From the Imjin to the Hook: A National Service Gunner in the Korean War

by James Jacobs

The British Armys considerable contribution to The Korean War 1950 1953 was largely composed of conscripts or national servicemen. Plucked from civilian life on a lottery basis and given a short basic training, some like Jim Jacobs volunteered for overseas duty and suddenly found themselves in the thick of a war as intensive and dangerous as anything the Second World War had had to offer.As a member of 170 Independent Mortar Battery RA from March 1951 to June 1952 Jim was in the frontline at the famous Battle of the Imjin River. By great luck, he evaded capture and death unlike so many. He returned to the UK only to volunteer again for a second tour with 120 Light Battery from March 1953 to March 1954. During this period, he was in the thick of the action at the Third Battle of the Hook during May 1953.In this gripping memoir, Jim calmly and geographically recounts his experiences and emotions from joining the Army through training, the journeys by troopship and, most importantly, on active service in the atrocious and terrifying war fighting that went on in a very foreign place.

387 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 19, 2013

Reviews

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read from the perspective of a British soldier in the Korean War, and it is a great read. It follows the author who was conscripted into the British Army and then volunteered for overseas service and ending up fighting in Korea with a heavy mortar battery of the Royal Artillery. His whole service leading up to his service in Korea and while fighting there is described in great detail and the Commonwealth Brigade's epic fight at the Imjin is vividly described. His description of life on the lines during the latter stages of the war when the frontline was static is also very insightful. Highly recommended for military readers and there are lots of great info on the Korean War in here as he also gives good background on events and units.

[george mercer-sellars · Rating 5 out of 5]

s aKa

As an ex Korean veteran J Jacobs book put me back in time I shed a few tears as the book said to them who was there all true and told a very true story a brilliant book

[George Polansky · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative and entertaining look at the Korean War from a British Gunner.