Interview with Richard Anthony Skinner

British officer served with 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, 29th British Infantry Bde Group in South Korea, 1950-1951

REEL 1 Background in GB and South Africa, 1931-1949: family; education; evacuation aboard HMT Warwick Castle from GB to South Africa, 1940; life in Pretoria, south Africa; father's job with Empire Air Training Scheme; question of anti-British feeling in South Africa; return voyage aboard HMT Mauretania from South Africa to GB, 1945; education at Ampleforth College, 1945-1949. Aspects of enlistment and training as officer with British Army in GB and Germany, 1949-1950: application for commission in Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons) during National Service; character of basic training at Catterick Camp; officer training under Regimental Sergeant-Major Ronald Brittain at Aldershot Garrison; training on Centurion Tank at Lüneburg, Germany, 1950; state of Germany, 1950 opinion of Centurion Tank. Recollections of operations as officer with 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, 29th British Infantry Bde Group in South Korea and North Korea, 1950-1951: attachment to regiment; voyage aboard HMT Lancashire from GB to South Korea; allocation to forward delivery squadron; flight to Pyongyang, North Korea; retreat southwards from Pyongyang, North Korea, 11/1950; regrouping in Taechon, South Korea; role as air liaison officer. REEL 2 Continues: duties with R Sqdn; reasons why his squadron was not involved in Battle of River Imjin, South Korea, 4/1951; move into camp at Inchon, South Korea, 7/1951; day leave on Royal Navy ships; return to GB, 1951; state of Korean civilians; patrol work on River Imjin, South Korea, 7/1951-8/1951; performance of Centurion Tank in Korean War; coping with weather conditions; rations; contact with United Nations' troops; patrolling; flight to GB; period on reserve with Westminster Dragoons (2nd County of London Yeomanry) on return from Korean War; attitude towards political aspects of Korean War; attitude to having served with 8th Royal Irish Hussars during Korean War.