The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) and History Hub Ulster welcome you to a talk by Nigel Henderson.
The Korean War (1950-1953) was the first major action for the United Nations following the its formation in 1945. In June 1950, North Korea attacked South Korea. Twenty-one UN countries went to fight against North Korea, which was supported by the People's Republic of Chiana and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The 1st Battalion of the Royal Ulster Rifles and nine officers and 457 other ranks from the Royal Irish Fusiliers were deployed to Korea. Ulstermen served in Korea with other regiments. The Ulster Rifles were in Korea from early November 1950 to October 1951, sustaining 102 fatalities and 207 men were taken prisoner, with 31 dying in captivity. The Irish Fusiliers sustained lighter casualties, with six being killed, 13 wounded, and 36 taken prisoner. After its stint in Korea, 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles was posted to Hong Kong and did not return home until late 1953.
This illustrated talk will provide a brief overview of the war but will focus on the involvement of the Royal Ulster Rifles. The talk will include biographies of some of the men who died, were taken prisoner, or who returned from captivity. The talk will also cover the migration of the a memorial obelisk from the Korean peninsula, to Ballymena, and then to its current location in Belfast.
