1950-53 British Korean War medal Army Sapper F T Lovell Royal Engineers

Korean war medal 1950-53 awarded to "22289779 SPR F T LOVELL RE" Sapper Royal Engineers , IMO Good Very Fine condition, signs of reasonable use and wear, campaign medal officially impressed name. 1950-53 British Korean War medal Sapper F T Lovell Royal Engineers. KOREAN WAR British medal "22289779 SPR F T LOVELL RE" Sapper Royal Engineers Korean war medal 1950-53 awarded to "22289779 SPR F T LOVELL RE" Sapper Royal Engineers , IMO Good Very Fine condition, signs of reasonable use and wear, campaign medal officially impressed name. The Engineers encountered many difficulties on arrival in Korea. The very nature of the terrain and the scarcity of adequate "good" roads meant that many supply routes had to be constructed from scratch.

Much of the mountainous countryside limited use of heavy equipment and the Division engineers (which also included two British field squadrons) had to rely a great deal on an attached Korean Service Corps labour battalion. Digging and hacking on the rocky slopes was a long and laborious chore, and the sappers spent many back-breaking hours each day with pick and shovel. Not only were extremes of temperature encountered, but also heavy rains and flash floods could often wipe out the results of days of toil. One major obstacle was the Imjin River. Engineers had constructed substantial bridges and a ferry across the Imjin, Commonwealth engineers were constantly upgrading the crossings and their approaches. The river could, and did, rise from knee-deep to over ten metres in-depth in a few hours. Floating debris, and occasional attempts by an enemy located upstream to float mines down the Imjin necessitated a constant state of alert (indeed one Canadian tank was stationed permanently at "Pintail" bridge to open tire on these hazardous objects). On at least two occasions, Commonwealth units on "reconnaissance in force" were trapped for days on the Imjin's north bank as the raging river made use of pontoon bridges or ferries impossible. Ted Barris, in Deadlock in Korea, recounts a feat of 57 Field Squadron (the "Rochester General Construction Company"). The Canadian sappers, with virtually no notice, built a 420-metre airstrip in a barley field in four hours. They later expanded it twelve-fold, and had it ready for General Ridgway's aerial entourage in 47 minutes. Not all roadwork was carried out in the comparative safety of rear areas.

Many Korea veterans recall the "mad mile" -- a stretch of road which was in plain view of the Chinese, and which ran beneath a tunnel of camouflage nets in an attempt to conceal any movement. Roads which had to be blasted from rock-hard frozen soil would disappear during the spring thaw. Infantrymen felt that the Sappers had it cushy with the expertise and material available for their makeshift hootchies. In fact, this was seldom the case - not only was there little time for rest, the Field Troops moved more frequently than the units which they were supporting.

Create your brand with Auctiva's. Attention Sellers - Get Templates Image Hosting, Scheduling at Auctiva. The item "1950-53 British Korean War medal Army Sapper F T Lovell Royal Engineers" is in sale since Tuesday, February 19, 2019. This item is in the category "Collectables\Militaria\1946-1960".

The seller is "theonlineauctionsale" and is located in England. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Era: 1945-Present
• Service: Army
• Type: Medals & Ribbons
• Issued/ Not-Issued: Issued
• Conflict: Korean War (1950-1953)
• Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
• Country/ Organization: Great Britain