Interview with Charles Herbert Sharpling

British NCO served with 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde in North and South Korea, 11.1950-4/1951; prisoner of war in Camp 1, Choksong and Camp 2, Pyoktong, North Korea, 1951-1953

REEL 1 Background in Gosport, GB, 1939-1947: German Air Force attacks on Gosport, 1939-1945; evacuation from Gosport to Winchester during Second World War; reasons for enlistment in British Army, 1947. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt in Jamaica, 9/1948-11/1949: role and duties. Recollections of operations as private with Signals Platoon, A Coy, 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt, 29th British Infantry Bde in North and South Korea, 11/1950-4/1951: voyage aboard HMT Windrush from GB to South Korea, 11/1950; initial impressions of South Korea; reception in Pusan, South Korea; leadership of Signals Platoon; dangers of ambushes on trains; first contact with Chinese People's Volunteer Army and sight of their dead in North Korea; Korean refugees disposal of babies in river; weather conditions; generosity of United States Army troops; opinion of Turkish Army troops; action during the Battle of the River Imjin, 4/1951; attempted escape from Gloster Hill, 4/1951; capture by Chinese People's Volunteer Army. Aspects of prisoner of war march into North Korea, 1951: death of comrade, 'The Duke'; inadequate rations given to prisoners; conditions on march north. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of period as prisoner of war in Camp 1, Choksong and Camp 2, Pyoktong, North Korea, 1951-1953: arrival at Camp 1, Choksong; conditions in camp; death rate in camp; Communist indoctrination in camp; solitary confinement for 'up-ending' a guard; removal to Camp 2, Pyoktong for recalcitrant prisoners of war; conditions in Camp 2, Pyoktong; state of health during captivity; circumstances of release, 1953; handling of former-prisoners of war in Japan, 1953; physical and psychological effects of captivity; attitude towards having served in Korean War and with British Army.