Monument

Korean War memorial

Erection date: 3/12/2014

Inscription

{On the front of the pier:}
The Korean War - 1950-1953
{Below this text the pier is inscribed with a low relief image of Korean mountains, in front of which stands the soldier. Below his feet, in Korean and English:}
With gratitude for the sacrifices made by the British armed forces in defence of freedom and democracy in the Republic of Korea.

{On the north face of the pier, below the UN symbol:}
United Nations
The Korean War was the first UN action against aggression. The UN forces that fought the North Korean invasion were drawn from 21 countries. Although exhausted and impoverished after the Second World War, Britain responded immediately by providing strong naval, army and air forces and became the second largest contributor after the United States. A distant obligation honourable discharged.

{On the back face of the pier: reliefs showing the Korean flag and the outline of the whole country.}

{On the south face of the pier, below the Union Jack:}
British Forces
In this fierce and brutal conflict those who fought included many second world war veterans reinforced by reservists and young national servicemen. The land battle was fought against numerically superior Communist forces. The terrain was mountainous and the weather extreme. 81,084 British servicemen served in the theatre of operations. 1,106 were killed in action. Thousands were wounded and 1,060 suffered as prisoners of war.

{Laid into the ground at the front, a bronze plaque:}
Following the groundbreaking by Her Excellency Park Geun-Hye, President of the Republic of Korea and HRH the Duke of Cambridge KG KT on 5 November 2013 this memorial to the Korean War was unveiled by HRH the Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO and His Excellency Yun Byung-Se, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea on 3 December 2014, in the presence of British Korean War veterans, His Excellency Sungnam Lim Ambassador of the Republic of Korea KCVO, Major General GMG Swindells CB, the Dowager Viscountess Rothermere, the Rt. Hon. Michael Fallon MP Secretary of State for Defence, General Sir Nicholas Houghton GCB CBE ADC Gen Chief of the Defence Staff, General Kim Yo Hwan Chief of Staff the Republic of Korea Army, the Rt. Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Westminster Councillor Audrey Lewis, Mr Choi Wankeun Vice Minister of Patriots & Veterans Affairs of the Republic of Korea.
{Around the perimeter of this plaque is a list of the bodies that endowed the memorial.}

The phrase "distant obligation..." references a cabinet meeting on 25 June 1950 at which, in the context of British involvement, Korea was described as "rather a distant obligation" to which PM Attlee replied "but nonetheless an obligation."

Site: Korean War memorial (1 memorial)

SW1, Victoria Embankment, Victoria Embankment Gardens - Whitehall section

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Korean War memorial

Subjects commemorated i

Korean War

This war, the first UN action against aggression, has not officially ended bu...

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British armed forces in Korean War

81,084 British servicemen served in the theatre of operations. 1,106 were kil...

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United Nations

Founded after World War II, to replace the League of Nations. Its stated aims...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Korean War memorial

Created by i

Choi Wankeun

Vice Minister of Patriots & Veterans Affairs of the Republic of Korea in ...

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Michael Fallon

 MP, Secretary of State for Defence in 2014.

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Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester

Grandson of George V, and son of Princess Alice. Patron of the Silver Jubilee...

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General Sir Nicholas Houghton

GCB CBE ADC Gen, Chief of the Defence Staff in 2014.

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Philip Jackson

Sculptor. Philip Henry Christopher Jackson was born Inverness. Studio in Midh...

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Show all 13

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