Interview with Edwin Henry Haywood

British private served with 1st Bn Middlesex Regt (Duke of Cambridge's Own), 27th Commonwealth Infantry Bde in North and South Korea, 9/1950-5/1951

REEL 1 Background in Horsell, Sidcup and Byfleet, GB, 1931-1939: family circumstances; education. Aspects of period as schoolchild in Byfleet, GB, 1939-1945: German Air Force bombs which fell in Byfleet area; German Air Force attacks on Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd factory; sheltering from German Air Force raids in tunnels. Aspects of enlistment and training with British Army in GB and Germany, 1949: attitude to National Service; character of basic training with Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment at Shorncliffe Camp; suicide attempts by recruits; move to Iserlohn, Germany; reasons for volunteering for service in Korean War; inoculations at Shorncliffe Camp; embarkation leave in Byfleet. Aspects of journey from GB to Korea via Japan, 1950: flight from GB to Japan; reception volunteers received from civilians during stop-overs; train journey from Tokyo to Sasebo, Japan; arrival in Pusan, South Korea. Recollections of operations as private with 1st Bn Middlesex Regt (Duke of Cambridge's Own), 27th Commonwealth Infantry Bde in South and North Korea, 9/1950-5/1951: attack on train by North Korea guerillas during journey from Pusan to Taegu. South Korea; joining battalion at Waegwan, South Korea; United States Air Force attack on 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's), 9/1950; flight into Kimpo Airfield, South Korea. REEL 2 Continues: initial membership of C Coy and transfer to Machine Gun Coy; performance of Universal Carriers in winter climate; devastated state of Seoul, South Korea; fate of civilians; character of North Korean People's Army dawn attacks on United States forces; function of 27th Commonwealth Infantry Bde in clearing hill on advance north; advance into North Korea and contrast with South Korea; impact of winter cold on men and vehicles; arrival of American Arctic clothing and weapons; superiority of British Army boots; importance of string vest; start of frostbite in his feet; use of bivouvac tents; searching Korean refugees for arms; capture of North Korean People's Army tank crew in civilian clothes and their treatment by Republic of Korea Army officer; burning captured North Korean currency; approach to border with People's Republic of China; psychological breakdown of battalion chaplain; start of withdrawal south; danger to vehicles using mountain passes; notice on 38th Parallel, 12/1950. REEL 3 Continues: making shelters from debris in Seoul, South Korea; character of Christmas celebrations, 25/12/1950; lack of preparedness for Chinese People's Volunteer Army New Year attack, 1/1951; aiding United States Army casualties who had been ambushed; delay in unit leaving because of Chinese People's Volunteer Army's Spring Offensive, 4/1951; battalion leaving Korea for Hong Kong and damage to vehicles on voyage, 5/1951; contrast in conditions between South and North Korea and Hong Kong; Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Man's suffering from exposure through reluctance to wear American uniform items; Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Man's reluctance to accept American Browning Machine Gun on Universal Carrier; incident of cut off company living off discarded American crackers, 4/1951; rescue of company by 3rd Bn Royal Australian Regt, 4/1951; relations between unit and 3rd Bn Royal Australian Regt personnel; occasion when he was caught in battle between American and Chinese forces; relations with Royal New Zealand Artillery personnel. REEL 4 Continues: machine guns used in Korean War; psychological effects of having served in Korean War; attitude towards Korean War and South Korean regime; political outlook and attitude towards Falklands War; story of receiving his Korean War medals.