THE Korean War attracted local attention in June 1951, when Lance-Corporal Peter Beasley, from Cirencester, escaped after being taken prisoner by the Chinese at the Battle of Imjin River.

A Military Observer sent a report to The Standard detailing the involvement of the 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment in the battle and subsequent capture and escape of Peter Beasley from the Chinese.

It was stated that during the initial attack, several men in the regiment were over-run, taken prisoner and marched back to Chinese HQ for interrogation.

In the days that followed, the Gloucesters hung on to their position against tremendous odds, stemming the Chinese offensive, while the enemy were attacked from the air and by Artillery fire.

The observer described how, during one of the air attacks, by American thunder jets, on the Communist Headquarters, Peter and three other men decided to make a getaway.

While bombs and bullets fell, Corporal Hall, a Section Leader, full of cockney spirit, is quoted as saying: “Lets go, and run like hell.”

Although ambushed several times, the men eventually reached the United Nations lines without injury.

The men, badly shaken by their experiences, said: “It was certainly tough, but being soldiers, it was just another job for us.”