Exploration of the Memorial Park of Gloster Hill on Jun. 2019

On the day of the 30^th, June, 2019, I traveled to explore the Gloster Valley, Nevada Complex around the tomb of King KyungSoon, the last King of Shilla Dynasty and the retreat route of UK the 27^th Brigade composing of the battalions of Nothumberland Fusilier, Royal Ulster Rifles, Belgium and King’s Irish Hussar Tanks. Coincidently, it’s the day President Trump visited the JSA and Oullet Observatory Post which is only 25 meters off the DMZ beyond which North Korean Troops were staying.

This place was visited by me since Apr. 2004 when I coincidently witnessed the memorial ceremony held here where a lot of British veterans participated. My father, while he was living, and mother were introduced to visit there by me on a day of Korean Thanksgiving Holiday Season and they were appreciated to see the northern battlefield as they lived in the south part of Korean peninsula and no chance to see it. At that time, I drove them in my car, with my family members and relatives and tried to make them see the country scenery of the long time battle field. With my father’s suggestion to have lunch in the course of driving, I led them go to a restaurant by the road from Joksong and Koksu-ri but the meals made of cow intestines(Sundae & black sausages) were not good for all members. After the lunch, we went to the memorial park of Gloster Hill and my parent was listened to the battle story of those place. If my father would survive, he could be aged 96 years old now. My memories on him visiting together the battle place and Jukmi Pass where the first battle were taken place between American and NK aggressors in the Korean war have always make me proud of his anti-communist spirit, his military service in a US Force and his respect toward the nation.

British 27th regiment formation in 22nd Apr. 1951 during Massive Chinese Spring Offensive

I and my wife drove to take the Han Riverside Road(Gangbyun) after crossing a Jamsil Bridge and took the South Kuri & Pochon Expressway for the Gloster Hill in Joksong-myun, Paju-si, Korea. To take the country road leading to the Gloster Hill, I needed to switch the express lane at Soheul junction. I drove out of Yangju IC and entered Hoiam IC to switch the motor road for the Dongduchon, kept going till I got to the Dongduchon IC where I took the country road 364 bounding westward for Joksong-myun. I needed to take the old road for the Gloster Hill at the top of the 371 road near Solma-ri Village Community Room, which had been expanded.

I could found the withered flower bouquets, on the altar of the Gloster, one of which read, “Joseph Morris Dover Kent UK, Always remembered by your loving family” These bouquets were thought to be laid down by a member of veteran’s family on the day of Annual Memorial Service of Golster Hill in which some alive veterans and their family members would participated at around 23^rd April. There was a statue of the great beret on which Gloster might wear and is surrounded by the walls depicting the many pictures of Gloster during the war and letters, “The Name Liveth For Evermore”.

I looked up to see the Gloster hill in front of the park, where their final effort was desperately made to break out through outnumbered Chinese force, by the Gloster troops. In my heart, hit my head a phrase of the poet, “Here echoes the long notes of a buggle. Breaths reviving in woods and valleys. Hold your position. Here living everlasting glorious Gloster. They defended a dream with their youth to the last round. Here echoes the long notes of a buggle.” 

This park was renovated in a spring of 2014 probably for the annual memorial ceremony to remember the battle taken place during 23rd to 26th April 1951. At that time, my 92 years old father was suffered for his backache in a hospital in Jonju and passed away on the morning of the 23^rd April so I could not visited this place. My father was passed away just on the day Chinese started to onslaught the British defence line, looking to tell me, “Remember me with the visit of the Gloster Memorial Park. I have fought against communist and Red Chines Force since my twenties.

For a retrospect of the battle, I am understanding the sacrifice of the Gloster battalion here in Solma-ri(Gloster) valley would be compensated by the opportunity in which not only the 1^st ROK Division  and 3^rd US Army Division protecting the western part of the resistance line but also the other UN force in the middle front and eastern front protected Seoul and counter attacked northward to recover the 38^th parallel. The about 1000 Gloster Battalion troopers could absorb the major part of Chinese forces in the valley and gallantly resist, though isolated completely, against the Chinese onslaught, up to one to ten ratio, for three nights four days while other neighboring forces were tactically retreated. This time allowed UN force reorganize and counter attack after end of the Chinese Spring Offensive.

In time of the Gloster struggling, on the right part of the US 9 Corp front, the Korean 6^th Division was greatly defeated and run away from the Chinese attack near Sachang-ri but this threat caused by the collapse of the 6th Division could able to put Chinese force, through Kyungchun road, to reach south part of Seoul and to surround Seoul destroying all the 1^st US Corp fighting northward. Fortunately, the British Common Wealth 29^th Brigade, Royal Ulster Rifle Battalion and Canadian Battalion could dispatched hurriedly and succeeded to fight off the Chinese infiltration. We shall not forget the US 1^st Marine Division braveness in this emergency response. Substantial number of Chinese force were divided after collapse of the ROK Division in Sachang-ri to attack the 29^th British Brigade and USMC simultaneously and, consequently, UN force could fight off the divided Chinese attacks in the middle front.

Koksu-ri Valley, Gloster Hill, Kapyong Creek Confluence, Horseshoes Ridge, Pukhan-gang Peak can not be forgotten by us and all Korean people in time of every end week of April. We can live today peacefully and pray God for our blessing. I am missing, while visiting the valley, my father SungKi Kim who gave me the spirit and flesh to live by with his principle under God’s blessing. I also thank General Ridgway for his tremendous leadership in those difficult times with great respect.  

After visiting Gloster Hill, I crossed the Imjin river through Jangnam bridge formerly calles as Gloster Crossing to visit Sangseung OP not visited before and normally civilian was not allowed to enter. At the military post, I and my wife took the entrance permit procedure and accompanied by a soldier to reach at the OP on top of the ridge of which hillside King KyungSun Tomb was located. Looking down around the mountain ridges around Gorangpo-ri, known as the Nevada Complex by USMC protecting the area to the end of Korean War. 

If this ridge could not be defended by the 1^st US Marine Div. Imjin river could be fallen into the foot of Chinese force and the demilitarized zone should be differently drawn off far southward. I could not visit KyungSoon Tomb and Gloster Hill in Joksong-myun if this river was given to Chinese.