My name is Bert(Albert) Bartlett. In 1950 I was a Cpl in B Coy 1st Batt East Surrey Regt at Barnard Castle. That year some clots started a ‘Police Action’ in Korea. On 30^th Dec 1950 I got wed to my Isabella, and on the 9^th Jan 1951 along with 95 other souls I flew out of RAF Lyneham on a Hastings aircraft, starting our journey as replacements for the 1^st Middlesex Regt (DOC), at that time hard pressed in the “Pusan Perimeter”.

After de-planeing at Changi-and a spell at Nee Soon transit camp, we all boarded the Aircraft carrier “HMS Unicorn”and sailed away , with a few days in Hong Kong, then on to Kure in Japan. Here my luck ran out.

Sent up to Hara Mura “Battle School” I fell sick with a Bronchial Pneumonia, and was hospitalised in Kure for about 2-3weeks. That period of time was very important later, for when I returned and was sent over to join the 1/Middx.

 It was now the 17^th March. As a Cpl I was given a Section 9, 3 platoon A Coy, until 13^th May 1951. On that date I was told that my delay in Hospital in Kure meant I had to stay with the 1^st KSLI who had come to relieve the Middx.

Now with 12plt D Coy ( Jim Cottles Lot) I was a Section leader with 2lt Tim Withers-Green as Plt commander.

In July 1951 Mr Withers-Green left us for the UK, for demob(NS), and entry into the Church where he became a Minister.

A couple of weeks later our new Plt Officer arrived, 2lt John Whybrow, whose first words to me were that he hoped the peace talks just started would not end things too quickly!!