Appeal for the Forest of Dean Imjin Veterans' Memorial

In 1951, a group of Forest of Dean soldiers were engaged in one of the most ferocious battles since World War 2. These young men, mostly national servicemen, fought in the three and a half-day Battle of the Imjin River, Korean War, and then spent over two years fighting for survival in the brutal and inhumane prisoner-of-war (POW) camps in North Korea. Their battle and POW experiences, and those of other combatants in the Korean War, have been forgotten in many places, but in the villages and towns of the Forest of Dean they are remembered.

This photograph shows just some of the Forest of Dean national servicemen on their way to Korea in 1950: Back row L-R John Gazzard from Cinderford, Mick Turley from Ruspidge, John Sladen from Newnham. Front row - Dave Gardiner from Ruardean, Roy Mills from Cinderford, Bob Taylor from Coalway.

With deep sadness we remember Roy Mills who passed away 14 October 2024. Roy, a Forester through and through, had been a strong supporter of memorial.

The Imjin Veterans’ Memorial Project, formed after a Forest of Dean Council motion, is raising funds for a permanent memorial to the sacrifice of the veterans to be erected in the Cyril Hart Arboretum in the Royal Forest of Dean. This will be a lasting legacy to the soldiers who fought in the Korean War and the contribution of Forest soldiers in 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment (Glorious Glosters), to the United Nations’ peace keeping force that ensured the future of a democratic South Korea.

The memorial, designed by Andrew Gardiner, brother of veteran, Grail Engineering of Cinderford and the project group, is inspired by the freedom archway through which the POWs passed as they were released into freedom after over two years in captivity.

Andrew Gardiner standing by site for the memorial in the Cyril Hart Arboretum.

With the support of Forest of Dean District Council, Forestry England, Grail Engineering and Mabey Bridge, the project has an agreed design and location. The project group are inviting donations to help reach a target of £18,000 to make, construct, install and maintain the memorial.

We appeal to everyone who loves the Forest of Dean and its rich history to help us honour our veterans and their heroic actions, and keep their story alive for future generations. Please make your donation, however small.