Elizabeth Cross Presentation

On September 21st the family of Private Gerald Clarke met at the Rifles Durham office to receive the Elizabeth Cross and Scroll, in recognition of their loss and sacrifice.

They were presented to John, brother of Gerald, and his family on behalf of a grateful Nation by the Lord Lieutenant of Durham.

A brief summary of the events leading up to the action in which Private Gerald Clarke of The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry gave his life was read out before the presentation.

Gerald Clarke was born on the 2^nd of July 1932 in Durham and enlisted into the British Army on the 18^th of October 1950, joining the Royal Irish Fusiliers.

The Korean War had begun in June 1950 and involved troops from the United Nations supporting South Korea against the forces of North Korea who were aided by the People's Republic of China (PRC). The war was a result of the physical division of Korea by an agreement of the victorious Allies at the conclusion of the Second World.

In the summer of 1951 Private Clarke was posted with his Battalion to join the conflict in Korea. As British Army units deployed into operational theatres many soldiers were transferred to Regiments where they were most needed and in October 1951 Private Clarke was transferred to the 1^st Battalion The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry.

Very soon afterwards the Battalion was deployed to block the Chinese offensive which had the aim of seizing tactically important hills in the Imjin River area. Fighting continued throughout October as the opposing sides vied for position, seeking geographic advantage. The 1^st Battalion sent out fighting patrols onto the scrub covered hills to probe the enemy defences and the Chinese shelled the British positions, subjecting the soldiers dug in along the front lines to conditions reminiscent of the First World War.

On the 17^th of November Chinese forces overran British and Australian positions in fierce, close quarter fighting. The following day, the 18^th of November 1951, The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry advanced against the Chinese, driving them back to retake the strategic hills and regain control of the area. During this phase of the fighting, Gerald Clarke died in action.

Gerald now lies in the United Nations Military Cemetery, Tanggok near Pusan, Korea.