Bound for Blighty

Dixieland tunes played by a U.S. Army band piped the 1st Battalion of Britain's Gloucestershire Regiment ashore at Pusan, Nov. 7, 1950. Last week a U.S. band at the same dock played a solemn "God Save the King" as the 1st Gloucestershires boarded the homeward-bound troopship Empire Fowey. Of the original 600 men & officers who landed at Pusan last year only 120 were left.

The Gloucesters had fought some tough battles in Korea. In February they stormed and took a hill near Seoul with such gallantry that it was renamed Gloucestershire Hill. In April at the Imjin River, thousands of Chinese drove through their positions, killing 33, wounding 34, and capturing 407, including the commanding officer, Lieut. Colonel James P. Carne. On board the Empire Fowey, there were only 15 survivors of that battle. By special permission of the King, the Gloucesters wore the blue and gold emblem of the U.S. Distinguished Unit Citation, but few of them had decorations for individual exploits. Explained a battalion officer: "I'd start to write a man up for the Military Cross and then I'd get to thinking about what the chaps did at the Imjin. It just didn't seem proper."

Hoping for an early armistice and the release of prisoners, the city of Gloucester postponed its welcome celebration until next April. Then the 1st Gloucestershires will march to ancient, massive Gloucester Cathedral, deposit beside those of many other historic battles the dark green and yellow regimental colors flown in Korea.

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