In the summer of 1950, British and Australian troops were dispatched to fight with UN forces in the savage struggle against communism in Korea.
After both triumph and tragedy while breaking out of the “Pusan Perimeter,” 27th Brigade – the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Middlesex battalions, soon joined by the Royal Australians – spearheaded the UN drive north. After a spectacular series of battles, victory beckoned. 27th Brigade was halted to allow the Americans the glory of reaching the Chinese border.
But across the rugged border, in a shock counter-offensive, China stormed south. In a desperate action, 27th Brigade fought its way out of the trap, to join the UN Command on a harrowing, 200-mile ‘bug out.” And across the peninsula, surrounded by eight enemy divisions in terrain higher than Cassino and temperatures colder than Stalingrad, 41 Commando fought alongside US Marines at Chosin Reservoir – ‘Hellfire Valley’, the most nightmarish battle fought by American or British troops in living memory - and escaped annihilation by a hair’s breadth.
A really enjoyable read, this book reads like battle reports of Battalion actions from the various British & Australian units. After reading an account of a Battalion attack you want to jump into your 'Generals Armchair' and fire up CM and get going. 10/10
