Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private F. Gill, Royal Leicestershire Regiment, who was killed in action in Korea when his position was completely overrun by Chinese Forces, 17 November 1951

Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (22285441 Pte. F. Gill. R. Leicesters.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, in card box of issue, extremely fine (2) £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties.

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Frederick Gill served during the Korean War as a private with the Royal Leicestershire Regiment. In his book Fighting Tigers: Epic Actions of the Royal Leicestershire Regiment, Matthew Richardson recounts:
‘On the night of 17 November 1951 the first major Chinese attack on the Leicestershire positions began with a ferocious artillery barrage on the positions held by “B” Company on “Crete”. Later reports indicated that the Chinese infantry proceeded to attack through their own shellfire. Communication was quickly lost with the platoon holding “Italy”, and neighbouring units reported hand-to-hand fighting along “B” Company’s Front. The defenders were overwhelmed by sheer weight of numbers, and “Italy” was overrun by the enemy. A daring patrol led by Second Lieutenant Godfrey Tetley later established that everyone on “Italy” had been either killed or captured, and the position was in enemy hands. The following day he was to lead another party up on to the hill, only to find that the Chinese had abandoned the prize.

Corporal Joe French added “On 17 November our platoon on Italy was changed with 5 Platoon. We heard the bugles start up just after midnight (Chinkie always heralded his attacks with bugles being blown). The Battalion’s machine guns started direct fire and small arms started up along with Burp guns. The racket lasted half an hour and then there was silence. There was no response to radio calls. The next day we returned to the hill to find three bodies, including that of the platoon commander. From the number of spent cartridges lying around the place the lads had put up a spirited resistance, and about 25 Tigers were taken prisoner that night. Later I met Corporal Joe Kenworthy who was one of them. He told me that they were completely surrounded by between five hundred and a thousand Chinks. They were overwhelmed by sheer weight of numbers.”

All along the Leicesters front that night Chinese attacks, characterised buy their trademark bugle calls and other noises intended to cow their enemies, broke against the barbed wire entanglements like waves crashing against cliffs.’

Gill was amongst those killed, aged 20. He is buried in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Pusan, Korea.