Our Lads in Korea: The Forgotten War

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BBC Radio Wales - Our Lads in Korea: The Forgotten War

John Hardy tells the story of the Welshmen who fought in the Korean War in the early 1950s

John Hardy tells the story of the young Welshmen who fought in the Korean War in the early 1950s. Surviving veterans from across Wales recall their time in the bloody conflict.

The Korean War of the early 1950s was one of the first major conflicts after the Second World War. But unlike both World Wars, Vietnam and the Gulf Wars, the conflict in Korea has largely been overshadowed and forgotten.

After being annexed in 1910, Korea was ruled by Imperial Japan until its surrender at the end of the Second World War. Korea was then divided into North and South, with the North administered by the Soviet Union and the South administered by the United States. Eventually tensions between the two former allies led to the beginnings of the Cold War and to the formation of two, separate, Korean states; one communist and one capitalist. After the North Korean army crossed the southern border in June 1950, the relatively new United Nations was quick to condemn its actions and sent forces to South Korea to repel the invaders and, in so doing, the Korean War began. The UN forces were made up of troops from around the world, including young men from Wales.

In this programme, broadcaster John Hardy hears from some of these men, most of whom were conscripts through National Service. Bryn Smith from Cwmbran, Dennis Pikes from Ceredigion, Lionel Powles from Merthyr Tydfil, Nicholas Conn from Cardiff, Terry Evans from Conwy and Charles Allen from Swansea - all veterans of this forgotten war, share their stories of travelling to a faraway country as young men ,fighting on the frontline, fallen comrades and surviving in extreme weather conditions. John Hardy also shares stories about his father, who himself was a doctor during the conflict, and how his time in Korea stayed with him through the rest of his life. 

Our Lads in Korea: The Forgotten War was produced by Kurt Brookes, Ashley Byrne and James Pepper. It was an MIM production for BBC Radio Wales.

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