than the background noise of battle our journey was uneventful. I could see lots of activity in the hills as we drove down the track as it took us a bit closer to enemy positions.
It was not until we got back to RHQ for about 24 hours that the fate of Cooper Force became known.
During the night of 2nd/3rd. January the group were attacked with overwhelming force with the Royal Ulster Rifles and Northumberland Fusiliers having to fall back. A counter attack by Cooper Force and the Churchill’s of 7 RTR who I did not previously mention regained some ground but eventually had to withdraw after running out of ammunition.
While Lt Dowling led his echelon out of the valley to safety there were many casualties amongst the main force and many taken prisoner. Among 8th Hussars killed was Capt Astley-Cooper, Lt Alexander, Sgt Collings, Lt Probyn And My Irish friend Paddy Collinson. It was said only one crew member of the Cromwell’s escaped. I know who he was!
There were very heavy casualties amongst the Infantry Battalions again with many taken prisoner. I do have the full casualty list for this action.
A memorial was put up in the Valley before we left Korea but later removed to make way for a motorway. It has now been re-sited next to Belfast City Hall.
The order of the day for the action by Brigadier Brodie is as follows:
At last after weeks of frustration we have nothing between us and the Chinese. I have no intention that the Brigade Group will retire before the enemy unless ordered to by-higher authority in order to conform with general movement. If you met him, you are to knock hell out of him with everything you have got!
You are only to give ground on my orders.
T.Brodie, Brigadier
This what I personally caller a stopper action gave time for the evacuation of Seoul no doubt saving many lives.
Related topics
- A short history of The 8th Hussars
- Korea 1950-51
- Article: Part One – Joining the 8th Hussars at Leicester.
- Article: Part Two – The trip on H.M.T.S. Empire Fowey to Korea.
- Article: Part Three – The week long tank train trip to Pyongyang.
- Article: Part Four – The Withdrawal from North Korea.
- Article: Part Five – Life on the 38th Parallel and the return to the UK.
- Article: The Korean War: Slaughter at Happy Valley.
