Appeal Launched for Imjin
Memorial to Honour Brave Glorious Glosters from the Forest of Dean
Coleford, 21
October 2024: An appeal
has been launched to raise funds for a memorial to commemorate local veterans
who fought with 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment (Glorious
Glosters) in the famousBattle of the Imjin River in Korea, 22 – 25 April 1951. The
Imjin Veterans’ Memorial will honour fifteen men associated with the Forest of
Dean to recognise their bravery in battle and unwavering camaraderie and spirit
to survive over two and a half years in the inhumane conditions of the prisoner
of war camps in North Korea. The list of names will include Roy Mills from
Cinderford, who sadly, passed away this month, and veterans from Coalway,
Coleford, Dymock, Littledean, Mitcheldean, Newnham, Ruardean and Ruspidge.
The Battle of
the Imjin River is widely recognised as one of the most fierce and intense
military actions involving British Forces and is revered to this day in the
Republic of Korea for saving Seoul, the country’s capital, from communist
occupation.
The memorial
is being overseen by the Imjin Veterans’ Memorial Steering Group, which was
formed following aForest of Dean District Council motion on the 70th Anniversary of the
battle. The group comprises Cllr Julia Gooch, Chair; Roger Deeks DL Vice
Lord-Lieutenant; Anny Reid, Royal British Legion Trustee and National Memorial
Trustees Chair; and Andrew Gardiner, author and veteran engagement
representative.
“Following
the70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Imjin River, it became
clear that we need a place where the actions and bravery of our veterans - who
were just young national servicemen in April 1951 - can be remembered for
future generations,” said Roger Deeks DL Vice Lord-Lieutenant. “Sadly, the
recent loss of Roy, whom we all remember with so much respect and fondness, has
added an extra degree of poignancy to the Imjin Veterans’ Memorial Appeal.”
Julia Gooch,
Chair of the group and District Councillor, “I hope everyone who loves the Forest,
and its rich history will dig as deep as they can into their pockets and help
raise the £18,000, we need to make this brilliant and much-deserved memorial a
reality.”
The walk-through
memorial, which has been designed by Andrew Gardiner, will be built by local
company,Grail Engineering, and installed in theCyril Hart Arboretum, near Speech House, Coleford. The
design was inspired by the ‘freedom archway’ through which the veterans passed
when they were released from captivity in 1953. Also featured are three plaques
to bear the names of the veterans, commemorate Forest of Dean freedoms and
rights, and honour the special relationship between Gloucestershire and the
Republic of Korea. It is hoped the location of the memorial will make it a
popular place for remembrance and an excellent option for school educational visits.
Anyone
wishing to contribute to the appeal can do so by visiting theImjin Veterans’ Memorial page on the Forest of Dean District
Council website fdean.gov.uk/ImjinVeteranMemorial orJustGivingjustgiving.com/crowdfunding/Imjinmemorial.The names of all donors will be
recorded.
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