94 year old Ian Mathison visited the Museum last week with his son. Ian served in the Korean War - 1950 to 1953 - as one of a 100 newly trained Royal Signals wireless operators. Initially with 16th Infantry and later with The Royal Fusiliers HQ as a Lance Corporal, he managed a team of five running a rear link communications detachment near the front line.
Ian was involved in the Third Battle of the Hook and was shelled in bunkers on Hill 159 and later Hill 277. At one point he stayed behind as the Americans moved into the lines to carry on talking over the radio net. This was done so that Chinese monitors didn’t hear any American accents and know an inexperienced unit had moved in. Ian did a full tour of duty and the war’s end was announced on the first day of his return journey on 27 July 1953.
As part of his visit, Ian gave an interview about his experiences and more of his story will feature in the coming weeks.
Photographs:
At the Museum in front of the Korean War display case
Ian in his bunker, November 1952
