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Author: Stephen Wynn Publisher: Casemate Publishers ISBN: 1526713322 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 168
Book Description
The Korean War (1950-53) is often referred to by many British and Commonwealth veterans who took part in it as the 'forgotten war', a reference which does not include themselves or the families and friends of those who were killed. On 15 August 1945, US and Soviet forces liberated Korea from the Japanese and the country was subsequently divided along the 38th parallel, with the Soviets administering the northern part of the country and the Americans the south. Tensions between the two states continued, with both governments claiming to be the legitimate government of Korea. This came to a head on 25 June 1950, when the Korean People’s Army of North Korea crossed the 38th parallel into South Korea. For nearly four months the fighting swung first one way then the other, before forces from South Korea and other UN countries chased the North Koreans towards the Chinese border, which in turn saw China enter the war on the side of North Korea on 19 October. Having initially refused to send troops to Korea due to commitments in Malaya, the British government was worried about the possibility of China threatening Hong Kong, which at the time was under British control. A combination of the worsening situation in Korea, concerns about its position as a major global power, and the potential damage to its relationship with the US, caused a change of heart and, on 29 August, British forces finally arrived in South Korea. During the course of the Korean War, the Victoria Cross was awarded on just four occasions, although two other men were also awarded the equivalent George Cross. The Victoria Cross was twice awarded posthumously, with a third recipient dying in 1986 and the fourth dying in July 2018. Each of the actions which led to the awards are discussed in this book, which in the case of Bill Speakman, includes an interview he gave to the author in 2017.
Author: Stephen Wynn Publisher: Casemate Publishers ISBN: 1526713322 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 168
Book Description
The Korean War (1950-53) is often referred to by many British and Commonwealth veterans who took part in it as the 'forgotten war', a reference which does not include themselves or the families and friends of those who were killed. On 15 August 1945, US and Soviet forces liberated Korea from the Japanese and the country was subsequently divided along the 38th parallel, with the Soviets administering the northern part of the country and the Americans the south. Tensions between the two states continued, with both governments claiming to be the legitimate government of Korea. This came to a head on 25 June 1950, when the Korean People’s Army of North Korea crossed the 38th parallel into South Korea. For nearly four months the fighting swung first one way then the other, before forces from South Korea and other UN countries chased the North Koreans towards the Chinese border, which in turn saw China enter the war on the side of North Korea on 19 October. Having initially refused to send troops to Korea due to commitments in Malaya, the British government was worried about the possibility of China threatening Hong Kong, which at the time was under British control. A combination of the worsening situation in Korea, concerns about its position as a major global power, and the potential damage to its relationship with the US, caused a change of heart and, on 29 August, British forces finally arrived in South Korea. During the course of the Korean War, the Victoria Cross was awarded on just four occasions, although two other men were also awarded the equivalent George Cross. The Victoria Cross was twice awarded posthumously, with a third recipient dying in 1986 and the fourth dying in July 2018. Each of the actions which led to the awards are discussed in this book, which in the case of Bill Speakman, includes an interview he gave to the author in 2017.
Author: Nigel Cawthorne Publisher: ISBN: 9781844544707 Category : Heroes Languages : en Pages : 0
Book Description
For a nation with a long and proud military tradition, one token stands above al others as a mark of recognition for the ultimate acts of individual feats ofrms: the Victoria Cross. Awarded for one reason alone - to mark extreme actsf great heroism by British and Commonwealth servicemen in the face of the enem - it is unquestionably the hardest club in the world to gain entrance to. Itsolders - ordinary soldiers, sailors and airmen - are linked by an uncommon bod of exceptional bravery, displayed often at great personal risk and against ipossible odds.;The VC has been awarded only thirteen times since the end of th Second World War in 1945. Three of these awards were made to recipients who hd paid the ultimate sacrifice while demonstrating gallantry beyond the call ofuty.;Forged in battle, from the shell-scarred hills of Korea, to the windswep marshland of East Falkland and today's counter-insurgency operations in Iraqnd Afghanistan, each one of these VCs has a uniquely inspiring tale to tell. Tis is their incredible story.
Author: Derek Hunt Publisher: Spellmount, Limited Publishers ISBN: 9780752494302 Category : Biography & Autobiography Languages : en Pages : 0
Book Description
Beyond the Legend is the authorised biography of William (Bill) Speakman, who was awarded one of only four Victoria Crosses for action in the Korean War. It covers his sometimes controversial life, from his childhood in Altrincham, Cheshire, to his later life in South Africa - about which little has been known previously. Authors Derek Hunt and John Mulholland also explore the myth of the 'beer bottle VC' (in which Speakman was said to have fended off the Chinese Communist Army by throwing empty beer bottles at them after they ran out of grenades), bringing to light what really happened on United Hill in November 1951. Speakman held the attacking Chinese army at bay for over four hours and led a final charge that allowed his company to withdraw from the hill. After Korea, he saw active service in Malaya, Borneo and Aden before retiring from the army, with the rank of sergeant, in 1968. Bill Speakman is one of only two surviving VC holders of the British Army and a true British hero.
Author: John Winton Publisher: US Naval Institute Press ISBN: 9781473876125 Category : Great Britain Languages : en Pages : 0
Book Description
Naval Victoria Crosses (VCs) have been awarded to deserving service members in places as far apart in time and distance as the Baltic in 1854 and Japan in 1945; in the trenches from the Crimea to the Western Front; in harbors from Dar es Salaam to Zeebrugge; and from the Barents Sea to the Java Sea. They have been earned in battleships and trawlers; in submarines below the water and aircraft above it; on horseback; and on foot. Age, rank, race, and country of birth were not prerequisites. Yet every recipient had one thing in common--uncommon valor.
Author: Nigel Cawthorne Publisher: John Blake Publishing Ltd ISBN: 9781857828108 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 304
Book Description
Forged in battle, from the shell-scarred hills of Korea, to the windswept marshland of East Falkland and today's counter-insurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, each one of these VCs has a uniquely inspiring tale to tell. This is their incredible story.
Author: John MacFarlane Publisher: McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP ISBN: 0773577033 Category : Biography & Autobiography Languages : en Pages : 261
Book Description
"The call to adventure, 1910-1942 -- The road of trials, 1943 -- A Canadian Victoria Cross, March 1944 -- Army public relations, April 1944 -- Hero in an army at war, May 1944-August 1945 -- Last attempt at being a regular soldier, 1945-1947 -- A hero's return to the ordinary world, 1947-1980.
Author: Mike Langley Publisher: Pen and Sword ISBN: 1473879515 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 265
Book Description
The story of Anders Lassen is one of the most amazing and heroic of the Second World War – indeed in the history of the British armed services. He was awarded no less than three Military Crosses and the SAS regiment’s only Victoria Cross. From the day he stalked and killed a stag armed only with a knife, Lassen had been recognized as quite unique. He took part in a series of extraordinary strikes against the Axis powers in West Africa, Normandy, the Channel Islands, the Aegean and Greece, the Balkans and, finally, in Italy. This classic biography of a remarkable warrior, which was first published in 1988, is based on interviews with Lassens fellow soldiers and a wealth of original research. It covers each stage of Lassens short, brilliant career in vivid detail and offers a penetrating insight into the exceptional courage, confidence and single-minded motivation that lay behind Lassens extraordinary exploits. Mike Langley also reconstructs, using the testimony of survivors, the operation in which Lassen was killed and for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Author: Michael Ashcroft Publisher: Headline ISBN: 0755364503 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 287
Book Description
This ebook edition contains the full text version as per the book. Doesn't include original photographic and illustrated material. VICTORIA CROSS HEROES tells the stories of over 150 individuals whose bravery has earned them the Victoria Cross, Britain's most prestigious medal for courage in action. The book is introduced by Michael Ashcroft, who owns over ten per cent of all VCs ever awarded. He explains the history of the medal and the story of his fascination with it. The main text of the book tells the stories of both those recipients whose medals are in his collection and those whose stories featured in the television series. Each chapter covers a different conflict, from the Crimean War to Iraq.
Author: Paul Oldfield Publisher: Pen and Sword Military ISBN: 1473884942 Category : History Languages : en Pages : 520
Book Description
“Invaluable to those guiding visitors and those visiting the battlefields of WWI . . . it vividly tells a story of combat and courage.” —Firetrench In the past, while visiting the First World War battlefields, the author often wondered where the various Victoria Cross actions took place. He resolved to find out. In 1988, in the midst of his army career, research for this book commenced and over the years numerous sources have been consulted. Victoria Crosses on the Western Front: Battle of Amiens is designed for the battlefield visitor as much as the armchair reader. A thorough account of each VC action is set within the wider strategic and tactical context. Detailed sketch maps show the area today, together with the battle-lines and movements of the combatants. It will allow visitors to stand upon the spot, or very close to, where each VC was won. Photographs of the battle sites richly illustrate the accounts. There is also a comprehensive biography for each recipient, covering every aspect of their lives warts and all: parents and siblings, education, civilian employment, military career, wife and children, death and burial/commemoration. A host of other information, much of it published for the first time, reveals some fascinating characters, with numerous links to many famous people and events. “Works both as an armchair guide and as a battlefield companion (although I’d opt for the Kindle version if I were traipsing across the fields of France). Well done to Paul Oldfield for producing another useful addition to Great War literature. 5 stars.” —Paul Nixon, Army Ancestry Research