Description:The 1st Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment was in Korea between 1954 and 1955, following the Korean war.
Through its history the Staffordshire Regiment has been involved in many campaigns and wars and has been stationed in many parts of the world. Formerly called the North and South Staffordshire Regiments, the two were amalgamated in January 1959. The Regiment is based at Whittington Barracks, near Lichfield.
Ron (Frankie) Flood kindly shared his recollections of his time serving in Korea:
“The 3 faces in the picture were known to me. They were older regulars and of sergeant / staff sergeant rank, unlike the majority of National Service personnel (who had to be at least 19 years of age) who made up most of the battalion.
The North Staffordshire Regiment arrived in Pusan, South Korea aboard the troopship ASTURIAS on 5th November 1953.
My own Army passbook, plus my memory, recalls that day well. With the American Army band on the shoreside to welcome us.
Disembarked, we were transported to the SEAFORTH Transit Camp.
Later, the battalion was transported by train to TOKCHON railhead (arriving at 11:15 on the 8th November 1953) where the journey to our position on the KANSAS Line was completed by Canadian truck transportation.
Digging in on the 10th November 1953, night time temperature fell to -18oF / -8oC.
Welcome to KOREA!”