Extracts from Issue 95 Dec 00

KOREA
Soldier magazine Jun 2000 carried a page where veterans of the Korean War were asked about their preparation and the kit they used 50 years ago. Four of the 8 photographed were 1 R Norfolk!
Cpl Harry Minards: I was called up at 18 and had 10 weeks’ training. Within a few weeks of arriving in Korea we were up the line. We didn’t know what the war was all about. Compared with the Americans’ our kit was rubbish. (Harry is now in Wellingborough.)
Cpl Terry Saunders (and R Fusiliers): We went on a 17-pounder gunnery course but when we were shipped out we didn’t use them because they were so heavy we couldn’t get them up the hills. We were issued with very good winter clothing.
Pte Terry Jackson Brown: I went on an extra 20-week course to work in the field kitchen. The catering equipment was quite good but we had to use our ingenuity as we didn’t have much to cook. We used to scrounge food from the American MASH hospital. (Terry is now in the W Midlands.)
Pte Keith Nutter: They trained us quickly and well and our kit was good. We went out with jungle greens and when the weather turned foul we got the new British winter kit, as good as the Yanks’. We used to feel sorry for the Chinese because we were better looked after and fed.
(Keith, now in Northants, wrote the moving obituary for John A Plackett.)

GALLIPOLI
The landings at Gallipoli by British Forces and the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) will be remembered by a Service of Commemoration in Norwich Cathedral on Sunday 29 Apr 2001. All those whose forebears served with the 4th and 5th Bns of The Norfolk Regt and in 5 Suffolk will be especially welcome.
It is hoped the Cavalry Band from Swanton Morley and a Maori Choir will take part. Medals should be worn. Lunch will be available in The Maids Head Hotel - price to be confirmed but in the region of £12 per head.
For further details contact Maj Tony Ferrier, (via the Norfolk Section Editor).
And see a quote from The Britannia No 40 Nov 1952 in B&C 98 Jun 02 reference Gallipoli in 1915.

FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN THE FIELD
To accompany the obituary for the late WO1 (RSM) WJ Gillie Gilchrist DCM, Maj John Denny sent a copy of Gillie’s citation from the London Gazette 22 Oct 1940.

GILCHRIST 2717907 Sgt William John

2nd Bn Irish Guards

France/Belgium 1940: Boulogne 23rd May 1940. Sgt Gilchrist was in personal charge of an Anti-Tank Rifle which protected the rear of the Battalion during its withdrawal into Boulogne on the 23rd May. For two hours this NCO, with a few men, succeeded in holding their post at a street corner, thus enabling the remainder of the Battalion to move on unmolested. Although under extremely heavy machine-gun fire he showed the greatest contempt of danger and continued to keep his anti-tank gun in action. He was instrumental in hitting and setting on fire an enemy tank, thus blocking a street down which the enemy were trying to move. Later in the action he himself was wounded but refused to leave his Anti-Tank Rifle until it, and the Bren guns supporting it, became jammed through over firing. Throughout the whole action Sgt Gilchrist showed courage and bravery of a very high order and set the finest example to the remainder of his Platoon.

(Reminiscences of Gillie Gilchrist have appeared in the B&C; 92 Jun 99 by Gerry Jermy;

93 Dec 99 appeared Korean Odyssey 1999 by DJ Jerry Willmott, a return to Korea in Apr 1999 with Bill, Maj John Denny and Capt Ray Raynor, including a photograph; 94 Jun 00 Gillie recalled by Ray Segon.
And see below about the Korean Plaque. Ed.)

KOREAN PLAQUE
With the death of RSM Gillie Gilchrist in 2000 (click here for the Obituary) it is appropriate to quote from the Association Dinner report in B&C 66 Feb 86 p N5 concerning the presentation of a magnificent plaque in the shape of Korea to Brig Peter Barclay for the Regimental Museum by Maj Ben Chapman DSO and RSM Winkie Fitt DCM.

'The plaque, embossed with the City Medal of Seoul, was the gift of ex-RSM Bill Gilchrist DCM of Queensland, Australia. Old soldier Bill Gilchrist staged a one-man campaign to salute his Regiment’s fighting record in the Korean War. It was Bill’s gesture to mark the Tercentenary of the Regiment. He spent months researching the project from his home town down-under in Queensland. The former 1 Royal Norfolk RSM even enlisted the support of South Korea President Chum Doo Hwan, who officially sanctioned the award of the medal of the capital city to mark the services of 1 Royal Norfolk. The impressive plaque, Bill’s personal idea, is to be officially presented to the Museum.'