Gloucestershire Regiment Imjin River Stand

During the Korean War in April 1951, about 600 men of the British Gloucestershire Regiment held a position on the Imjin River against roughly 30,000 attacking Chinese troops. Their brigadier reported to his American superior that things were "a bit sticky," and the understated message led General Robert H. Soule to believe the situation was under control, so he did not send reinforcements or order an early withdrawal. Over four days, the Glosters inflicted heavy losses, with estimates of around 10,000 Chinese casualties. When they finally tried to break out, it was too late: more than 500 men were captured and spent years in Chinese prison camps, about 59 were killed or missing, and only 39 escaped back to UN lines.

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