What a brute of a place to work on and around, 355, the pits for both UN
and Chinese forces. A long razor-back type mountain with no redeeming
features whatever. To climb it was back breaking, to dig into its rocky
slopes the same. Living on it was akin to living on a lunar landscape,
pitted by craters from end to end and top to bottom.
The conditions during the winter were abysmal, the freezing winds howling
around the slopes with nothing to break their force. Icy trenches at such
a steep angle walking was a nightmare lest you broke a limb.
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The Sharp End
Forward platoon B Company
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Bunkers
Construction
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Typhoon season was pure hell, torrents of water pouring down the hillside and
through the trenches like raging mountain rivers. Bunkers flooded and
often collapsing from the sheer amount of water in the soil. Fighting pits
half full, bunkers in even the best places would be knee deep or more.
Clothing was saturated most of the time.
The trenches were glue pots, impossible to traverse without their helping ropes.
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Reserve position
Behind 355 in pouring down rain.
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Forward company
Under Chinese observation
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Summer saw the heat of an arid zone beating down 18 hours a day. You
panted like a dog much of the time, and working on the defense system
sucked the last drop of moisture from your thirsty body. Water was a
problem again, there was seldom enough of it to drink and have a basic
wash. Never enough to wash your clothes, nor have a good scrub-up.
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Mounting out, May 1953.
Moving off from rear company to forward.
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Reserve area for "Little Gibraltar".
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Observation post Little Gibraltar.
Easily observed from ... easily observed.
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Incoming mail
The quick, the dead, and the inexperienced
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Spring was a young man's delight, the weather perfect and alas the Chinese
very active in the valleys below. Down in those dangerous places, young
men from both sides played a deadly game every night. This was the time
for raiding parties, recce patrols, ambushes and generally annoying the
devil out of each other. Autumn was just about the same, minus a few
zillion mosquitoes and flies. The ever alert frogs were always there
during those balmy seasons, either alerting an enemy to your presence or
the other way about. The material of dreams.
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Little Gib
Best side, at the moment
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Charlie's Turn
Location is everything
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Welcome, Charlie
You've got our attention
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Morning Parade
More or less
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With regards to use of the Owen in Korea, for long range work it left much to be
desired. However following the start of the 'static war phase' most of the
combat was during the night, and included patrols, raids and defending
against attacks. The type of fighting involved was therefore up close and
personal, and in those conditions the Owen was excellent. I am not aware
of any ammunition problems during those two years, certainly none where a
bullet failed to enter a body from close quarters. The Bren was a superior
weapon but had two disadvantages in this type of work, it was very heavy
and needed two men to man it properly and it was cumbersome in close order
operations. ie. In trenches or fighting pits.
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Off to work
Packing more than lunch
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The meanest blokes
In the valley of ...
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Digging again
BHQ Funk-holes
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Rosy
Counter-attack reserve
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Photog at work
Sgt. Phil Hobson
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When April showers ...
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Mortar O.P.
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Mounting out
A bad patrol, for me
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