CHURCHILL SPECIALS KOREAN WAR PAIR MOORE C SQDN 7TH ROYAL TANK REGIMENT +WW2

Offered is a Korean Medal (1950 -53) impressed named 19036786 TPR. R.M. MOORE. R.A.C.; United Nations Service Medal Korea (1950 - 54), un named as issued. Court mounted for display.

Ronald Herbert Moore was born on the 17th November 1924, the 1939 census records him working as a apprentice wood turner. He was a driver in 7 Troop, and was an experienced reservist having served in the Second War. He was recalled to duty with ‘C’ Squadron 7th Royal Tank Regiment and was amongst the first batch of men of the unit to arrive in Korea. His Korean medals were sent to 31, Greenock Avenue, Tatley, Sheffield, Yorkshire. He died in October 1978 at Beverley, Humberside.

On 29 July 1950 ‘C’ Squadron 7th Royal Tank Regiment, commanded by Major A. J. D. Pettingell, R.T.R., were guarding an air base in Norfolk when it was decided the Squadron would deploy to Korea as part of 29 Independent Infantry Brigade. On 8 August the first batch of Crocodiles arrived and four day’s later the first party of Reservists arrived followed by a steady stream of men and vehicles. On the 12 October 1950, together with the Centurions of the 8th Hussars, ‘C’ Squadron equipped with Churchill tanks sailed on the Empire Fowey and arrived in Pusan on 15 November. The Squadron supported the three infantry battalions of 29 Brigade, 1/Glosters, 1/Northumberland Fusiliers and 1/Royal Ulster Rifles for a year. Given the massive Chinese involvement the situation became critical. The Centurions of the 8th Hussars were considered too much at risk from capture and were withdrawn to Japan. C Sqn 7 RTR represented half of the brigade’s tanks and the Churchills were henceforth employed as gun tanks. The fighting was intense and the Bde was forced to withdraw further to Osan-ni & South of Yongdong-Po which fell to the Chinese.

Then the severe Winter reduced movement. Conditions were horrendous in “Compo Valley” with 48 degrees of frost – no adequate winter clothing and no sleeping bags

Because of their ability to climb steep slopes and their versatility to move over paddy fields the Churchill tanks proved extremely useful in providing close fire protection. The Squadron sailed back to Southampton on the Empire Orwell on 8 October 1951.

'C' Squadron was equipped with flamethrower (Crocodile), AVRE and flail tanks.