Commonwealth veterans to visit Korea

By Jun Ji-hye

Fifty-nine Korean War veterans from four Commonwealth countries will visit Korea Wednesday to attend commemorative ceremonies marking the 65th anniversary of battles they fought during the war, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs said Tuesday.

The aging war veterans from the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand will be accompanied by relatives and officials of their governments for their seven-day visit, the ministry said, adding that the total number of participants will be 128.

On Friday, they will attend a ceremony at a memorial park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, to commemorate and honor their brothers who fell at the Battle of the Imjin River.

The battle raged April 22-25, 1951, when nearly 5,700 U.K. soldiers of the 29th Infantry Brigade fought some 30,000 Chinese troops trying to move south.

About 750 soldiers of the Gloucestershire Regiment, part of the brigade, were beset by enemies but they entered into bloody battle day and night for three days. Fifty-nine soldiers died and 530 were taken prisoner, according to the ministry.

The visitors then will attend a ceremony to commemorate the Battle of Kapyong at monuments in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province. Three Commonwealth battalions fought in the battle that took place April 23-25, 1951, during which they defended against an attack from Chinese troops.

“The revisit event for war veterans began in 1975, and as of last year some 30,000 veterans and their families have returned to Korea after the war,” the ministry said. “The event contributes a lot to strengthening relations with countries that committed troops to the war and boosting the nation’s image by expressing its gratitude for their service.”

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