Interview with John Dyer

British private served with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, 29th British Infantry Bde in South Korea, 1/1951-9/1951

REEL 1 Recollections of childhood in Newtown and Ruscombe, GB, 1939-1945: stick of German Air Force bombs which hit Newtown, 1943; food supplies; German Air Force bombing of Reading; VE Day celebrations at Ruscombe, 8/5/1945; Italian prisoner of wars who worked in agriculture; Italian prisoners of war gratitude to his parents for their kindness. Aspects of period of enlistment and training with British Army in GB, Germany, Hong Kong and Japan, 1949-1950: call-up for National Service, 1949; basic training with Wessex Bde at Bulford Camp; joining 1st Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's) in Düsseldorf, Germany, 1950; transfer to 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt at Colchester Garrison, GB, 1950; detachment to firing ranges in Norfolk. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Wiltshire Regt (Duke of Edinburgh's) in Hong Kong and Japan, 9/1950-1/1951: move to Hong Kong, 9/1950; Australian Christmas at Hiro Camp, Japan, 25/12/1950. Recollections of operations as private with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, 29th British Infantry Bde in South Korea, 1/1951-9/1951: how he was sent as reinforcement to 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, 7/1/1951; threat from Communist Forces operated Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 aircraft to aircraft landing at Kimpo Airfield, 7/1/1951; sight of mass of Korean refugees heading south, 1/1951; cold weather conditions and lack of winter clothing supplied to unit, 1/1951. REEL 2 Continues: diet of British Army troops including American rations and lack of fresh bread; supply of Gallagher's Cigarettes; supply of beer to troops; joining battalion near Seoul; story of Korean civilian who gave birth in unit campsite, 1/1951; reaction to suffering of Korean civilians; question of media reporting of war; method of troop movement; taking up positions on River Imjin, early 1951; 'every man for himself' order given to 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, 4/1951; Chinese People's Volunteer Army human wave tactic for clearing minefields in River Imjin area; sight of Chinese People's Volunteer Army human wave tactics; his escape from encirclement by Chinese People's Volunteer Army on back of tank; parents receiving telegraph reporting him missing; use of non-smokers for night patrols. REEL 3 Continues: personal morale during the Battle of the River Imjin, 4/1951; hand-to-hand fighting with Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops, 4/1951; food and drugs Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops carried; comradeship of British Army troops; return to Gloster Hill after 4/1951; minor skirmishes he was involved in after Battle of River Imjin until 9/1951; relative lack of contact with troops outside his section; rest and recreational activities in Kure, Japan; vermin problem in winter; appreciation of natural beauty of country; difference in character between North Koreans and South Koreans; how British Army units adopted Korean orphans; contracting malaria; grenade splinters which hit him during Battle of River Imjin; reaction to having served in Korean War; reaction to extension of National Service to two years; question of what National Service did for him; degree to which Ulstermen and Southern Irish accepted Englishmen into battalion. REEL 4 Continues: story of Northern and Southern Irish troops' firing on each other's flags, St Patrick's Day, 1951; concert party.