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Photo Album

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There was a photograph of a group of O'Shea's Vickers Machine Gun section, re-digging a crawl trench that had been all but obliterated by an earlier artillery bombardment against the 1st. Republic of Korea Regiment who we had replaced on The Hook Nov/Dec '51. I saw that photo once after it had been developed, while still in Korea, I cant recall who had it and never saw it again. It may still exist, could be tucked away in someone's album, I'd be interested to see it again, just for the memory, so all you Welch Regiment Veterans, put the word round, it might surface.

Some Photos of The Hook courtesy of Ron and Bert of

http://www.kmike.com/oz/album.htm

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Here are a few personal photos I've kept since those days.

Back from the Hook

Me with a few fans, on a rare trip to Company HQ for a bath, that's a laugh. half a 40 gallon oil drum with 6 inches of tepid water, with only a makeshift windbreak as protection from the elements. I'm the highest one, and I was still that way after the 'bath'.

They were all right , they lived there, lucky beggars.

A close-up of the good looking one, I dug the beret out of the 'rag-bag' we called 'Kit' for the

occasion, we didn't wear those where I'd been and it went back in the 'bag' on my return.

A little story about head gear. When later the Regiment took over from the US the 355 position, which was in full view of the enemy, we were visited by our C.O., who gave orders that army issue berets with polished cap badges be worn at all times and not the 'cap-comforters' i.e. (the scarf around my neck folded into a cosy woollen hat, intended for use under the tin helmets that were withdrawn on orders from Brigade)

We looked really smart after that, you could see us from miles away.

I still have the badge, its at the top of this page

Bob Stevens amongst the 'Muck& Bullets'

Gun position sited to give support fire along left flank of Hill 533. Summer 1952

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Hastily formed 'Boxing Team'

late March '52

Intended to keep the lads occupied between a stint on The Hook and Knowang-San Hill 355

We needed more training, not entertaining.

2nd. from right back row 22445519 Pte Bob(Steve) Stevens (couldn't punch his way out of a wet paper bag). lovely 'fella', where are you Steve. If you see this, drop me a line, use the e-mail link below. If your not familiar with this new fangled technology, drop into your local library, they'll put you right.

mailto:charles.haynes@cableinet.co.uk

Escape to Hara-Mura Battle school Japan.

No holiday camp, but all the 'muck and bullets' was going in the right direction, well most of the time.

You were safe if you kept your distance from the mad colonel that ran the place.

Interrupted Journey. Downgraded by MO (Phew)

JRBD

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Relaxing at Japan Reinforcement Base Depot, Kure.

Between the one in the centre and the one on the right I received a 'Dear John', (or was it the other way round.)

A Hiro watering hole,

Hiro was a small-town community a few miles along the road from the Japan Reinforcement Base Depot at Kure.

From hell, to limbo, to luxury

Downgraded and taken off draft returning to Korea, stayed in JRBD for a few months, before being given a ' punishment posting' to Ebisu Leave Camp, Tokyo. No photos of the Tokyo period, needed two hands to use a camera and one was always holding a 'pint'.

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Pusan Cemetery

Photographed in 1952

Bob (Steve) Stevens, on a visit to my home 54/55, holding our son Ritchie, named in memory of Cpl. (Ritchie) Richardson, who was killed on the 30th. April 1952 at the foot of Kowang-san,(Hill 355) while a group of us waited for a rare cooked meal, delayed when an earlier mortar bomb extinguished the Field Kitchen. Steve was wounded in that incident.

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