Remembering Korean War veterans

Andrew Salmon talks about his new book, “Scorched Earth, Black Snow: Britain and Australia in the Korean War, 1950,” at the British Embassy in Seoul, on June 19. / Photo by Kim Jae-heun

British journalist captures wartime memories in new book

By Kim Jae-heun

Korea-based English freelance reporter Andrew Salmon published his second book on the memories of some 93 survivors’ first-hand experiences during the Korean War.

Salmon’ book, “Scorched Earth, Black Snow: Britain and Australia in the Korean War, 1950,” released on June 25, celebrates the 65th anniversary of the war since it broke out in 1950 upon the invasion of North Korea. The story highlights the fact that the country’s tragic event may be forgotten after more than six decades as the last remaining participants continue to die.

“In English literature we say there are two genres,” said Salmon during the press conference at the British Embassy in Jung-gu, Seoul, on June 19. “There are comedy and tragedy. And war is great tragedy. And I think right now it’s almost impossible to write a book like this because everybody who’s survived is now dead or dying.

“As a journalist and author, I wanted to capture these stories before they are lost forever. Politics and strategy of the Korean War, MacArthur, Mao Zedong, Rhee Syng-man, Kim Il-sung _ that’s all known. We all know that. But the thousands of millions of stories, the people or soldiers or the refugees _ these stories are not well known. They are not well-recorded. The true tragedy of the war is not for the politicians or generals. They are for soldiers and civilians who are in the middle of the story,” Salmon said.

It took two years for the author to research and interview primarily British war veterans, but also Australians, Americans and Koreans. Many of them still suffer trauma from their horrible war experiences.

Salmon revealed one episode with an interviewee who served in the special forces. When he was talking about a battle against the Chinese, he got so excited that he spilled his coffee on his carpet without noticing and just kept talking. The veteran’s wife later came up to the English reporter and said she would not get to sleep that night because when the veteran remembers the war, he punches and kicks in his sleep.

During the presentation, Salmon also introduced more than 300 photographs and paintings of British and Australian soldiers, most of which have never been published. He drew a map to explain the scene of the not well-known role played by the British-Australian 27th Infantry Brigade that attacked North Korea. The book also includes other episodes such as the “death ride” at Kunuri, the Chosin epic and the Hungnam Evacuation, the desperate battle of Pakchon and the extraordinary “mistaken identity” clash at Sariwon.

Salmon wrote his first Korean War story, “To the Last Round: The Epic British Stand on the Imjin River, Korea, 1951,” which was named “Best Military Book of 2009” in the UK. In 2010, the book was named one of the “Ten Best Books on Korea” by the Wall Street Journal.